What to Do in Santa Barbara This Summer

Start With Bubbles in the Funk Zone

Begin your Santa Barbara summer day the right way — with a glass of something sparkling before the afternoon crowds settle in. The Funk Zone, that gritty-chic arts and wine district tucked between State Street and the harbor, is where I always send friends looking for the city's more creative side. Make Riverbench Winery your first stop. Their urban tasting room on Anacapa Street pours estate-grown sparkling wines, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir sourced from their Santa Maria Valley vineyard. On a warm July afternoon, their blanc de blancs hits differently — crisp, mineral-driven, and practically made for the weather. The space is relaxed and unpretentious, with plenty of room to spread out. I recommend arriving right when they open or closer to 4:00 p.m. to avoid the midday rush.

Riverbench Winery — Ask for their sparkling flight — the blanc de noirs is especially refreshing on a hot July afternoon.

Tip: Street parking in the Funk Zone can be tight on weekends. Use the lot near the train station on Yanonali Street — it's centrally located and usually has open spots.

Build the Ultimate Picnic at Metropulos

Once you've got your wine situation sorted, walk over to Metropulos Fine Foods Merchant on East Yanonali Street. This European-style deli is my go-to provisioning stop before any beach or park afternoon. Their case is loaded with artisan cheeses, cured meats, marinated olives, and imported goods that make assembling a grazing board feel effortless. Order one of their house-made sandwiches — the prosciutto and fresh mozzarella on crusty bread travels beautifully — and grab a few slices of whatever cheese they're highlighting that week. The staff genuinely knows their product and will happily guide you toward pairings.

Metropulos Fine Foods Merchant — Call ahead for sandwiches during peak lunch hours — they get busy, and the wait can stretch to 20 minutes.

Chase Rhône Varietals at Margerum Wine Company

A short walk from the Funk Zone brings you to East Mason Street, where Doug Margerum has been crafting some of the region's most expressive Rhône-style wines and Sauvignon Blancs for years. Margerum Wine Company's tasting room is open daily from noon to 8:00 p.m., making it a perfect late-afternoon transition point. Their Syrah and Viognier consistently over-deliver, and the Sauvignon Blanc is a summer staple — bright, aromatic, and built for warm evenings. The indoor-outdoor space has a casual, convivial energy that sums up what Santa Barbara wine culture is really about: serious wine served without the pretension.

Margerum Wine Company — Their outdoor patio area catches the late-afternoon breeze perfectly — aim for a 5:00 p.m. tasting.

Tip: Most Funk Zone and downtown tasting rooms are within a 10-minute walk of each other. Plan a route rather than driving between stops.

Explore El Paseo's Historic Courtyard Wineries

For a completely different atmosphere, head to El Paseo — that beautifully restored historic courtyard off State Street that feels like stepping into old California. Two tasting rooms here deserve your attention. Grassini Family Vineyards occupies an elegant space in the courtyard and specializes in estate-grown Bordeaux and Italian varietals from their Happy Canyon vineyard. Their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are standouts, and the setting — with its exposed brick and warm lighting — is arguably the most romantic tasting room ambiance in the city. Just steps away, Loubud Wines offers small-lot, sustainably farmed wines in a more intimate, relaxed setting. Their focus on minimal-intervention winemaking means each bottle genuinely reflects the vintage and vineyard it came from.

Grassini Family Vineyards — The tasting room's courtyard-adjacent location makes it easy to pair with dinner at any nearby State Street restaurant.

Loubud Wines — Ask about their single-vineyard Pinot Noir releases — they produce very limited quantities.

Taste Your Way Down State Street

State Street itself has become a genuine wine corridor, with several standout tasting rooms within a few blocks of each other. Melville Winery, located at 120 State Street, pours their acclaimed Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah in a bright, welcoming space. Their estate vineyards benefit from that cool western Santa Barbara County marine influence, and you can taste it in every glass — especially the Chardonnay, which has a tension and minerality that's hard to find at this price point. A few blocks further, Longoria Wines offers a deeply personal portfolio from one of Santa Barbara's most respected winemaking families. Their tasting room has extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, making it an ideal evening stop. And Paradise Springs Winery, right at 210 State Street, brings fruit from their family-owned Santa Ynez Valley estate vineyards to the heart of downtown — the Bordeaux-style reds here are structured and age-worthy.

Melville Winery — Their Friday and Saturday extended hours make this a perfect post-dinner stop.

Longoria Wines — Don't skip their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — both consistently rank among the Central Coast's best.

Paradise Springs Winery — Their tasting flights rotate seasonally — ask what's currently being poured from their estate vineyards.

Sample Craft Spirits on Anacapa Street

If wine isn't your thing — or if you simply want to round out your afternoon — Santa Barbara's craft spirits scene is quietly excellent. Cutler's Artisan Distillery on Anacapa Street produces small-batch vodka, gin, and whiskey using local ingredients and traditional methods. Their tasting room is intimate and educational, and the staff walks you through each spirit's production with genuine enthusiasm. I'm particularly fond of their gin, which uses botanicals that feel distinctly Californian — bright, citrus-forward, and wonderfully aromatic. It makes a spectacular martini, and their tasting pours are generous enough that you'll leave with a real sense of what they do.

Cutler's Artisan Distillery — Their gin cocktail flights are a great way to explore how the spirit performs in mixed drinks.

End the Evening in the Presidio Neighborhood

As the sun drops behind the Santa Ynez Mountains and that famous golden light floods downtown, the Presidio neighborhood comes into its own. Frequency Wines on Anacapa Street is my pick for an evening wind-down. Their site-specific Central Coast wines are poured daily from noon until 6:00 p.m., and the relaxed setting is perfect for reflecting on the day. Try their Syrah — it's structured and savory, the kind of wine that makes you want to sit a little longer and watch the sky change color through the window. The Presidio area itself is worth exploring on foot, with its historic architecture and quieter, more residential feel compared to the bustle of State Street. It's the kind of neighborhood that reminds you Santa Barbara is an actual place where people live, not just a postcard.

Frequency Wines — Their daily 6:00 p.m. closing time makes this a perfect last stop before dinner reservations.

Tip: The Presidio neighborhood is a 5-minute walk from El Paseo and about 10 minutes from the Funk Zone — plan your route to end here as the evening cools down.