Ah, you can just hear the waves crashing on butterfly beach while having dinner on the patio at Bella Vista at the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara. One of the most luxurious beach towns in California, with constant coastal views, hidden chateaus in the Montecito hills, the most divine hotels, and the never-ending supply of 5-star restaurants. We have our favorites though, and the secret spots that are go-to when you are in the area. From where to stay or where to eat and everything in between.

    Our travel team has picked their favorite overall place to stay, and the number one spot has to be  The El Encanto Belmond Hotel. The iconic beauty of the property never stops. You can enjoy your stay at one of their bungalows on-site giving you all of the rejuvenating feels you need for the weekend. The amenities that are included vary from their incredible spa that you, to hanging at the bar on the terrace, to coffee by the infinity pool overlooking the rolling hills that lead to the ocean. 

    Let’s move on to the food, our favorite! Now our clients enjoy something a bit more private where the crowds are calm and the mood is right. One of our favorites is, Pane E Vino in Montecito. The intimate vibe and incredible cuisine with homemade pasta and gnocchi to the wine list that pair perfectly with the yummiest desserts. This quaint neighborhood spot might not be the fanciest restaurant but it does give you the full beauty of all that Montecito offers. If you’re looking for something with a bit more of a downtown scene we’re going to Zaytoon. Let’s just call it Mediterranean heaven, right off of state street with a low-key entrance that might get overlooked but when you walk up the stairs you enter into the beautiful patio where you can sit around a gas-lit fire pit with the ambiance of lights hanging over you and water features trickling in the background. While they know how to set the mood, the food is just as amazing. You can’t go wrong with their fun cocktail list and amazing starters and entrees, we could drift away in hummus plate. If you’re up for a stroll after your dinner you can always walk to McConnell’s ice cream for some homemade goodness.

    Finishing off our weekend guide with a few places we love to wander through in SB. The shopping on State street never gets old, but if you are wanting something special head over to Montecito and walk the country mart for some quaint but beautiful unique shops. Then head over to funk zone and go from winery to winery (our favorite kinda walks), after that we would head over to Handlebar Coffee for a vanilla latte with oat milk and a Vegan Cowboy Cookie to go and hit the beach for a late afternoon hang out.

    With Santa Barbara always being our client’s favorite weekend getaway, now you can see why! It’s the place where you can lock yourself in our hotel room and order room service or hit the town and try some of DA Travel Group’s favorite spots. Are you ready for your Staycation?

Enjoy!

DA Travel Group