Top 10 Vegan Restaurants In Santa Barbara, California

vegan restaurants in santa barbara
Aarti
Aarti 
Published
| 4 min read

Visiting Santa Barbara for your vacation to the USA should definitely be on your list. You wouldn’t want to miss the beauty of Santa Barbara now, would you? Explore the famous attractions such as the Old Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Zoo, Stearns Wharf, Lotusland, Arroyo Burro Beach County Park, and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. There are just too many scenic places in this city. So, don’t forget to take your camera with you to capture new memories. Along with the amazing attractions the city offers, it should come as no surprise that you’d seek out delicious, healthy food to energize yourself. And, devouring vegan cuisine is the right way to do so. Continue reading to learn more about the top vegan restaurants in Santa Barbara, California.

1. Mesa Verde

Herbal tea
Source: Pixabay

Nestled in the quaint Mesa neighborhood, Mesa Verde restaurant is known for its vegetarian delights. It features a flavor-packed menu that doesn’t just offer veg burgers or sandwiches. It goes way beyond that. You’ll be getting bright local flavors for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Offering a hip vibe and outdoor seating, the restaurant is renowned for its vegan and vegetarian bites such as the pulled mushroom sandwich, celeriac root linguini, flatbreads, and you could accompany the dishes with tonics, coffees, smoothies, or herbal teas.

Mesa Verde

Address: 1919 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Website: Mesa Verde

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 9pm (closed on Mon)

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2. The Natural Cafe

caesar salad
Source: Photo by Flickr user Geoff Peters used under CC BY 2.0

One of the most favorite vegan restaurants in Santa Barbara, The Natural Cafe offers an array of vegan and vegetarian dishes to its customers. This restaurant serves up mouthwatering lunch and dinner options. That being said, The Natural Cafe doesn’t just cater to vegan or vegetarian-friendly folks. It also offers delicious fish and chicken entrees. At this restaurant, you need to place your order at the counter and wait by the table for the food to be delivered there. Some of the favorites at this eclectic restaurant include Caesar salad, meatless burgers, veggie tacos, smoothies, shakes, local wine, and beers.

The Natural Cafe

Address: 361 Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Website: The Natural Cafe

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

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3. The Black Sheep Restaurant

Roasted Beet salad 3of7
Source: Photo by Flickr user Breville USA used under CC BY 2.0

The Black Sheep Restaurant is a charming and inventive venue offering global cuisines to its patrons. The menu at this restaurant features Latin, Italian, and Asian cuisine that is still made by using the classic French method. You could place an order for Peruvian potato tacos, sweetbreads, ramen, fried cauliflower, roasted beet salad, and so many more in one sitting. All the ingredients for the dishes are made from local ingredients bought from the farmer’s markets.

The Black Sheep Restaurant

Address: 26 E Ortega St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Website: The Black Sheep Restaurant

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 5pm - 10pm; Sun: 5pm - 9pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

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4. Oliver's

butternut_squash_soup
Source: Photo by Flickr user Jill Lee used under CC BY-SA 2.0

A fancy vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Santa Barbara, California, Oliver’s is a casual and stylish spot known for serving an array of tasty cocktails, organic smoothies and juices, and plant-based diets of entrees and salads. People who have come here before, go gaga over flatbreads and crab cakes made out of artichoke. This is also a dog-friendly restaurant. So, make sure to get your reservations to get your spot on the patio.

Oliver's

Address: 1198 Coast Village Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Website: Oliver’s

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 5pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Mon)

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5. Vegan GreenGO

Vegan Nachos
Source: Photo by Flickr user kelly used under CC BY-SA 2.0

A quick-service Mexican food restaurant opened its doors to the public in May 2018. Visitors at Vegan GreenGO restaurant can choose from its large menu that features bowls, nachos, burritos, tacos, and so many more. All these dishes include vegan options as well, to suit vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian palates. All the restaurant’s dishes are inspired by the LA street food vendors, and these dishes are prepared from scratch, including horchata (rice-based drink).

Vegan GreenGO

Address: 3613 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Website: Vegan GreenGO

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 8pm

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6. Toma Restaurant & Bar

Mushroom Risotto
Source: Photo by Flickr user Katrin Gilger used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Get the best of Mediterranean and Italian dishes at this sunny eatery called Toma Restaurant & Bar. This restaurant is one of the top restaurants in Santa Barbara, California, and for a good reason. You get the tastiest seafood, dishes, pasta, flatbreads, and fresh salads, along with an extensive list of Italian and local wines, and cocktail options. That being said, you’ll also find an array of vegan meals like grilled romaine salad, mushroom risotto, and more.

Toma Restaurant & Bar

Address: 324 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Website: Toma Restaurant & Bar

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 5pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 5pm - 10pm

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7. Green Table

Mexico City Vegan cheesecake at VegAmo MX - Charlie on Travel
Source: Photo by Flickr user Charlie Marchant used under CC BY 2.0

If you’re a health-conscious person, you can’t go wrong with the Green Table. Established in April 2016, Green Table is a matcha green tea bar and vegetarian eatery, featuring raw, vegan cuisine, and organic juices. Visitors can take their pick from wraps, entrees, salads, and more. If you’re a gluten-free person, you’ll find plenty of gluten-free dishes, as well. Some of them are soups, burgers, and stir-fries. And for those with a sweet tooth, enjoy raw fudge, banana bread, and vegan cheesecake.

Green Table

Address: 113 W De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Website: Green Table

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 3pm; Sun: 10am - 2pm

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8. Flavor of India

Pakora
Source: Photo by Flickr user Upendra Kanda used under CC BY 2.0

Craving for some delish Indian food while out and about in Santa Barbara? Nestled in uptown, otherwise also called upper State Street, this traditional Indian restaurant has been serving some of the most common Indian favorites such as tandoori korma, and more, for 15 plus years. You get both lunch and dinner at the restaurant. There’s a lunch buffet available, too, along with an a la carte menu. After a scrumptious meal, you could go for chai (tea). If you want a beverage to accompany your meals, then you could opt for either beer or wine.

Flavor of India

Address: 3026 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Website: Flavor of India

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 3pm - 9pm

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9. Satellite SB

Egyptian Green Salad
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dina Said used under CC BY-SA 4.0

A farm-to-table concept restaurant in Santa Barbara, Satellite SB is a stylish wine bar and vegetarian eatery. The restaurant serves refined vegetarian dishes made from farmer’s market-based ingredients. It also has an impressive selection of natural and local wines that you could pair with your dishes. Along with wines, craft beers and ciders are also available. You’ll also get vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options that even a hardcore meat-eater would love. Some of the must-try food items here include yoga pants salad, confit tomato special, smoked mushrooms, and a hot raclette platter.

Satellite SB

Address: 1117 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Website: Satellite SB

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 12pm - 8pm; Thu - Sat: 12pm - 8pm, Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Wed)

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10. Zaytoon

IMG_1690
Source: Photo by Flickr user takaokun used under CC BY 2.0

Looking for a great spot for a date night? Or, on a lookout to taste the best of Mediterranean food? Then, this comfortable restaurant, Zaytoon, is the perfect place for you. This Middle Eastern and Lebanese restaurant features weekly live entertainment sessions and an outdoor fire pit, amidst a tropical setting. While you’re here, make sure to try out shawarma, falafel, baba ghannouj, tabbouli, fattoush, and many other Lebanese options under the stars, encompassed by music, laughter, and other happy sounds. You also get flavored hookah out on the patio.

Zaytoon

Address: 209 E Canon Perdido St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Website: Zaytoon

Opening hours: Mon: 5:30pm - 8:30pm; Tue - Thu: 5:30pm - 9pm; Fri: 5:30pm - 9:30pm; Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm; Sun: 5pm - 9pm

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Go vegan in Santa Barbara

If you are a vegan and you are traveling around in Santa Barbara, California, you don’t need to compromise on your food options. There are so many vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Santa Barbara that’ll do proper justice to your taste buds and gut. So, make use of this list of the best vegan restaurants in Santa Barbara, California, and enjoy the finest delicacies while you’re out and about.

Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of the restaurants may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from the websites. 

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Born in Mumbai and brought up in Bangalore, India, Aarti is a full-time freelance writer by profession. She is a lover of everything the ‘blue dot’ offers—world cultures, off-the-beaten tracks,...Read more

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