Restaurants near Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

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AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

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CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

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MICHELIN

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Wheelchair access

103 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. OKU

4.8

Exceptional(1867)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Santa Barbara

Booked 65 times today

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.

A photo of The Harbor Restaurant restaurant

2. The Harbor Restaurant

4.3

Awesome(78)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Santa Barbara

Booked 8 times today

Stunning ocean views and exceptional food abound in this newly renovated and completely reimagined over the water restaurant serving international coastal cuisine with fresh Local ingredients. You will love this menu with award winning clam chowder, Santa Barbara’s best filet mignon, delicious fish & chips, tender steamed mussels, mouth watering duck confit, fun and tasty Harbor crispy rice, luscious lobster risotto, and so much more! Desserts are exceptional including a creamy Tarta Vasqua cheesecake and a Crepe Suzette that would make Paris jealous. Located on Santa Barbara's famous Stearns Wharf, the Harbor Restaurant can seat 500 guests. The restaurant features upstairs casual dining at Longboard’s Grill with an outdoor ocean view patio while downstairs boasts a vibrant bar with craft cocktails, a gorgeous dining room, and two private event spaces including an 80+ person oceanfront venue and a private dining room for 20 guests. Truly excellent!

A photo of Moby Dick Restaurant restaurant

3. Moby Dick Restaurant

4.2

Awesome(298)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Santa Barbara

Booked 13 times today

Welcome to Moby Dick Restaurant in Santa Barbara—where dining is more than just a meal; it’s an experience. Perched right on the iconic pier, we invite you to indulge in fresh, expertly prepared seafood, exceptional service, and breathtaking ocean views. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely weekend brunch, a satisfying lunch, or a relaxed dinner, our inviting atmosphere and picturesque surroundings will make every moment unforgettable.

4. Flor De Maiz

4.5

Awesome(7)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Santa Barbara

Flor de Maiz is the latest concept from the creators of Los Agaves Restaurants, located on Santa Barbara’s waterfront. Oaxacan inspired cuisine + modern mixology. Xochimoyahuatl is the flower or spigot of the milpa, inspiration whose name, Flor de Maíz, has its origin. It is now how the tribes of pre-Hispanic Mexico venerated corn as the seed of life, between the creation and the sacred.

5. Convivo

4.7

Exceptional(2216)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 20 times today

Convivo is a Santa Barbara restaurant and bar with an Italian soul. Chef-Owner Peter McNee's food is best described as ‘Nomad Italian’. It strays from the standard or traditional Italian, sourcing inspiration from many other cultures’ cooking but its soul is thoroughly Italian. The ever-changing menu includes small plates, housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, rotisserie chicken, fresh seafood and steaks served family-style. McNee’s all-star supplier network provides the freshest produce and local seafood the region is famous for. Inspired by the bounty of the sea, the lush farms and abundant vineyards nearby and the cooking methods of Italy, Convivo is a festive gathering place for locals and visitors alike inside the newly-restored Santa Barbara Inn.

6. Barbareño

4.8

Exceptional(2001)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Santa Barbara

Booked 25 times today

At Barbareño we seek to help further shape and define Central Coast cuisine. We take our inspiration from traditions and specialties of our area, delicacies unique to our region, and the many outstanding purveyors with whom we are so fortunate to work. In all of our efforts, we hope to capture the essence of a particular place or local flavor, embracing the nuances that make our food and drink unique to our home.

A photo of Toma Restaurant & Bar restaurant

7. Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.8

Exceptional(5669)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 39 times today

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.

8. Tre Lune

4.8

Exceptional(2124)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Montecito

Booked 49 times today

"Upbeat and comfortable, serving real-deal pastas and pizzas that make you feel like you're in Italy again." - ZAGAT 2010 Fresh fish, veal scaloppini, osso buco, prime steaks, Kobe-beef burgers, organic salads, and house-made desserts. Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner-Cocktails. Award Winner of Italian wines list.Please call to make reservations.

A photo of Bouchon - Santa Barbara restaurant

9. Bouchon - Santa Barbara

4.8

Exceptional(5563)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Santa Barbara

Booked 30 times today

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!

10. Lucky's

4.7

Exceptional(2998)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Montecito

Booked 50 times today

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.

Dining near Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center at a glance

Updated on 7/9/2025

SunBar at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

4.9

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From verified diners like you

L
LolitaVIP
California Central Coast •13 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Beat sushi in Santa Barbara. The food is exceptional, the wine list extensive, for every price point, service seamless and the view extraordinary! Try to sit outside upstairs and eat under the stars while looking at the harbor and boats sailing by.
More info
OKUPrice: Expensive• Asian• Santa Barbara
•
4.8
C
Chris
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Food was good staff was friendly view was amazing. After lunch we went on a long walk on the beach.
More info
The Harbor RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Santa Barbara
•
4.3
S
Shane
1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Wonderful restaurant, fantastic food and atmosphere. Best during less busy hours, as it is near so many tourist attractions.
More info
ConvivoPrice: Expensive• Italian• Santa Barbara
•
4.7
A
Angela
California Central Coast •1 review
5.0
Dined on Jun 15, 2025
Liz was a wonderfully server always checking in and making sure we were satisfied. Drinks can food were good.
More info
Moby Dick RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Santa Barbara
•
4.2
R
rachel
Dallas - Fort Worth •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 1, 2025
Amazing food and the service was outstanding!! Highly recommend!
More info
Flor De MaizPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Santa Barbara
•
4.5

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