Planning to visit Santa Barbara? While this small, upscale beach town is most notably known for its stunning beaches and robust wine scene, don’t overlook exploring the town; specifically, The Funk Zone.
Adorned with murals and lined with breweries, coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, and even bike rentals, The Funk Zone is one of Santa Barbara’s top attractions.
My husband Cecilio and I have been to The Funk Zone twice; the first time was on a day trip from Solvang, and during the second time, we went there basically everyday during our 3-day Santa Barbara getaway. But could you blame us? We loved the hip and walkable the area was (and how close it is to the beach), and how there are fantastic eateries at our fingertips.
Don’t finish planning your Santa Barbara itinerary without a stop at The Funk Zone at least once! In this guide, I’ll share all the best things to do, eat, and see in this district.
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!
Where is The Funk Zone?
The Funk Zone is located between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. The neighborhood encompasses between State Street and Garden Street, crossing Montecito Street and East Cabrillo Boulevard. The neighborhood is also right next to an Amtrak station.
Brief History of The Funk Zone in Santa Barbara
Prior to the early 1900s, The Funk Zone was primarily the industrial and manufacturing hub of Santa Barbara. There are rumors that the name came from the funky smell of the fish processing plants with its proximity to the ocean.
Over time, artists started residing in the area, housing their studios and galleries. Rather than demolishing the industrial buildings, they kept it, keeping that funky, eclectic vibe.
But as The Funk Zone became a more popular spot for tourists, more entrepreneurs wanted to conduct their small businesses there, building more brick-and-mortar shops.
Your Ultimate Guide to The Funk Zone in Santa Barbara
Where to Eat and Drink
Dart Coffee
Start your morning with a jolt of java from Dart Coffee, a cozy coffee shop. They roast their beans on-site and pride themselves on sourcing their beans from indigenous farmers.
Dart Coffee serves a wide array of drinks like specialty lattes (such as lavender, churro, matcha, and turmeric ginger chai), kombucha, and classic drip coffees and mochas. They also have an extensive tea menu.
They also serve food such as pastries empanadas, and burritos (and there are vegan options for those who want them).
A percentage of every bean sold in their cafe goes toward supporting artists’ studios in The Funk Zone.
Lucky Penny
Lucky Penny is one of Santa Barbara’s best pizza spots. As I bit into a slice, it’s not hard to see why it’s super popular!
The pizzas are baked in a traditional wooden oven heated up to 900 degrees, giving it a slightly charred crust and bubbling on the cheese.
Cecilio and I ordered The Californian to share, which has basil pesto, lemon ricotta, marinated artichokes, and pine nuts. The tanginess of the lemon in the cheese contrasted with the pesto, basil, and pine nuts, giving the pizza more depth.
I washed it off with the frosé, Lucky Penny’s refreshing signature cocktail.
The Lark
For a fine dining experience, make reservations at The Lark (it’s located in the same food court as Lucky Penny!).
As you walk into The Lark, you’ll see that their fancy vintage decor contrasts with some of the weathered elements, as a reflection of The Funk Zone’s industrial past and what used to be the Santa Barbara Fish Market.
As a restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide, their dishes come from the freshest ingredients from the Pacific Ocean (like crudo caught from the Channel Islands) or the local ranch and farm.
They also have a huge bar, serving crafted cocktails and premium California wine!
Lama Dog Tap Room/The Nook
While Cecilio and I aren’t beer drinkers, we had lunch at Lama Dog Tap Room after exploring Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. They have a small food counter inside called The Nook, which serves elevated bar food.
The Nook’s signature dish is their Lama Burger, which has Angus beef patty, Anaheim chili stuffed mozzarella cheese, braised onions, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and house sauce. Cecilio ordered this and found that it hit the spot!
Meanwhile, I ordered tater tot nachos, which were covered in bacon, peppers, and cheese. My tastebuds were having a party!
And while I didn’t get beer, Lama Dog did have hard kombucha on tap, which I ordered, and felt refreshing to sip on during a humid day.
Where to Shop
The Blue Door
If you love vintage knick-knacks, home decor, and art, then you’ll love The Blue Door!
Keep in mind that The Blue Door is stupidly expensive. Vintage jewelry can run from $100 to the thousands. Don’t get me started on the furniture (though, if you’re visiting Santa Barbara for a few days or vacation, I doubt you’d shell all the cash on furniture to lug home).
You’ll also find vintage designer gems like Louis Vuitton and Chanel purses.
There are a few more affordable items towards the entrance, like stickers and shirts.
The Shopkeepers
The Shopkeepers is an upscale artsy boutique located right next to The Blue Door. They are known for selling high-quality clothing, accessories, home goods, books, and stationery.
When the Shopkeepers opened in 2017, they doubled as an art gallery, which is why I wasn’t surprised that the store layout display was beautifully created. Walking through the store is an experience and a vibe.
The Shopkeepers also sells original posters from musicians sold in venues in and around SoCal. For example, they have a framed Arctic Monkeys poster for $1,800 from when they played in 2018 in the Santa Barbara Bowl. They also have four unframed David Bowie posters from his 1990 tour in the LA Dodgers Stadium for $250.
Other Things to Do
Walk to Stearn’s Wharf
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands National Park, Stearn’s Wharf is only a few blocks away from The Funk Zone.
Stearn’s Wharf is where you’ll find ice cream shops, fishing rental equipment (it’s a popular fishing spot), and seafood restaurants. You can also see marine life at the Sea Center, which is a part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
On Sundays, from 10 am to sundown near Stearn’s Wharf, the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show is open for local artists to share and sell their work. These include painters, sculptors, glassblowers, photographers, ceramicists, and jewelers. Most of these works capture the coastal beauty of Santa Barbara, which is why you’ll see themes of oceans, palm trees, and cliffs.
Go mural hunting
As a neighborhood with a vibrant arts scene, there’s no surprise that you’ll see murals on every corner.
Tourists like you and me love taking photos in front of these murals for the gram, and of course, there’s nothing wrong with that!
But most murals also have the artists’ Instagram handles, and as an artist myself, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to support the people who make neighborhoods and cities come alive with color and their vision!
Go wild with your senses at MOXI
Just a few steps away from the beach and overlooking the Santa Ynez Mountains, The MOXI (Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation) is an interactive museum that has hands-on exhibits, encouraging playfulness.
These exhibits include a speed track for toy cars, a sound track where you see the insides of a guitar, a colorful light track mosaic, and more.
Almost everyone can enjoy this kind of activity. While it sounds like it’s something children would enjoy, adults can join in on the fun too. Once in a while, MOXI hosts a Happy Hour where the 21+ crowd can enjoy beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks while enjoying the art installations and exhibitions.
There are also Afterhours where you can party after the museum’s closing hours.
MOXI is open everyday from 10 am–5 pm, and general admission (for those who are 13 and older) is $20.
Visit some art galleries
With the bustling art scene in The Funk Zone, it only makes sense to support more local artists by paying them a visit (even if you don’t buy anything). These people make the city and the neighborhood fun and colorful!
Here are a few artists to visit in The Funk Zone:
- Kelly Clause Art: She creates stunning, whimsical seascapes and wildlife in watercolor, selling originals along with prints, greeting cards, mugs, and clothes.
- John Baran Art: His motto is that he creates “inspired by Mother Nature”. His semi-abstract paintings feature wildlife and landscapes. He is also a photographer, and has epic drone and underwater shots.
- Colorfield Arts Studio: Gallery featuring the works of John De Herrera. His work is completely abstract, which isn’t really to my taste, but some people might dig it.
- Michael Van Long: This Santa Barbara-born artist reuses and upcycled scraps to create collages, sculptures, and hyper-realistic dioramas.
Go on a food tour
Santa Barbara’s culinary scene can be described as a blend of California and Mexican cuisine, with an abundance of seafood and wine. Why not get a taste of it (no pun intended) by going on a food tour?
Going on a guided food tour takes the guesswork out of figuring out where to eat and drink. Your guide will take you to the best spots in The Funk Zone while narrating the history of the neighborhood.
Here are a few food tours to check out to whet your appetite:
- Taste Santa Barbara Funk Zone Food & Drinks Walking Tour: For this tour, you will start at Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room in Hotel Californian, where you will sample the best California wines alongside mouthwatering tacos. You’ll then stop for some sushi at Oku Restaurant with stunning ocean views. For the rest of the tour, you’ll stroll through The Funk Zone, trying bites from 5 family-owned restaurants.
- Historical Walking Food & Wine Funk Zone Santa Barbara Tour: You’ll start and end this tour at Margerum Tasting Room, trying a flight of their premium wines. As you walk through The Funk Zone, you’ll sample pizza, sushi, smash burgers, and seafood. You’ll also receive a gift card to use for 16 shops, bars, and wineries in Santa Barbara.
- Best of Santa Barbara Food and Drinks Tour: Get ready to get spoiled with 2 wine tastings, a beer flight, and liquor (gin and/or vodka). Make sure you come hungry because you’ll have sushi, tacos, and pizza! At the end of the tour, you’ll receive a thank-you gift.
- Santa Barbara Funk Zone Food and Photo Tour: Combine your love for food and photography with this unique tour, where you’ll stop at 3 eateries, a brewery, a distillery, and 2 wineries in The Funk Zone. You’ll eat and drink your heart out, but learn about how to take beautiful food photos. You don’t need a fancy DSLR (but if you do, go you!); a phone will suffice.
Visit tasting rooms for wine tasting
Famous for its wineries and vineyards along Santa Ynez Valley, you’d be crazy not to try some of the wines!
The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail features the best wineries and tasting rooms in the city. There are 10 tasting rooms featured in The Funk Zone, all within walking distance from each other.
Where to stay in The Funk Zone
Looking for the chicest boutique stay in Santa Barbara? Look no further than Riviera Beach House!
Riviera Beach House is steps away from The Funk Zone. It’s contemporary and elegant without being pretentious.
The hotel’s restaurant, Santo Mezcal by Los Agaves, serves upscale Mexican food and craft cocktails.
Each room has plush beds and wardrobes, a Keurig coffee machine, and room service from Santo Mezcal. Some of the rooms have a garden patio, where you can enjoy your morning coffee and breakfast, and take your sweet time before a day of exploring.
And in true Funk Zone fashion, Riviera Beach House has its very own art gallery, with exhibitions in partnership with Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara.
To experience the beauty of Central California, Riviera Beach House also offers curated tours such as horseback riding along the beach, riding a Jeep in the Santa Ynez Mountains, and taking a private sailing lesson.
I’ve always wanted to stay in Riviera Beach House, but we didn’t get to this time around. But next time, I would love to make it my home for the next few days in Santa Barbara!
Wrapping up your Funk Zone guide
With colorful murals, walkable streets, delicious eateries, and access to the beach, it’s easy to see why The Funk Zone is one of Santa Barbara’s top attractions (and why Cecilio and I went there everyday during our 3-day trip).
This vibrant neighborhood definitely puts the “fun” in funk.
If you’re planning to visit Santa Barbara anytime soon, make sure to include The Funk Zone in your itinerary!
Did you find this post helpful? Share it on Pinterest!
Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.