Santa Barbara - The Up & Coming Wine Destination.
I am the luckiest sister in the world having a sibling who lives in downtown Santa Barbara. I try to go up and visit a few times a year because a.) Santa Barbara is fricken cute and b.) it is seriously stepping up its wine game. This past trip I made strictly business, (which luckily for me, my business is drinking a ton of wine.) And thanks to my friend over at Wine Enthusiast magazine, I got some out of this world recommendations for which places are a must visit. Thanks, Matt! You rule. Whether you are downtown or in the funk zone, there are plenty of spots to hit up. So here you have it – the absolute coolest places to visit while you are up in Santa Barbara.
Finch & Fork – The Kimpton Canary Hotel
Not only did I stay at the Kimpton Canary, (it is bougie. AND they give you a glass of good wine at check in. Why the hell doesn’t every hotel jump on that band wagon?), they have an incredible restaurant attached with an in-house Somm. So you know what that means.. real good wine. I had a chance to talk to the Sommelier of Finch & Fork and chat about the food, the wine, and the Santa Barbara wine community. Finch & Fork is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, as most places in the trendy Santa Barbara town are, channeling pure California style with dark wood accents and commandeering a relaxed yet elegant vibe. The menu is definitely American, but with a sophisticated twist. Ranging from deviled eggs and mac ‘n cheese, to fresh and simple salads and plates. One thing that really caught my eye is their ‘spiked milkshakes’. A fun place with a bit of an edge, Finch & Fork is a must visit.
The Good Lion
If craft cocktails and hot hipster boys typing on their typewriters is your thing, (I’m not even joking. I was sitting next to a mustached stud typing on a dang typewriter looking like a 28 year old Hemingway stopped in for an old fashioned. Swoon.) The Good Lion is probably the hippest cocktail bar I’ve ever encountered. We were greeted with a complementary round of Absinthe shots, hence why I was so incredibly hung over the next day, and I ended up ordering their Ken-Tiki Kentucky. Bourbon, naval orange, Madagascar vanilla, lemon, citrus bitters, and nutmeg. Oy vey.. it was damn tasty. The Good Lion is the perfect amount of California trendy, without coming off as tasteless. They are killing the game, y’all. And I WILL be back. Hopefully the typewriter boy will be there too.
Potek Winery
The first thing that I really appreciate about this winery is that it is in a WEIRD location. At first we all kind of thought, “Where the hell is this place? Is this gonna turn out to be sketchy..” It absolutely was not, btw. It’s just separated from all the other ‘trendy’ wine bars so you really have to go out of your way to check it out. But once you find it.. you cannot believe something this cool exists. There is a brewery, some cute little boutiques, and the winery kind of tucked away with a shared patio. Which I love! Because whether you want wine, beer, or to shop, it’s all right there. And the wine in Potek is good. This was recommended to me by the editor of Wine Enthusiast magazine and obviously, he knows his stuff. I had the Chardonnay which was beautiful – unoaked and dry with light floral aroma’s and candied citrus notes. I am a sucker for patios when drinking wine. It could be pouring rain and negative 10 degrees, I still prefer sitting outside. This is the absolute best place to relax and have a glass of wine, trust and believe. They also have a really cute store inside where I ended up buying a print from a local artist. Art & wine? Did we just become best friends? YUP!
Sama Sama
I am a nerd when it comes to Asian cuisine. It’s just my favorite. Sama Sama.. is.. incredible. Holy moly. If you like eating good food, go here. If you are VEGAN, go here. Craft cocktails, wine, and shareable plates. I think we were silent the entire meal with how good the food was. It is fresh, primarily vegetarian, and pretty spicy. My favorite combo. We ended up ordering 4 entree’s and sharing between 3 hungry people. And it was perfect. We started with papaya salad that included green papaya’s, fish sauce, garlic peanuts, and chili. Outstanding. Followed by the crispy brussel sprouts with honey dates, chili, almonds, and pickled red onions. Then the Nasi Goreng Jawa – a friend rice with napa cabbage, kailan, egg, and scallion. And finishing with the black pepper tofu & broccoli, which was probably my favorite. I am telling you, make a reservation at Sama Sama. I’m still having drooling dreams about it.
Smithy Bar + Restaurant
Ready for the single most aesthetically stunning restaurant I have ever seen? Smithy. Interior is completely black and white with copious amounts of greenery in every corner. Clean, simple, stunning. And the patio looks straight out of France. If France was a beachy, California town. Graveled floor, fire pits, comfy chairs. All neutral colors. S t u n n i n g. The food is great, and the wine list is even better. Whether you sit at the bar or enjoy lunch by the fire pits, Smithy is completely charming. I also ordered the Chablis and dang. It was good.
SB Wine Therapy
I love a bar with the name ‘therapy’ in it. Because, hey, isn’t that exactly what having a nice glass of wine is? SB Wine Therapy takes the intimidating out of your usual wine bar. It is mellow, relaxed, and extremely welcoming. The walls are lined with funky art and eclectic couches are messily placed throughout the bar. I had a chance to chat up the bartender Mackenzie, who is probably the cutest and sweetest guy around. He loves working for SB Wine Therapy because it is truly a great place for non-wine drinkers to enjoy a glass of Sonoma county Sauvignon Blanc, without intimidation. Love the concept, love the wine, love the bar. I will definitely be back.
Thanks for having me, Santa Barbara. I will be seeing you again real soon. xx – Arielle