Santa Barbara Authentic Walking Food Tour with 5 Dishes
Description
Santa Barbara is a true food lovers paradise. Its culinary scene thrives on fresh coastal ingredients, local vineyards, and a commitment to farm-to-table quality. It is a destination where natural beauty and rich cultural history come together, creating an unforgettable experience for any visitor. Known as the “American Riviera,” the city offers stunning Mediterranean-style landscapes—red-tile roofs, palm-lined streets, and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara invites exploration through its historic sites, including the iconic Old Mission, the Spanish Colonial architecture of El Presidio, and the lively waterfront that reflects centuries of coastal heritage. Whether you're strolling State Street, wandering through the Funk Zone’s art-filled district, or eating your way through the city, Santa Barbara offers a delicious and distinctly local taste of California’s Central Coast at every turn.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meeting spot and story of the beginning of Santa Barbara
First food stop and collection of shops
Historic corridor and buildings, filled with eclectic shops
The original site and building remnant of the military fort constructed when the area was established
A collection of Artifacts and articles of the story of Santa Barbara
The original site and house of a founding family of Santa Barbara
A public area in honor of a founding family of the city
President Reagens' "Western White House," preserved to honor him.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: the itinerary and menu is subject to change, based on the locations’ availability, weather, and other circumstances.
- Please ensure to contact us in advance of the tour for any dietary requirement, to ensure we can cater for them the best we can.
- This tour involves a fair amount of walking; comfortable shoes are recommended.
Reviews(7)
Great food tour with Thomas, lots of tasty food!
Thanks for taking the time to write a review. Discovering the local side of a city often becomes the most rewarding part of a visit, and we're happy you experienced that. We hope to see you again with Secret Food Tours!
A great way to spend a few getting to know Santa Barbara and the local food scene. Thomas was a very good group leader. He led us to some great eats; lobster rolls, chocolate, taco, tri-tip sandwich. He did a great job with my food allergies. Only area lacking was he could’ve been more informed on local history and more details on the local food scene.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Hearing that your day became a memorable and overall positive part of your time in the city means a great deal to our team. Secret Food Tours sends our appreciation!
Great way to see Santa Barbara by tasting some great food. Beautiful scenery, beautiful day with great friends. Portions are big, too much by the end of the Tour. Thank you Thomas.
We sincerely value your feedback and support. Knowing your day with us became such a positive part of your visit means a great deal to our team. Thank you from Secret Food Tours!
We had a great time enjoyed each stop food was tasty and the guide was super helpful. My fav was the tri-tip sandwich my mom's was the lobster roll you can't go wrong either way both are delicious.
We loved reading this. Knowing the experience felt comfortable and easy to enjoy from beginning to end is exactly the kind of thing we hope for. We’d love to have you back with Secret Food Tours!
The food was great, history tour was lacking. We started at the court house and there was no history discussed. I had to ask questions and most of the time the answer was IDK. Food was great though!
Hi Kristine, thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know where the experience fell short for you as we continue refining the tour. While we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the food selections, we understand your comments regarding the historical portion and guide commentary throughout the experience. Our tours are designed to blend local food with stories and cultural insights, so we value hearing when that balance does not fully come across. Guest feedback like yours helps us continue improving the experience for future guests. We do appreciate you joining us in Santa Barbara and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
Food stops were awesome, but may be guide dependent. We had a new guide, and didn't seem to know much about the history, area, or the importance of the restaurants we visited.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts following your time with us in the city, Katherine. It is great to hear that the food stops stood out, as a lot of care goes into selecting partners that reflect the local flavor and character of the area. Regarding the guiding experience, your comments are well noted. Our team continues to support each guide as they grow into the role, especially when it comes to weaving together the history, culture, and the stories behind each stop. Many of our guests often highlight how these elements bring the tour to life, so your feedback is valuable in helping us refine that balance further. Santa Barbara has a rich culinary and cultural background, and we are always working to ensure that comes through more clearly during the experience. Your perspective helps us continue improving in that direction. We would love the chance to host you again and provide a more engaging experience next time.
Delicious food choices. Thomas was a great guide. Lots of walking, but we enjoyed seeing Santa Barbara on foot.
Your kind review truly made our day. It’s always rewarding when guests enjoy discovering new dishes while hearing the stories behind them from our guides. We’d love to host you again on another Secret Food Tours!
