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Restaurants near Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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36 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Bouchon - Santa Barbara restaurant
1. Bouchon - Santa Barbara
4.8
Exceptional(5410)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 31 times today
We are delighted to have added additional outdoor seating but Santa Barbara nights are chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket!Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with care. Excellent wines that reflect the quality and character of our region and work in concert with the cuisine. Warm, inviting ambiance, service at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Santa Barbara ‘Wine Country Cuisine’ means we source our ingredients using an ‘as-fresh-and-as-local-as-possible’ approach, with fish from the Santa Barbara Channel and produce from the surrounding countryside. We then take into account how these flavors can be presented in concert with our local wines. We believe you’ll taste the difference. Bon Appètit!
A photo of OKU restaurant
2. OKU
4.7
Exceptional(1735)
Price: Expensive
• Asian • Santa Barbara
Booked 58 times today
Tina Takaya, proprietor, welcomes you to our newest two story restaurant on the water. We feel the key to success is our passion for creating the highest quality food and warm friendly service. We hope you will enjoy your experience as much as we enjoyed creating it for you."We want Locals to feel like Family and Visitors to feel like Locals"Our menu draws from Asian favorites that inspire and excite such as Wagyu Steak, Japanese Sushi, Chinese Dumplings, Garlic Noodles and fresh local seafood.We are located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Funk Zone Districts. Come enjoy lunch or dinner, soak in the sun by day at our waterfront rooftop bar while sipping on a refreshing cocktail surrounded by our beautiful ocean vista and by night, enjoy lounging by the fireplace after a delicious meal and a great glass of wine.Our chef uses the freshest ingredients from central coast farmers and local fisherman to create dishes with the best of what California has to offer.
A photo of Opal Restaurant & Bar restaurant
3. Opal Restaurant & Bar
4.8
Exceptional(1738)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 31 times today
We have inside and limited outdoor sidewalk dining. If you prefer to sit outside, please indicate that with your reservation request. To accommodate our second seating, early parties should plan for a maximum stay of 1.5 to 2hrs, depending on party size. Please call 805 966 9676 for more details. A popular local’s favorite, opal restaurant & bar’s Eclectic California Cuisine fuses creative world cuisine influences with American Regional touches, from a 14 oz. Herb-Grilled Ribeye Steak on Tuscan White Beans, to Fresh Pan-Seared Fish & Seafood, Homemade Pastas, Gourmet Pizzas, fresh Baked Breads, imaginative Salads, & Homemade Desserts. We have a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, & a full bar with seasonal Craft Cocktails. Our entire dining room staff assists to take care of each table, enabling exceptional service in a warm engaging manner, properly nuanced to your mood & taste. Our staff genuinely cares about giving you the best possible experience!
A photo of Barbareño restaurant
4. Barbareño
4.8
Exceptional(1874)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 14 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 Secret Bao restaurant
5. Secret Bao
4.8
Exceptional(659)
Price: Expensive
• Asian • Santa Barbara
Booked 28 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 Toma Restaurant & Bar restaurant
6. Toma Restaurant & Bar
4.7
Exceptional(5470)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • Santa Barbara
Booked 46 times today
Toma Restaurant and Bar a waterfront bistro, located along Santa Barbara's picturesque Cabrillo Blvd. Experience Santa Barbara waterfront's most romantic restaurant. Savor exquisite Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes from Santa Barbara's seasonal bounty, supporting our local fisherman, farmers, foragers and food artisans. Pour over local and Italian wines along with a full bar of handcrafted cocktails and spirits. Enjoy warm and attentive service while dining window side with a view of the enchanting Santa Barbara harbor.
A photo of Bluewater Grill - Santa Barbara restaurant
7. Bluewater Grill - Santa Barbara
4.4
Awesome(634)
Price: Expensive
• Seafood • Santa Barbara
Booked 25 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 Bibi Ji restaurant
8. Bibi Ji
4.3
Awesome(312)
Price: Expensive
• Indian • Santa Barbara
Booked 23 times today
Modern Indian food featuring local produce and seafood paired with a robust low-intervention wine program curated by Alejandro Medina and James Beard Award winner Rajat Parr. Located directly across the street from the historic Granada Theatre in the heart of Santa Barbara's ARTS District. Join us in our lively, signature pastel pink dining room. Michelin Guide Central Coast Selection 2021, 2022 and 2023
A photo of Olio e Limone Ristorante restaurant
9. Olio e Limone Ristorante
4.8
Exceptional(2535)
Price: Very Expensive
• Italian • Santa Barbara
Booked 16 times today
Olio e Limone Ristorante, located in downtown Santa Barbara's ARTS District, serves artisanal Italian cuisine. Meaning “oil and lemon” in Italian, their restaurant’s name reflects husband-wife team Alberto and Elaine Morello’s philosophy: rely on the integrity of the ingredients and quality of the preparation to provide Santa Barbara diners “simply sophisticated” Italian cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere with European hospitality. Start with eggplant souffle, then tuck into a plate of house made duck ravioli or Sicilian spaghetti with bottarga. And be sure to take home a bottle of their own olio, an organic extra-virgin olive oil made from Sicilian olive varieties. Bonus: their contemporary Italian breakfast, lunch & retail spot Olio Bottega, and authentic pizzeria next door at Olio Pizzeria. Private dining in the Cucina Room for up to 40 guests.
A photo of The Black Sheep SB Brasserie restaurant
10. The Black Sheep SB Brasserie
4.8
Exceptional(695)
Price: Expensive
• Contemporary French / American • Santa Barbara
Booked 23 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.

Dining near Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History at a glance

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Bouchon - Santa Barbara

4.8

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See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • OpenTable Dinervip
    New Orleans / Louisiana •14 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Wonderful late evening dinner. We will be back! Everything was delicious!
    More info
    Bouchon - Santa BarbaraPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • Darcyvip
    Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities •22 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    One of my absolute favorite placed in Santa Barbara! If you care about what ingredients you put into your body this is the place for you! Homemade breads, dressings, sauces. Locally sourced. All the dishes are truly unique and special. They change the menu so currently my favorites are the Hamburger, lamb dish, persimmon salad. I do miss their smashed crispy potatoes so I DO HOPE they bring those back!!
    More info
    BarbareñoPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • Molllyvip
    Los Angeles •25 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    We live Secret Bao. Our neighborhood go to. But it gets so loud it’s hard to have a conversation. Hard surfaces bounce sound around. Food is delish. Servers work their butts off and are always polite & helpful.
    More info
    Secret BaoPrice: Expensive• Asian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • Emily
    San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    The experience was exactly whay we hoped for and then some. We asked to be seated near a heater since they only had outdoor seating left (late November) and this request was met! I’m told they also have blankets if the heater isn’t enough for you. The waiter was extremely accommodating and happily answered ~10 questions for us about the menu before we actually ordered. The food is wonderful as is the service. The free valet is a great perk as well, especially during busy season. All around great experience.
    More info
    OKUPrice: Expensive• Asian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.7
  • Annette
    California Central Coast •10 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    Always the best dining experience in SB. Wonderful food and service.... welcoming staff makes it even more special
    More info
    Opal Restaurant & BarPrice: Expensive• Californian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8

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