The Funk Zone, Santa Barbara

Why go

• Lots of tasting rooms close together. You can walk from one to the next in a couple of minutes.
• Beer and cocktails too, for anyone who isn't a wine person.
• Easygoing food, from casual bites to sit-down dinners.
• The beach is right there, so you can finish with a sunset walk.

Food & drink: the main event

Tasting room hopping

The Funk Zone is the heart of the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail, which links about 20 tasting rooms in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Eight of them are in the Funk Zone alone. Most pour wines from around Santa Barbara County, so you can taste wine country without driving to it. A few well-known stops:

• Santa Barbara Winery, a long-time local name with a casual tasting room a block from the waterfront.
• Margerum Wine Company, in the heart of the neighborhood, with flights and small bites.

Pick up the free Urban Wine Trail map at any tasting room to see the full lineup.

Craft breweries

Beer fans are well covered here. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. has a family- and dog-friendly taproom with a patio, and Validation Ale pours its own modern brews. There are also spirits tastings and a cocktail bar or two nearby.

Casual eats, seafood, brunch, and happy hour

Food here is mostly relaxed: tacos and casual counters, fresh seafood (you're a block from the harbor and wharf), weekend brunch spots, and plenty of patios. Many places run a happy hour in the late afternoon, which is a great time to try a few spots without overspending. Menus and hours change often, so check before you go.

How to plan a tasting crawl

1. Eat first. Start with lunch or a solid snack.
2. Pick three or four stops. That's plenty for one afternoon, and you can always come back.
3. Share flights and drink water between stops. It's fine to use the spit bucket or pour out.
4. Mix it up. Try a tasting room, then a brewery, then dinner.
5. Leave the car. Walk, take a rideshare, or book a guided tour, and never drink and drive.

When to go

Most tasting rooms open around noon and close in the early evening, and some stay open later. Weekday afternoons are the most relaxed. Weekend afternoons and evenings are lively, so expect a wait for popular spots. Late afternoon is ideal: taste, then walk to the beach for sunset.

Hours and prices change. Tasting fees, menus, and hours vary by business and change often. Check each place's own website before you go, and remember that tasting rooms are 21+.

Art studios and galleries

Artists were among the first to set up shop in the Funk Zone, and you'll still find a handful of studios and small galleries tucked between the tasting rooms. Pop in if a door is open, and keep an eye out for the murals as you walk.

A little shopping

Expect a few boutiques, surf-style shops, and bottle shops rather than a big shopping district. It's a nice way to fill the time between tastings.

With kids?

MOXI, the interactive science museum, is at 125 State Street on the edge of the neighborhood, and the beach is a block away. See our Santa Barbara with kids guide for more.

Getting there

The Funk Zone sits between downtown (State Street) and the beach. It covers the few blocks just east of State Street, on the ocean side of Highway 101, and runs down to Cabrillo Boulevard along the waterfront. For locals, that's roughly State to Garden Street, and Montecito Street to Cabrillo.

• On foot: Walk from Stearns Wharf, the beach, or lower State Street.
• By train: The Amtrak station is a short walk away. See our day trip from LA guide.
• Shuttle (summer): In summer 2026, the city's Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle ran Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for $0.50 a ride, and it was free with an Amtrak ticket. Check MTD for current dates.
• Parking: Street parking fills up fast. Use a city lot downtown or along the waterfront, and read the signs.

FAQ

Make an evening of it

Taste, walk to the wharf for the sunset, then go to dinner. Our date night ideas and wine tasting guide have more.