Many couples cherish Santa Barbara as a romantic weekend getaway. The spectacular views, perfect weather, and fine dining and activities make it a perfect place to relax with the one you love. The exquisite cuisine of Santa Barbara's award winning restaurants is renowned throughout the south and central coasts. Santa Barbara has a variety of tastes and pleasures that will delight even the most finicky palate. Share a romantic dinner at the pier, or in a hidden courtyard, and discover the joys of Santa Barbara dining.
EMILIO'S 324 W. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 966-4426
Hours: Mon-Sun 6pm-10pm
The moment you enter Emilo's elegantly rustic dining room (think plaster walls and rough-hewn beam ceilings), you know you're in for a special evening. The restaurant's ivy-covered, unassuming façade conceals a true Italian culinary landmark. Start with a shared appetizer (the goat cheese fondutta is a local favorite), and then move on to a classic pasta dish or a stellar preparation of local seafood. Accompanied by a selection from the extensive wine list (the well-informed staff can help you out if needed) and finished with a tiramisu for two, Emilio's reliably provides intimate, memorable, and delicious evenings.
Dinner, per person: $40-$60
EPIPHANY RESTAURANT & BAR 21 W. Victoria St, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 564-7100
Hours: Mon-Sun: 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat bar menu 5pm-12am
Come to Epiphany for stellar cuisine, stay for atmosphere. Whether grabbing a specialty cocktail or appetizer (they call them "teasers") in the marble-and-dark-wood bar (crab cakes, foie gras, and an extensive raw selection -- oysters, anyone?), being pampered in the velvet-draped dining room with a luxurious classic dish (roast duck, lamb shank, wild mushroom tart), or getting cozy with an after-dinner brandy or cigar on the patio, Epiphany provides something for every sense. The service is personable, but never intrusive, giving you an opportunity to devote your complete attention to your companion and the truly special experience you're sharing.
Dinner, per person: $40-60
ELEMENTS RESTAURANT & BAR 129 E. Anapamu St, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 884-9218
One generally doesn't associate a county courthouse with romantic experiences. Low-key weddings and Elements Restaurant and Bar are the exceptions. Competing with a view of the famous Sunken Gardens and floodlit façade of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse by night is a tough job, but chef and owner Paul Becking is up to it. The view takes a distinct back seat to such eclectic menu choices as a Spanish-style Kobe Beef Burger and Cinnamon Duck Confit, and Smoked Buffalo Carpaccio. Arrive early and enjoy a cheese plate with wine or signature cocktails in the intimate bar.
Dinner, per person: $40-50
WINE CASK - SANTA BARBARA 813 Anacapa, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 966-9463
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Sun 5:30pm-9pm
The Wine Cask's high-ceilinged dining room, with its hand-painted ceiling beams, massive fireplace, and widely-spaced tables (all the better for intimate conversation), is an ideal setting for a romantic dinner a deux. The innovative cuisine, though geared towards wine pairings, can definitely stand on its own: the escolar, avocado, and poached watermelon salad, with a yuzu dressing, is a particular standout. Petrale sole, osso buco, and black cod, each given an innovative serving treatment, are instant classics. Not an oenophile? Not a problem. Every server is trained in each dish's complementary vintages.
Dinner, per person: $40-60
SEVILLA 428 Chapala St, Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 564-8446
Hours: Tue-Sat 5:30pm-2am
From the unisex bathrooms and the "Happy Endings" dessert menu to the curtained booths and diffused lighting, Sevilla is romantic to its very core. Every step of the dining experience has been carefully calibrated to entice, excite, and, above all, satisfy. The tapas selection, available in the bar, includes such unique temptations as foie gras-stuffed tempura cherries with balsamic reduction. Entrees, divided into "Chilled" and "Heated" sections, range from reinterpreted classics like heirloom tomato salad (served with a tomato-mint popsicle) to "The Veal Deal", a dish featuring three preparations of veal served with smoked peaches.
Dinner, per person: $50-70
BOUCHON 9 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101 (805) 730-1160 Hours: (Mon-Sun) 5:30 pm- 10:30 pm This quiet French restaurant is located in Victoria Court. The menu features both traditional and modern French cuisine, such as Fresh Grilled Halibut in a Lemon Cream sauce. The atmosphere is intimate, and warms the heart. It is the perfect place to share a romantic evening. After dinner, stroll through Victoria court and listen to live music at SoHo music club, or walk down State street to see the sights. You can't lose.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35- $45
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Year's Eve-Open.
CAFÉ BUENOS AIRES 1316 State St. Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (805) 963-0242 Hours: (Mon-Sat) 11:30 am- 3 pm, 5:30 pm- 10 pm; (Sun) 11:30 am-10 pm. The Café Buenos Aires is at the corner of Arlington and State Streets, and makes the most of the quiet open space with its large open patio. Enclosed by a low adobe wall, the Café beckons you to walk through its archway, and into a luxurious dining experience. The food is Spanish, with California flair, and served the way only Santa Barbara could expect, with beauty and elegance in every touch. The interior of the restaurant is also beautifully decorated, but cannot compare to the outdoor ambiance.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $ 25- $35
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
CARLITOS 1324 State St. Santa Barbara, CA 93110 (805) 962-7117 Hours: (Mon-Sat) 11 am-10:30 pm; (Sun) 8 am-10:30 pm. This Mexican/Californian restaurant, though competing with many others like it in Santa Barbara, has managed to outdo them all. Carlitos, tucked into a corner in Upper State Street, has exquisite preparation in all it does. The food is divine, and is served with such style and elegance that you'll wonder that they don't charge twice as much. Live music is played on the patio nightly, and the restaurant is up for anything. From a quiet night of romance in one of the corner tables, to a rip-roaring good time with the band, Carlitos offers it all.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20- $30
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
EL PASEO #10 el Paseo off 800 block of State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93013 (805) 962-6050 Hours: (Tue-Thu) 4 pm- 10 pm; (Fri-Sat) 8:30 am- 10 pm; (Sun) 10:30 am- 9 pm. Closed Mondays El Paseo Restaurant, in the inner courtyard of El Paseo centro, is the self-proclaimed "most romantic restaurant in Santa Barbara." I couldn't agree more. Set in the flowered courtyard, surrounded by Spanish-style walls with only the sky above, this Mexican restaurant cannot disappoint. Delicious Mexican fare can only be topped by the charming surroundings. Far from the bustle of State street, this restaurant provides an intimate and enchanting setting for romance.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20- $30
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open.
The Top List of Romantic Restaurants - Santa Barbara, CA