Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf
4
About
Visitors can watch fishing boats unload the day's catch, enjoy spectacular sunsets, and sample fare from fast food to fine dining at California's oldest working wharf.
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The area
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How to get there
- Santa Barbara Station • 10 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
405 within 3 miles
Attractions
224 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Jessica GLos Angeles, California6 contributionsFun Walk!I spent my college days working on the wharf, so I know it well. It is a great walk and good place to get a bite. I usually get soup and then turn around and walk it off on State Street. Not much to do on the wharf, but eat and go in a couple of the tiny touristy shops. Go there for the view or some fresh fish at the last restaurant on the wharf. Fun visit.Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten January 30, 2024
- Emwh162 contributionsHistory and Sealife Underfoot and OverheadParked, paid, walked to the end of this historic wharf for some terrific photo opportunities on a morning when the sea was so calm and peaceful that we almost forgot the experience of feeling the shock of the nearby 5.1 earthquake in nearby Weedpatch, CA the night before. The environment looked like it was being well taken care of...and that made us happy to see. The birds and boats we saw were gorgeous!Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 9, 2024
- nealp19078Lincoln Park, New Jersey233 contributionsQuaint Location in SoCalA nice, serene location. I stayed the ITH Beach Hostel as many lodging prices were not affordable. The restaurants on the Wharf or in town near State St. were not bad; however, i wish they had more breakfast places. Excellent for serenity trotting down the boardwalk/beach. I took surf lessons at SurfHappens in Carpinteria (8-miles away). The President Reagan Ranch is close.Visited August 2024Traveled soloWritten August 29, 2024
- jv66210Oklahoma City, Oklahoma152 contributionsNice AreaWe took an early morning walk down the pier. There were several restaurants which weren't open yet. We stopped at a gift shop on the pier. They welcomed our dog. Local artists were setting up along the nearby sidewalk, and locals were jogging and biking along the sidewalk.Visited October 2024Traveled with familyWritten October 16, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,242 reviews
Excellent
803
Very good
946
Average
411
Poor
70
Terrible
12
flashncrash
Berkeley, CA672 contributions
May 2019
Stearns Wharf should be incorporated into a walk that includes the shore (whether beach or pedestrian path) as well as a good chunk of State Street. From the dolphin sculpture at the foot to the walk on the wood of the wharf out to the end that is perched over the Pacific Ocean one can get a nice sense of what to see and enjoy in Santa Barbara. Of course cars are also able to traverse the wharf so any pedestrians should be vigilant. There are shops and restaurants on the wharf itself but any seafood restaurant on any wharf anywhere in the world tends to be pricey and more touristy. There are areas where pelicans sit on roofs (along with their crap) but, fortunately, they don't seem to bother humans. A good vantage point to enjoy from here.
Written April 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MelvinPusfinger
Temecula, CA704 contributions
Aug 2020
If you like wharves you will enjoy this one. Nothing spectacular but it is quite spacious as wharves go. You can park in the wharf and the first 90 minutes is free, but entering and exiting may take some time because of backed up traffic. There are some good views of the coast land plenty of boats and yachts sail nearby. Not a lot of shade on the wharf. Plenty of people fish on the wharf and there are some restaurants. An enjoyable enough experience but probably one hour here is sufficient.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GFWanderer
36 contributions
Sep 2019 • Family
I definitely recommend a stroll on the wharf. Stop along the way to look for the sea lions that often play in the water around the wharf. Go all he way to the end for beautiful views of the mountains, harbor, ocean and Channel Islands. There are so many great photo opportunities! Be especially watchful if you have small children but it is an outing they would enjoy. Kids of all ages would enjoy stopping in to the Ty Sea Center. My advice though is to skip the restaurants. They are touristy and not in a good way. The prices are high and the food is mediocre. Just grab some fudge or ice cream to hold you until you get to something better!
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve K
Birmingham, UK191 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
It’s one of those places you need to visit as you are there in Santa Barbara
Lots of shops, it’s a great walk to the end, it’s hot pubs and quality people watching
You can chill and relax as well.
The part they don’t tell you is the abundance of fishing at the end of the pier. Not against fishing just so you know, but it’s need a little maturity in place
We witnessed a baby stingray caught and should have been thrown back in. There was lots of little kids on holidays and the lads were all joking and carrying on. One of the lads decided to be a hero and put a knife through its head as they decided to keep it and cool it later. Young kids were crying and I’m a 50 yr old and I thought that was disgusting
So be parental cautious would be my advice as the maturity level at the end of the Pier is a shame
Lots of shops, it’s a great walk to the end, it’s hot pubs and quality people watching
You can chill and relax as well.
The part they don’t tell you is the abundance of fishing at the end of the pier. Not against fishing just so you know, but it’s need a little maturity in place
We witnessed a baby stingray caught and should have been thrown back in. There was lots of little kids on holidays and the lads were all joking and carrying on. One of the lads decided to be a hero and put a knife through its head as they decided to keep it and cool it later. Young kids were crying and I’m a 50 yr old and I thought that was disgusting
So be parental cautious would be my advice as the maturity level at the end of the Pier is a shame
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jadranka P
London, UK748 contributions
Nov 2021
It is different from other wharfs we visited .. you can even drive your car till it’s end..
The views were great but it was quite deserted … maybe as it was working day in November. We did try to find a place to eat but couple of restaurants that were open did not look appealing.
The views were great but it was quite deserted … maybe as it was working day in November. We did try to find a place to eat but couple of restaurants that were open did not look appealing.
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad B.
Sacramento, CA48 contributions
Jan 2020 • Business
Stearn’s Wharf is a neat stop when you’re visiting Santa Barbara. It’s filled with shops and restaurants and ice cream and candy. I think I gained 10 lbs while I was there. It’s offers beautiful views of the coast and is just a great place overall. When you reach the end of the pier, hang out and see what the fishermen are pulling in. The parking is reasonable, at $2.50/hr with the first 90 minutes free.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bart C
Foster City, CA485 contributions
Jul 2021
What the world doesn't need now is yet another honky tonk tourist trap. Frankly, I don't see the attraction. Sure, it's free to walk out onto this long and large pier, and 90 minutes of parking is free for starters. But once there, you have the view and some expensive and nothing special restaurants and junk shops and not even a lot of those! Some folks like the feeling of driving their cars over the railroad tie type roadway; would make me nervous as hell!
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perkadventures
Banning, CA15,321 contributions
Jun 2021
Came here in June late night to have dinner or snack. You drive onto the wharf to the eatery and park. Dark at night and seemed to be a major wooden wharf.
Found parking easily late at night, but during day this may be a problem. Very dark here at night. Walk carefully
Found parking easily late at night, but during day this may be a problem. Very dark here at night. Walk carefully
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Munir D
Toronto, Canada703 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
This place was one of our stops in the scenic highway from Los Angeles to San Fransisco.
This is a lively place and we were fortunate to get parking for only $4 at the parking lot across the Visitors Centre. This was for 2hours. Parking is also available at the end of the pier.
We had lunch at the Longboard’s Grill located on the pier. We had a table overlooking the beautiful ocean with also a view of the marina. We ate fish and chips which included two red snapper fillets. The food was good and service very nice.
This is another nice place to take photographs because of various scenic spots.
Munir Daya
This is a lively place and we were fortunate to get parking for only $4 at the parking lot across the Visitors Centre. This was for 2hours. Parking is also available at the end of the pier.
We had lunch at the Longboard’s Grill located on the pier. We had a table overlooking the beautiful ocean with also a view of the marina. We ate fish and chips which included two red snapper fillets. The food was good and service very nice.
This is another nice place to take photographs because of various scenic spots.
Munir Daya
Written July 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sára H
Lohn-Ammannsegg, Switzerland17 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Lovely Restaurant with really good Coctails,We had Salmon that was tasty,and my husband ate a Pasta that was really good too on the luch time,and a waiter was really kind and funny guy,we had fun. After that we came also for evening Dinner,but it was not the same,I had a pineapple Burger and my husband ate Red Snapper was a bit too less salt on it and the Burger was oke.
Coctails were still nice.
Coctails were still nice.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it noticeably cooler and windy at the pier compared to the rest of the town? Thanks :)
Written August 23, 2023
does the boardwalk at the beginning of Stearns Wharf, have lots of vendors on it?
Written September 28, 2017
I was here 20 years ago and would like to find the boardwalk with lots of vendors. It was near a pier, is this the one?
Written September 28, 2017
This is my very first visit so I couldn't say if this is the one but there was none or very few vendors at the beginning of the board walk leading up the pier
Written September 28, 2017
I have seen pets on the pier, but there's no place for them to do their business so you'll want to see to that first! I'm not positive the souvenir shops would allow them, but there are outdoor cafes where they could join you.
Written September 1, 2017
How much is it to fish? Do they have pole rental? Do you need a permit? We are traveling to town for a wedding and looking for something for the boys to do
Written May 21, 2017
There used to be "no fishing" signs which were not enforced. Now there are signs for designated fishing areas. I believe that there is no overhead casting. . .for the sake of fellow visitors, I imagine. There is a bait and tackle store towards the end of the wharf. I think it is called Stearns Wharf Bait and Tackle. Google them for their phone number, give them a call and I'll bet they can answer all your questions with the latest information.
Written May 21, 2017
Will there be fireworks for the 4th of july?, and has the oil spill impacted the water?, and is the ocean water safe to put your feet in? We go every year there for the 4th of july and just want to know before we head out there. Thank you
Written June 19, 2015
Thank you very much for reaching out. Santa Barbara beaches have not been affected by the oil spill beyond the passing tar ball and the beaches are full of visitors each day.
We are very excited to be putting on our Fourth of July celebration this year including local bands and food vendors along with a choreographed firework show. It should be one of our best yet! If you have any further questions about the event or logistics, feel free to contact the Waterfront Department at 805.897.1962.
Written June 19, 2015
The are many parking lots along the waterfront and in the harbor. There are some spaces designated for oversized vehicles. Feel free to contact the Parking Supervisor at 805-564-5523 for more detailed information. Thank you!
Written May 16, 2015
securty
Marina del Rey, California
are there any other drive on fishing piers for handicapped in socal?
Written January 21, 2015
Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara is a drive on "working" pier with fishing along the walk way and at the end of the pier. Beware the end of the pier has no guard rails and we always have a person or 2 wind up in the drink during the year.
Written January 24, 2015
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