Montecito, California
A sunny enclave on the Californian coast about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, Montecito is the perfect place for a weekend getaway or a stop on a Pacific Coast road trip. Orange groves and succulents, stunning beaches and crystal clear seas, tacos and martinis – what more could you ask for?
Written by Hayley Bloomingdale
Known for its natural beauty, Montecito is a sun-filled haven with practically year-round sunshine. Expect glorious beach days and succulent gardens, incredible hotels and restaurants and endless activities for children all in the sunshine.
Just a few days in Montecito and you’ll understand why it has garnered the nickname “America’s Riviera.” If you are visiting Los Angeles and need a mini break or have a California road trip planned, head up the coast for an idyllic few days by the ocean.
Credit: Storm King
Credit: Zoë de Givenchy
EXPERT TIPS
Zoë de Givenchy
Zoë de Givenchy is founder and creative director of luxury brand Z.d.G comprising a collection of fine objects for the table and home. Originally from Australia, Zoe splits her time between California and France and travels often with her husband and two children.
ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS: My Spotify California Drive playlist, Natura Bisse Vitamin C facial spray (the air is hyper dry in SoCal), Supergoop Sunscreen for my hands, snack seed bar by One Sun Farms.
PACKING TIPS: The new Anya Hindmarch 72 hr travel bag, and layering pieces - sweaters and wraps- as evenings get chilly in Montecito.
THE FILM TO WATCH/BOOK TO READ BEFORE DEPARTURE: : It’s Complicated, Virgin River, Big Little Lies - all cosy watching and all set in the region.
FAVORITE HOTEL: The Rosewood Miramar Beach for families or with friends, San Ysidro Ranch for romance.
MEMORABLE MEALS: Lucky’s Steakhouse for the all-American classics: shrimp cocktail, wedge with blue cheese dressing and steak and onion rings
THE DRINK TO ORDER: Paloma at the San Ysidro Ranch
FAVORITE SHOP: William Laman for home, Poppy Shop for kids, Jenni Kayne for the OG Pacific Coastal vibe, The Webster and GOOP at the Miramar for some fun.
WELLNESS TREATMENT TO TRY: A quiet stroll through Lotusland, the most ethereal garden in the United States and with an exquisitely beautiful story to match. 30 mins here is equivalent to half a day in a spa for your central nervous system.
Along this coastal stretch, storybook scenes extend in all directions…
STAY
There is no shortage of gorgeous hotels in Montectio, with options to be directly on the beach, in the middle of the action downtown or hidden in the hills above, there is truly somewhere for everyone.
SAVOR
From steaks and seafood to tacos and pastries, the Montectio culinary scene has something for everyone. Don’t miss the local bakeries and coffee shops in the morning and local cocktail creations in the evenings!
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luckys-steakhouse.com/montecito
Address: 1279 Coast Village Road, Montectio, CA 93108
Phone: +18055657540A bit of a Montecito institution, Lucky’s is the go-to spot for a night out with everything from steak and lobster to every kind of potato preparation possible on the menu. No-nonsense cocktails, excellent wine selection and the best martini in town make this spot a hard reservation to secure so be sure to book in advance. Dine on the terrace and sit back to enjoy the people watching or cozy up by the fire inside on chillier evenings, you can’t go wrong with a night at Lucky’s.
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mercimontecito.com
Address: 1028 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: +18052200877A Parisian inspired cafe in the heart of Montecito, Merci is where the locals go for delectable pastries, breakfast, lunch and take-away dinners. Chef and owner Elizabeth Colling completed her pastry training in Paris followed by stints at Spago and Bastide so she knows a thing or two about pastry perfection. Weekend mornings usually see a line out the door with locals and visitors queuing up for her seasonal galettes, bialys, and gluten free sarrasin toast. The perfect start to a day in Montecito begins here!
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bettinapizzeria.com
Address: 1014 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: +18057702383New York style pizza in a sunny California setting is just about the best combination for a dynamite pizza night. Owners Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith met in New York (when Smith was head baker at Brooklyn’s legendary Roberta’s Pizzeria) and joined forces to bring their pizza expertise to the West Coast. Their pizzas are perfection: crispy crust, blistered edges, zingy ingredients and a drizzle of olive oil make for perfect pies. Don’t miss their cacio e pepe arancini and their pepperoni pizza and wash it all down with one of their Pisellino Sour’s or any other of their signature cocktails.
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honorbar.com
Address: 1255 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: +18059696964An intimate spot in the heart of Montecito, Honor Bar is the place to go for delicious dinner and drinks or for cocktails pre or post dinner elsewhere. An exquisite wooden bar is the focus of the space, with cozy booths surrounding it, and be sure to sip their signature cocktails inside or outside on their patio. Their infamous Macho Salad is the perfect start to any meal and their burgers are a must. Honor Bar is walk-in only so head there early!
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Address: 622 N Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone: +18059634940The late great Julia Child declared La Super Rica Taqeria one of her favorite places to eat and with good reason. A truly authentic (but relatively non-descript) taco shack, locals and tourists alike line up around the block for their quesadillas, tamales and tacos. Order the Super Rica Especial, a roasted chile stuffed with cheese and marinated pork and served with homemade tortillas, and you’ll have a sense of why Julia Child loved this place so much.
Credit: Bettina
Credite: Bettina
EXPLORE
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Stearn’s Wharf is California’s oldest working wharf and makes for the perfect morning activity on a trip to Montecito. A sunny stroll down the wharf offers gorgeous sea views, unique shops, local seafood restaurants and a handmade ice cream parlor. If heading here with kids, don’t miss the Santa Barbara Natural History Sea Center for an interactive and informative look at the local marine life and sea creatures.
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The Santa Barbara zoo is one of the best zoos in the state. The intimate size and scale of the zoo make it much more manageable for adults and less overwhelming for over-excited kids. There is an adorable train that runs through the property so you can be sure to see it all. Don’t miss the Australian Walkabout Experience for a chance to see the kangaroos, wallabies and emus up close and personal without any cages.
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Tucked away in the hillside of a residential neighborhood is LotusLand: 37 acres of lush gardens and succulents and more than 3,000 species of plants. The garden is the former estate of a legendary opera singer and socialite, Madam Ganna Walska, who bought the property in 1941 and spent the following years transforming it into the horticultural collection it is today. The property has a limited number of visitors allowed per day so tours must be booked in advance.
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The perfect activity for any wine lovers, the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail offers an easy to follow guide and map for twenty of the area’s best wineries. Start in the Funk Zone at Margerum and Barden wines and make your way through Midtown, the Presidio, and Goleta by the day's end. A perfect way to see and taste all that the area has to offer.
Wendy Foster Montecito
SHOP
If you’re looking to channel Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated (filmed in Montecito!) then head to Wendy Foster. Stock up on floaty linen tops, chic cashmere wraps and unique accessories at this local institution.
If you spot someone in town in a gorgeous floral dress or chic silky top, odds are very good that it came from the DÔEN shop in the Montecito Country Mart. The brand’s founders, sisters Margaret and Katherine Kelveland, grew up in Montecito so they know a thing or two about chic Californian dressing. Pop into their sunny shop for silky florals, breezy separates and cropped cashmere sweaters.
Whether you’re looking for a cute gift for a new baby or beachy outfits for your own children, Poppy is the place to go. An excellent curation of kid’s clothes, accessories and gifts, Poppy stocks some of the cutest children’s brands on the market all in one gorgeous shop. Be sure to have a pocket of spare change if shopping with little ones so they can enjoy the old-school mechanical rides outside the shop.
WELLNESS TIP
Sense, a Rosewood Spa
For a truly tranquil spa experience, head to Sense at the Rosewood hotel and book the CBD Total Reboot session. Dip in the cold plunge pool on the rooftop while enjoying mountain and ocean views then head to the sauna and steam rooms before immersing yourself in their CBD therapy session. Prepare for a whole new self to emerge afterwards: you but….relaxed.
Credit: Sense
STYLE TIPS
Jeans are the unspoken California uniform of choice, dress them up for dinner or down for daytime. Floaty floral dresses are perfect with sneakers for sunny days exploring, or flat sandals and a cardigan for dinners out.
Doen Montecito
INGREDIENTS
Serves one
2 oz Contratto Aperitif*
4 oz prosecco
2 oz soda water
DIRECTIONS
Using a jigger, pour the contratto, prosecco and soda water into a large wine glass.
Fill the glass with ice and give it a stir in the glass.
Garnish with a half orange wheel.
*Contratto is a small batch version of Aperol colored and sweetened with natural food extracts like carrot and beets instead of food dyes. Hailing from Piedmont, we find it doesn't have a confected sweetness like Aperol. It can be purchased online.
ON OUR RADAR
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has just reopened following a six year, $50 million renovation and has an excellent line up of exhibits and events planned. Be sure to check it out prior to your visit and see what’s on!
Just a few days in Montecito and you’ll understand why it has garnered the nickname “America’s Riviera.”
IMMERSE YOURSELF
PLAYLIST: Discover our Montecito playlist, available on Spotify.
WATCH: It’s Complicated, Sideways
PLANNING SERVICES
Let Glimpse founder Jordan Rhodes help you plan your next vacation.
As an advisor independently affiliated with Brownell Travel, a luxury, Forbes endorsed, Virtuoso Agency, Jordan has a whole team helping plan her clients’ vacations.
