Overview
Montecito is an upscale community in Santa Barbara County that is home to high end resorts and the rich and famous including Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe.
2 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 46°F. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Santa Barbara)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara — 12 mi away. Directions
- SMX Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field, Santa Maria — 57 mi away. Directions
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 74 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $99–$300 a night (typical $259), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $22 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$140, mid-range ~$340, comfortable ~$480.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
During the 2020s, much of Southern California's real estate market has stagnated, while Montecito's market has boomed because of the natural beauty of its coastal location.
Most importantly, as part of Santa Barbara County, Montecito sits on the longest stretch of south-facing east-west coastline on the West Coast of North America between Alaska and Oaxaca. As long as there is no cloud cover, the sun is always directly visible at all daylight hours. This is superior to other Northern Hemisphere destinations with a north-south coastline where one can enjoy the sun on the beach at either sunrise or sunset, but never both (because structures, trees, or terrain along the beach always cast a long shadow on the beach at one end of the day).
Eat
Eat The Honor Bar
The deceptively straightforward menu of burgers, ahi tuna, and omelettes is raised to another level by excellent service and preparation. The outdoor patio seating is pleasant on sunny days (which most days here are). Dogs welcome. Vegetarian options available. There is also a full bar, and extensive wine list.
Eat Los Arroyos
The restaurant serves popular and very good Mexican food.
Sleep
Go next
- Santa Barbara - 5 miles (8 km) west of Montecito, the "American Riviera" is a historic mission city that is an incredibly popular getaway destination. Its wide beaches, highly rated wineries, luxurious resorts, art galleries, and a large variety of excellent dining choices, enable the town of just 90,000 residents to enjoy the sort of cultural and social amenities which are usually found only in much larger cities.
- Carpinteria - This small oceanside town is 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Montecito and offers a salt marsh preserve, tide pools, and a seal and sea lion rookery that is active from December through May. During the first weekend in October Carpinteria plays host to nearly 100,000 visitors at its annual avocado festival, which features the world's largest vat of guacamole.
Nearby
Santa Barbara
City / town · 128 listings · 5 mi away
Carpinteria
City / town · 10 listings · 7 mi away
Goleta
City / town · 21 listings · 10 mi away
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
Park · 21 mi away
Ojai
City / town · 11 listings · 22 mi away
Ventura
City / town · 26 listings · 26 mi away
Santa Ynez
City / town · 6 listings · 29 mi away
Oxnard
City / town · 28 listings · 31 mi away
My experience
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