Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Santa Barbara

OpenTable

Updated 05 January 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Santa Barbara? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bouchon - Santa Barbara

4.9

4.9 (5450)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

We are delighted to have added additional outdoor seating but Santa Barbara nights are chilly so bring a sweater or light jacket!

Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with care. Excellent wines that reflect the quality and character of our region and work in concert with the cuisine. Warm, inviting ambiance, service at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Santa Barbara ‘Wine Country Cuisine’ means we source our ingredients using an ‘as-fresh-and-as-local-as-possible’ approach, with fish from the Santa Barbara Channel and produce from the surrounding countryside. We then take into account how these flavors can be presented in concert with our local wines. We believe you’ll taste the difference. Bon Appètit!

Top review

DianaCVIP

Dined today

We had a lovely dinner for four. We tried both types of fish and saw all the other entrees around us and they all were beautifully presented and delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

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Bouchon French 'French Onion' Soup

Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

4.8

4.8 (2645)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

The Stonehouse, located in a beautiful 19th-century citrus packing house, offers an unparalleled dining experience. Guests can unwind in a relaxing lounge with full bar service or enjoy the ambiance of the separate dining room, complete with a crackling fireplace and world-class views. Chef Matthew Johnson creates evocative regional cuisine, utilizing fresh herbs and vegetables from the Ranch’s organic chef’s garden. The Stonehouse boasts the only Grand Award-winning wine program in Central California, ensuring an unparalleled selection of wines to complement your meal. For a unique twist, visit the restaurant's speakeasy for before or after dinner drinks, where you can enjoy expertly crafted cocktails in an intimate, nostalgic setting.

Top review

Vicki

Dined 4 days ago

We had a wonderful experience celebrating our anniversary with friends in a gorgeous setting! The food was delicious, and our server Alex was phenomenal! We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Santa Barbara.

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Popular dish

San Ysidro Ranch Meyer Lemon Tart

Popular dish

Blackened Ora King Salmon Salad

Experience

Sunday Champagne Brunch

Lucky's

4.8

4.8 (2895)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Montecito

About the restaurant

LUCKY'S is widely known for its exclusive selection of USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, farmer's market vegetables, no-nonsense cocktails and world class wine cellar.
For take-out, please call the restaurant.
We do not accept bar table reservations online, please call the restaurant.
For larger parties, please call or email the restaurant directly.

Top review

GeneVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We have been going to Lucky's for about 7 years and have found everything to be great until last night. We took out of town friends who had been there before and also really liked the restaurant.. This time not so much. The martini was great as was the calamari (best around) but the main courses were a real disappointment. Myself and my friend had the New York 14oz steaks which we both agreed did not have a lot of flavor although they looked great. The women each had sanddabs. My friend's wife showed me all the oil or butter pooled on the plate and my wife only ate half of hers because they were somewhat oily or greasy (She has had them at least 3 times in the past and always liked them). Also, it seems every time I go there the prices are up again. $84 for the steaks and $55 for the sanddabs. Still, I don't mind paying for excellent food but last night was not that.

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Popular dish

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie with Morels

Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (5509)

$31 to $50

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Toma Restaurant and Bar a waterfront bistro, located along Santa Barbara's picturesque Cabrillo Blvd. Experience Santa Barbara waterfront's most romantic restaurant. Savor exquisite Italian and Mediterranean inspired dishes from Santa Barbara's seasonal bounty, supporting our local fisherman, farmers, foragers and food artisans. Pour over local and Italian wines along with a full bar of handcrafted cocktails and spirits. Enjoy warm and attentive service while dining window side with a view of the enchanting Santa Barbara harbor.

Top review

Nancy

Dined today

Our favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. Cozy atmosphere and attention to detail make it a memorable night out. One of the owners is always buzzing around making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. Food is always great.

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The Black Sheep SB Brasserie

4.8

4.8 (724)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

A locally owned and operated, modern-classic California-French Pub. We serve elevated, eclectic, locally sourced Cuisine paired with incredible wines and craft beer. We are NOW OPEN for SUNDAY BRUNCH 10am-1:30pm. Located in Old Town Santa Barbara on 18 East Cota Street, the building boasts a rich history of French restaurants and saloons dating back over a century.

We are open for Dinner Wed-Sun from 5PM. We are known for our incredible family style tasting menu’s where multiple dishes are presented to your table for each course.

Top review

NoreenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

wonderful experience. Jesse took amazing care of us and the food was outstanding. Can't recommend it any more highly. You have to try them.

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Experience

"Sunday Supper" Chef's Choice 4 courses

Experience

“Apero” Early Dinner Prix Fix

Experience

Endless Moules Frites every Wednesday

OKU

4.8

4.8 (1771)

$31 to $50

Asian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Tina Takaya, proprietor, welcomes you to our newest two story restaurant on the water. We feel the key to success is our passion for creating the highest quality food and warm friendly service.

We hope you will enjoy your experience as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.
"We want Locals to feel like Family and Visitors to feel like Locals"

Our menu draws from Asian favorites that inspire and excite such as Wagyu Steak, Japanese Sushi, Chinese Dumplings, Garlic Noodles and fresh local seafood.

We are located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront and Funk Zone Districts. Come enjoy lunch or dinner, soak in the sun by day at our waterfront rooftop bar while sipping on a refreshing cocktail surrounded by our beautiful ocean vista and by night, enjoy lounging by the fireplace after a delicious meal and a great glass of wine.

Our chef uses the freshest ingredients from central coast farmers and local fisherman to create dishes with the best of what California has to offer.

Top review

Degiannira

Dined 4 days ago

We had such a great time a OKU. Peter, our server made our night. He was respectful, kind, had a great attitude, and made sure we were always taken care of. We would hands down come back.

Gala

4.8

4.8 (303)

$31 to $50

European

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Gala exudes a European meets Santa Barbara charm, where you feel like you’re transported to a beautiful bistro in the Mediterranean. Enjoy shared tapas, farmer's market favorites, pasta and risotto, fresh oysters and the best steak with bone marrow butter & chimichurri. Cozy up for our farm to table craft cocktails, a Pisco sour or martini and a full meal with friends. Curated wine list with local & Spanish wines. Right down the street from the Santa Barbara Courthouse enjoy an evening at Gala.

1 Block From State Street, Easy Parking, Public Lot Nearby, Free 75 Minute Parking, Walking Distance, El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District, Superior Court, Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum Of Art, Courthouse Gardens, Bell Tower, Farm to table, Farmer's market driven, Tapas, Seafood, Steak, Oysters, Happy Hour, Food, Cocktails, Wine, Restaurant, Vegetarian, Friendly, Dog Friendly, Outdoor Patio, Heaters, Warm, Inviting, Hospitable, Modern Design

Top review

MolllyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Love Gala. Always treated well. Bronzino always a winner. A tad pricy… but it’s SB…. Fun & tasty cocktails. Service is A+ A tad loud.

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branzino a la plancha

Olio e Limone Ristorante

4.7

4.7 (2552)

$50 and over

Italian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Olio e Limone Ristorante, located in downtown Santa Barbara's ARTS District, serves artisanal Italian cuisine. Meaning “oil and lemon” in Italian, their restaurant’s name reflects husband-wife team Alberto and Elaine Morello’s philosophy: rely on the integrity of the ingredients and quality of the preparation to provide Santa Barbara diners “simply sophisticated” Italian cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere with European hospitality. Start with eggplant souffle, then tuck into a plate of house made duck ravioli or Sicilian spaghetti with bottarga. And be sure to take home a bottle of their own olio, an organic extra-virgin olive oil made from Sicilian olive varieties.
Bonus: their contemporary Italian breakfast, lunch & retail spot Olio Bottega, and authentic pizzeria next door at Olio Pizzeria. Private dining in the Cucina Room for up to 40 guests.

Top review

Melinda

Dined 6 days ago

What a lovely restaurant. It’s big, but not especially noisy. We were seated next to a table with five small children, and we were able to talk to one another easily. New Year’s Day evening is a great time to go to dinner! It was easy to get a reservation, the venue is lovely, and we all thought the food was excellent.

Intermezzo By Wine Cask

4.6

4.6 (1788)

$31 to $50

Californian

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Intermezzo by Wine Cask
New Menu by Executive Chef Mossin Sugich

Modern American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist

Top review

ElizabethVIP

Dined on 28 Dec 2024

I love this place; have been several times. I’ve only had dinner at the bar, so can’t speak to table service, but the bartenders work hard, and are funny, attentive and very knowledgeable about wines. The atmosphere is lively and sophisticated. Did I mention the food??? Pizza is amazing here. NY steak & frites is fantastic. Enjoy!

The Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

4.6

4.6 (536)

$50 and over

American

Santa Barbara

About the restaurant

Named “Top 100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America” by OpenTable, The Bistro offers a casual and relaxed atmosphere to dine and enjoy sweeping views of the coastline. Local produce and sustainable seafood highlight an acclaimed menu of traditional bistro favorites, including brick oven flatbreads, seasonal salads and the signature Santa Barbara burger.

Please note that holiday reservations are only available for in-house guests. Room confirmation number is required to officially confirm your dining reservation during these times.

Marriott Bonvoy Members can earn points when staying with us. Please enroll here: https://www.joinmarriottbonvoy.com/uscanqr/s/EN/ch/sbarz

For parties with 6 guests or more a 26% service charge fee will be added to your final bill. For all guests there will be an 8.75% California State tax added to the final bill.

Top review

Ana Y

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food! Our waiter German was the best!!!!!!

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