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F&W’s guide to Santa Barbara’s best, including recipes from local chefs (at right). Plus: Navigate the region with our handy map of the destinations listed here.

Places to Eat

The Hitching Post II

Truckers, cowboys and Los Angeles socialites converge at this unpretentious roadside steak house, made famous by the film Sideways.
406 E. Highway 246, Buellton

Brothers’ Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern

The wine list at Brothers’ is chocka-block with Santa Barbara Pinots. Consider ordering a bottle to go with the pan-seared Nantucket bay scallops in a plum wine–ginger sauce—a prospect made all the more tempting by a sweet oak fire burning in the fireplace.
2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos

Quantum Kitchen & Cocktails

Burgers, fish, sandwiches, fun cocktails, a short but nice local wine list and spiked milk shakes.
201 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara

Square One

Chef Jason Tuley’s seafood dishes are the draw at this hot spot.
14 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara

D’Angelo Bread

This bakery has an incredibly moist seed-studded multigrain bread called Rudolf Steiner (presumably after the 20th-century health-food guru).
25 W. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

This adorable restaurant was favored by Julia Child (who lived her last years in Santa Barbara). Since it’s at the end of a pier, you can watch pelicans fly by as you eat tacos made with shrimp or local spiny lobster, cabbage and creamy dressing.
230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara

Mattei’s Tavern

This longtime favorite features a great list of local wines.
2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos

The Hungry Cat

This new branch of the Hollywood joint is run by David Lentz.
1134 Chapala St., Santa Barbara

Places to Stay

San Ysidro Ranch

The resort, which dates back to 1893, was completely and luxuriously renovated in 2007. Comprised of 40 well-appointed cottages on 500 acres at the foot of the Santa Ynez Mountains, it’s a short drive from downtown Santa Barbara. Cottages from $995.
900 San Ysidro Ln., Santa Barbara

Biltmore Four Seasons

Exotic plants fill the expansive botanical gardens of this beautiful, recently renovated Spanish Colonial–style hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Built in 1927, it attracts celebrity guests like Tom Cruise. Rooms from $550.
1260 Channel Dr., Santa Barbara

Canary Hotel

The Slatkin brothers’ Spanish Colonial Revival–style boutique hotel, with ornate iron railings and vaulted doorways.
31 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara

Plus

Alma Rosa

Richard Sanford produces acclaimed Pinot Noirs made from organically grown grapes.
7250 Santa Rosa Rd., Buellton

Blair Fox Cellars

The winemaker of Fess Parker Winery also creates single-vineyard Syrahs and an excellent Viognier under his own Blair Fox label.
blairfoxcellars.com

Jonata

This Ballard Canyon winery is a new project from the owners of cult Napa winery Screaming Eagle. Winemaker Matt Dees turns out big Syrahs and Bordeaux-style Cabernet-dominant blends at Napa Valley prices.
jonata.com

Fess Parker Winery

However you might feel about souvenir T-shirts, cheesy wine paraphernalia and bus parking, it is hard to quarrel with the quality of wines created by 33-year-old winemaker Blair Fox under the Fess Parker label.
6200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos

Foxen

Foxen winery is a funky shack that looks like it could be a cool bar in the Caribbean.
7200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria

Five Great Santa Barbara Bottles

• 2005 Au Bon Climat Knox Alexander Pinot Noir
• 2005 Koehler Pinot Noir
• 2004 Beckman Vineyards Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah
• 2004 Byron Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay
• 2005 The Ojai Vineyard Chardonnay