Newly reopened in September 2024 after a multimillion dollar renovation and located on the historic Stearns Wharf, The Harbor Restaurant has been a hallmark of the Santa Barbara tourist and local attraction. Thisbis Santa Barbara’s most elegant ocean top dining. The building was originally built in 1926 and has recently reopened after a major update. The Harbor Restaurant is a classic American Eatery with a full bar that features fresh fish, steaks, pastas and an excellent selection of local beers and wines and a number of signature cocktails.
American seafood specialties like clam chowder & lobster sandwiches served amid ocean views.
Tracy Cristallo
We enjoyed a fabulous pre-set, 6 course , New Years Eve dinner. The dining room was decorated beautifully for the holidays. Then went upstairs and rang in 2026 with an ocean view ball drop. The food was fantastic and the service was a 10/10. Nelson, our server, and John, the manager, made for an exceptional evening. We will definitely be dining here every visit. This will be our new New Years tradition. Thank you Nelso and John for an amazing evening.
… moreDustin McConneha
What a dinner we had tonight. Live soft music looking out to the bay. Filet was cooked wonderfully and the new drinks were on point. Thank you Danny for your excellent service and for watching out on any gluten contamination.
… moreNick Nebelsky
We weren’t expecting to eat here, but my wife was in the mood for a specialized cocktail and it was happy hour so I also got a reasonably-priced beer. I ordered the cheeseburger and it was welldone even though I ordered a medium. But it was so tasty, i didn’t want to take it back. My wife had a grilled cheese which was disappointing. Two grilled texas toast slices with hardly any cheese on it. I tried it, we should have sent it back, it was really dry! The location was perfect as the sun was setting and prior to sunset, you could lower the shades as well. The bartender was attentive and knowledgeable.
… moreJose G Munoz
Amazing food, very homey flavor, the service was very good, and the atmosphere inside is beautiful. You got views of the water all around. Looking for a nice date spot and dinner good eats come here.
… moreTenzin Nanchung
Came here for drinks and sunset view and was not disappointed. There are great seats to watch sunset but it can get busy. Service was really great and they had live music.
… moreHenry Farkas
We had brunch at the Harbor Restaurant on the Santa Barbara Pier for Mother’s Day. There’s paid parking on the pier. The surface of the pier is wood planking. The wood is old and weathered. The surface is very uneven. That keeps the cars from going fast, but it’s difficult for frail elders like myself to walk. It would be very bumpy for someone in a wheelchair.
Having said that, the Harbor Restaurant itself is wheelchair accessible once you get the wheelchair inside the door.
The restaurant is clean and neat. Our reservation was ready when we arrived. Service was prompt and efficient.
I had the smoked salmon appetizer. It was delicious, but there wasn’t much smoked salmon in the plate.
I chose the lobster eggs Benedict for the main course. There was more lobster meat on the plate than I expected. Unfortunately, it didn’t taste very good. It was all claw meat, but that wasn’t the issue. I know what lobster claw meat is supposed to taste like. I eat whole Maine lobster including the claws. It’s usually quite delicious. This lobster meat was just disappointing.
The rest of the eggs Benedict tasted ok. If you plan to eat at this restaurant, don’t order the lobster.
… moreAmelia H
Come here for the vibes not the food or service. Service was incredibly slow and inattentive. Food was okay but for the prices we expected better. And don’t order the ginger ale it’s the worst ginger ale I’ve ever had. Lobster was good but quite expensive. Oysters were fresh. The atmosphere is really beautiful on the pier overlooking the water but that’s all it has going for them. Wouldn’t recommend unless you want the vibes.
… moreJordan Gary
The Harbor Restaurant is the perfect place to stop for a drink before a cruise, provided you’ve brought your earplugs. The bar lounge has a certain… vibrancy… that can be best described as a full-throated celebration of noise. It’s a special place for those who enjoy their conversations in a call-and-response format, or who just want to practice their shouting.
On the bright side, the drinks are decent, and the views are spectacular. You can stare out at the water, contemplating the peaceful, silent existence of the boats, and wonder why that serenity couldn’t translate to the bar. It’s a truly a zen-like, meditative experience, assuming you can tune out the cacophony.
… moreChristina
I am a local and I love that they started serving brunch on weekends!! Wish it was longer than until 11, but great prices on the delicious food and cocktails- Bloody Marys looked amazing and I hear can be made extra spicy! Good vegetarian options and eggs Benedict varieties too. Great views and a stunning interior. Great renovation and a local staple that’s only gotten better!
… moreJessica Beaver
Our group had a fantastic brunch at The Harbor. We had a group of 15 and they were able to accommodate us in a beautiful private room overlooking the harbor.
The GM and staff went way above and beyond to accommodate our group, even helping us set up our table decorations and take pictures of our group.
Our server, Francisco was amazing! Top notch service. Would go back just for him.
Food was great.
Would highly recommend this restaurant.
… more