How to Spend a 24-Hour Staycation in Santa Barbara

There’s no question that Santa Barbara’s wine-producing, mountainous, and coast-lined county is one of California’s most stunning regions. Located just an hour and 40 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles by car, the city is full of quaint cafes, cocktail dens, tasting rooms, and restaurants serving casual and creative dishes using freshly caught seafood. Destinations and possibilities expand with car access, including a stop at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden or the Pacific Ocean-adjacent zoo. However, if time allows, take the three-hour train ride north via Amtrak from Union Station which drops off travelers at the foot of Santa Barbara’s bustling, central, and walkable State Street. It’s the perfect place to start a 24-hour staycation.

Many parts of Santa Barbara are best explored on foot, so bring comfortable shoes and appropriate layers as the weather can be unpredictably cloudy, overcast, drizzly, or just hot. Be mindful of high season and weekend pricing when booking lodging. High-end options like the cottages at San Ysidro Ranch start at $2,779 per night, mid-range lodging hovers around $400 per night like at the Santa Barbara Inn, and the local Motel 6 goes for $189 per night. Airbnb rentals are fairly reasonable but prices increase based on proximity to the beach.

8 a.m. — Breakfast at Helena Avenue Bakery

Mona Holmes

After a long ride into Santa Barbara, stretch those legs with a walk to Helena Avenue Bakery. The bakery has plenty of room to sit down with coffee and the pastries or breakfasts made on-site. Coming out of Helena’s kitchen are flaky buttermilk biscuits, breakfast tacos, and house-made sourdough toast topped with wildflower honey ricotta. If arriving after noon, Helena’s shares a space with the Santa Barbara Wine Collective where local varietals flow. A bike ride to the Santa Barbara Zoo takes 10 minutes along an easy Pacific-viewing path. 131 Anacapa Street, #C, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

11:30 a.m. — Lunch at Corazón Comedor

Mona Holmes

Drive 30 minutes from Downtown Santa Barbara into the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park. It’s a magnificent spot filled with carved sandstone boulders that exhibit rock art created by Chumash Native Americans. Following a short drive back to the city center, head to Corazón Comedor for lunch. This bright, inviting restaurant resides on the quieter end side of State Street and is run by mother-and-son owners Imelda Saldicar Hernandez and Ramon Velazquez. Dip the tortilla chips into the house-special mole and salsas. Everything is handmade, so order tacos, comforting guisados, pozole, or the wonderful chicken enchiladas mole, and share every plate. 29 E. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

3:30 p.m. — Cocktails at the Good Lion

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Though wine tasting is plentiful throughout the city, consider stopping by the Good Lion for a cocktail instead. It is unlike any bar in Santa Barbara, where bartenders source fruits, herbs, aromatics, and produce from local farms to create a rotating menu of inventive libations alongside a respectable local craft beer and wine list. During the summer, the seasonal Figueroa St. Fizz cocktail (a gin fizz and Ramos gin fizz mashup) is made with peaches, coconut cream, black pepper, and honey. The Good Lion also has one of the most extensive non-alcoholic cocktail menus in the region. 1212 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

4:45 p.m. — Afternoon sweets at Lokum

Prepare to be dazzled by Lokum, a Turkish cafe on a pedestrian-friendly section of Downtown State Street. The walk is especially nice on Tuesdays between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. when farmers market vendors line the street. For a quick hit of caffeine, try a strong Turkish coffee or tea in the rear area of the beautifully lit shop. Admire the massive Turkish delight display case before diving into the jelly confections made with ingredients like rosewater, orange, dried fruit, and nuts. Lokum caters to the plant-based crowd with options that omit gelatin. Order the orange and hazelnut cream coated in crunchy cereal and bits of hazelnut. While the Turkish delights travel and ship well, Lokum’s baklava (sticky, crispy, honey-filled phyllo pastries) should be eaten while fresh. Find a second location in San Luis Obispo. 1019 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

Photo by Stephen Osman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

6 p.m. — Dinner at the Lark

Walking from Lokum to the Lark takes 20 minutes on a pleasant and mostly car-free section of State Street. This activity will help work up an appetite before hitting chef Jason Paluska’s notable 11-year-old restaurant, but hopping in a five-minute rideshare is perfectly acceptable, too. Named after an overnight Southern Pacific Railroad that serviced Santa Barbara for over 50 years, the Lark is an inviting space with stunning outdoor patios surrounded by fire pits. The same care was given to the inside dining room with wooden booths and a dramatic layout. Paluska secures the freshest catch from local fishermen and prepares an incredible Channel Islands crudo with passion fruit. For a heartier dish, opt for the Creekstone Farms ribeye with mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, and beef tallow jus. Ask the server for a wine pairing to further enhance the meal. 131 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

Haley Garces

8:30 p.m. — Dessert at Tondi Gelato

Tondi Gelato is an essential stop in Santa Barbara no matter what time of day. Owner James ‘Tondi” Haskins opened the shop in 2021 on a section of State Street where bikes and pedestrians have the right of way. Haskins believes every gelato should be made daily, often using herbs and fruits sourced from State Street’s weekly farmers market that are brought straight to the shop’s production area. The selection of vegan or full-cream gelato includes pistachio, salted caramel, lemon, strawberry, or the dreamy hazelnut and chocolate. Tondi Gelato stays open until 10 p.m., so settle into a chair in the middle of State Street for people-watching. 401 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Mona Holmes

9:30 p.m. — Nightcap at the Speakeasy

For those who have the stamina for a late-night cocktail and live music at one of Montecito’s most exclusive resorts, drive to San Ysidro Ranch for the Speakeasy. Open to the public, the bar operates from 5 p.m. until midnight and attracts all types of travelers. The fare is light, with flatbreads, Korean beef tacos, and a cheese platter, while bartenders meticulously prepare Sazeracs and a Cuban Old Fashioned with bourbon, butter pecan syrup, bitters, and cinnamon. The Boulevardier is made with Sazerac rye, Campari, and sweet vermouth is a genial way to end the day. 900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108.

San Ysidro Ranch