Mona Holmes is an editor at Eater Southern California/Southwest, a regular contributor at KCRW radio, and a 2022 James Beard Award nominee.
As the weather warms up (hopefully soon) and road trips beckon, the Santa Barbara shore is ready for its close-up. Few Angelenos need an excuse to trek two hours north of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. A California destination jewel, Santa Barbara is inarguably one of the state’s most popular coastal regions, with good reason: The always-bustling State Street, wine tasting rooms set into beautiful Spanish-style buildings, and freshly caught seafood among them. In 2025, a slate of fresh openings is lined up for Santa Barbara, tony Montecito, college kid haven Goleta, and the surrounding areas. Since late 2024, Santa Barbara has seen some stellar new projects debut or reopen, like French bistro Bar Lou and the extensive renovation to Stearns Wharf’s longstanding Harbor Restaurant. Below is a round-up of what’s coming to the American Riviera.
If you somehow require further persuasion as to why Santa Barbara is a fantastic getaway right now, check Eater’s Santa Barbara 24-hour guide or essential Santa Barbara restaurants map.
Santa Barbara
Dom’s Taverna
Projected Opening: Early June…