Ah, Santa Barbara. Is there a more quintessential weekend getaway from Los Angeles? Maybe not.

While I’ve always appreciated Santa Barbara’s seaside splendor and Spanish architecture, its food scene — save for a few darlings — has mostly taken a backseat to the wonders of the Santa Ynez Valley. But over the last year, with a wave of exciting new openings, my attention has shifted away from wine country and to the coast.

I wrote about Santa Barbara’s white-hot dining scene for LAist earlier this month. Below are the standout dishes and drinks making the city an essential culinary destination right now.

Staying smack-dab in the middle of State Street at the Drift was a great call. The hotel’s minimalist aesthetic and on-site cocktail bar and coffee shop provided an ideal backdrop, while the in-room amenities were so excellent that I splurged on a robe, shampoo, and conditioner to recreate the immaculate vacation vibe at home.