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Restaurants near Santa Barbara Bowl

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114 restaurants available nearby

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A photo of The Lark - Santa Barbara restaurant
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1. The Lark - Santa Barbara
4.7
Exceptional(2441)
$$$$
• Contemporary American • Santa Barbara
Booked 108 times today
For Large Party reservations (8+ guests), please reach out to host@thelarksb.comThe Lark pays homage to the history of California train travel and tributes the treasured and long gone Santa Barbara Fish Market, built in the 1920’s as a commercial fish processing plant, shipping their seafood products throughout the state by rail. With an imaginative yet approachable menu created by the gifted Jason Paluska, The Lark celebrates everything found around Santa Barbara County – wineries, farms, ocean and natural beauty. The stunning design strives to connect to the past and the future, using discovered objects from the past and blending them with modern, urban and industrial materials to spectacular effect.
A photo of Loquita restaurant
2. Loquita
4.7
Exceptional(767)
$$$$
• Spanish • Santa Barbara
Booked 80 times today
Located at the gateway to Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, Loquita serves Spanish-inspired tapas, wood-fired seafood and meats, and signature seasonal paella crafted with locally sourced ingredients.Our wine list features premier Spanish varietals and exceptional local wines that pair perfectly with the menu, while our cocktail program highlights Spanish vermouths, farmers’ market Sangria, and the king of Spanish cocktails — the Gin-and-Tonic.Experience the warmth, flavor, and spirit of Spain — right here in Santa Barbara.
A photo of OKU restaurant
3. OKU
4.7
Exceptional(2055)
$$$$
• Asian • Santa Barbara
Booked 70 times today
Tina Takaya, proprietor, welcomes you to our newest two story restaurant on the water. We feel the key to success is our passion for creating the highest quality food and warm friendly service. We hope you will enjoy your experience as much as we enjoyed creating it for you."We want Locals to feel like Family and Visitors to feel like Locals"Our menu draws from Asian favorites that inspire and excite such as Wagyu Steak, Japanese Sushi, Chinese Dumplings, Garlic Noodles and fresh local seafood.We are located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Funk Zone Districts. Come enjoy lunch or dinner, soak in the sun by day at our waterfront rooftop bar while sipping on a refreshing cocktail surrounded by our beautiful ocean vista and by night, enjoy lounging by the fireplace after a delicious meal and a great glass of wine.Our chef uses the freshest ingredients from central coast farmers and local fisherman to create dishes with the best of what California has to offer.
A photo of Ospi Montecito restaurant
4. Ospi Montecito
4.6
Exceptional(149)
$$$$
• Italian • Santa Barbara
Booked 44 times today
Cal-Italian coastal elegance never tasted so good. Ospi Montecito at The Post is Chef Jackson Kalb’s newest destination for your favorite dinner party.Building on the success of Ospi Venice, Brentwood, and Costa Mesa, we’re serving up our must-try house-made pastas and crispy Romana-tonda pizzas, plus our first-ever breakfast offering, and an exclusive wood-grilled selection featuring locally sourced meat, seafood, and seasonal vegetables from our top-quality vendors. Thoughtfully curated wines and inventive craft cocktails make it the perfect place for a dining destination any time of day.Ospi Montecito reimagines Italian cuisine with modern sophistication, delivering a dining experience as effortlessly refined as the community it calls home.
A photo of Toma Restaurant & Bar restaurant
5. Toma Restaurant & Bar
4.8
Exceptional(5843)
$$$$
• Italian • Santa Barbara
Booked 31 times today
Toma Restaurant and Bar a waterfront bistro, located along Santa Barbara's picturesque Cabrillo Blvd. Experience Santa Barbara waterfront's most romantic restaurant. Savor exquisite Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes from Santa Barbara's seasonal bounty, supporting our local fisherman, farmers, foragers and food artisans. Pour over local and Italian wines along with a full bar of handcrafted cocktails and spirits. Enjoy warm and attentive service while dining window side with a view of the enchanting Santa Barbara harbor.
A photo of Tre Lune restaurant
6. Tre Lune
4.8
Exceptional(2291)
$$$$
• Italian • Montecito
Booked 57 times today
"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010 Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails. Award Winner of Italian wines list.Please call to make reservations.
A photo of Bouchon - Santa Barbara restaurant
7. Bouchon - Santa Barbara
4.8
Exceptional(5737)
$$$$
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 29 times today
We are delighted to have added additional outdoor seating but Santa Barbara nights are chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket!Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with care. Excellent wines that reflect the quality and character of our region and work in concert with the cuisine. Warm, inviting ambiance, service at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Santa Barbara ‘Wine Country Cuisine’ means we source our ingredients using an ‘as-fresh-and-as-local-as-possible’ approach, with fish from the Santa Barbara Channel and produce from the surrounding countryside. We then take into account how these flavors can be presented in concert with our local wines. We believe you’ll taste the difference. Bon Appètit!
A photo of Paloma restaurant
8. Paloma
4.8
Exceptional(104)
$$$$
• Bistro • Santa Barbara
Booked 53 times today
Tucked in Santa Barbara’s historic Presidio neighborhood, Paloma is a true locals’ haunt with deep roots and fresh energy. Executive Chef John Parker, known for his wood-fired cooking and ingredient-driven menus, creates bold, seasonal dishes like oak-grilled tri-tip, citrusy carnitas, and fresh-caught fish that celebrate the Central Coast. Housed in a 100-year-old building near State Street and downtown theaters, Paloma blends a warm, welcoming vibe with vibrant flavors and standout service. Guests love the cozy dining room, lively bar, and plant-filled patios—voted Best Sidewalk Cafe and Best Mocktails by the Santa Barbara Independent. Whether it’s date night, a family meal, or drinks with friends, this is a neighborhood spot you’ll want to return to again and again.
A photo of Secret Bao restaurant
9. Secret Bao
4.8
Exceptional(928)
$$$$
• Asian • Santa Barbara
Booked 30 times today
Contemporary Asian American Restaurant from Chefs Peter Lee & Felicia Medina. "Consider the bao. Chinese in origin, it’s most easily described as a steamed bun filled with something savory. Yet, like the American concept of a sandwich, the bao exploded into a flexible format of untold bounds — served at any meal, filled with you-name-it, completely closed or wide open, with endless regional variants from across Asia and far beyond." - Matt Kettmann (SB Independent)1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Bao, Food, Restaurant, Asian, American, New, Modern, Fried, Chicken, Octopus, Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design
A photo of Opal Restaurant & Bar restaurant
10. Opal Restaurant & Bar
4.9
Exceptional(2031)
$$$$
• Californian • Santa Barbara
Booked 17 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!

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Dining near Santa Barbara Bowl at a glance

Updated on

Most popular restaurant

popular restaurant

sakana

5

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Exceptional reviews

Most popular cuisine

popular cuisine

Italian

Average check amount

$31 to $50

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Edgar
    Los Angeles •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Loquita was amazing! They really know how to make their guests feel special. Love this place. Will come back!
    More info
    Loquita$$$$• Spanish• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.7
  • Kendra
    2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Great experience as always. The team was accommodating and helpful, the food was top notch and the birthday celebration they did for my mother in law way extremely kind and thoughtful
    More info
    The Lark - Santa Barbara$$$$• Contemporary American• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.7
  • carole
    California Central Coast •10 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 3 days ago
    We were greeted by Sam and treated exceptionally well. We had guests from out of town who commented on the VIP treatment y and the delicious foods. We very much enjoyed everything
    More info
    Toma Restaurant & Bar$$$$• Italian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.8
  • Carly
    Kansas City / Kansas •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    Amazing! Everybody loves Raymond roll was so good
    More info
    OKU$$$$• Asian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.7
  • NoraGold
    Los Angeles •18 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on May 1, 2026
    Great food and ambiance, service gracious and efficient. The thin crust pizza keeps bringing us back - it's fantastic. We have consistently had a wonderful experience. We really enjoyed participating in restaurant week - Ospi had a terrific menu at a great price for the special week. Thanks to Ospi for the hospitality.
    More info
    Ospi Montecito$$$$• Italian• Santa Barbara
    •
    4.6

Discover best restaurants near Santa Barbara Bowl

The Santa Barbara Bowl is a stunning outdoor amphitheater known for its lively performances and scenic surroundings, making it a beloved gathering place in the area. Where to Eat Near Santa Barbara Bowl? Just a short stroll from the Bowl, you'll discover a diverse dining scene fit for any occasion. Options range from casual Italian eateries serving homemade pastas and pizzas to inviting American taverns featuring local craft beers and comfort food favorites. Enjoy lively California cuisine that highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients, or savor upscale Mediterranean dishes paired with fine wines. The ambiance around the Bowl is vibrant, inviting diners to relax before or after a show. Whether you're in the mood for a cozy dinner, a quick bite, or drinks with friends, there’s plenty to choose from that captures the essence of Santa Barbara's culinary landscape.

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