Over the holidays, we traveled to California to explore Santa Barbara and Solvang with our sibling, Rae. We all love antiques and tiki bars, so it was the perfect place for us! What you’ll find here is a bit different from what we’re used to on the east coast. We enjoyed seeing more Scandinavian furniture and MCM style decor.
Where to Shop
The stores we visited here were very funky and right up our collective alleys. It was hard not to buy it all, but we were flying home so that limited us to some degree!
Antique Alley– The downtown Santa Barbara locale has a little bit of everything, including Danish furniture, collectibles, and jewelry.
Pieces of the Past– Located in the Danish town of Solvang, around two hours away, this was one of our absolute favorites during this trip. The MCM decor was incredible, especially the glassware.
Old Town Antiques– Another Santa Barbara shop, this one has vintage records, books, collectibles, and furniture.
Santa Ynez General– While not an antique store, this is a trendy boutique with clothing and decor in between Santa Barbara and Solvang.
Urban Flea Market– This Santa Barbara store was like a labyrinth with each room funkier than the last. Come here for tiki shirts, velvet paintings, and everything you didn’t know you needed.
Vanderlei Vintage– The small Solvang shop has furniture and decor from both close to home and around the globe.
The Vintage Fox– Set in an old house in Santa Barbara, it’s easy to find goodies for your own abode here.
Where to Eat
One thing I knew before we went was that the food in this area is incredible. So whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in the Central Coast!
Santa Barbara
Cold Spring Tavern– The former stagecoach stop is now an old-school restaurant open for lunch and dinner.
Corazon Comedor– The Mexican spot is one of the best restaurants in town and, best of all, has breakfast offerings like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.
The Lark– This was one of our favorite meals in town, with its craft cocktails and delicious and beautiful dishes, including the crudo in California avocado.
Little Dom’s Seafood– The Carpinteria spot is ideal for seafood with a view, especially the fried fish sandwich and the squid ink pappardelle.
Oat Bakery– Start your day at this charming bakery, with its fresh-baked pastries and bread.
Sama Sama– The cozy Southeast Asian restaurant reminded us of our travels. We loved the tamarind soy wings and stir fried noodles, plus cocktails with fresh fruit juices.
Santa Barbara Public Market– We love a food hall so that we can get whatever we want and this was no different. We loved the breakfast tacos!
Solvang
Bob’s Well Bread– I knew about this roadside bakery from a previous trip and the fresh-baked breads and hearty breakfasts were as good as I remembered. They have locations in Ballard and Los Alamos.
Ellen’s Danish Pancake House- Solvang is known for its Danish fare and this is one of the old-school favorites!
Hitching Post 2– This restaurant is the best place to get West Coast style barbecue, paired with one of the region’s best wines.
Where to Drink
Santa Barbara is the gateway to wine country, so if that’s what you’re after, there are some great tasting rooms in town. Solvang has several as well, but both have unique watering holes as well.
Santa Barbara
Pali Wine Co.- This wine room in the Funk Zone came highly recommended and we enjoyed a tasting of the lineup with a side of snacks.
Shaker Mill– The light-filled watering hole had fantastic and refreshing drinks and is an ideal stopover on your day of shopping.
Test Pilot– The tiki-inspired spot was the perfect spot for a nightcap after a nice dinner.
Wildcat Lounge- We followed the neon lights to this LGBTQ+ spot, with free chicken tenders and great drinks. The space feels like Old Vegas and we absolutely loved it!
Solvang
There are several tasting rooms to check out, depending on the style you’re interested in. Alma Rosa, Toccata, Crawford Family, Casa Cassara, Sanger, and Feliz Noche are just a few to choose from. Sunstone and Brave & Maiden are two wineries between Santa Barbara and Solvang you can easily visit.
High Roller Tiki Lounge was such a fun spot! The bar has its own signature drinking vessels for the tropical drinks. It’s also right next to an antique store, so we obviously loved it.
The area also has some breweries we didn’t make it to, including Firestone Walker Brewery in Buellton and Solvang Brewing.
Where to Stay
We knew we wanted to stay in Santa Barbara since there’s more to do there. The city has some really beautiful hotels and resorts including waterfront spots and rentals if you’re traveling with a group.
Kimpton Canary was our home base and we absolutely loved the complimentary morning coffee and afternoon wine, the pet-friendly rooms (we made lots of furry friends!) and the rooftop pool, where I sat and read every morning. We stayed in a suite and were able to spread out.
What to See Nearby
Santa Barbara has more to do than shopping, if that’s what you’re into!
Old Mission Santa Barbara– See what started it all, the Franciscan mission now home to a museum and mausoleum.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden– Roam around the plants at this sprawling site with native flora.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art– It’s nice to have a rainy day option and this museum is just that, featuring works from the ancient world and modern times, including Santa Barbara artists.
Antiquing and Drinking 
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