New Restaurants in Santa Barbara

Happy Cat Eats, located on Cabrillo Boulevard, offers an eclectic menu packed with inventive fusion dishes from many different cuisines. Standout items include a bao taco trio and loaded carnitas fries, piled high with tender, seasoned pork and fresh toppings. For a unique take on comfort food, try the signature hot dogs inspired by Asian street food, or dive into the sushi burger—a bold fusion of sushi elements served in burger form.

RH Firehouse Grill, located within Montecito’s Restoration Hardware, offers an elegant indoor-outdoor dining experience in the historic Old Firehouse. The menu highlights signature salads, hearth-roasted classics like whole grilled branzino and a standout fried chicken sandwich, paired with a curated wine list.

Photo credit: @thebetslife via Instagram

Overlooking the Pacific at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Marisella offers a fresh take on coastal Italian cuisine in an elegant, oceanfront setting. Led by chef Danny Grant, the menu showcases handmade pastas, wood-fired seafood and shareable dishes inspired by seasonal California ingredients. With its stylish indoor-outdoor design, craft cocktails and sweeping sunset views, Marisella delivers a refined yet relaxed dining experience by the sea.

Seoulmate Kitchen brings bold Korean flavors to the Santa Barbara Public Market, offering a creative mix of comfort food and café favorites. By day, it’s all about specialty matcha drinks and playful bites like the egg drop sandwich. By night, the menu shifts to elevated Korean-inspired dishes — think classic bibimbap, gochujang mac and cheese and crispy kimchi arancini.

Bar Lou, recently opened by Warner Ebbink and chef Brandon Boudet, offers French-inspired cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include steak au poivre, branzino almondine and smoked black cod smørrebrød, served in a welcoming indoor and outdoor setting along Coast Village Road.

Photo courtesy of Bar Lou

Bringing bold flavors and Southern flair to downtown Santa Barbara, Drippin Chicken serves up Nashville-style hot chicken with a California twist. Tucked behind Shaker Mill on State Street, inside the shared space called Kim’s Service Station, this vibrant newcomer offers crispy tenders, saucy sandwiches, and loaded sides like cheese curds and fried pickles — all with your choice of heat level.

Clark’s Oyster Bar on Coast Village Road celebrates coastal American classics with a menu featuring 10 different kinds of oysters, lobster rolls, chowder and daily catch specials. With fresh, locally sourced seafood and a curated wine list, it’s a go-to spot for lunch or dinner.

Photo credit: Justin Cook, courtesy of Clark’s Oyster Bar

Alma Fonda Fina, the latest culinary venture by Ramon Velazquez—also behind Corazon Cocina and Corazon Comedor—brings elevated Mexican cuisine to Montecito Country Mart. The restaurant offers an intimate and cozy setting that enhances the dining experience, combining traditional flavors with refined, artfully plated dishes like a refreshing citrus halibut ceviche, melt-in-your-mouth tacos suadero and a colorful, open-faced quesadilla made with fresh vegetables.

Santa Playa Mariscos offers a fresh take on Mexican seafood, blending fresh flavors with a casual dining experience—a great addition to the bustling downtown dining scene. The restaurant, launched by Jonathan “Yona” Estrada, also known for Yona Redz, features a menu full of vibrant dishes like ceviche, fresh oysters, shrimp aguachile and tacos.

Photo credit: @drescoast via Instagram

Rozzi Pizza brings classic New York–style pies to Santa Barbara with a local twist. Located on Montecito Street just off State, this laid-back pizzeria is known for its thin, foldable slices, chewy crust and creative toppings made with high-quality ingredients. Whether you’re grabbing a quick slice or sharing a whole pie on the patio, Rozzi hits the spot for casual, flavor-packed dining downtown.

Photo credit: @rozzipizzasb via Instagram

Originally from Venice, The Win-Dow brings its crave-worthy smashburgers, fried chicken sandwiches and classic milkshakes to downtown Santa Barbara. Located on Chapala Street across from Paseo Nuevo, this casual walk-up spot serves up quality comfort food at wallet-friendly prices, perfect for a quick, satisfying bite in the heart of the city.

Photo credit: @grubgurlz via Instagram

Mother Dough Bagels specializes in organic sourdough bagels, naturally fermented for 48 hours for a crispy exterior and chewy interior. Featuring flavors like everything, sesame and furikake, along with gourmet spreads, this shop offers hand-rolled, small-batch bagels from its unassuming Santa Barbara location.

La Cantina, a new restaurant in the Noleta area between Santa Barbara and Goleta, offers a cozy and authentic New Mexican dining experience. The menu features mouthwatering favorites like rich, flavorful pozole, savory enchiladas la paz and handmade sopes, each prepared with a blend of traditional techniques and modern touches.

The Ellwood at Goleta Beach, located at Goleta Beach Park, offers a modern coastal dining experience with a seafood-focused menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. Currently serving lunch and dinner, plans include brunch, a casual café and an event space just steps from the sand and down the hill from the University of California, Santa Barbara’s stunning beachside campus.

Located in The Post near the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Ospi brings a fresh, coastal take on Italian dining to the area. From the team behind the original Ospi in Venice Beach, this stylish spot serves up house-made pastas, ultra-thin Roman-style pizzas and wood-fired dishes in a relaxed, modern setting.

The newest addition to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Lulio channels the spirit of the Mediterranean with a distinctly California twist. Think sun-drenched ocean views, wood-fired flatbreads, citrusy crudo and colorful plates made for sharing — all served in a stylish indoor-outdoor space that feels equal parts relaxed and refined.