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Stella Mare's, Santa Barbara, CA

Stella Mare's

4.8
4.8
2313 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

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2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
French country bistro...Between Montecito and Santa Barbara, Stella Mare's Bistro is located in a historic Victorian home overlooking the Bird Refuge. French country cuisine rules the menu, with dishes like coq au vin, cassoulet, and moules frites. Sip seasonal cocktails amid cozy décor -- all the right ingredients for a great dining experience. Bon appétit!

When requesting the greenhouse please note that is considered indoor dining.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (805) 969-6705
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Roth Ironside
  • Catering
    Stella Mare’s Restaurant is host to rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthdays, and holiday celebrations, as well as corporate luncheons and dinners. We accommodate private parties of 10 to 130 guests.
  • Private party facilities
    The Private Dining Room An intimate room filled with unique artwork and antiques with windows overlooking the historic bird refuge. Minimum for reservation: 8 Maximum capacity: 14 The Ocean Room and Terrace A beautiful, private room opening onto an outdoor terrace, perfect for socializing with friends during a cocktail hour. Minimum for exclusive reservation: 20 Maximum capacity: 30 The Greenhouse This spectacular glass enclosed room creates the perfect romantic ambiance for any event with its custom built bar, fireplace, cozy couches, and views of the bird refuge. Minimum for exclusive reservation: 30 Maximum capacity: 50
  • Area
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross Street
    Cabrillo
  • Parking details
    Our private parking lot is adjacent to the Greenhouse side of the restaurant and wraps around the building next door. We also have parking directly in front, as well as street parking in front and across the street from the restaurant.
  • Public transit
    Bus stop at the corner of Cabrillo blvd and Los Patos way (our street).
  • Entertainment
    Live Jazz on Wednesday nights, in the greenhouse by the fire.
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
Gift card

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What 2,313 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • California Central Coast

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Overall

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Ambience

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Value

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for brunch

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for groups

  • Santa Barbara

    Romantic

  • Santa Barbara

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Stella Mare's is a charming French restaurant in Santa Barbara that exudes the essence of Parisian dining. Patrons rave about its "excellent food" and "impeccable service," with many highlighting the "beautiful ambiance" and "romantic setting." The menu features classic French dishes like cassoulet and coq au vin, making it a "hidden gem" for lovers of French cuisine. Despite its impending closure, Stella Mare's remains a beloved local treasure where "wonderful meals" and "memorable experiences" are guaranteed.

2,313 Reviews
  1. Jennifer

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every time we dine at Stella Mare's we have a top notch experience. The food is always perfectly prepared, the staff is very attentive and kind and the value can't be beat. We are very sad they are closing at the end of the year but wish the entire staff all the best. Thank you for all the great years of service!

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  2. Gabriele

    VIP

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent! Sad they’re closing down they’re very good

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  3. Wendy

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful Brunch ambience in “greenhouse” room overlooking Bird Refuge area…great ambience for Sunday Brunch with Christmas decorations and fireplace, warm & cozy! Superb food and reasonable cost, super service…so sorry this wonderful restaurant is closing after 26 yrs🙏 It’s a gem & has been a special celebratory location for several family events♥️🥰…a one of a kind place!

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  4. Susan

    VIP

    Chicago

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful as always at Stella Mare. So sad they are being forced to close end of this month.

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  5. Michael

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We’ve never had a less than “Stellar” experience at Stella Mares. We are sorry to see it close, but congratulations for twenty nine years of excellence.

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  6. Diana

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Too bad Stella Mare’s is closing December 31st 2024. Lost their lease. No place to relocate. A new “unnamed” restaurant will be taking over.

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  7. Ken

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stella Mare's is due to close permanently as of 12/31/2024 allegedly because the new property owner would not allow the restaurant to sign a new lease. This is a sad situation for Santa Barbara, since the restaurant is an absolute gem, with nothing like it anywhere around. It will be a big loss for all who enjoy excellent cuisine.

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  8. Clarinda

    Central Coast

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    So sorry, the legendary Stellamar is closing. OpenTable indicated there were no reservations available, but when I looked again at 6 PM, I found a table for two! Festively decorated for Christmas with sparkling fairy lights in the greenhouse above the roaring fireplace. Feel so lucky to have enjoyed Stellamar these many years and so sorry it’s closing.

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  9. Sharon

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love Stella Mare's...have been going there for more than 20 years...and I'm very sad that it is closing on January 1st. The old French country house ambiance is so enjoyable, and the food is wonderful. I truly hope they will find a suitable new location in Santa Barbara and reopen soon. It's especially troubling that the building will become a Mexican restaurant. I love Mexican food, but it's not as if we don't already have more Mexican restaurants than a town the size of Santa Barbara could possibly need! Farewell, Stella...hope to see you again soon.

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  10. Marilynn

    VIP

    Central Coast

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We will miss Stella Mare😒. It is unique and. cannot be replaced. We only hope the restaurant will find a new home. We will be there!!

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FAQs

Stella Mare's offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 969-6705.

Stella Mare's is rated 4.8 stars by 2313 OpenTable diners.

Stella Mare's does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Stella Mare's

50 Los Patos Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Cabrillo
  • Area
    Santa Barbara
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Our private parking lot is adjacent to the Greenhouse side of the restaurant and wraps around the building next door. We also have parking directly in front, as well as street parking in front and across the street from the restaurant.
  • Public transit
    Bus stop at the corner of Cabrillo blvd and Los Patos way (our street).
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Roth Ironside
  • Entertainment
    Live Jazz on Wednesday nights, in the greenhouse by the fire.
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Phone number
    (805) 969-6705
  • Catering
    Stella Mare’s Restaurant is host to rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthdays, and holiday celebrations, as well as corporate luncheons and dinners. We accommodate private parties of 10 to 130 guests.
  • Private party facilities
    The Private Dining Room An intimate room filled with unique artwork and antiques with windows overlooking the historic bird refuge. Minimum for reservation: 8 Maximum capacity: 14 The Ocean Room and Terrace A beautiful, private room opening onto an outdoor terrace, perfect for socializing with friends during a cocktail hour. Minimum for exclusive reservation: 20 Maximum capacity: 30 The Greenhouse This spectacular glass enclosed room creates the perfect romantic ambiance for any event with its custom built bar, fireplace, cozy couches, and views of the bird refuge. Minimum for exclusive reservation: 30 Maximum capacity: 50
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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