Santa Barbara & LA Recommendations

Cort and I just got back from a short trip to Santa Barbara and LA. It was the perfect little getaway, and we had such a great time! From the food to the wine, beaches and shopping, you can’t go wrong with some good old California sunshine. I got a ton of questions about where we stayed and ate, so I’m filling you all in with our top recommendations. I’d love to know what some of your favorite places are in Santa Barbara and LA so I can check them off my list the next time we visit!

SANTA BARBARA

FOOD

  • Loquita - We went here for dinner first night. Very trendy and unique plates.

  • Santa Barbara Public Market  - Lots of great food options if you are with a group that all wants different things and you don't have a reservation.

  • Panino - Fantastic salads and sandwiches shop with great healthy options.

COFFEE

ACTIVITIES

  • Santa Barbara Surf School - Where Cort rented a board, which included drop off at our hotel. They also offer surf classes.

  • Santa Ynez day trip - About a 30-45 minute drive from Santa Barbara. There are lots of wineries. So far, we've tried Sunstone Vineyards and Gainey Vineyard. Both were incredible, but so many more to try!

LA

HOTEL

FOOD

  • Elephante - Very trendy, need a reservation. Pretty loud and can get a little clubby at night, but they have great food and it's fun to people watch!

  • Calabra - Mediterranean restaurant on the rooftop of the Santa Monica Proper, beautiful setting and great views for a drink and dinner around sunset.

  • Erewhon - Small, high end grocery store chain only in the Los Angeles area. Fantastic smoothies, juices and hot bar for lunch. This is where I got the Haley Bieber smoothie.

  • Mercado - Modern Mexican restaurant with multiple locations. Highly recommend the margaritas, chips and guac, and the taco.

  • Sidecar Donuts - LA donut chain. Had one right next to the Santa Monica Proper.

COFFEE

  • Alfreds  - Super popular coffee shop that started in LA, and now has multiple locations and is now in Austin.

  • Matcha - Only in NYC and LA, super creative Matcha drinks)

  • La La Land Kind Cafe - Only in TX and LA, great coffee drinks and above average food menu for a café.

ACTIVITIES

  • Poseidon Paddle & Surf - Surf shop in Santa Monica where Cort rented a board and wetsuit for the week. Lots of great options!

  • The Strand Beach Path - Walking, running, and bike path that spans the entire Los Angeles beach front. Rent bikes and spend the day riding up and down the coastline, stopping for lunch or coffee!

  • Shopping - Our favorite shopping spots are Abbot Kinney in Venice where there is a great mix of local and popular brands as well as tons of great food options, 3rd Street Promenade which has every major retailer you can think of, Palisades Village which is a super quaint / smaller shopping center of. highly curated brands and designers.

TravelKathleen PostSanta Barbara