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California (CA)
Santa Barbara
Things to Do in Santa Barbara
East Beach
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East Beach

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See all things to do
East Beach
4
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Top ways to experience East Beach and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
362 within 3 miles
Stella Mare's
314
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Rori's Artisanal Creamery
51
0.5 mi$ • Dessert • American
Bettina Pizzeria
40
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Sakana Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
74
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
Tre Lune
275
0.8 mi$$$$ • Italian • Tuscan • Central-Italian
East Beach Tacos
198
0.9 mi$ • Quick Bites • Mexican • Fast Food
Pressed Juicery
7
0.5 miDessert
Panino Montecito
6
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Deli
Merci Montecito
2
0.5 miCafe
Convivo Restaurant and Bar
219
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • Vegetarian Friendly
See all
Attractions
164 within 6 miles
Andree Clark Bird Refuge
21
0.2 miNature & Wildlife Areas
Santa Barbara Cemetery
36
0.3 miCemeteries
Santa Barbara Zoo
1,377
0.5 miZoos
Santa Barbara Scenic Drive
327
1 miScenic Drives
Butterfly Beach
128
0.7 miBeaches
Cabrillo Bike Path
271
1.4 miHiking Trails
Ganna Walska Lotusland
470
1.6 miGardens
Casa del Herrero
181
1.7 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
2,985
2.4 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
252
2.2 miMilitary Museums • Speciality Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
108 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
39
Average
15
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Denny W
Santa Barbara, CA87 contributions
Sand Volleyball Courts
East beach is situated on Cabrillo Blvd as you enter the beach area from Los Angeles. Take the Cabrillo exit and turn left. The beach also has areas for sand-play and a tasty outside cafe. The ocean is cold but invigorating.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
oldfresno
Bend, OR177 contributions
Watch the near naked girls play volleyball!!
Couples
Why not!? A great stretch of beach where beach volleyball was born. For those officianados, this is the cradle. And the guys and girls are rocking it every day from sun up to sun down. Pack,a lunch and spend a day with the tight buns...
Written January 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AMToronto29
Toronto, Canada304 contributions
Decent beach - wear water shoes if going near the water!
Friends
Overall, this is a picturesque beach with nice view of the surrounding hills and the Wharf. We learned later that some "natural oil production" in the surrounding region can result in a tar-like substance that proved very difficult to scrub off of our feet when we returned to our rental property. Next time I think I'll enjoy the beach from afar.
Written March 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TSinParis
Paris, France1,954 contributions
Nice Beach Neat Downtown Santa Barbara
Solo
Beautiful Beach right near downtown Santa Barbara. Usually not too crowded. I went swimming every day (three weeks) while in Santa Barbara in November. The water was fine. The only issue is the tar you sometimes find on your feet or towel, so be careful and clean your feet with some oil such as vegetable oil. You can park for free along the beach or on adjacent streets.
Written December 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MelvinPusfinger
Santa Monica, CA530 contributions
Very pleasant beach
There is a pedestrian/bike path parallel to the beach. If you walk a bit down from the corner of Stearns wharf and State Street, you will find a nice sandy stretch of beach, a bit away from the wharf itself. Although the beach is not sheltered from the water ocean, the waves are relatively gentle. And there are some pleasant surrounding views. In the immediate area, there is 75 minute free parking.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Liza W
San Luis Obispo, CA173 contributions
Warm water and across from hotel
Couples
We loved the warm water (mid 70's) compared to the eternally chilly water on the Central Coast 60). Is is not a gently sloping beach like ours at home. Lifeguard posts on the beach. Vball nets. The bikeway, walkway is just a stone's throw away. We only saw one oil seep. We don't have offshore drilling in San Luis Obispo, but we have plenty of natural oil seeps on our beaches. You just have to mind where you walk. Some gravel or shells in the water but not unpleasant. The Chumash used the oil seeps to seal up their canoes, so seeps have been here along time. Parking and beach rentals...umbrellas, kayaks.
Written August 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sc00byD00byD00
Northern California196 contributions
Long stretch of beach, not crowded, occasional tar balls
Couples
We walked the entire length of the beach and back, stopping to pick up interesting pebbles and shells along the way. Even on a very warm day, the sheltered beach was not crowded. Vendors on the beach rented kayaks and various other types of equipment. Watch out for the occasional tar ball.
Written July 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marissa R
Cypress, CA78 contributions
Nice for a morning jog
Family
My sister and I went on a nice jog in the morning. Only thing is that there are a few shady spots where homeless people seem to live. That was troubling. Most of the beach is nice though. The restaurants on the pier offer great service and great food for breakfast.
Written January 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Krink68
Waterloo, IA83 contributions
Quintessential Santa Barbara
Couples
There is no better way to start a day in Santa Barbara than on East Beach. Sunrise is outstanding but even if you miss it, the beach, walking paths and people(and their pets) watching are outstanding. You can get coffee and breakfast items at the East Beach Grill. We highly recommend the blueberry pancakes.
Written June 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
gmckendr
Ottawa, Canada294 contributions
Peaceful, quite, spacious, and great views!
Family
We stayed at an apartment a block away from East Beach, so we had the chance to visit the beach or walk by it pretty much every day of our vacation. Over an entire week I never saw any real crowds - just a long/deep beach with a few people here & there. This was a pleasant surprise considering it's Santa Barbara, but might also have been because it was the week after Labor Day so the vacationers were fewer. Either way it's a must-visit if you're looking for a quiet & natural beach, free from hoardes of tourists as well as shops/vendors/etc.
Written September 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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East Beach (Santa Barbara) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about East Beach
We recommend booking East Beach tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 East Beach tours on Tripadvisor