Restaurants in Santa Barbara, in general, do not remain open late, so night owls beware. Indeed, locals say that if you haven’t decided what you want to eat for supper by 8:30 p.m., you might as well give up. Alternatively, head to Denny’s.
But have no fear! Because Tripononline only wants the best for you, we’ve conducted extensive research to compile a list of the 10 best late night restaurants in Santa Barbara that offer supper until 10 p.m. Impossible? Nothing is Impossible!
This list includes something for everyone, from sushi to burgers to bahn mi sliders. Stop by Edomasa for some late-night nigiri, or After Dark for some loaded mac and cheese. You don’t want to eat fish or pasta? Get some tri-tip fried rice at the Blue Owl… delicious!
Even better, the vast majority of the places on our list are exclusive restaurants open in Santa Barbara, so you’ll not only be indulging after dark, but you’ll also be receiving something you won’t find anywhere else. (Except In-N-Out for our out-of-state readers.) What’s a trip to California without a stop at In-N-Out Burger?
So, the next time your stomach grumbles late at night and you don’t know what to do, this is the list that will save your life… or at least your appetite!
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Best Late Night Restaurants in Santa Barbara
Mealtimes often affect our selections, restricting our restaurant options. Allow Tripononline to assist you when your options are limited. We’ll point you in the right direction for the best late night restaurants in Santa Barbara, saving you the trouble of calling around to find out when they’re open.
1. The Blue Owl
If late-night burritos tire you and midnight pizza is a yawn, head to The Blue Owl for a late-night dinner that will awaken your taste senses. Chef Cindy Black has created an unusual menu with a wide range of options.
Try a savory crab melt or the Kimcheezer (a grilled cheese flavored with kimchee). Daily specials fluctuate, and ingredients change according to what’s in season at the moment. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Blue Owl stays open late, making it the ideal place to end a long night or begin a long weekend.
Brunch, lunch, and dinner are also available at one of the restaurants open in Santa Barbara. There are also some excellent beers and wines on tap.
Recommended for Late Night because: On Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., the Blue Owl is open late. It’s also excellent. Delicious, delicious, delicious.
Expert tip: Come hungry and place a bold order. You might not have had a kimchee grilled cheese or a duck croissant before, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy them.
2. Edomasa
If you’re hungry after 10:00 p.m. in Santa Barbara, you might believe your only option is pizza… but you’d be mistaken. This sushi restaurant in the heart of the city is open late! One of the best late night food Santa Barbara.
Late-night appetites can be satisfied with a nutritious dose of protein and omega-3 fatty acids in the shape of delectable nigiri, hand rolls, and more. Edomasa also serves chicken teriyaki, beef sukiyaki, and a variety of noodle dishes in addition to sushi.
Finish your dinner with ice cream flavors such as green tea and red bean. Interesting sushi trivia can be found on their Facebook page. There is plenty of free parking on the street.
Recommended for Late Night because: Edomasa, the city’s only late-night sushi restaurants open in Santa Barbara , is open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight on Sundays and Thursdays.
Expert tip: Try the Lady Set for under $15, which includes three handrolls, miso soup, salad, and mochi.
3. Little Kitchen
Little Kitchen is a modern comfort food restaurant with a cuisine that is healthful, diversified, and satiating. This charming restaurant, located in the heart of downtown, serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday. But late at night is our favorite time to visit!
After 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, come in for delicious late-night bites you won’t find anywhere else. After dark, you might get cheeseburger egg rolls, bahn mi sliders, chicken tikka masala, and french toast nibbles, to name a few.
Parking on the street can be difficult, but there are parking lots close, and who are we kidding, you’ll be walking about downtown Santa Barbara anyhow.
Recommended for Late Night because: With vats of pasta and messy nachos, this late-night diner isn’t trying too hard. Check it out if you’re looking for delicious food and excellent service.
Expert tip: The french toast bites are a hit with everyone. Obtain some! You have breakfast built in if you don’t finish them before going to bed.
4. After Dark
You’re starving. It’s past midnight. Alcohol was consumed… possibly in excess. We’re not here to pass judgment; instead, we’re here to assist. If you’re in Santa Barbara and find yourself in this predicament, go straight to After Dark. This late-night diner in the heart of downtown provides the answer to all of your troubles. It also won’t set you back an arm and a leg! Mac ‘n’ cheese, waffle sandwiches, fries, and tater tots are all available here. Every item on the menu is under $10. Because it’s basically just a window outside of a pub, it’s a little difficult to find.
Recommended for Late Night because: You’ll miss it if you blink! Actually, this restaurant is only a window on the side of a pub. Keep an eye out for long lines.
Expert tip: Order the mac n’ cheese with everything, which comes in a huge portion (tomatoes, basil, bacon and jalapenos). It’s the ideal size for sharing!
5. Presidio Market Liquor & Grill
Are you seeking for a hidden restaurant? Somewhere that just a few people are aware of, a place that may not even appear to be a restaurant from the outside? A restaurant with a menu that includes dishes from several ethnicities?
And it’s open until the wee hours of the morning? The Presidio Market is the destination for you. To begin, enter the booze store through the front door.
Then walk all the way to the back and up to a tiny window where you can order under $10 burritos, burgers, falafels, shawarma, and more. In a matter of minutes, your order will be ready for you to take home or enjoy at one of the two little tables in the front.
Recommended for Late Night because: This place serves burgers, falafels, and burritos until midnight most nights and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays!
Expert tip: Regardless of what you order, don’t forget to order fries. The pricing is unbeatable, and they’re freshly cooked while you wait
6. Milk & Honey
At Milk & Honey , putting lipstick on your glass is not a no-no. Although you are welcome to come as you are, this dark little retreat encourages you to dress up and feel glamorous. The atmosphere is established with rock walls, dark wood, shining candles, and a patio fireplace.
Glasses of white, rose, and crimson are all available here. Many of the wines are from the region, although there are also some from France and Italy.
If you get hungry, Milk & Honey Santa Barbara has a terrific tapas menu with meat and vegetarian delicacies that are suitable for sharing. Try their brussels sprouts, which are a local favorite!
Recommended for Late Night because: Monday through Saturday, Milk & Honey Santa Barbara serves excellent food and beverages till late.
Expert tip: This is a great spot to test a new cocktail. Request a recommendation from the bartender or pick something at random from the extensive menu.
7. Roy
Roy is a late-opening, low-cost, independent restaurant in Santa Barbara. Every night from 6 p.m. to midnight, dinner is provided. The majority of dinners cost $20 to $30 and include soup, salad, and dessert.
Roy features a complete bar with a good selection of cocktails, as well as wine and beer. Local art displays and backgammon tournaments are held at this bar and restaurant. One of the best late night restaurants in Santa Barbara.
It’s a nice place to spend an evening watching folks go by on a quaint side street in downtown Santa Barbara. Find a parking spot at a nearby city lot or on the street.
Recommended for Late Night because: Roy is open seven days a week and serves delicious, comprehensive meals until midnight.
Expert tip: This is a fun spot to see some local art and eat a multi-course dinner without going broke.
8. Romanti-Ezer
For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Romanti-Ezer delivers basic, down-home Mexican cuisine. On weekends, it’s even open till 3 a.m.! This one-block-off-the-main-street restaurant is located on a corner.
Although it appears to be a walk-up, there are also patio tables at the back. The mole sauce from Romanti-Ezer is well-known. Their tortilla chips come with mole and queso fresco. One of the best late night restaurants in Santa Barbara.
You can also get mole enchiladas or a mole sauce-covered tortilla. Other popular items are their jumbo nachos and a plantain-filled tortilla. When you’re hungry and in a hurry, this is a great option. If you’re into that sort of stuff, try the horchata!
Recommended for Late Night because: Romanti-Ezer is the local favorite for delicious Mexican food that is open late. For a modest price, you get a lot of food.
Expert tip: Their mole sauce is a must-try! On chips, in a tortilla, or on top of enchiladas, you can get it.
9. In-N-Out Burger
If you’re not from California, you’ve probably heard of the In-N-Out burger chain. If you’re a native, you’ve most likely visited distant relatives to spread the “double-double, animal style” doctrine.
Three characteristics set this burger joint apart from the rest of the fast-food crowd. 1. The menu is straightforward: burgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and French fries.
2. Nothing is ever pre-packaged or frozen, and everything is made from scratch.
3. There is a top-secret option that allows you to completely personalize your order. To top it off, the pricing is fair, and the service is quick. You can enjoy late night dining Santa Barbara. In Santa Barbara, there are only a few drive-throughs.
Recommended for Late Night because: Fresh, quick, delicious, and cost-effective. What more could you possibly want late at night?
Expert tip: Make the most of the hidden menu. If you order something “animal style,” it will be fried in mustard and served with sautéed onions.
10. Eureka! Burger
Are you in the mood for some good traditional American food? Eureka! The burger is a hip burger establishment that’s open until midnight every night in the Paseo Nuevo Mall, right in the center of downtown Santa Barbara, you can enjoy late night dining Santa Barbara.
Their burgers are substantial and come with a choice of toppings. Fig marmalade, goat cheese, and fried eggs? Yes, Eureka is decked up in all of these things and more! Angus patties are the signature burger patties (you can substitute turkey and veggie patties, too).
And if that burger and fries have left you thirsty? A complete bar with craft beers and American whiskeys is available. Eureka! Burger also features flat-screen TVs, rotating special taps, and plenty of outside seating, making it the ideal spot for Sunday football or a birthday celebration.
Recommended for Late Night because: Eureka Burger, located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, is open until midnight every night.
Expert tip: Every Tuesday, all wines by the glass are half price – excellent, local wines. What goes better with a big, juicy burger than a glass of local wine?
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FAQs About Best Late Night Restaurants in Santa Barbara
What are the best restaurants in Santa Barbara that deliver?
Some of the most popular restaurants in Santa Barbara that deliver are:
1. Eureka!
2. Savoy Cafe & Deli
3. Persona Pizzeria
What is Santa Barbara most known for?
Santa Barbara is known for its wide, sandy beaches, and there are plenty to pick from whether you’re seeking for the perfect wave or the perfect sunset.
What are the best late night restaurants in Santa Barbara?
Is Santa Barbara California worth visiting?
Santa Barbara is the ideal seaside resort, with plenty of outdoor activities and a plethora of wine tasting rooms and restaurants scattered across the city. Santa Barbara, located between the San Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is a great place to visit for people of all ages.
What did people search for similar to restaurants in Santa Barbara, CA?
People also searched for these in Santa Barbara:
1. Takeout
2. Food
3. Breakfast & Brunch
4. Lunch
5. Dinner
Tell Us In The Comments About One Of Your Favorite Best Late Night Restaurants in Santa Barbara!
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