HOME / THINGS TO DO
THINGS TO DO
There’s something for everyone in Santa Barbara’s Presidio neighborhood. Consider making a day of it!
HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE
-
CASA DE LA GUERRA
15 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The Casa de la Guerra was the residence of the fifth commandant of the Presidio de Santa Barbara, José de la Guerra y Noriega, founder of the Guerra family of California from 1828 until his death in 1858. -
EL PRESIDIO DE SANTA BÁRBARA STATE HISTORIC PARK
123 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, is a former military installation in Santa Barbara, California, United States. The presidio was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California.
-
JIMMY'S ORIENTAL GARDENS & THE CHUNG RESIDENCE
126 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens, established in 1947 by James “Jimmy” Yee Chung, was more than a restaurant—it was a thriving Chinese/American community hub that served locals and visitors for nearly six decades.
-
SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM
136 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum features relics from Chumash, Spanish, Mexican, Yankee, and Chinese cultures, including artifacts, photographs, furnishings and textiles, dating as far back as the 15th century.
OTHER HISTORIC LANDMARKS
-
CITY HALL, 1923
735 ANACAPA STREET
Designed by Sauter and Lockard, the building includes decorative terracotta on the exterior designed by Gladding, McBean and Co. City Hall anchors one side of De la Guerra Plaza, Santa Barbara's main public plaza.
-
EL CUARTEL, 1788
122 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
El Cuartel, the only original remaining portion of the Santa Barbara Presidio is the oldest building in Santa Barbara and the second oldest building in California. The adobe housed the Valenzuela family and their descendants for three generations and is now part of El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.
-
EL PASEO, 1924-29
813 ANACAPA STREET
James Osborn Craig, Mary Craig, Carlton Winslow. Built as an outdoor shopping and dining complex attached to and including Casa de la Guerra, El Paseo was the first significant project in the City's downtown in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style, which came to characterize the downtown after the 1925 earthquake.
-
LUGO ADOBE / MERIDIAN STUDIOS, 1830/1922-25
112-166 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The 19th c. Lugo Adobe at the rear of the property was remodeled by Carleton Winslow and George Washington Smith, who added on five artist studios. Significant artists and architects held studios there, including Colin Campbell Cooper, Carlton Winslow, and Edwards and Plunkett. Landscape design by Lockwood De Forest Jr.
-
MARGARET BAYLOR INN/THE JULIA, 1926-27
924 ANACAPA STREET
Designed by famed California architect Julia Morgan, the Inn was built as a residential hotel for business women and named after local social worker Margaret Baylor, who championed the project. Notice the swan details throughout the façade, a theme selected by the architect.
-
SANTA BARBARA DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE, 1937
836 ANACAPA STREET
Designed by Reginald Johnson in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style with Steamline Moderne motifs. The interior includes six plaster bas reliefs by William Atkinson that depict “The Transportation of the Mail.”
-
ROCHIN ADOBE, 1856
820 SANTA BARBARA STREET
Presidio descendants constructed the Rochin, relatively late for an adobe. The adobe was built inside the walls of the Presidio, a sign that the fort had fallen into disrepair.
-
YGNACIO HOUSE, 1875
214 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
Fluent Barbareño Chumash speaker Louisa Ygnacio moved to this home in 1908 and lived there until 1922. Anthropologists Alfred Kroeber and JP Harrington made several interviews and recordings of her there.
The Presidio Neighborhood houses an incredibly high density of landmark historic buildings. This is just a sample, there are many more!
ART & CULTURE
-
LOBERO THEATRE
33 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Originally founded as José Lobero’s Opera House in 1873, the Lobero is the oldest continuously operating theater in California, a city and state historical landmark, and the fourth oldest performing arts theater in the country. -
ALHECAMA THEATRE
215A E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Built for the Santa Barbara School of the Arts in 1925, the Alhecama Theatre was originally used for drama, music, and dance classes for the Santa Barbara School of the Arts. Today it is the site for community events, film screenings and concerts. and is part of El Presidio de Santa Barbára State Historic Park.
-
SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM
136 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum features relics from Chumash, Spanish, Mexican, Yankee, and Chinese cultures, including artifacts, photographs, furnishings and textiles, dating as far back as the 15th century. -
THE SPACE
15 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
A SPACE for us to share our stories with each other. A SPACE for us to learn and teach our traditional art. A SPACE for us to learn and teach our language and assure that it will be spoken for generations. A SPACE for us to call our own.
WINE-TASTING
-
AU BON CLIMAT
813 ANACAPA STREET
With 40 years of winemaking expertise, our wines are known for their balance, aging potential, and enduring elegance. -
FREQUENCY WINES
804 ANACAPA STREET
Frequency Wines is a boutique tasting room in Santa Barbara dedicated to wines that capture the energy and character of California’s coastal vineyards. -
GRASSINI FAMILY VINEYARDS
24 EL PASEO
Grassini Family Vineyards offers estate-grown Bordeaux wines that reflect the character of the vineyard and inspire shared moments and lasting memories.
-
JAMIE SLONE WINES
23 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
In our historic beautiful and cozy tasting room or outside on our two cafe-style patios, you’ll discover our passion for family, entertaining and delicious handcrafted 90+ point wines. -
KUNIN WINES
831 SANTA BARBARA STREET
For almost 30 years, Kunin Wines has been a trusted source for classic, high-quality, critically acclaimed wines from Santa Barbara County. -
LOUBUD WINES
20 EL PASEO
Enjoy a local sparkling wine tasting paired with hand-cut wooden puzzles, by the makers themselves.
-
LONGORIA WINES
732 STATE STREET
Longoria Wines, founded in 1982, was established by Rick & Diana Longoria with the vision of producing artisanal wines from the most prestigious vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County.
-
SANTA BARBARA BUBBLY LOUNGE
23 E DE LA GUERRA ST SUITE 100
Enjoy mindful indulgence with lower alcohol wines, fabulous food pairings, cozy lounge vibes, wine games and trivia
DINING
-
LA PALOMA
702 ANACAPA STREET
Rooted in over a century of local history, Paloma is a warm and welcoming space where the rhythms of the seasons shape the menu and every ingredient tells a story. -
LA PLAYA AZUL
914 SANTA BARBARA STREET
La Playa Azul Cafe has been in business since 1976. The foundation of our recipes was created long ago by my grandmother, Beatrice Rodriquez, and is considered early California/Sonora-style Mexican cuisine. -
RUDY'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
138 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
We have been making, award-winning fresh Mexican food in Santa Barbara for over 40 years. -
THE PICKLE ROOM
122 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Open since 1947 as Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens; after a six-year hiatus, the bar reopened as the Pickle Room in the Fall of 2013.
-
THREE PICKLES
126 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Lively sandwich shop and deli. -
ZAYTOON
209 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Zaytoon is a hidden oasis in the heart of Santa Barbara serving up Lebanese favorites for over 20 years.
-
PALIHOUSE SANTA BARBARA
915 GARDEN STREET
SHOPPING
-
CHEESE SHOP SANTA BARBARA
827 SANTA BARBARA STREET
Santa Barbara’s one and only cheese shop! Locally owned and operated, we feature over 100 different cheeses, all cut fresh to order. -
JAKE & JONES
136 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Jake and Jones is a considered mix of modern womenswear, menswear, children's clothing, and objects from designers around the world. -
LOVEBIRD BOUTIQUE & JEWELRY BAR
7 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
Lovebird offers locals and visitors a friendly oasis to relax and shop a thoughtfully curated array of women's clothing and accessories including an extensive jewelry selection. -
SOUL SUCKER
814 STATE STREET, SUITE 38
Find one-of-a-kind handmade ceramics and art from local & regional ceramic artists and artisans. -
SANTA BARBARA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION GIFT SHOP
123 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Browse our shop for unique gifts inspired by the history and cultures of California — including apparel, books, handmade artisan pieces, note cards, posters, puzzles, and toys for children.
-
SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM GIFT SHOP
136 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The Museum Store offers a variety of thought provoking and beautiful items that highlight our city's rich heritage.
-
THE EDDY
137 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
The Eddy brings a balanced and curated approach to a modern corner store, providing pantry staples, household essentials, home goods, cult-favorite grocery items, locally grown organic produce, and a selection of grab-and-go options.
WELLNESS & STAY
-
FLOAT LUXURY SPA
18 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
At Float Luxury Spa, we invite you to slow down and reconnect through thoughtfully curated spa experiences inspired by the rhythm of the coast.
-
SOL SEEK YOGA
25 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
At Float Luxury Spa, we invite you to slow down and reconnect through thoughtfully curated spa experiences inspired by the rhythm of the coast.
-
PALIHOUSE SANTA BARBARA
915 GARDEN STREET
A bespoke hideaway set within the historic Presidio Neighborhood.
MORE
-
GROUP A SYSTEMS
Group A is a creative studio that operates at the intersection of business strategy, design, and marketing—focused on helping brands grow, launch, and evolve with both creative and commercial impact.
-
IRENE HOFFMAN DESIGN
BALBOA BUILDING, 735 STATE STREET, #111
Creative Studio -
PEACE IN A POD ELEMENTARY
814 SANTA BARBARA STREET
We offer TK-6th grade education across three classrooms, ensuring small student-teacher ratios that foster close connections and personalized learning. -
WOMEN'S ECONOMIC VENTURES
21 E CANON PERDIDO STREET
Women’s Economic Ventures is dedicated to the economic empowerment of women — cultivating the power within each woman to realize her dreams, achieve financial independence, and succeed on her own terms.
SPONSORS
-
HARRISON DESIGN
223 E DE LA GUERRA STREET
Harrison Design specializes in high-end residential architecture, interior design and landscape architecture for clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. -
TRAVIS WILSON
25 EL PASEO
Travis J. Wilson, CPA, CFP® has over 25 years of experience serving the needs of a wide variety of individuals, small businesses, and not-for-profit organizations in the areas of tax, accounting, and consulting. -
DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
419 STATE STREET
The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association (DSBIA), a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing cleanliness, security, and business support in the downtown district.
PRESIDIO MEMBER DIRECTORY
The Presidio neighborhood is a community of businesses and organizations located within nine square blocks in the historic heart of Santa Barbara working together to enhance the cultural vitality of the area.
Interested in joining or sponsoring us?
Contact us.