The ORIGINAL Downtown Santa Barbara Walking Food & Drink Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Eat and drink your way through downtown Santa Barbara with a local—no planning required. We’ll take you to a mix of favorite spots, with generous tastings, a little day drinking, and just enough storytelling along the way.
Founded over 10 years ago from a local’s love of Santa Barbara, great food, and bringing people together—without the stress of planning it all yourself.
You’ll experience the city alongside a knowledgeable local host—not a scripted tour guide. Group sizes are kept smaller for a more personal, social experience.
We can accommodate most food allergies with advance notice. Private and corporate tours are available. Tastings and locations may vary slightly based on availability.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that restaurants and tastings are subject to change based on availability
This is a walking tour; comfortable mobility is recommended
Most stops are wheelchair accessible, but not all surfaces and locations are fully accessible
Food allergies or aversions can often be accommodated—please notify us in advance
Tours begin and end in different locations
Tours run approximately 3.5 hours
Children are welcome—parents know best if the experience is a good fit
Service animals are welcome; pets are not permitted on food tours
Tastings are included and typically provide enough food for a satisfying midday meal
If anyone in your group has mobility or health concerns, a private tour may be a better fit
Monday tours are priced a bit lower and may have a slightly lighter food lineup—but don’t worry, there are still plenty of tastings along the way
Not recommended for travelers with serious medical conditions
What To Expect
El Paseo Building
El Paseo is more than a building—it’s a vibe and a mini neighborhood tucked just off State Street. As you walk through, you’ll find charming pathways that open into a beautiful courtyard surrounded by local businesses, including wine tasting rooms, restaurants, and historic buildings dating back to the early 1920s. This is one of our tasting stops (often the first), where you’ll enjoy a guided wine tasting (typically 3–4 wines) along with a shared grazing box, served just for your group.
Casa de la Guerra
We pass by the historic Casa de la Guerra while sharing a few light stories about Santa Barbara’s past—just enough to bring the surroundings to life without slowing down the experience.
Options
SB Food Tour
Duration: 4 hours: 3.5 ish hours of fun, food, culture and Santa Barbara history all experienced on foot 5-6 local food/drink partners SB Walking Food & Drink Tour
What‘s Included
A local host (more like a knowledgeable friend than a traditional guide)
A curated wine tasting is included (typically 3–4 wines), plus one additional beverage (non-alcoholic or alcoholic)
All food tastings are included (enough for a light meal)
All local taxes
Gratuities for your host (optional, but appreciated)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
552 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Funk tour with Kirk
sandybJ1375SO,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful mix of new foods to try. Enjoyed going off the beaten path. Kirk was knowledgeable about his city’s history.
Food tour
Kim C,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00There was plenty of food and drink with a good variety. The pace was good and Kirk was an excellent host. Do not eat before as you will be full
Good guide, food fair
Glenn R,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00The guide was extremely knowledgeable. Food was not up to what I have had on every other food tour I have been on.(6) Shared portions instead of individual servings. Food was bland, except for Italian ice. Pours on wine were less than I have previously experienced.
Santa Barbara walking foodie tour
wclawyer,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Maddy was a friendly and engaging tour guide. She took great pictures of us and later texted them to us. She was knowledgeable about the history of the city and locations we visited and made sure we alternated between walking and eating all afternoon. The food was tasty at every stop.
Cheers to a wonderful afternoon!
L8161JIcindyd,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a delightful afternoon with Captain Kirk! We enjoyed the food, the wine, the history and the insight into a unique city. Highly recommend for first time visitors to get a great feel for the unique flavor of Santa Barbara. You won't be disappointed!
Captain Kirk dropping knowledge + tasty bites !
Jason M,Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Captain Kirk was awesome ! He was extremely charismatic and presented us with a lot of interesting history regarding Santa Barbara’s past. The 5 food stops were also tasty and we will be back with more friends and family.
Cancelled Tour
micheleaW7089WS,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00The tour was cancelled the night before by the tour company. They said two of the restaurants on the tour closed unexpectedly. My thoughts are there are a lot of restaurants on State Street. Still waiting on the refund to my credit card.
Excellent!
dreilly444,Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Maddy was our tour guide and she was fantastic. Knowledgeable, funny, extremely personable. We learned a lot about Santa Barbara and California history, ate a lot of food (you will not leave this tour hungry), and had some great drinks. Worth every penny to learn more about this gorgeous city.
Loved loved loved this...
LuAnn B,Aug 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved loved loved this tour. Kirk, our guide, was excellent! We loved the food and the history shared by Kirk
Fun time
maryann m,Aug 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was both an educational and a food tour. Learned a lot about Santa Barbara that I did not know. Started the tour off with a fabulous wine tasting. Absolutely beautiful Bordeaux wines were tasted. The food on the tour was delicious especially the goat taco. Well, maybe the noodles were a little bland but can be easily spiced up. Captain Kirk was a lively guide who truly enjoys what he’s doing. He loves Santa Barbara and it shows in all his stories about this the charming town.
Related Experiences
Operated by Taste Santa Barbara Food Tours