Santa Barbara Shops

A fragrant outdoor garden of lavender, agave, and olive trees—planted by owner Kimberly Phillips Hayes over sixteen years ago—kicks off the transportive experience at this Montecito boutique. Inside you’ll find a considered, travel-inspired collection of home goods (don't leave without picking up a candle or two by Astier de Villatte), airy embroidered dresses, straw hats, Italian leather woven bags, and other luxe imports, plus pieces by the store’s house label. Maison K embodies the Santa Barbara lifestyle perfectly: Plush, textured pillows in warm neutrals rest casually on a sofa that’s chic and actually comfortable, and the racks are flush with resort pieces that work as well with an everyday wardrobe as they do on a European getaway, as well as unique finds, like a pair of minimal folding chairs from Marrakech. It’s a vibe so inviting, you’ll feel like you’re on holiday even if you’re a local.

We’ve long had a love affair with Montecito. And there’s no reason to think it will end anytime soon. The beach, those sunsets, the incredible restaurants, and the beachfront hotels add up to the Platonic ideal of coastal California town. It’s the perfect backdrop for our first hotel retail store. Tucked inside the historic and fantastically renovated Rosewood Miramar Beach, goop Miramar carries everything you could ever want for the dreamiest weekend: an A-plus lineup of meticulously curated clean beauty products (the Ursa Major sunscreen and goop Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub shampoo are staff favorites), workout clothes, sunglasses (get in on the goop x Electric collaboration), accessories, and wellness all-stars, like GOOPGLOW and goop chews. Plus: swimsuits by Araks and Haight, breezy Three Graces and Pari Desai cover-ups, and tote bags to hold all that loot. And since you’re on vacation, we also have a special area for those things that never seem make it into your luggage—we’re talking underwear, socks, charcoal toothbrushes, and the rest of the stuff you may have forgotten at home. Find the “goops I forgot” section, and stock up. We’ve got you.

While it wouldn’t look out of place in Copenhagen, the understated craft feel that permeates this Shaker-style 1920s barn is pure California. Owner Scotti Sitz excels not only at curating the exact pieces we want for our homes but at transforming a shopping excursion into an immersive experience. Garde is speckled with local ceramics and minimalist furniture by German and Belgian designers, like Hanns-Peter Krafft, alongside exquisite rugs by Faye Toogood. But the best part is you can actually sleep here. Sitz has transformed the upstairs space into an apartment where the décor changes seasonally and everything, down to the fixtures, is for sale. Spend the night soaking up the ocean views—the store is perched on the edge of a cliff—and sleep on whether you should buy the Douglas fir table downstairs.

The only thing better than Cos Bar's famously vast offering of makeup, fragrance, bath, and beauty products (including the newly-launched goop organic skincare line) is the exceptional customer service provided by the knowledgeable, genuinely nice beauty consultants, which is exactly how founder Lily Garfield envisioned it back in 1976 when she opened the original Aspen outpost. There are Cos Bars all over the country, including New York, La Jolla, and Scottsdale.

Kyle Irwin is responsible for the interiors of some of Santa Barbara’s most elegant homes. With a great mix of antiques and contemporary finds, his aesthetic is luxurious but with a light touch.

A Santa Barbara classic, this bookstore has been around for almost 100 years and is a local gem. They carry all the standards, and if you’re on the lookout for a book that’s out of print, Tecolote is happy try and find it for you.

There are actually two Jenni Kayne's in Montecito—one houses the women's collection, and the other two-story spot is part home goods shop and part kids boutique. Both are exceptionally well-done and very carefully edited: While the array is not extensive, it's pretty perfect.

Diani has been a Santa Barbara mainstay for years, though despite its longevity, it's lost none of its edge: Isabel Marant, Mother, and Tome indicate the type of designers you'll find on the racks, which are airy and perfectly curated. There's a Diani shoe boutique in the same complex as well as the new, Diani Living, which is devoted to really beautiful place settings, linens, and treasures from around the world (the owner, Caroline Diani, was born in Kenya and raised in England, which explains the global slant).

Styled like an old-world ship cabin—complete with wood paneled walls, rope-wrapped surf boards, paintings of light houses, and vintage anchors—Mate Gallery is a pretty adorable addition to the Montecito Country Mart. And if a maritime treasure isn't on your to buy list, it sits nose to nose with Intermix, Space NK, and Kendall Conrad. Oh, and did we mention the tacos at Little Alex's and the ice cream at Rori's Creamery?

Though small in size, the offerings at this Montecito-based antique shop are big in style—and generally hard-won. It fits right in with its surroundings, as many of the antique finds are 16th-18th century Spanish Colonial, which are deftly mixed in with Michael and Eric Haskell's own collection of lighting and furniture.