• Arlington Plaza - The journey begins with a delightful experience reminiscent of Paris, offering genuine French cuisine that feels as if it were served at a quaint sidewalk café or boulangerie. Renaud and Nicole Gonthier established Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro to fulfill Santa Barbara’s craving for a high-quality French pastry and croissant establishment. Renaud’s represents a lifelong ambition to craft exquisite pastries using the finest ingredients, with an emphasis on quality and meticulous attention to detail in every creation. Choose between a Chocolate or Almond croissant and enjoy the flaky delight while soaking in the elegant yet relaxed atmosphere of the beautiful courtyard. Discover the fascinating culinary background of the restaurant’s namesake. Fun fact: Renaud appeared on two episodes of The Food Network’s Emeril Live and was featured again in August 2007 on The Food Network’s Sugar Rush with Warren Brown.
• Arlington Theatre - Next, delve into the history of Arlington Plaza, including the Arlington Hotel and the iconic Arlington Theatre on State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara’s historic theatre district. This area boasts a curated selection of the finest locally owned dining and retail establishments in Santa Barbara.
• Historic Walking Tour of Santa Barbara - In the El Pueblo Viejo Historic District, charming pedestrian walkways, known as paseos, wind through Santa Barbara and are often overlooked by visitors. Originating from the days of Spanish California, they were expanded when the downtown was rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake. Here, past and present coexist, with buildings dating from the 1700s to the 1800s, showcasing the best of Santa Barbara’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. This section explores the former VIP limousine entrance and the transformed 125-space parking lot on the north side of the iconic Arlington Theater.
• Santa Barbara Public Market - Next, explore the premier open-space food hall of the Public Market, a Santa Barbara legacy that has highlighted the exceptional bounty of California’s Central Coast since 2014. This unique venue, the first and only of its kind in Santa Barbara, was designed to be shared by multiple restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and food counters, allowing new restaurateurs to experiment with innovative ideas. Here, a wide array of artisanal food and drinks awaits, all conveniently located under one roof.
• Santa Barbara Public Market - On the second stop, experience the finest deli outside of Los Angeles. Choose between Big Poppa: pastrami, egg, new school American cheese, and cream cheese on a toasted half bagel, or Cheezy Eggs: eggs, new school American cheese, and cream cheese on a toasted half bagel. Wexler’s Deli employs traditional methods to craft their pastrami. After curing in a special blend of salt and spices, the meats are slowly smoked in-house over apple wood and sliced by hand. The late, great Jonathan Gold praised their pastrami as comparable to L.A. institution Langer’s, with the smoke on both meats being exceptional. Equally impressive is their culinary pedigree. Kassar became the Deli King through experience with Michelin-starred chefs like Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud in NYC and then managed the front of house at Spago for five years. Fun fact: Santa Barbara Public Market owner Travis Twining conducted a taste test of all Los Angeles pastrami, then chose Wexler’s and sought him out!
• The Granada Theatre - Prepare to discover white stucco walls, iconic red tile roofs, flower-adorned courtyards, hidden passageways, notable restaurants, and world-class performing arts theaters and museums. The next paseo encountered is Victoria Court. Once through the maze to the other side, take a stroll on State Street past the iconic 1924 Granada Theater, home to the Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, and Opera Santa Barbara. Then, wander through the San Marcos Building. Exiting this pre-1925 arcade leads directly to the 1941 Santa Barbara Museum of Art, a building that once served as the Santa Barbara Post Office (1912–1932). Now, it houses a collection of ancient to contemporary works and photography by Asian, European, and American artists. Afterward, proceed through the final charming paseo. Lined with restaurants, shops, and galleries, the 1926 La Arcada evokes images of Spain.
• The Historic La Arcada Courtyard - The final tasting stop offers a sweet treat in a grown-up Candyland. Indulge in what many locals and visitors consider the best donut in town, a perfect conclusion to the culinary exploration. Although the aesthetic is carefully curated for Instagram-worthy shots, the menu is genuinely delicious. Inspired by nouveau donut artists like Sidecar Doughnuts in Santa Monica, Hook & Press elevates the typical donut shop by using an overnight brioche dough made with European-style butter, eggs, whole milk, sugar, and salt. Prepare to satisfy all sugar-laden dreams by sampling from their gourmet donut menu, which changes seasonally. Angela Borda wrote in Food & Home Magazine that the “donut masterpieces” are “unusual enough that people are tagging them on Instagram.” Fun fact: “Hook” refers to the mixing attachment used to make the dough, and “Press” for coffee, the donut’s finest accompaniment.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Snacks

• Gratuities

Travel is about immersing yourself in the local culture. One way to do that is through food. Join us for a delectable journey through Santa Barbara’s vibrant food scene while soaking in its rich history and beautiful architecture. This two-hour Saturday morning adventure is perfect for food lovers and history buffs alike. Immerse yourself with the help of a local gifted storyteller passionate about living “La Dolce Vita.” At 3 unique local restaurants within the Historic Theatre District you’ll enjoy a guided, curated food tasting.

Equal parts food tasting and equal parts easy walking, this tour strikes a perfect balance of guided activity and epicurean exploration. See parts of Downtown Santa Barbara that most visitors miss, as we saunter through some of the hidden paseos and learn about the history of key iconic sights in the Historic Theatre District. At the end of the tour, you will have learned how to successfully navigate the Santa Barbara foodie scene like a seasoned local.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.