New Restaurants in Santa Barbara

One of the harbor’s newer dining spots, Gracie brings a fresh energy to Santa Barbara Harbor with seafood-forward plates served steps from the water. The menu leans coastal and approachable — think fish tacos, oysters and chowder — paired with front-row marina views and an effortlessly relaxed, dockside setting.

Photo credit: Carly Otness

Cutler’s Public House & Restaurant blends craft distilling with comfort-driven pub fare, offering guests a front-row seat to Santa Barbara’s first legal craft distillery. The bar showcases Cutler’s house-made spirits — like its locally crafted gin, vodka and 33’ Straight Bourbon — while the menu features hearty favorites such as street corn, loaded tots, the French onion burger, smoked tri-tip and pulled-pork sliders.

Nestled in Montecito’s Upper Village, Little Mountain places a wood-fired hearth at the heart of its kitchen, where chef Diego Moya and his team transform local vegetables, seafood and meats into dishes that feel both grounded and elevated. Warm, modern and rooted in place, the dining room reflects the Central Coast’s relaxed sophistication and culinary focus on ingredient-and-fire-driven cuisine.

Photo credit: Kort Havens

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.

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 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.

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

Bistro Amasa is a contemporary neighborhood bistro inside the historic Upham Hotel, created by the team behind Barbareño. Led by chef-partner Julian Martinez, it reimagines classic, nostalgic dishes through a modern California lens, emphasizing refined technique and top-quality ingredients. The setting pairs the charm of the Victorian-era hotel with a clean, modern aesthetic for a dining experience that feels both familiar and fresh.

Photo credit: Erin Feinblatt

Dom’s is a Basque-inspired restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara that blends coastal California ingredients with the bold, rustic flavors of northern Spain. The menu highlights seafood-forward dishes like surf-and-turf tartare and cioppino pasta, along with comforting classics such as torrija, a bread pudding dish served with vanilla ice cream. Warm, contemporary and centered around shareable plates, Dom’s offers a lively spot to linger over vibrant flavors and a well-curated list of vermouths and wines.

Photo credit: Stan Lee

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.

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

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.

Aegean is a modern Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara, led by chef-owner Efe Onoglu and inspired by the coastal flavors of Turkey, Greece and the surrounding Aegean region. The menu focuses on vibrant, ingredient-driven dishes — think zhoug-topped hummus, crisp falafel with lemon-tahini and beautifully marinated tavuk kebab served with warm lavash and garlic toum. With its airy dining room, thoughtful hospitality and a Sofra chef’s-table experience built around shared plates, Aegean brings a fresh, contemporary take on Mediterranean cooking to De la Guerra Plaza.

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.

Siam Street Food brings the vibrant, bold flavors of Thailand to lower State Street with a menu inspired by classic dishes you’d find at Bangkok’s open-air markets. Guests can dig into comforting favorites like fragrant tom kha soup, pad thai or spicy stir-fries, all made with fresh ingredients and plenty of flavor. Casual and welcoming, it’s a great stop for quick, satisfying Thai cuisine right in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.

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

Manifattura brings a refined, quietly inviting Italian dining experience to the heart of State Street. Centered around house-made pastas and classic techniques, the menu highlights dishes like tonarelli cacio e pepe and a beautifully executed vitello tonnato, paired with a curated, all-Italian wine list. Warm, elegant and rooted in craft, it’s a welcome addition to Santa Barbara’s dining scene and a standout for those seeking thoughtful Italian cooking.

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

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.