Restaurants near Stearns Wharf

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodMexicanSpanish

Top Rated

CharmingGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for outdoor diningGreat for scenic view

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

17 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. OKU

4.8

Exceptional(1852)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Santa Barbara

Booked 61 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

4.1

Excellent(61)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Santa Barbara

Booked 25 times today

International Coastal Cuisine with Local Ingredients. Located on Santa Barbara's famous Stearns Wharf, the Harbor Restaurant is a 12,850-square-foot establishment on two floors that can seat 500 guests. Valet parking is available during dinner service. The restaurant features upstairs casual dining with an outdoor ocean view patio while the downstairs features a proper bar with craft cocktails, an exceptional dining room with international dishes featuring local ingredients, and two private event spaces including an 80+ person room and a private dining room for 20 guests.

A photo of Moby Dick Restaurant restaurant

3. Moby Dick Restaurant

4.2

Awesome(295)

$$$$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

4.7

Exceptional(7)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Santa Barbara

Booked 4 times today

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.

A photo of Toma Restaurant & Bar restaurant

5. Toma Restaurant & Bar

4.8

Exceptional(5631)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 50 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.

6. Convivo

4.7

Exceptional(2199)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 37 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.

A photo of The Black Sheep SB Brasserie restaurant

7. The Black Sheep SB Brasserie

4.7

Exceptional(787)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Santa Barbara

Booked 15 times today

Now featuring a full bar! Locally owned California-French brasserie in Old Town Santa Barbara, blending classic technique with bold, eclectic flavors. Housed in a historic space, we offer an elevated dining experience with a renowned family-style tasting menu, curated wines, craft beer, and full cocktail service. Open Wed-Sun from 5 PM—check daily for our specials!

A photo of Rare Society - Santa Barbara restaurant

8. Rare Society - Santa Barbara

4.5

Awesome(13)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Santa Barbara

Booked 12 times today

Sink your teeth into Rare Society - a modern homage to the golden age of the American steakhouse. Chef and owner Brad Wise reimagines vintage upscale dining with a bold, contemporary edge: a wood-fired grill fueled by red oak, an in-house dry-aging program, sustainably sourced seafood, and a progressive cocktail menu that nods to the classics while pushing boundaries. The space hums with energy - smoke curling from the grill, the scent of fire and flavor wafting through the air. It’s easy to picture a Rat Pack-era dinner party in full swing: elegant, indulgent, just a little unruly. Rare Society doesn’t just pay tribute to steakhouse tradition - it revives it, reinvents it, and serves it with just a little bit of swagger.

9. Arnoldi's Cafe

4.7

Exceptional(799)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Santa Barbara

Booked 22 times today

Oldest Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara! We have two bocce courts on our patio with outdoor dining. Lots of pasta, appetizers, salads, chicken dishes and homemade desserts...Italian wine and local wine on our wine list...indoor or outdoor seating. We are a true local's secret and kid friendly. We are also dog friendly on our patio! Open for dinner 7 days a week! We also host rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, and large birthday parties.

10. Gala

4.6

Exceptional(353)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• European • Santa Barbara

Booked 12 times today

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

Dining near Stearns Wharf at a glance

Updated on 6/13/2025

Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

4.9

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From verified diners like you

T
Terri
Seattle / Eastern Washington •15 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Love this restaurant- come here every time we are in SB. The food is always delicious, the service excellent and the atmosphere lovely and small.
More info
Toma Restaurant & BarPrice: Expensive• Italian• Santa Barbara
•
4.8
L
Lupita
1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
It was amazing experience ! We were celebrating a birthday and requested an ocean view and the hostess was kind enough to open up a new section so we could have a great view !
More info
The Harbor RestaurantPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Santa Barbara
•
4.1
T
Timothy
Austin •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent service and the food was outstanding. Would definitely go back.
More info
OKUPrice: Expensive• Asian• Santa Barbara
•
4.8
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
•
4.7
S
Sharon
Los Angeles •18 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 31, 2025
The food, the staff and the setting were all 5 star!
More info
Moby Dick RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Santa Barbara
•
4.2

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