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Best Date Night Restaurants in Santa Barbara

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25 restaurants available nearby

A photo of The Black Sheep SB Brasserie restaurant
1. The Black Sheep SB Brasserie
4.8
Exceptional(722)
Price: Expensive
• Contemporary French / American • Santa Barbara
Booked 21 times today
A locally owned and operated, modern-classic California-French Pub. We serve elevated, eclectic, locally sourced Cuisine paired with incredible wines and craft beer. We are NOW OPEN for SUNDAY BRUNCH 10am-1:30pm. Located in Old Town Santa Barbara on 18 East Cota Street, the building boasts a rich history of French restaurants and saloons dating back over a century. We are open for Dinner Wed-Sun from 5PM. We are known for our incredible family style tasting menu’s where multiple dishes are presented to your table for each course.
A photo of Gala restaurant
2. Gala
4.8
Exceptional(301)
Price: Expensive
• European • Santa Barbara
Booked 11 times today
Gala exudes a European meets Santa Barbara charm, where you feel like you’re transported to a beautiful bistro in the Mediterranean. Enjoy shared tapas, farmer's market favorites, pasta and risotto, fresh oysters and the best steak with bone marrow butter & chimichurri. Cozy up for our farm to table craft cocktails, a Pisco sour or martini and a full meal with friends. Curated wine list with local & Spanish wines. Right down the street from the Santa Barbara Courthouse enjoy an evening at Gala. 1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Farm to table, Farmer's market driven, Tapas, Seafood, Steak, Oysters, Happy Hour, Food, Cocktails, Wine, Restaurant, Vegetarian, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design
A photo of Finch & Fork restaurant
3. Finch & Fork
4.5
Awesome(1777)
Price: Expensive
• American • Santa Barbara
Booked 21 times today
Here at Finch & Fork, we are inspired by the bounty of Santa Barbara's lush farms and rugged coastline. Our attitude is relentlessly local, influenced by the diverse culinary techniques of our neighbors, the subdued, natural colors of our fog-swept cliffs, and the glow of afternoon sunlight on our grapevines. Begin your day with a nourishing brunch or savor an evening of eclectic wines, ingredient-driven cooking, and good company. Finch & Fork is conveniently located on the corner of Carrillo and Chapala streets in the heart of Santa Barbara’s vibrant downtown. Complimentary valet parking for diners upon availability.
A photo of Intermezzo By Wine Cask restaurant
4. Intermezzo By Wine Cask
4.6
Exceptional(1788)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 18 times today
Intermezzo by Wine Cask New Menu by Executive Chef Mossin SugichModern American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist
A photo of Chase Restaurant restaurant
5. Chase Restaurant
3.3
Good(792)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Santa Barbara
Chase Restaurant, located in Santa Barbara's Theatre District, is a romantic Italian dining destination that boasts a warm and elegant atmosphere. Reviewers frequently mention it as a go-to spot for date nights, noting the 'cute environment', 'fantastic food', and 'wonderful ambiance'. The restaurant offers a variety of classic Italian dishes, complemented by a global wine list and custom cocktails. The outdoor patio provides a comfortable setting, making it perfect for a romantic dinner.
A photo of Roy restaurant
6. Roy
3.4
Very Good(435)
Price: Moderate
• Contemporary American • Santa Barbara
Booked 1 time today
In business for more than 30 years, Roy is a bistro-style, Americana restaurant with a frequently changing, handwritten menu. We strive to serve unpretentious cuisine of the highest quality. We use mostly certified organic produce from the local Santa Barbara Farmers Market, free range chicken and Harris Ranch hormone free beef. We bake our own bread, hand roll our pastas and make all of our desserts in house. Our ambiance is retro moderne California casual, and we have rotating art shows that run for a month and a half at a time. Live music once in a while. Full bar all the time.
A photo of Secret Bao restaurant
7. Secret Bao
4.8
Exceptional(678)
Price: Expensive
• Asian • Santa Barbara
Booked 9 times today
Modern Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina. "Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paelo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design
A photo of Barbareño restaurant
8. Barbareño
4.8
Exceptional(1890)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 23 times today
At Barbareño we seek to help further shape and define Central Coast cuisine. We take our inspiration from traditions and specialties of our area, delicacies unique to our region, and the many outstanding purveyors with whom we are so fortunate to work. In all of our efforts, we hope to capture the essence of a particular place or local flavor, embracing the nuances that make our food and drink unique to our home.
A photo of Bluewater Grill - Santa Barbara restaurant
9. Bluewater Grill - Santa Barbara
4.4
Awesome(662)
Price: Expensive
• Seafood • Santa Barbara
Booked 26 times today
The waterfront locals choice in Santa Barbara for premium quality, sustainably sourced seafood! Located at the gateway to Santa Barbara on the beach at State Street and Cabrillo Boulevard with a stunning patio and beach view. Adjacent to the "Funk Zone", Santa Barbara's premiere wine district, the wine list features an extensive selection of local wines in addition to a "no-corkage" policy on the first two bottles. Winner of numerous awards, including Best Seafood, this owner operated gem features lunch, dinner, Happy Hour, a "Kids Live Well" Kid menu, full bar, heated patio, and is pet friendly. Well known for classics like Clam Chowder and Fish & Chips, Oysters on the half shell and numerous varieties of fresh fish, lobster and crab, Bluewater also operates fishing vessel "Pilikia" which specializes in the freshest caught local fish in town! Come in, Get Hooked!
A photo of Holdren's Santa Barbara restaurant
10. Holdren's Santa Barbara
4.5
Awesome(994)
Price: Expensive
• Steakhouse • Santa Barbara
Booked 26 times today
Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood, located on State Street, serves up a delicious and diverse menu of seafood and steaks, where the portions are always generous and the prices always reasonable. Our surf and turf menu, including our favorite bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp or our USDA prime steaks that are charbroiled over a mesquite grill, is complimented by an extensive wine list, a healthy assortment of premium spirits, and a selection of signature drinks. Daily meals can be enjoyed in our cozy, and dark saloon-inspired dining room, or on our outdoor patio. The indoor dining room is adorned with brown leather booths, dark wood paneling, and funky artwork lining the exposed brick walls. Holdren’s has been voted as the best steakhouse multiple times by the Santa Barbara Independent’s Reader’s Poll and by the Santa Barbara News Press’ Reader’s Choice Awards.

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See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Marcia
    Los Angeles •8 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    The food was amazing! Both my boyfriend and I started with the onion soup, which was cheesy and savory. I had the duck which was tender and extremely flavorful. My boyfriend had the filet that was also tender and juicy with a great pepper sauce. We were both extremely full, but opted for a scoop of lemon berry ice cream which was a perfect way to end the meal.
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    Bouchon - Santa BarbaraPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.9
  • ELSAVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 5 days ago
    One of the very best restaurants in Santa Barbara. The staff is always friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and professional. It’s easy to label the food as Californian or New/Contemporary American, yet there is a uniquely local vibe that permeates the entire menu. Each dish showcases its primary ingredients with often interesting and playful flavors and textures. Standouts from the current menu (December 2024) include the acorn papardelle, crispy pork belly with bbq beignets. The persimmon salad with Urfa vinegraitte perfectly balances out the richer dishes. Don’t skip the bread, which is made with an 11 year-old starter and is served warm. For dessert, the Baked California is never to be missed and should probably be trademarked. The Chamango, with its spot-on blend of Tajín, mango and chamoy is a celebration to and a tribute of the humble Mexican fruit stand that I really hope stays on the menu.
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    BarbareñoPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • Mary
    California Central Coast •4 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    Thank you to Tara and her amazing team for making my Birthday dinner so memorable! Everything was so delicious and beautiful. The hot oysters and tagliatelle seemed to be the tables favorite:) And the desserts!!! The cheesecake was perfection! Thank you again and I can’t wait to come back again:)
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    GalaPrice: Expensive• European• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • ElizabethVIP
    San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    I love this place; have been several times. I’ve only had dinner at the bar, so can’t speak to table service, but the bartenders work hard, and are funny, attentive and very knowledgeable about wines. The atmosphere is lively and sophisticated. Did I mention the food??? Pizza is amazing here. NY steak & frites is fantastic. Enjoy!
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    Intermezzo By Wine CaskPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.6
  • Lisa
    California Central Coast •52 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on 13 Oct 2024
    The Caesar Salad was fresh and the dressing was a tasty surprise. The Veal Milanese breading was crispy and paired nicely with the buttery, cheesy fettuccine. My friends both enjoyed their Spinach Ravioli and Pappardelle Vodka. Topped it off with us all sharing the Warm Lava Cake...delish!
    More info
    Chase RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Italian• Santa Barbara
    •
    3.3

Discover best date night restaurants in Santa Barbara

Discover the charm of Santa Barbara's dining scene, ideal for your next date night along the picturesque California Central Coast. Renowned for its romantic atmospheres and exquisite culinary offerings, Santa Barbara offers a variety of restaurants that cater perfectly to intimate evenings. From cozy Italian bistros with ambient lighting and classic cuisine to upscale establishments featuring locally-sourced ingredients and innovative dishes, each restaurant provides a unique experience tailored to making your date night special. Enjoy the added touch of attentive service and expertly paired wine lists that enhance your dining experience. Santa Barbara's restaurants not only promise delicious meals but also memorable moments in settings that blend comfort with sophistication. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a delightful evening with your loved one, the restaurants in Santa Barbara set the scene for romance and culinary delight.

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