It’s (Bachelorette) Party Time! We know that planning the perfect bachelorette weekend in beautiful Santa Barbara can be amazing but also stressful! Let us help! Grab your girls, your matching t-shirts, and meet us down in the American Riviera.
Here’s our guide to the most memorable things to do, specialty drinks, food to eat, and places to stay that are sure to make yours the perfect bachelorette weekend!
What To Do
Social Cycle (duh)
Kick off your bachelorette weekend with a pedal around beautiful Santa Barbara. Grab your girls, some brews, and hop on! Check out all the best bars in Santa Barbara while pedaling away – so it’s healthy right? You might even make some t-shirts so everyone around town knows that you’re the best bridal group… ever! Keep it intimate with a private bike, or just enjoy the party on a public ride. You can’t go wrong either way! Experience Santa Barbara in the best way with Social Cycle!
Wine Tours
No permission slip needed for this bus ride! Grab your hall pass and your girls and jump on the wine bus. Book a private tour and experience a rolling wine tasting of some of the best wines from Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley! Jump on the School Bus wine tours specializes in making your bachelorette weekend perfect, complete with a themed school party bus to pick you up! The best part? You don’t have to pretend to know how to properly taste wine (I’m getting hints of… grapes?). This wine tour is sure to be a highlight of the weekend!
Yoga & Meditation
Let’s take a minute and go to our happy place! The classes at Salt Cave will help you achieve complete peace. Also how many times do you get to say you meditated in a salt cave?! The perfect place to meditate, then take an adorable pic of you and your bridal party. Make a day of it and reserve the bridal party experience. You’ll experience a whole new meaning to being zen!
Spa Day
Eucalyptus steam room. If that sounds good to you, this spa day will be absolutely perfect. Santa Barbara has no shortage of spas, but we especially love the services at the Ritz Carlton hotel. Overlooking the ocean, complete with a redwood sauna and rooftop bar, this spa is the picture of relaxation. Picture yourself relaxing with your girls while enjoying the featured chamomile lavender summer dream massage or the full body experience of chamomile lavender salt scrub. Get yourself ready for a night on the town with a day of relaxation.
Urban Wine Trail in the Funk Zone
Are you ready to sip your way through the wineries of downtown Santa Barbara? You should be! A wine tour with Urban Wine Trail brings a whole new meaning to boutique wineries. Customize your tour and make it 100% tailored to your party. DNCE recommended cake by the ocean, but we prefer wine by the ocean! Wine(d) your way around downtown Santa Barbara with your wine tour on wheels!
Sailing
Does sipping on the sea sound as amazing to you as it does to us? Santa Barbara Sailing offers all the water fun you can imagine. Take your girls for a day cruise or get a little workout in with a stand-up paddle board excursion (not that you need it – mimosas have orange juice in them so they’re healthy). Take a private charter to the world-famous Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary, the Galapagos of the Pacific. We absolutely cannot get over the amazing pictures you can take on these beautiful boats with a breathtaking backdrop. Brunch on a yacht is nice, but brunch on a sailboat is truly spectacular.
Where to Eat & Drink
Finch & Fork
It’s time to experience the taste of Santa Barbara. If fire roasted milkshakes and baked mac ‘n’ cheese peak your interest, Finch & Fork is the place for you! They keep the food simple with 6 ingredients or less per dish, so it’s up to you and your girls to bring the adventure! This is the perfect place to keep your stomach in check before a wild night out!
The Lark
Everyone loves anything artisanal, right? The Lark’s unique vibe and exceptional dinner, dessert, and wine list is sure to make your night special. The dinner menu comes from three of our favorite places, “from the farm,” “from the ocean,” and “from the ranch.” Located in the heart of the Funk Zone, this is the perfect place to kick off your night!
The Shop Kitchen
Brunch. Coffee. Pastries. If that sounds amazing to you, check out The Shop! Everything is freshly baked just for you; plus their six variations of eggs benedict has our mouths watering. The Shop is the perfect place to kick-off a relaxing spa day with your girls or to catch-up after a wild night out. Keep the party going with some mimosas or refresh with a freshly roasted coffee from Handlebar Roasters!
Los Agaves
We are always in favor of a little south-of-the-border action. You’ll find plenty of that and much more at Los Agaves. Yelp rates it as one of the top five restaurants in Santa Barbara and we actually agree! They call it contemporary Mexican dining, we call it the perfect place for margs and signature enchiladas (think: fresh halibut and shrimp, roasted veggies, topped with smoky chipotle sauce.. amazing!). So, grab your girls and take the party south of the border!
Boathouse at Hendry’s
Cocktails.. On the beach.. At sunset – can it get better than that?! The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach offers that sought-after California dining experience. Incredibly fresh seafood plus one of Santa Barbara’s best happy hours is sure to be a highlight of your bachelorette weekend! Get lost in the breathtaking sights of the ocean and the endless California shoreline with the perfect drink in your hand.
Waterline
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop, we’ve found it for you! The Waterline is an amazing industrial warehouse turned food and drink destination. Inside is not only one, but four exceptional taprooms, wine bars, and brewing companies. Not to mention the food from The Nook is designed to pair beautifully with beer and wines offered throughout the venue. Bring the party and experience the industrial vibe at the Waterline.
Where to Stay
Hotel Milo
Ready to fall in love with Southern California beachside living? Hotel Milo offers classic SoCal beachfront with a contemporary twist. The blend of beach-chic decor with classic Spanish Colonial architecture is not only amazing to look at, but is sure to provide the perfect backdrop for an adorable party pic (do it for the Gram)! Speaking of pictures, image how picture perfect you and your girls will look cruising down the beach in your complimentary beach cruiser (rental included with your stay)!
AirBnB
Let’s kick this party up a notch, with an entire house! Rent an AirBnb and have all the freedom you can ask for, plus the comforts of home! Stay in one night and make that authentic Italian dinner you’ve been craving. Remember, the wine is absolutely pivotal! Have space to sprawl out or use that space to bring the party home! Find that adorable beach cottage just steps from amazing bars and breathtaking views.
Hotel Californian
Welcome to the Hotel California(n), such a lovely place. Okay, okay, we know this wasn’t exactly what the Eagles were talking about, but they would agree with how amazing this pick is. Redefine American Riviera with the modern Spanish colonial architecture. Steps from the beach and adjacent to the Funk Zone, the Hotel California is the perfect place for your party to begin! Did we mention the rooftop pool? Seriously, drinks, on the rooftop, overlooking the beach; paradise!
Kimpton Canary
Make your Bachelorette weekend truly exceptional at the luxurious Kimpton Canary. Complete with four-post beds to make you feel like the queen you are, and all-day rosé to indulge in, this place is so much more than a regular hotel. You already know we’re big fans of rooftop bars, and the Kimpton doesn’t disappoint with its rooftop pool and bar. Local wines are always making their rounds; plus, if you’re there on a Saturday morning, be sure to check out one of the rooftop yoga classes!
Four Seasons Biltmore
Did someone say bungalow? Treat yourself and your girls to the life of luxury at the Four Seasons. Get a private bungalow and bask in the secluded, relaxing nature of this luxurious stay. Don’t forget about the 22 acres of beachfront property ready for you to explore, or just look at (we aren’t judging)! Plus, the rain shower in every bathroom is sure to make the getting ready process utterly amazing.
Whether you’re a California local or your party is flying in for your SoCal bachelorette adventure, our Santa Barbara Bachelorette Guide will give you have an unforgettable vacation so you go home with memories to last a lifetime!