A little sojourn to Santa Barbara

In case you’re planning a Santa Barbara trip I wrote this piece for Condé Nast Traveler with the ten best hotels. And I am almost sure you will ask me where to eat - and Silvers Omakase is the spot. You will want to become friends with Chef Lennon Silvers Lee right away.

Truly…

It doesn’t take much to fall in love with blithe Santa Barbara. It has ivory sand beaches, and idyllic, almost-always 68 degree weather - plus the wondrousness of the glacial Pacific Ocean and the backdrop of the pinky Santa Ynez Mountains. 

Santa Barbara is all about dining al fresco on farmers market seasonal fare, heading outdoors and finding irresistible art and culture. And not to miss is its ever-enduring Spanish Colonial Revival architecture; call it a melange of Mexican, Mediterranean and Andalusian aesthetics that coalesce with materials like stucco and those tiles. And the town has hotels that cater for everyone - from up in the hills or down at the beach luxury, to hip downtown fun, and more. 

But before you journey here, watch the documentary, “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams.” It follows the life of famed cobbler Salvatore Ferragamo as he builds his legacy right here in Santa Barbara, working for the American Film Company, making cowboy boots for silent pictures. Before Hollywood was all the glitz and glamor, it was outright Santa Barbara that carried that sparkling flame. They call it the American Riviera for good reason; and stars like Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Gloria Swanson frequented it. 

Santa Barbara is Hollywood North, but without the fuss and pretense. It’s a slow moving beach town for foodies, families, seekers of romance, dogs and everyone else.