Foodie travelers coming to Santa Barbara can look forward to an eclectic food scene with acclaimed restaurants known for every meal of the day. If you’re staying with Hotel Milo and in need of a little guidance on where to set off for your culinary adventures, then you might find yourself overwhelmed with recommendations.
To help make things more simple, we created this brief guide on how to eat well throughout an entire day in Santa Barbara — with two options for each meal!
Breakfast Options
Chad’s Cafe
Right next to Hotel Milo Santa Barbara, Chad’s Cafe is known for serving breakfast all day long. This beachside cafe with outdoor seating offers a classic menu with all of your egg-and-potato-based favorites. They are known for their chocolate chip pancakes and Santa Barbara Omelet with avocado, bacon, cheddar, and pico de gallo.
Chad’s Cafe. Santa Barbara, CA
Shoreline Beach Cafe
This eco-conscious cafe also features outdoor seating right by the water. Located on Santa Barbara’s Leadbetter Beach, Shoreline Beach Cafe is a quick and delicious place to fuel up before a day by the water. Choose from a menu of Mexican food and fresh seafood. Try the chilaquiles or the breakfast burrito with black beans and guac.
Shoreline Beach Cafe. Santa Barbara, CA
Lunch Favorites
Brophy Bros.
A short walk from Hotel Milo Santa Barbara, Brophy Bros is a quintessential Santa Barbara restaurant with a large dining room overlooking the marina in Ventura Harbor. Be sure to try one of the signature bloody marys, then indulge in as many steamed clams, beer-boiled shrimp, oysters, and additional seafood as you can.
Brophy Bros. Santa Barbara, CA
The Nook Santa Barbara
The Nook is a popular American bar and grill in Santa Barbara’s popular Funk Zone neighborhood. They serve fantastic Angus burgers in addition to a variety of other dishes. Some standouts include the pork belly quesadilla and the Lobster Mac & Cheese — ½ Maine lobster tail with white truffle butter, gruyere, and cheddar blend.
The Nook. Santa Barbara, CA
Dinner Restaurants
Toma Restaurant & Bar
Toma is well known as one of the most critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurants in Santa Barbara. If you want an elevated Italian meal that makes the most of local ingredients, then look no further. Menu highlights include black spaghetti, i.e. fresh squid ink pasta with clams, pork, Calabrese salami, garlic, white wine butter, and parsley. Additionally, the menu features a cioppino with Pacific whitefish, prawns, and more.
Toma. Santa Barbara, CA
The Lark Santa Barbara
This well-reviewed restaurant in The Funk Zone is set in an old fish market that perfectly captures local vibes. The new American menu includes delightful snacks such as west coast oysters on the half shell, which comes with watermelon granita, lime and basil, and duck-fat roasted peanuts. Also be sure to try the Channel Island’s fisherman’s catch, which is a daily fish with roasted squash and more delicious veggies!
The Lark. Santa Barbara, CA
Hotel Milo’s Most Delicious Local Partnership
For a fun alternative to eating just one meal at one restaurant, try a variety of Santa Barbara dishes and drinks on The Funk Zone Food Tour. Guests of the hotel can enjoy $10 off the experience with code MILO10.
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