Santa Barbara Family Guide: Kid-Friendly Restaurants
Welcome to our latest blog series, where we showcase the best things to do with kids in Santa Barbara! As locals with children, nieces, and nephews, we know that our coastal town is a haven for family-friendly activities, restaurants, and shops. Whether you live here or are just visiting, Santa Barbara offers a plethora of attractions for kids of all ages.
Finding a restaurant that offers a menu and atmosphere that's welcoming to both kids and parents can be difficult. So this week, we're sharing a list of our favorite family-friendly restaurants that provide food and entertainment that the whole family can come together to enjoy.
Padaro Beach Grill
Overlooking Carpinteria’s Santa Claus Beach, Padaro Beach Grill provides the perfect setting for a meal out with the family. You can eat inside the restaurant or outside on the oceanside lawn. Kids will love exploring the restaurant’s park-like grounds and playing in the large sandbox while parents can sit back and relax by the beautiful ocean view. For food, Padaro offers delicious American and seafood dining, with a kids menu full of kid favorites like grilled cheese and chicken nuggets.
Brass Bear Uptown
Brass Bear is a brewpub offering high quality craft beer and beverages, as well as excellent adult and kid’s menus full of dishes that utilize locally sourced ingredients. What makes Brass Bear a special place for families is CLUB CUB, a supervised art/play area located in the restaurant with toys and art supplies kids of all ages are encouraged to play with. You can visit Brass Bear and CLUB CUB with the family at their Funk Zone or Uptown locations.
Shoreline cafe
Situated right on Leadbetter beach, Shoreline cafe is another excellent family-friendly dining option, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with views of Santa Barbara’s beautiful coast. Shoreline Cafe provides a laid back atmosphere, a snack bar for quick treats and a special happy hour Monday-Friday evenings where parents can unwind. Meanwhile, kiddos will have a blast running and playing in the beach’s sand while they wait for their tasty meal.
Validation Ale
Validation Ale is a local brewery and a great place for families to grab a bite and spend time together. Validation’s unique concept of voting for your favorite ale adds a layer of fun for adults, while kids have a great time playing with the many games and activities available in the Taproom, from card games to cornhole. And their broad menu of pub food is sure to have something each member of the family will love.
We hope your next meal out with the kids in Santa Barbara is easy, fun, and delicious!