This Laid-back California Town Is a Celebrity Haven — How to Visit

Montecito has long been known as a sanctuary for the rich and first-name-only famous: Oprah, Ellen, Harry and Meghan. But lately, with the arrival of restaurants and boutiques worth traveling for—plus facelifts to some of southern California’s most storied hotels — this exclusive town feels like the Golden State’s hottest getaway.

On the north end is San Ysidro Ranch, which is spread across 550 lush acres. Originally constructed in 1893 and now owned by Beanie Babies magnate Ty Warner, it’s one of Montecito’s oldest retreats. It also has celeb credentials: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married there, and Winston Churchill favored it for winter vacations. (His name still graces the entrance to one of the 38 sumptuously appointed cottages.) 

The property recently added the Speakeasy at Plow & Angel, a sleek cocktail bar with live music. Guests also have access to the resort’s 14,000-bottle wine cellar, along with the Ty Warner Wine Collective, which offers tastings of rare vintages from producers like Château Petrus and Château d’Yquem. 

Three miles south, Rosewood Miramar Beach attracts a see-and-be-seen crowd for dinner at Caruso’s, its beachside Italian restaurant. (A second restaurant, FronteMare, will open soon and serve seafood family-style.) This summer, the hotel added a surf club; there’s also an outpost of Goop, the lifestyle brand of Montecito resident Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore Santa Barbara reopens next year on the heels of the refreshed Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, a member’s club with a soon-to-come Thomas Keller restaurant that will be open to the public. (Both are also Ty Warner holdings.)

Montecito’s main drag, Coast Village Road, has great people-watching—especially at its buzzy restaurants. One of the most sought-after reservations is Lucky’s, a celeb-approved steak house that turns 25 this year. (It’s where Meghan and Harry recently celebrated their wedding anniversary.) If tables are booked, try the bar, which serves the full menu and turns delightfully raucous during big games.

A block away is Honor Bar, which draws a happy-hour crowd, and Tre Lune, a trattoria with decadent pastas like fettuccine with lobster and porcini in a saffron-tomato sauce. Across the street, Montesano Market & Deli turns out filling piadine, lightly pressed flatbreads wrapped around cured meats and cheeses. Meanwhile, Bettina serves what many locals (and the Michelin guide) consider to be the best pizza in town.

Downtown has first-rate shopping, too. Browse French beauty products, chic gardening tools, tableware, and more—care for a $120 heirloom tomato-scented candle?—at Emily Joubert, which opened in July. A few doors away is an outpost of Dôen, a women’s-wear brand founded by Santa Barbara sisters who make easy separates, knits, and vintage-inspired dresses, all with a California-cool vibe. 

And Homer, named after the owner’s grandfather, employs saddlemakers to craft weekender and crossbody bags. Pick up a cheekily named “Overnighter” (it’s just about big enough for a credit card and a lip gloss) and walk along Channel Drive, which winds past Butterfly Beach, a scenic stretch along the Pacific that’s favored by those in the know.

A version of this story first appeared in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Stars, They’re Just Like Us.”