Eating & Sleeping
Santa Barbara 1
5 Olio Pizzeria Italian $$
(www.oliopizzeria.com; 11 W Victoria St; shared
plates $3-24; h11:30am-2pm Mon-Sat, 5-10pm
Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat) Cozy, high-ceilinged
pizzeria and enoteca has a happening wine
bar and a satisfying selection of crispy pizzas,
imported cheeses and meats, traditional
antipasti and dolci (desserts).
4 Agave Inn Motel $$
(%805-687-6009; http://www.agaveinnsb.com; 3222
State St; r $99-189; aW) North of downtown, a
‘Mexican pop meets modern’ motif livens things
up with a color palette out of a Frieda Kahlo
painting. A few of the bigger family-sized rooms
each have a kitchenette and pull-out sofa bed.
4 Harbor House Inn Motel $$
(%805-962-9745; http://www.harborhouseinn.com;
104 Bath St; r $130-335; W#) All of these
brightly lit studios inside a converted motel
come with hardwood floors, small kitchens
and a cheery design scheme. Fall in love with
the welcome basket of breakfast goodies, DVD
library and bikes to borrow.
Solvang 3
5 El Rancho
Marketplace Supermarket $$
(www.elranchomarket.com; 2886 Mission Dr/
Hwy 246; h6am-10pm) Before that first sip of
wine, pick your designated driver and load up
on picnic fixings and barbeque take-out from
the deli inside this grocery store, which has a
bargain wine room and espresso bar.
4 Hadsten House Boutique Hotel $$
(%805-688-3210; http://www.hadstenhouse.com;
1450 Mission Dr; r incl breakfast $150-255;
aWs) Revamped motel has glammed up just
about everything except its uninspiring exterior.
Inside rooms are surprisingly plush, with luxury
mattresses and L’Occitane bath products.4 Hamlet Inn Motel $$
(%805-688-4413; http://thehamletinn.com;
1532 Mission Dr; r $70-200; aW) This motel is
to wine-country lodging what IKEA is to interior
design: a budget-friendly, trendy alternative.
Crisp, modern rooms have panache, with
art-splashed walls. Free loaner bicycles and a
bocce-ball court for guests.Los Olivos 5
5 Los Olivos
Café Californian, Mediterranean $$
(%805-688-7265; http://www.losolivoscafe.com; 2879
Grand Ave; mains $13-28; h11:30am-9pm) With
white canopies and a wisteria-covered trellis,
this bistro swirls up a casual-chic ambience.
Stick with antipasto platters, hearty salads
or rustic pizzas and wine flights at the bar.
Reservations recommended.5 Petros Greek $$$
(%805-686-5455; http://www.petrosrestaurant.com;
Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa, 2860 Grand
Ave; shared plates $7-16, dinner mains $22-38;
h7am-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat) In a
sunny dining room, sophisticated Greek cuisine
makes a refreshing change from Italianate wine-
country kitsch. Housemade meze (appetizers)
will satisfy even picky foodies.5 Sides Hardware &
Shoes Californian $$$
(%805-688-4820; http://www.brothersrestaurant.
com; 2375 Alamo Pintado Ave; breakfast & lunch
$8-16, dinner $18-28; h7am-2:30pm & 5-9pm
Tue-Sun) Inside a historic storefront, this
farm-fresh cafe puts upscale twists on country
classics like ‘hammered pig’ pork tenderloin,
fried chicken, buttermilk cornmeal pancakes
and roasted poblano-pepper omelets.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.17
.SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY