The Perfect Two Days in Montecito

If you’ve seen some of my recent blog posts, you know that I made a guide to the perfect weekend in Santa Barbara and Montecito. The blog highlighted some of my favorite restaurants, activities, and hotels in the city and I hope that some of you found it interesting and helpful for your next visit! I was so pleased with the guide that I decided to take my own advice and have a little excursion in the sunny city of Montecito!

This blog post is filled with spots that I ventured to during my most recent time in Montecito, as well as what I did during the slower moments. The blog re-highlights some spots that I mentioned before, but with added details so that you can fully enjoy your stay the next time you’re in town!

Day 1:

The first day is always the best (and busiest) day in my opinion. Traveling to a new city (even if it is close by) is very fun and exciting, but the feeling of wanting to do everything can take over! Here’s how I spent my first day in Santa Barbara - and how I did everything I could without getting burnt out!

Morning:

We arrived to the Montecito Inn pretty late the first night, but that didn’t stop me from waking up early and going for a nice, beachside stroll. I grabbed my morning americano and perused around the block before hitting Butterfly Beach. Butterfly Beach is one of my favorite beaches in Santa Barbara because it is lined with gorgeous beach-front properties that make my heart sing. I enjoy walking because it allows me to take in what’s around me, and dipping my toes in the waves makes waking up early seem not so bad! The fresh morning air is always my go-to way to start the day.

Mid-Morning:

It was breakfast time, so we decided to stop in at Jeannine’s Bakery and grab a pastry! Jeannine’s is a Santa Barbara & Montecito staple, and their pastries are to die for! If you are looking for a fresh and healthy breakfast to start your day with, I would highly suggest going to Jeannine’s!

After eating, we were ready to shop - and headed straight to Wendy Foster . In addition, as we were shopping, I decided to make a quick visit to Hogue and Co.! Hogue and Co. is a beautiful wedding and floral design company that made the floral arrangements for my wedding !

Early Lunch:

Whenever I am in Montecito, I always try to have at least one lunch or dinner at Plow & Angel on the grounds of San Ysidro Ranch. This gorgeous restaurant is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the best food and wine in the area. I always tend to stay at the restaurant for far too long because of the ambiance and exquisite views.

Afternoon Snack:

Coast & Olive is a fantastic restaurant right in from of the Montecito Inn and serves up some amazing and fresh dishes. For this visit, we treated ourselves with a platter of fresh-caught oysters paired with an iceberg salad. Oh - and a martini of course…Loved our experience here!

Night:

After freshening up from a much needed lounge day, it’s time for dinner! When I tell you that Oliver’s is my favorite vegetarian restaurant, I am serious! This spot is my go-to whenever I am in Montecito and I recommend it to everyone whenever they are in town! Oliver’s has some of the best vegetarian food I have ever eaten and I wish they would open up a location in LA! All of my friends, vegetarian or not, have raved about this place and for good reason. Their food is always fresh and deliciously prepared and perfect for any and all kinds of diets!

Day 2:

Usually on the second day of a short trip, I try and get in everything that I couldn’t do on the first day! For this trip specifically, I was especially determined to make as many no ordinary moments as possible!

Morning:

After I put on one of my favorite dress and hat combinations, I decided to take a stroll around the Rosewood Miramar Hotel. This hotel has been in Montecito for years and serves as a popular wedding location thanks in part to both its romantic location and luxurious design. I took my time walking around the grounds! For lunch, we went to the beautiful Miramar Beach Bar for some tacos and a glass of Whispering Angel.

Mid-Morning:

The Miramar Beach Bar is a lovely spot where you can order delicious food and drinks while enjoying the view. I highly recommend stopping by this location!

Afternoon: Summerland!

After lunch we decided to go to Summerland for a few hours! We strolled to Field + Fort to sit down and grab a coffee and snack! Field + Fort is a luxury home store with an amazing cafe inside called Feast. It recently opened up in 2019 and has flourished ever since! After a snack, some store browsing and more picture taking, I was ready for the next adventure!

Evening:

After a long and fun day, I made sure we were going to make the most of our departure!

We stopped by The Honor Bar for some great conversation and a glass of rosé.

However, saving the best for last, we ended our amazing trip with sushi at Sushi Bar Montecito! This was not only some of the best sushi I have ever had, but one of my favorite meals to date. I 110% recommend going there - such an experience!

It is always so hard to leave such a beautiful place like Montecito, but I know that there will be many more adventures here to come! As we were leaving, the sun started to set and turn a lovely shade of blue, purple and pink, so naturally I had to pull over and enjoy the view!

I hope this guide was helpful to all of you who have not visited Montecito before and if you have, I hope I highlighted a couple of great new spots for you to try out next time you travel!