Napa has to be one of the best places on Earth. But every now and then, the spirit and the situation seem to call for the thrill of the open road, an escape from the everyday. That’s what Chris and I had on our minds anyway, when we opted for a quick weekend jaunt to Santa Barbara in favor of our normal routines here at Alexandrie Cellars.
Sharing our favorite parts of the trip seemed like a fun way to start our blog, a place for wine industry news, fashion, art, design and lifestyle features, local events and most importantly, a way for us to connect with our clients and friends. With that in mind, please feel free to share your ideas and comments. I would love to hear from you.
If you are considering a quick weekend trip to Santa Barbara, I have to recommend staying for at least a night at the Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito. They have amazing ocean views, beach access and they even have these neat Fiat Jolly cars (pictured here) that you can drive around the property! You can tell from the picture I thought this was a cool thing to do.
Before I get too off topic though, I have to tell you about our stop on the way in, at Malibu Farm. They have an unbelievable location, right on the water in Montecito. The nachos were on point and the fried chicken sandwich was to-die-for!
Our time at the Rosewood started out with some bubbles and cocktails at the Miramar beach bar and the manor bar. They had amazing service, and there were dining options as well. To top it off, they are both family and dog friendly, something that can be hard to find sometimes. I could go on and on about this place, but that is enough for now.
Here are a few more tips and favorites from us, to help you make the most out of your experience in Santa Barbara. For the second night, we had a fun location in downtown Santa Barbara, walking distance from all the bars and restaurants—plus—wine and beer tastings in the revitalized Funk Zone.
We stayed at the Hotel Californian, one of the newest hotels in the area. According to the website, the rooms blend “classic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with Moroccan influences and rare custom furnishings from celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard,” and both of us would have to agree, the place was incredible. It is something you have to see in person to really appreciate, and that is one of many reasons it’s worth a trip.
Some really unique cocktails were on the menu at Djinn, the bar at the Hotel Californian. Just check out the video! After working up an appetite with some high-quality refreshments, we took a stroll to Brophy Bros., a fun local hangout with super fresh seafood, gorgeous harbor and mountain views.
After such a great few days we didn’t want it to end! That is partially why we decided to finish the night at The Good Lion, a cocktail bar on State Street with a variety of beautiful, tasty concoctions. I loved the coffee Negroni, definitely a perfect way to cap off an afternoon/evening spent enjoying the best that Santa Barbara has to offer.
If you have a Santa Barbara experience, restaurant or favorite place you would like to share, please comment below, and if you like the content, please make sure to sign up so you don’t miss anything.
Thanks! Chloe Bello
