Best Waterfront Dining in Santa Barbara

If you see a lighthouse, you're in the right place! Pop into Bluewater Grill for seafood with a sea view. Located just across the street from the beach, it has three levels of dining space and two bars. The menu includes traditional options – like cedar plank salmon and crab cakes – and less traditional fare, including their legendary ponzu scallops, served raw in the half shell. Not a fish lover? No problem, they serve salads and steaks too. You'll also find cocktails and a decent local wine selection if you're in the mood for a tipple. Plenty to walk to nearby, including Stearns Wharf and Municipal Winemakers.

The motto at the Santa Barbara FisHouse says it all: Usually local, always fresh. If you're looking for some fresh catches and pretty view, head to the FisHouse, a welcoming seafood restaurant located just across the street from the Pacific Ocean. The menu celebrates sea creatures of all kinds, including local halibut. Reserves a table in the dining room or on the patio or belly up to the full bar. Large aquariums and various decorations set the under-the-sea tone. Themed cocktails and local wines round out your visit. Traveling with a picky kiddo or two? No problem, they have a great kids menu, too.

Is there a prettier beachfront restaurant in the area? We don't think so. Overlooking Santa Claus beach, a local favorite, the Padaro Beach Grill boasts a park-like outdoor dining room that's ideal for day dates and impromptu gatherings. Enjoy fresh salads, savory burgers and sinfully rich milkshakes that are blended by hand only after you place your order. A large sandbox encourages the kiddos to play while grownups indulge in refreshing beers and local wines. Try the shrimp salad, prime burger or chili cheese fries. Live bands are common on the weekends. Free (but often crowded) parking right out front.

Convivo serves large, shareable plates of food that change weekly with what's in season. The Italian-leaning menu includes wood-fired pizza, grilled seafood that's often locally caught, house-made pasta and farm-fresh vegetables (the grilled avocado salad is popular with their regulars). To complement the food, there's a beverage menu complete with spritzes, classic coktails and, of course, vino. Convivo is located at the Santa Barbara Inn, across the street from East Beach. So in addition to beautiful food, there are beautiful views and fresh ocean air. Very romantic, incredible menu, sunny patio, lots of free parking. .. are you on your way yet? Did we mention they serve brunch too?

The Boathouse is a Santa Barbara seafood restaurant with the best location in town ... it's right on the beach. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood and facing Hendry's beach, this is a great place to go for a romantic date, family dinner or birthday celebration. Enjoy fresh surf and turf on a beautiful patio that's sunny during the day and nicely heated at night. Local seafood is a priority here. Frequent Santa Barbara catches include spiny lobster and Dungeness crab. Brunch, lunch and dinner served daily. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Parking is free but does get crowded (be patient, something will open up eventually).

If you're looking for fresh Mexican food with a view of the sea, this is the place! Think of Flor De Maiz as the fancier, more sophisticated sister of local favorite Los Agaves. Sure, she has tacos, but hers are stuffed with lobster and Angus steak. Yes, she has ceviche, but hers is served in a young coconut for extra drama. Of course you can get a margarita, but it will be made with Patron. Flor de Maiz celebrates the innovative cuisine of Oaxaca in a fun and lively atmosphere. There's an open kitchen, wraparound bar and sunny patio that's right across from the beach. While takeout is available, you'll get the best experience if you eat there. But be warned: it gets busy –" especially on Friday and Saturday nights –" so be prepared to wait!

For a totally indulgent, totally scrumptious meal (with an unparalleled ocean view), look no further than Caruso's at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. Chef Massimo's perfectly plated seasonal dishes use the highest quality ingredients sourced from neighboring farmers, fishermen and ranchers. The prix fixe menu includes four courses that change often; there's a vegan prix fixe option too. Choose from an extensive selection of hyperlocal and international wines and handcrafted cocktails to pair with your meal. Caruso's was recently added to the Michelin Guide, making it one of an exclusive handful of Central Coast restaurants to achieve that distinction. Fun note: Caruso's has a "Casual Elegance" dress code. If you've been wanting an excuse to dress for dinner, this might be it.

Unbeatable harbor views issue a siren's call to hungry diners at this popular restaurant. (Of course, their menu full of delicious seafood doesn't hurt business either.) Bustling and busy, Brophy Bros. serves up some of the city's most coveted clam chowder, along with awesome garlic baked clams and hefty portions of cioppino. Fresh, grilled fish is also a fine choice, along with a host of other fresh-from-the-sea options. Grab a table on the patio overlooking the water for the most romantic experience. These are the best seats, even on wet, gloomy days when they pull down the transparent siding to protect you from the elements. Arrive early because weekend waits can be over an hour.

Located just past the train tracks on Linden Avenue, mere steps from the beach, is The Spot: a trusty little shack of a restaurant that all the locals know. Serving up delicious burgers and fries for more than 100 years, The Spot is Carpinteria's go-to for a quick, savory bite. The surprisingly vast menu also includes veggie burgers, select Mexican specialties and fish n' chips. There's no dress code so come in your bikini or trunks if you please. There is seating outside OR you can just walk across the street to the park or sand for an impromptu picnic!

Seafood doesn't get any fresher than this! At the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, you can pick your lunch right out of the saltwater tanks that line the kitchen. Established in 1980, this restaurant –" that looks like a tiny shack at the end of the pier –" began as a shellfish shop before popular demand (and secret family recipes) transformed it into the bustling eatery it is today. Their menu includes all types of shellfish but locally sourced live abalones, crabs and lobsters are the real stars. Local and national beers are available on draft and pair nicely with a bread bowl of chowder on a cold or foggy day. There is bar seating inside, table seating outside and even walk-up window for to-go orders.