Santa Barbara is one of California’s quintessential beach towns. While it’s traditionally known as Southern California’s wine-tasting hotspot, the thriving culinary scene gets bigger and more impressive every year. Santa Barbara continues to receive positive recognition for its underrated restaurant scene since Bell’s Los Alamos was awarded the county’s first Michelin star in 2021. While Montecito’s Sushi by Scratch holds a Michelin star, Caruso’s at Rosewood Miramar Beach now has both a Michelin star and a green Michelin star. In addition to long-time favorites like Lucky’s (a go-to steakhouse), The Lark (a fine dining staple), La Super-Rica Taqueria (a favorite of Julia Child), and Bettina pizzeria (a Italian bistro, perfect for a trusty slice), and beyond that, a new wave of restaurants is flooding into Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is welcoming a handful of new restaurants and bars in 2024, some with support from local industry professionals like Misty Orman and Brandon Ristaino of Good Lion and Brandon Boudet and Warner Ebbink of Eat Heavy Restaurant Group.
From innovative omakase restaurants in the Funk Zone to modern oyster bars on historic Stearns Wharf, this year has seen unexpected new openings win over the most loyal locals. Whether you want modern Mexican cuisine in Montecito or sip shellfish with ocean views, these are the best restaurants and bars opening in Santa Barbara in 2024.
