Romantic Restaurants in Santa Barbara
One of my favorite things about living in Santa Barbara is the restaurants. We are spoiled with so many local restaurants to enjoy! All of my restaurant recommendations below have beautiful outdoor seating, and most accept reservations. I hope this helps you plan your date nights with your loved one, enjoy!
Convivo’s food is delicious and their location pulls you out of downtown busyness and onto the quiet beachside. They have patio and lawn seating where you are surrounded by tall palm trees and twinkling lights. Their menu changes often, but last time I had a flat bread pizza with peaches on it and the “About Thyme” cocktail — both were oh so amazing! Convivo shares a building with the newly remodeled Santa Barbara Inn, which also gives the restaurant a resort-like atmosphere.
Finney’s Crafthouse
A great choice if you and your date prefer larger portion sizes and more bang for your buck! The location is in the heart of newly remodeled lower state street, which makes for a fun, modern Santa Barbara atmosphere! The bar scene in Finley’s is normally lively but they took that energy and pulled it outside by adding seating on the sidewalk. The food here is bound to fill your bellies and comfort your soul!
Santo Mezcal
Santo Mezcal is the perfect restaurant if you’re all about modern Mexican cuisine. If you live in Santa Barbara, you’ve probably had Los Agaves’ many MANY times like us! Santo Mezcal has the same ownership, but elevated it’s menu and atmosphere for a more impressive, romantic dining experience. Their menu is spectacular, they have just enough options without overwhelming you with too many choices! You must kick off with the Riviera Hermosa cocktail, and finish with their delicious Flan! Their patio seating is limited, so make sure to get your name in early and stroll down state street for a view of the pier while you wait!
Loquita
Loquita is a beautiful restaurant with delicious tapas and paella! The portion sizes are small, so you may end up ordering 3-5 different tapas to share. I can’t speak enough about the uniqueness of Loquita’s cuisine and atmosphere—it’s VERY romantic! Reservations are a must here, so plan your date night in advance.
I’d love to here your restaurant recommendations in the comments below!
Cheers,
Taylor
