Downtown Santa Barbara, CA Homes & Real Estate
Included below are homes for sale and real estate in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
If you would like more information on any of these Downtown Santa Barbara real estate listings, just click on a property to access the full details. From there, you can request more information or schedule a tour. And we'd be happy to provide you with disclosures, past sales history, dates and prices of properties which have recently sold nearby, and more, so just let us know how we can help!
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Keller Williams Realty Santa Barbara
Compass
Village Properties
Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices California Properties
Village Properties - 1
Sun Coast Real EstateDowntown Santa Barbara Neighborhood Information
• What is it like to live Downtown Santa Barbara, CA? •
Santa Barbara’s Downtown area is where all the action is. This is the place to be if you are looking for restaurants, bars, museums, theaters, and shopping. And for those looking to live right in the hub of things, Downtown delivers several options.
High walk score
Living downtown is very walkable. It enables you not to own a car and get away with bike riding or using public transportation if this is important to you. The city has created special, highlighted bike lanes. You can rent cool electric bikes throughout town if you don’t own one yourself.
Parks
Downtown offers lots of recreational green spaces. A great example is Alameda Park with the popular Kids World playground. Right across the street, you will find the beautiful Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden with its duck pond and gazebo in the center. This serene park features an impressive collection of 75 different tree and plant species.
Another lovely space is the Court House Sunken Gardens. Many events, concerts, and receptions are held in this beautiful and iconic setting. From the Court House Tower, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city, ocean, and mountains. → Watch this short video for a quick impression.
Homes
At the Northern end, you will find quieter, mostly residential streets with smaller California cottages, and Victorian or craftsman-style single-family homes, yet located within walking distance to everything downtown has to offer.
Moving further down, you will also find multi-family buildings with multiple units. Many of the Condo buildings Downtown are architecturally interesting and blend well into the overall Spanish look with red-tiled roofs and white-washed walls.
The buildings are all kept at a certain height, usually not higher than three stories. This guarantees a uniform and beautiful design with a lovely, high-rise-free coastline appearance.
Many of the newer Condo apartment buildings have onsite parking, relaxing courtyards, and other amenities. Often there are also integrated commercial spaces with restaurants, coffee shops, or other establishments for your convenience.
Shopping & Dining
Paseo Nuevo, the pedestrian shopping area in the heart of Santa Barbara is a big draw for tourists, as well as locals.
In more recent times, due to Covid, the main Shopping Street called State Street has been converted into a mainly pedestrian lane. Restaurants and bars have been enabled to set up outdoor structures to safely serve their guests outside - a very welcome adaptation for most locals. Another lovely pedestrian shopping and dining area is La Arcada Plaza, with its charming architecture, quaint shops, sculptures and turtle fountain. At Arlington Plaza you can enjoy beautifully curated stores, restaurants and French pastries in an authentic Santa Barbara setting. At Sevilla Square you can enjoy unique treats and items from over 20 merchants. Some of my favorite stores, bakeries, spas and home goods can be found there.
Some popular Downtown restaurant options include:
Attractions
Many of Santa Barbara‘s well-known attractions, like Stearn‘s Wharf, the Harbor, the Waterfront, and several beaches are easily accessible from downtown.
Walking past the gorgeous and popular downtown Hotel Californian will take you on your way to experience a multitude of interesting, fun, and innovative eateries, bakeries, boutiques, art galleries, breweries, and wineries at the so-called Funk Zone.
The Funk Zone
One of Santa Barbara’s very popular areas for eclectic dining, wine tasting, and socializing is called the Funk Zone.
This area has grown out of a mostly industrial, commercial, and formerly rather neglected area. This "funky" charm and character can’t be found anywhere else in Santa Barbara and attracted many artists, eclectic shops, and wineries.
Popular spots at the Funk Zone include:
Nightlife
An entertaining sunset cruise from the harbor or local nightlife bar might be the perfect end to your downtown day.
Nightly entertainment options include:
Neighborhood Tour
For a neighborhood tour watch this video
