South Coast, Shining Bright: What’s New in Santa Barbara & Montecito for 2025
- Connie Cupples
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Blue skies, golden beaches, and a dash of Hollywood sparkle—it’s little wonder the Santa Barbara South Coast has long been a playground for the chic and adventurous. But in 2025? This stretch of coastline is positively humming with fresh energy. From Montecito’s culinary boom to reimagined resorts and luxe hideaways tucked by the Pacific, here’s your insider guide to the year’s most buzz-worthy debuts.
Montecito in the Spotlight
Montecito has been a magnet for jet-setters since the Gilded Age, and it just keeps upping its game. This year, it’s not just in the spotlight—it is the spotlight.
Foodie Frenzy: Over a dozen new restaurants and bars are set to roll out between 2024 and 2026. Think Italian sparkle at Ospi Montecito, seafood heaven at Clark’s Oyster Bar, and cocktail wizardry at Bar Lou and Lion’s Tale. Add in soulful flavors from Alma Fonda Fina and—drum roll—a brand-new Thomas Keller spot at the legendary Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club!
Hotel Legends Reborn: Ty Warner’s crown jewel, the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, reopens in late 2025, bringing along a brand-new Nobu and a crisp Bouchon Bakery. Meanwhile, the Montecito Inn—once Chaplin’s playground—is getting a stylish remodel, with new rooms unveiled by fall.
Shop & Stroll: The Post Montecito has just debuted as a luxurious shopping hub, perfect for retail therapy with a Pacific breeze.
Cheers to 100 Years: Historic gems Casa del Herrero and Tecolote Book Shop hit their centennials in 2025, proving timeless style never goes out of fashion.
Montecito isn’t just reinventing itself—it’s strutting into 2025 like it owns the runway.
Santa Barbara South Coast Hotels
The hotel scene is catching a serious wave of renewal. Think bold redesigns, chef-driven restaurants, and spaces brimming with California-cool energy.
Ritz-Carlton Bacara
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara: Just in time for its 25th birthday, this oceanfront playground is getting a top-to-bottom revamp by design dream team Meyer Davis. Expect nautical-chic guestrooms, reimagined dining, and cabana life taken to the next level. The newly opened Marisella brings Amalfi Coast vibes (hello, handmade pastas), while the breezy Lulio keeps things casually stylish.
The Milo (formerly Hotel Milo): Located across from West Beach, this Santa Barbara staple has undergone its biggest transformation in 30 years. Think custom murals of coastal herons, fresh layouts, and a new spirit that nods to the property’s golden-era roots while feeling oh-so-now.
Hotel Santa Barbara: This historic downtown classic has never looked sharper. All 75 rooms have been refreshed, bathrooms polished, and the lobby re-envisioned with modern elegance. Business travelers, meet your chic new meeting space.
El Capitan Canyon: For those who like their wilderness with a side of wine nights and comfy sheets, the Gaviota Coast retreat just dropped Elderberry Cottages—four sleek, creekside hideaways with A/C, heating, and interiors that make glamping look like luxury living.
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort: Big vibes here in 2025. A polished pool deck with cabanas, new pickleball courts (yes, pickleball!), and the debut of Float Luxury Spa Beachfront means you’ll unwind in style between dips in the ocean.
Bottom Line
It’s a season of comebacks, glow-ups, and grand debuts. The South Coast isn’t just pretty—it’s
thrumming with energy! Where Montecito courts the tastemakers with oysters and caviar,
Santa Barbara wraps you up in its beach-town chic, and Gaviota whispers, “unplug here.”
So whether you’re slipping into an ocean-view cabana, sipping mezcal under twinkling lights,
or paging through a book from Tecolote’s century-old stacks—this is the year to experience
Santa Barbara anew. The coastline isn’t just calling; it’s confidently strutting.