Santa Barbara Culinary History Walking Tour

Travel is about immersing yourself in the local culture. One way to do that is through food. Join us for a delectable journey through Santa Barbara's vibrant food scene while soaking in its rich history and beautiful architecture. This two-hour Saturday morning adventure is perfect for food lovers and history buffs alike. Immerse yourself with the help of a local gifted storyteller passionate about living "La Dolce Vita." At 3 unique local restaurants within the Historic Theatre District you'll enjoy a guided, curated food tasting.
Equal parts food tasting and equal parts easy walking, this tour strikes a perfect balance of guided activity and epicurean exploration. See parts of Downtown Santa Barbara that most visitors miss, as we saunter through some of the hidden paseos and learn about the history of key iconic sights in the Historic Theatre District. At the end of the tour, you will have learned how to successfully navigate the Santa Barbara foodie scene like a seasoned local.

Meeting Point

1324 State St

1324 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

We will meet at Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro located in the Arlington Plaza. The cross street is Arlington Ave. I will be wearing a white Taste and See SB branded shirt.

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Arlington Plaza

1324 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

Our first stop transports you to the heart of Paris with a taste of authentic French cuisine fresh enough that it could easily come from a side walk cafe or boulangerie. Renaud and Nicole Gonthier founded Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro in anticipation of Santa Barbara's desire for and lack of a quality French pastry and croissant venue. Renaud's is the fulfillment of a life-long dream, that of creating refined pastries from the best ingredients available with a focus on quality and detail in every dish. Choose either Chocolate or Almond croissant. Savor the flaky goodness while you take in the classy yet casual vibes in the beautiful courtyard while also learning the interesting culinary pedigree of this restaurant's namesake. Fun fact: Renaud appeared on two episodes of The Food Network's Emeril Live. Then, in August of 2007, Renaud was again featured on The Food Network, this time on an episode of Sugar Rush with Warren Brown.

25 minutes

Arlington Theatre

1317 State St, , Santa Barbara, 93101-2647, California

Next, we talk about the history of Arlington Plaza, including the Arlington Hotel and the iconic Arlington Theatre on State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara’s historic theatre district. This area features a curated collection of the very best locally owned dining and retail in Santa Barbara.

15 minutes

Historic Walking Tour of Santa Barbara

122 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara, 93101-2216, California

In the El Pueblo Viejo Historic District, there are charming pedestrian walkways, called paseos, that snake through Santa Barbara and are often overlooked by visitors. Dating back to Spanish California days, they were expanded when the downtown was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1925. It is here, along these twists and turns, that past and present are nestled side by side, with some buildings dating from the 1700s through the 1800s and embodies the best of Santa Barbara's Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. In this section, we will explore the former VIP limousine entrance as well as the transformed 125 space parking lot on the north side of the iconic Arlington Theater.

10 minutes

Santa Barbara Public Market

38 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

Next, we explore the premier open-space food hall of the Public Market, a Santa Barbara legacy that showcases the incomparable bounty of California’s Central Coast since 2014. This unique space was the first and only of its kind in Santa Barbara; a space created to be shared by multiple restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and food counters that would allow for newer restaurateurs to try out novel ideas. Here you will find a wide selection of artisanal food and drinks to please any palate, conveniently located under one roof.

10 minutes

Santa Barbara Public Market

38 W Victoria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

On our second stop we will introduce you to the best deli experience outside of Los Angeles. Choose either Big Poppa: pastrami, egg, new school American cheese and cream cheese on a toasted half bagel, or Cheezy Eggs: eggs, new school American cheese, and cream cheese on a toasted half bagel. Wexler’s Deli uses old-school methods to handcraft their pastrami. After curing in a special blend of salt and spices, their meats are slowly smoked in house over apple wood and sliced by hand. The late, great Jonathan Gold called their pastrami as good as L.A. institution Langer’s, with the smoke on both meats as good as it gets. Equally impressive is their culinary pedigree. Kassar came to be the Deli King through working under Michelin-starred names like Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud in NYC and then ran front of house at Spago for five years. Fun fact: Santa Barbara Public Market owner Travis Twining did a taste test of all Los Angeles pastrami, then chose Wexler's and came looking for him!

25 minutes

The Granada Theatre

1214 State St, , Santa Barbara, 93101-2608, California

Prepare to discover white stucco walls, memorable red tile roofs, flower bedecked courtyards, hidden passageways, notable restaurants, world-class performing arts theaters and museums. The next paseo we encounter is Victoria Court. Once we get through the maze to the other side, we will take a little stroll on State Street past the iconic 1924 Granada Theater. This is home to the Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, and Opera Santa Barbara. Then we meander through the San Marcos Building. Exiting this pre-1925 arcade brings us right in front of the 1941 Santa Barbara Museum of Art, a building that was at one time the Santa Barbara Post Office (1912–1932). Now, it is home to a collection of ancient through contemporary works and photography represented by Asian, European and American artists. Afterward, we make our way through our last charming paseo. Lined with restaurants, shops and galleries, the 1926 La Arcada will definitely evoke images of Spain.

10 minutes

The Historic La Arcada Courtyard

1114 State St, Santa Barbara, 93101-2717, California

Our final tasting stop is a sweet treat in a grown-up Candyland. Indulge in what many locals and visitors alike consider to be the best donut in town, a perfect finale to our culinary exploration. Although the aesthetic is carefully curated for Instagram-worthy shots, there is nothing superficial about their truly delicious menu. Inspired by nouveau donut artists such as Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica, Hook & Press is taking what a typical donut shop would do and elevates it by using an overnight brioche dough made with European-style butter, eggs, whole milk, sugar, and salt. Then prepare to satiate all your sugar-laden dreams by enjoying a sample off their gourmet donut menu which changes seasonally. Angela Borda wrote in Food & Home Magazine that the “donut masterpieces” are “unusual enough that people are tagging them on Instagram". Fun fact: “Hook” refers to the mixing attachment used to make the dough, and “Press” for coffee, which is the donut's finest accompaniment.

25 minutes