10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Santa Barbara

State Street forms the heart of shopping in Santa Barbara with its long stretch of shops and restaurants through the downtown core. The palm-lined street offers a mix of branded stores and quirky locally owned shops to browse, everything from the latest iPhones at Apple to curios at Antique Alley. The street is also home to some of the city’s best shopping centres, including Paseo Nuevo and Victoria Court. 

To ramp up its retail appeal to pedestrians and allow for more outdoor dining, some 7 blocks of State Street have been closed to vehicle traffic and converted into a promenade.

Paseo Nuevo is a downtown shopping mall designed to take full advantage of Santa Barbara’s mild weather. 'Paseo' means 'leisurely walk in Spanish and that’s exactly what you’ll do while exploring the mall’s shopping and dining spots, which are arranged around picturesque plazas and courtyards.

Among Paseo Nue's 50 shops are beauty and clothing name-brand stores like Sephora, the Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch to shops selling locally made home décor items. Don’t hesitate to bring the kids along as it’s a family-friendly place with plenty of shops catering to children – they’ll surely want a taste of some of the heavenly treats at the Sweet Creams ice-cream shop.  

La Arcada Courtyard offers a scenic shopping experience with its Spanish style architecture and wide tiled walkways. Centrally located with entrances on State Street and East Figueroa Street, this upscale shopping centre is a fine place to go for some retail therapy and a perhaps a bit of wine tasting. It also has many galleries showcasing the talents of local artists including Gallery 113 and Santa Barbara Arts.

Those in need of a break from shopping could relax and dine in the shade of a parasol at one of the open-air restaurants, or explore the century-old mall’s bronze sculptures and fountains. Be sure to stop by the main fountain to greet resident turtles that swim and sun themselves there. 

The Funk Zone is a former industrial area turned creative neighbourhood, where old warehouses and factories have been transformed into a lively mix of boutique shops and art galleries. Find unique clothing stores like Kakoon and Raoul Textiles, or search for vintage home décor items at The Blue Door.

Dining aficionados also make their way to the Funk Zone to discover the area’s craft beer makers, wineries, restaurants and bakeries. Though it’s easy to explore on your own, you could also join a food and wine tasting tour with ‘Eat This, Shoot That!’, which lets you sip and savour local tastes at 6 to 8 locations around the zone for around 3 hours.

Stearns Wharf is a local landmark with a charming row of shops to browse along its boardwalk. You'll find it by strolling down State Street, all the way to the ocean. A stop at the Great Pacific Ice Cream Company is a must to enjoy a sweet treat with ocean views before exploring the wharf’s souvenir and clothing shops.

You could also delve into local history and nature by taking a guided trip aboard the ‘Lil Toot water taxi or exploring the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. Many who visit like to linger on to catch the sensational sunset views and tuck into some local seafood at one of the wharf’s restaurants, including Santa Barbara Shellfish Company.

Found in downtown Santa Barbara, the Public Market is a food shopper’s haven with a choice of cuisines to sample from across the globe, including a mix of Thai and Taiwanese flavours at Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar and an all-vegan Middle Eastern menu from Fala Bar.   

You can discover a great beer and wine selection at Wine + Beer, plus craft brews to enjoy alfresco at The Garden. Make sure to leave enough room for ice cream at Rori’s Artisanal Creamery – it’s most famous for its dreamy salted caramel flavour.

La Cumbre Plaza is about a 10-minute drive from Santa Barbara Airport, making it a handy stop to grab some last-minute items before your flight home. Taking advantage of the mild coastal weather, the plaza has a wide open-air walkway and fountains flanked by rows of shops.

You’ll find some locally run boutiques at La Cumbre Plaza sprinkled in among well-known retailers such as Williams Sonoma, Macy's and Pottery Barn. Families are well catered to at La Cumbre Plaza, with a kid's club, sweet treats to buy at See's Candies, and shops selling games, toys and books.