Featured Gay Friendly Vacation Rentals in Santa Barbara
Gay Santa Barbara
Red tiled roofs, Spanish Revival architecture, and a quintessential charm all contribute to the character of the gay-friendly city of Santa Barbara. Early in the 20th century, Santa Barbara was a prime resort locale that Hollywood’s elite would escape to. Some of their lavish vacation homes can still be found in the mountainous/foothill neighborhood known appropriately as “the Riviera” and along select regions of the coast. Nearby Montecito is famously home to a bevy of celebrity abodes, including those of Prince Harry and Megan, Oprah, Rob Lowe, Drew Barrymore, and Christopher Lloyd.
Because of its tourism industry early on, Santa Barbara developed many outlets for visitors to spend their time. State Street, bisecting downtown, is the main commercial hub of the city, providing shopping and dining opportunities as well as a thriving nightlife scene. The historic Mission Santa Barbara, its gardens, and the nearby natural history museum and botanical gardens are significant stops on a visit to the region.
While not entirely conservative in nature, the resident attitude definitely has a hint of propriety. City ordinances that restrict drive-thrus, billboards, and outdoor advertising, among others, effectively contribute to an air of affluence and exclusivity that might make some gay visitors feel like outsiders. However there is a gay presence in town, and you are able to walk down State Street holding hands without eliciting gawks or disparaging language from the locals—you’re still in southern California after all. The touristy nature of the city also makes it more understanding of different people and cultures—they may just assume you’re European!
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Santa Barbara Gay Scene
There is no defined gay neighborhood in Santa Barbara, though there are establishments that are gay-friendly. If you’re looking to get into some hot gay nightlife, consider taking the 90-minute drive south into Los Angeles, where the gay scene really pops off.
But even with the limited options for gay nightlife, the touristy nature of Santa Barbara makes it a popular gay destination. There’s even a gay club in town (Wildcat Lounge), and though it’s only gay on Sunday nights, Katy Perry has been known to pop in when she’s touring in the area. The Pacific Pride Foundation also hosts the annual Pacific Pride Festival celebration so there is a visible gay presence in this classy, coastal community.
There’s also an unofficial gay beach in the area. Padaro Beach is not easily accessible, requiring a bit of a hike down a bluff, next to train tracks, and downhill on sandy terrain. It’s reclusive and quiet though compared to some other beaches in the city, and it gets cruisy once you make it north past the obvious walled area. Heading south on the 101, take the Padaro Lane exit and turn right. You’ll see a parking lot pretty quickly on your left. Head west, alongside the train tracks until you see the path down the bluff to
When to Visit
Famously sitting on the longest stretch of south-facing coastline in the West Coast, the area has near-perfect weather year-round. The Mediterranean climate and gorgeous scenery; along with its resemblance to towns along the French and Italian coastlines have made the city well known as “The American Riviera.” The moniker also belays its vacation-destination status.
The annual Pacific Pride Festival takes place at the end of August each year (when the weather is a bit cooler and more tolerable). The Pacific Pride Festival is free to the public and attracts a diverse crowd of nearly 4,000 spectators each year.
Santa Barbara Activities & Attractions
Known as the "American Riviera," there are lots of great outdoor activities in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara beaches
With a wide stretch of coastal beaches, most of Santa Barbara's coastline features publicly accessible beaches. There's also a large surfing community in the city with some of the world's most renowned surf breaks. There's an art fair every Sunday along Cabrillo Boulevard between East and West Beach if you're looking to shop while enjoying the sun, sand, and surf!
The 78-acre botanical garden has over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants from the region. It's a romantic spot to go for a sunset stroll, with nearly 9 kilometers of hiking trails within the garden.
Santa Barbara wine tours
There are over 200 wineries in Santa Barbara county, and most vineyards offer tours and tasting rooms. The region is most famous for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Check the official Santa Barbara tourism website for more recommendations on specific wine tours during your stay, including several bike tours for the more adventurous.
Santa Barbara Gay-Friendly Dining
With all the wineries in the region, you can expect to find a lot of fine dining throughout Santa Barbara. And the influences of the French and Italian riviera also inspire a lot of the menu options at these Santa Barbara restaurants.
Embracing the cow, chefs Lauren Herman and Christina Olufson moved into the landmark corner and opened Bossie’s Kitchen in January 2019. Their combination of sweet and savory talents are focused on seasonal, farmer’s market and “everyday organic” menu offerings.
Even though there are many French dishes on the menu at this upscale restaurant, from escargot to crème brûlée, the restaurant fancies itself a prime exemplar of California-French or wine country cuisine.
After many years in business, Jill’s Place continues to be a local favorite. If you’re a meat eater, it’s hands down the best place in town. Lesbian owned by Jill Shalhoob, a fourth-generation Santa Barbaran, Jill’s Place has a Cheers Bar kind of friendly vibe. She offers a traditional menu of split pea soup, salad, and a choice of sides with every entrée, so you will never leave hungry. Shalhoob also serves several favorite comfort food dishes, including pork chops, rib-eye steak, and buttermilk-fried chicken. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Shalhoobs has a killer happy hour M-F from 5:00 - 7:00 pm and screens games during football season.
Santa Barbara Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife
While there aren't any exclusively gay or lesbian bars in Santa Barbara, the town's most energetic nightlife takes place downtown and with California's welcoming atmosphere, you'll sot gays and lesbians at most lounges, clubs, and bars regardless.
Elsie's Tavern
An LGBT-friendly dive bar, Elsie’s Tavern has that kind of quirky, colorful beach town vibe that sets it apart from other more refined places in Santa Barbara.
M8RX
This mega club, M8RX is located on State Street (the buzzing place for Santa Barbara's nightlife) and is generally the life of the party most weekends. The club has sponsored the annual Santa Barbara pride festival and regularly draws top DJs to spin for its spacious dance floor. The crowd is mixed and you can expect it to be LGBTQ-friendly all weekend.
Safety
Don’t let Santa Barbara’s affluent and conservative attitude scare you away. The area is very welcoming and inclusive and there is a sizeable gay community here. The bars you go to may not be exclusively gay, but the mixed crowd definitely won’t mind two guys dancing together. The Pacific Pride Foundation hosts a Pride event every July at a park next to Leadbetter beach, and they have even hosted a gay night at the local zoo.
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