Caruso's Santa Barbara

Caruso’s is on South Jameson Lane in Santa Barbara. The restaurant holds a Michelin star, five stars from the Forbes Travel Guide, and a Wine Spectator Excellence Award. It sits a fifteen-minute walk from the sand at Butterfly Beach.

While the coast around Santa Barbara often prioritizes casual boardwalk fare, this room runs smart and elegant. The kitchen focuses on Italian and Mediterranean seafood, eschewing the relaxed informality found closer to the water. It offers a more deliberate experience than the high-traffic dining spots on Coast Village Road, making it the better choice when the objective is a slow, multi-course meal rather than a quick coastal bite.