Santa Barbara has quickly stolen my heart – it’s filled with great food, beautiful hikes, dreamy State Street, and the cool Funk Zone wineries & bars. My 2-day weekend itinerary for Santa Barbara starts off with a wine tasting at my favorite winery in Santa Ynez & lunch in Los Olivos, before heading into Santa Barbara to spend the rest of the weekend.

Coming from LA, it’s a quick 2-hour trip or if you have a bit more time, I’d suggest taking the PCH most of the way for the beautiful ocean views. Personally, I think a 2-day trip is a perfect amount of time to catch the overall vibe, but if you plan to do Santa Ynez, you could easily make it a longer trip.

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Weekend Itinerary For Santa Barbara

Day 1: Santa Ynez Wine Tasting & Santa Barbara

Start your morning on a beautiful drive up into the hills of Santa Ynez. Even when the weather is foggy and gross near the coast, chances are you’ll head over the hills into the beautiful sunshine of the town. We had a 10 AM reservation, so left LA at 7 AM to make it up in time.

Brave & Maiden for a Wine Tasting

Time to check out my favorite winery in Santa Ynez, Brave & Maiden, for a private seated wine tasting. This beautiful property is a newer location, with the most beautiful and modern space. A tasting will last 60-minutes, with great detail on the winery itself and very knowledgeable info on the wines. They are known for their Cab Savs, but also have Syrah, Merlot, Sauvignon Blac and some really great Rose in the summer.

The tasting is on the pricier side, at $50 per person, but the experience is SO worthwhile. The people who work here are absolutely lovely, and chances are, will also let you test a few additional wines. Add on a delicious charcuterie plate for snacking on while you taste!

After the tasting, take a glass outside and enjoy the views while sitting in the sun. Peep my mom, enjoying herself below!

The property is open for appointments, only so make sure to make a reservation before going over!

Try The Best Pizza at Nella in Los Olivos

After you finish at Brave & Maiden, pop into the town of Los Olivos, just a 20-minute drive from Santa Ynez, and grab lunch at Nella. The restaurant has one of the most amazing Bianca pizzas, and incredible aperol spritz. Perfect for a quick lunch after your tasting.

The restaurant is located on a small strip of quaint restaurants and shops, so if you feel like exploring a little longer, it’s a great place for a leisurely stroll.

Check into Hotel – Lavender Inn

Time to head into Santa Barbara to check into the hotel! We stayed at a charming bed and breakfast, the Lavendar Inn, just a 10 minute walk to Lower State Street. The location is perfect if you’re like me, and enjoy being able to walk to most locations.

They welcomed us in with a small happy hour, with light snacks and wine, and also give each guest a complimentary bottle of champagne for the room.

Head to Stearn’s Wharf

If you have some time before dinner, I highly suggest taking a walk over to Stearn’s Wharf, Santa Barbara’s main attraction to get your first taste of the city’s vibes. It’s definitely a bit touristy, but a must-do for the views. Grab a seat at Deep Sea Tasting Room for a glass of wine, and watch the sunset & all the boats coming in and out of the Harbor.

Dinner at Santo Mezcal – Lower State Street

I don’t know about you, but I could eat Mexican food for the rest of my life. Santo Mezcal is the perfect spot for some tasty Mexican food and margaritas with very lively vibes. Their margs are top notch, and all the food we had was phenomenal. Get the short rib sopes or the tacos made with fresh-to-order tortillas.

The restaurant does not take reservations, but at the door, the wait can take upwards of an hour during dinner time. They do have a waitlist on Yelp, so I definitely suggest taking a look before arriving, and add your name to the list.

Funk Zone for Live Music & Drinks

After dinner head to the Funk Zone for some live music, wine, and craft beer. The area has recently taken off, with converted warehouse and buildings transforming into hip spots. Most places offer live music on the weekends. There’s plenty of options all walking distance from each other so you can pop in a few different places throughout the night. Check out Test Pilot for a cocktail bar vibe, or Pearl Social for a cute tiki bar vibe.

Day 2: Explore Santa Barbara

Coffee & Pastries at Helena Ave Bakery

To get your caffeine fix in the morning, pop into Helena Ave Bakery for a quick coffee and pastries to go. This bakery is known as one of the best in Santa Barbara!

They do have a sit down option, so if you prefer to stay for breakfast, that’s always an option! Their breakfast sandwich is HUGE and delish, so definitely an option, but all I need in the AM is a quick snack with my coffee.

Hendry’s Beach – Bluff Trail Loop

Just a 5-minute drive from Downtown Santa Barbara, you can find Hendry’s Beach, an adorable dog-friendly beach with a short 1-mile bluff trail through huge Oak trees towards the ocean. It’s a very easy hike, perfect to start the morning with, and can last anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on how quickly you feel like strolling.

On a sunny day, you’ll be able to see the Channel Islands, and if you’re there in the Spring, the wildflowers are stunning. Note, since it’s off the dog beach, this is a very popular walk to see tons of pups. Be prepared for lots of dog kisses along the route!

Visit the Old Mission + Botanical Gardens

Take a drive up to the Old Mission of Santa Barbara for some gorgeous views. It’s one of the oldest missions in California, founded in 1786. You can opt in to do a tour of the interior, but we chose to just take in the views from the outside.

Across from the Mission is a huge park, home to the Mission Rose Garden. We visited in May, and the roses were in full bloom! Enjoy the views of the Mission with the incredible smells of the roses.

After you finish up here, drive up into the hills to check out the Botanical Gardens. The gardens is made up of over 78-acres, but you can take a nice walk around the property in about an hour to view all of the native California plants, with some great views included. Book a reservation in advance on their webpage HERE for $20 per person.

On the opposite side of the parking lot from the main part of the gardens, is an incredible view of the ocean. On a sunny day, you can even make out the Chanel Islands! It’s one of the best views in the city.

State Street for Lunch at The Daisy & Exploring

Once you finish at the Botanical Gardens, drive to State Street to grab lunch and take in this beautiful street lined with cafes and al fresco dining all along the tree-line street. We had an incredible lunch at The Daisy.

Order at the front of the restaurant, and try to grab a seat outside on the street for prime people watching as you eat. The burger here is massive, and pairs perfectly with a glass of white wine in the sunshine.

Spend some time walking up and down the street after lunch, exploring the shops.

Rent Beach Cruisers and Ride the Cabrillo Bike Path

End your time in Santa Barbara with my favorite activity – renting bikes and riding up and down the bike path. There are many bike rental locations near Stearn’s Wharf, but we actually chose to rent through BCycle, an app based rental with locations all across Downtown Santa Barbara.

The Cabrillo Pike bath is a 4.5 mile stretch, riding next to the ocean. If you start at Stearn’s Wharf, you can ride South towards Montecito and Butterfly Beach, and come back North towards the harbor. It’s a pretty flat path, so not extremely strenuous, just beware of all the people walking around the pier!