Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara
Turkey, stuffing and pie galore! Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara never fails to impress. There is always a reason to give thanks for our sunny slice of paradise, from specially curated feasts to family-friendly athletic events. To ensure your bellies and spirits are full, we’ve compiled a list of the best Thanksgiving meals and events you won’t want to miss. Grab your loved ones and explore these scrumptious options.
Be sure to check back! More events will be added as details become available.
Thanksgiving Events
Harvest Faire at Zaca Mesa Winery, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kick off the holiday season at Zaca Mesa Winery’s Harvest Faire, featuring local artisans, live music by the Different Strings Band and delicious bites from Big Joe’s Tacos and Lindsay’s Little Bakery. Sip Zaca Mesa and Tread wines by the glass as you enjoy a festive day of food, drinks, music and artisan finds.
Cost: $15 per person
Fall Wellness at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This fall, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara partners with Nuda Studio for an exclusive wellness experience designed to nurture both inner and outer radiance. Guests will take part in mindful movement, meditation and glow-enhancing treatments, curated to inspire connection, boost confidence and celebrate holistic well-being.
Cost: $125 per person
Thanksgiving 4-Miler, Nov. 27 at 9:05 a.m.
Join the 25th annual Santa Barbara Thanksgiving Day 4-Miler. Kick off your holiday with a fun, pre-feast run along a scenic course that begins on Hollister Avenue, winds through Turnpike Road, a bike path and neighborhood streets, and finishes at Thunderbird Park. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the holiday spirit with family and friends before the big feast!
Cost: $40 per person
Thanksgiving at the Santa Barbara Zoo, Nov. 27 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open on Thanksgiving Day, so get the family out of the house to visit your animal friends at the Santa Barbara Zoo!
Cost: General admission.
Thanksgiving Wine Tour with Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kick off Thanksgiving weekend with a scenic escape to wine country. Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours handles every detail as you sip and savor your way through the Santa Ynez Valley, enjoying tastings at three local wineries, a delicious lunch, door-to-door shuttle service and expert insights from your guide and local winemakers.
Cost: $239 per person
Thanksgiving Menus
Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Gather with loved ones for a festive Thanksgiving brunch at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara featuring a delicious spread of holiday-inspired breakfast and lunch favorites. Savor seasonal dishes and family-friendly stations designed to make the day both memorable and delicious for all.
Cost: $222 per adult, $95 per child
Thanksgiving Day at Goat Tree, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving Day at Goat Tree with a hearty holiday menu featuring herb-roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans and sourdough stuffing. It’s a festive, comforting meal ideal for gathering with friends and family.
Cost: $48 per person
Thanksgiving Harvest Buffet at Finch & Fork, Nov. 27 from 12-7 p.m.
Gather with loved ones for a festive harvest buffet at Finch & Fork inside the Kimpton Canary Hotel. Enjoy a seasonal spread featuring a savory carving station, raw bar, soups, salads and decadent desserts — paired with hand-crafted cocktails, local wines and bubbles. Set in the warm, inviting atmosphere of downtown Santa Barbara’s favorite neighborhood restaurant, it’s the perfect place to celebrate and give thanks.
Cost: $120 per adult, $55 per child (12 and under)
Thanksgiving Dinner at Cold Spring Tavern, Nov. 27 from 12-7 p.m.
Gather with loved ones for a rustic Thanksgiving feast at Cold Spring Tavern. Enjoy a special four-course menu featuring dishes like venison-stuffed mushrooms, roasted pistachio corn chowder, organic free-range turkey, prime rib and classic holiday desserts. Live music by Jeffery Pine sets the scene from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Reservations are required.
Cost: $125 per adult, $35 per child (ages 10 and under)
Thanksgiving at San Ysidro Ranch, Nov. 27 from 12-8 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at San Ysidro Ranch’s Stonehouse Restaurant with a refined multi-course feast, from venison carpaccio and chanterelle agnolotti to honey-brined Mary’s turkey, spiny lobster and wagyu striploin. Finish the evening with classic pumpkin pie, ginger spice cake or a warm apple-pear crisp with whisky ice cream.
Cost: $290 per adult, $115 per child
Thanksgiving Buffet at The Steward, Nov. 27 from 1-7 p.m.
Celebrate the flavors of fall with a locally inspired Thanksgiving buffet at Terra at The Steward, featuring dishes like apple and bibb salad, braised short ribs and pumpkin pie with chantilly cream. The buffet is served from 1-7 p.m., with à la carte dining available until 9:30 p.m. It’s a seasonal celebration showcasing the best of the harvest.
Cost: $35-$79 per person
Thanksgiving at CAYA Restaurant, Nov. 27 from 2-8 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at CAYA Restaurant at The Leta Hotel with a coastal California-inspired three-course menu featuring starters like butter lettuce salad or butternut squash soup, entrées like sage roasted turkey, seared salmon, New York strip steak or cavatappi pasta, and desserts such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake or Dutch apple pie.
Cost: $69 per adult, $29 per child (ages 12 and under)
Thanksgiving Dinner at Costa Kitchen, Nov. 27 from 3-8 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Costa Kitchen & Bar inside the Mar Monte Hotel, where coastal elegance meets breathtaking ocean views. Enjoy a seasonal feast crafted to capture the flavors of the holiday in true Santa Barbara style.
Cost: Varies by menu item.
Thanksgiving Dinner at Marisella, Nov. 27 from 3-9 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Marisella, where the regular à la carte dinner menu will be complemented by a special holiday entrée featuring roasted turkey breast with chestnut stuffing, whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes and brown butter gravy — a festive feast by the coast.
Cost: $75 per adult, $35 per child
Thanksgiving at Caruso’s, Nov. 27 from 3-9:30 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Michelin-starred style at Caruso’s, where chef Massimo Falsini presents a five-course feast that reimagines traditional holiday flavors with a refined Coastal California twist, showcasing hyper-local ingredients at their finest.
Cost: $285 per adult, $125 per child (ages 4-12; children 4 and under are free)
Thanksgiving Dinner at The Set, Nov. 27 from 3-10 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving by the coast with a chef-crafted, family-style feast at The Set at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Enjoy oven-roasted turkey with squash and brioche stuffing, Yukon gold mashed potatoes and cranberry pear sauce — or opt for seasonal entrées like seared New York strip with red wine demi-glace or lemon herb salmon with citrus beurre blanc. End on a sweet note with Pumpkin Pie topped with candied pecans or a decadent brownie sundae.
Cost: Varies by menu item.
Thanksgiving Dinner at Bouchon, Nov. 27 from 3:30-8:30 p.m.
Give thanks with seasonal wine country cuisine in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara at Bouchon. Enjoy a three-course menu of holiday favorites, including the signature Roast Turkey Feast with white and dark turkey, “marbled mash” of Yukon gold potatoes and yams, turkey confit–sourdough stuffing, garlic-sautéed haricots verts, pan gravy and orange-rosemary–cranberry compote.
Cost: $125 per person
Thanksgiving Dinner at Blackbird, Nov. 27 from 5-10 p.m.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Blackbird at Hotel Californian with a special holiday menu featuring King Ora Salmon Wellington with Bloomsdale spinach, crème fraîche, puff pastry and beurre blanc. It’s an elevated, seasonal dining experience ideal for a festive night out.
Cost: $49 per person
Thanksgiving Buffet in Chandelier Ballroom, Nov. 27
Celebrate the season in coastal style at Rosewood Miramar Beach. Gather in the elegant Chandelier Ballroom for a festive Thanksgiving brunch buffet, featuring classic holiday favorites with a regional twist, plus family-friendly activities for little ones.
Cost: $195 per adult, $75 per child
Thanksgiving at The Revere Room, Nov. 27
Savor the spirit of the season at The Revere Room with a four-course, family-style Thanksgiving feast celebrating time-honored flavors and coastal charm.
Cost: $145 per adult, $65 per child (children under 4 are free)
Prix Fixe Thanksgiving Meal at Opal Restaurant and Bar, Nov. 27
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Opal Restaurant and Bar with a special three-course feast showcasing a blend of locals’ favorites and Opal’s signature dishes crafted just for the holiday. Choose from three seatings — early afternoon, late afternoon or evening — and enjoy a warm, festive meal in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. View the menu.
Cost: $89 per person
Thanksgiving at El Encanto Santa Barbara, Nov. 27
Celebrate Thanksgiving at El Encanto’s Dining Room with a refined three-course menu showcasing seasonal, locally inspired dishes such as autumn squash soup, roast turkey, local halibut or honey nut squash cavatelli, paired with classic sides and desserts.
Cost: Varies by menu item
THANKSGIVING PRE-ORDERs
Thanksgiving Ice Cream Pies from Rori’s, Nov. 25-27
Elevate your Thanksgiving dessert with a special treat from Rori’s: ice cream pies! Choose from two delicious options — maple pecan pie, featuring maple pecan ice cream topped with molasses orange whipped cream and a caramel drizzle, or cinnamon pumpkin, made with Mary Ellen’s pumpkin pie ice cream, topped with maple whipped cream and housemade marzipan candied pumpkins.
Cost: $68 per pie.
Everything But The Turkey, Nov. 11-22
Helena Avenue Bakery’s “Everything But The Turkey” menu offers à la carte Thanksgiving sides and desserts like sourdough stuffing, pumpkin soup and caramelized honey pumpkin pie — perfect for easy hosting. Pre-order by Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. for pickup on Nov. 26 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Varies by item
