• Arlington Plaza - Begin the journey at Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro, where the essence of Paris is captured through authentic French cuisine, reminiscent of a charming sidewalk café or boulangerie. Founded by Renaud and Nicole Gonthier, this establishment fulfills Santa Barbara’s craving for high-quality French pastries and croissants. Renaud’s is the realization of a lifelong dream to craft exquisite pastries using the finest ingredients, with meticulous attention to quality and detail in every creation. Delight in a Chocolate or Almond croissant while enjoying the elegant yet relaxed atmosphere of the courtyard, and discover the fascinating culinary background of the restaurant’s namesake. Fun fact: Renaud was featured on two episodes of The Food Network’s Emeril Live and appeared again in August 2007 on Sugar Rush with Warren Brown.
• Crushcakes & Cafe - The second stop, Crushcakes & Cafe, offers a distinctive bakery experience that draws locals to line up out the door. Choose between the Big Papa: a fried egg, bacon, cheddar, and chipotle ketchup on an everything half bagel, or the Little Momma: pesto cream cheese, avocado, red onions, tomatoes, sprouts, and arugula on an everything half bagel. Fun fact: Owner Shannon won an episode of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, where four creative cupcake bakers competed in an aphrodisiac-themed challenge for the chance to have their delectable creations featured at a star-studded magazine event. Contestants included Chloe Coscarelli of chefchloe.com (Los Angeles), Shayrin Badillo of Cupcakes Nouveau (Coral Gables, Fla.), and Jeff Bonilla of Cups (La Jolla, Calif.).
• Arlington Theatre - Explore 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.
• Arlington Theatre - In the El Pueblo Viejo Historic District, discover charming pedestrian walkways, known as paseos, that wind through Santa Barbara and are often missed by visitors. Originating from the Spanish California era, these paths 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 includes a look at 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 - Discover 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.
• The Granada Theatre - Prepare to explore 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 leads to Victoria Court. After navigating through the maze, 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 brings you 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. Finally, traverse the last charming paseo, lined with restaurants, shops, and galleries, where the 1926 La Arcada evokes images of Spain.
• The Historic La Arcada Courtyard - Conclude the culinary journey with a sweet treat in a grown-up Candyland. Indulge in what many locals and visitors consider the best donut in town, a perfect finale to the culinary exploration. While the aesthetic is curated for Instagram-worthy photos, 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. Satisfy your sweet cravings with a sample from their gourmet donut menu, which changes seasonally. Angela Borda wrote in Food & Home Magazine that these “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” to coffee, the donut’s perfect companion.

• Breakfast
• Brunch
• 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.