Plan a Visit to Must-See Montecito in 2025

With several high-profile openings and exciting arrivals coming in 2025, the coastal enclave of Montecito, California, is a must-visit destination for travelers looking for their next escape in the new year. The glamorous beach town is undergoing a renaissance, with new restaurants led by award-winning chefs and the hotly anticipated reopening of the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara in 2025 that’s sure to build upon the town’s celebrity (and royal) bona fides.

Hotel News

Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara owned by Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts will reopen in late 2025 following a renovation and temporary closure since 2020. A favored haunt of celebrities and statesmen alike, the highly anticipated resort will feature a new Nobu restaurant. The historic Spanish Colonial Revival-style property by architect Reginald Johnson first opened in December 1927.
Montecito Inn, originally built by silent film star Charlie Chaplin, welcomed the Lion’s Tale, the newest concept from Good Lion Hospitality last month. Nestled in the Inn’s upscale lounge, guests and visitors can imbibe classic cocktails with innovative twists and a curated menu of French-inspired bar-friendly bites. The property is also slated for a refresh in 2025, to better serve guests with their luxe accommodations and upscale amenities, like complimentary beach cruiser bicycles, a beautiful pool, and spa services.

Dining News

Montecito’s dining scene is proliferating, with bars and restaurants opening in late this year and continuing into the next. Most notably, legendary chef Thomas Keller will partner with Ty Warner to reopen the renovated beachfront restaurant Tydes at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, which will open to non-members for the first time in 2025. Set in a Moderne-Art Deco-style building with a view of Butterfly Beach, the club was recently renovated by architects Peter Marino and Barry Winick.
This year, the luxury Rosewood Miramar Beach debuted FronteMare by Caruso’s in its all-new outdoor semi-private dining space. The Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star awarded signature restaurant aims to foster a deep connection between chef and guests, celebrating the ocean's bounty and local ingredients through the conviviality of a family-style dinner with unparalleled ocean views. Prepared live along the coastline, Caruso’s welcomes guests to gather around a communal table for a sustainably-driven culinary experience where the flavors of the ocean meet the warmth of family-style dining. FronteMare by Caruso’s is open seven days a week, with one seating per night.
From popular Santa Barbara chef and Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Ramón Velazquez, Alma Fonda Fina opened in October at the Montecito Country Mart. The Mexican “soul food” restaurant features Velazquez’s award-winning ceviche and other comforting and familiar favorites.
In spring 2025, chef Joel Viehlan will introduce the seasonal and locally driven restaurant Little Mountain. Formerly of Ore Hill & Swyft and Community Table in Connecticut, Viehland brings his farm-focused practices for a menu catered to West Coast palates.
In 2025, Restoration Hardware will open RH Montecito, a restaurant and wine bar, in the historic Old Firehouse in the Upper Village. Also coming to the Upper Village,
Marley Confections, a Montecito chocolatier inspired by the bounty of the Golden State, has opened a shop in the Upper Village. Its handcrafted, dark chocolate-covered gourmet caramels are infused with regional ingredients, such as pistachios and amaro.
From the proprietors of the popular Little Dom’s Seafood in Los Feliz and Carpinteria, comes Bar Lou, a brasserie-style restaurant on Coast Village Road, which opened in late fall 2024. Set in an Arts and Crafts-inspired space, the restaurant serves up brasserie staples from locally sourced ingredients.