Looking to spend a weekend in Santa Barbara? If so, consider adding Solvang to your travels as well. It is about 30 some odd miles from Santa Barbara. Solvang is known for its Danish appearing architecture (think lots of windmills), wineries, and also bakeries. It’s appearance is distinctive, so you will know when you have arrived. We traveled to Solvang on Saturday morning and spent the majority of the day here stopping at a couple of wineries in the area as we left. The best thing to do when you arrive is find a place to park and start wandering around town. It doesn’t take long to feel like you have experienced Solvang.
Eat & Drink
A stop at peasants FEAST provides a well rounded menu with farm focused ingredients. Consider this as your first stop for lunch. There are no reservations and service is first come first serve. If you prefer something quick and easy, you could get a sandwich from their counterpart peasants DELI and avoid waiting for a table. Another option is to grab a pastry from one of the many bakeries around town, such as Danish Mill Bakery.
After lunch, wander the streets slipping in and out of shops and consider a tasting room. The winery that we went to was Dascomb Cellars. We stood at the counter here and did their wine tasting. One thing I enjoyed the most is their cheese pairing with each wine. With their dessert wine, they provide a piece of chocolate. This made things more interesting and the cheeses were really fantastic additions to the wine.
Next, we left downtown Solvang and went to Rusack Wineries. This winery has a beautiful backdrop. We also did the tasting here and sat on the porch for the amazing views. This place was rather busy when we arrived in the afternoon. It still wasn’t an issue to find seating, and it did not take long to get a pour of the next wine. For my taste, I didn’t find the wines to be anything remarkable. In other words, it was a good experience, but I didn’t want to purchase any bottles to take home with me.
For dinner in Santa Barbara, consider The Lark. We started out the meal with a couple of craft cocktails. Our food included the pimento cheese sliders and Wagyu Bavette. I thought the food was very tasty with great atmosphere. The place was packed on Saturday night, so I would recommend making a reservation. Following dinner, we walked outside and ended up stumbling upon a bar called Test Pilot. This turned out to be such a good find! It was a tiki style bar with great cocktails. I tried the bananacapa with rum, banana, maple, cinnamon, sea salt and lime. This combination was really spectacular. This bar was great. They had some unique options with fantastic presentation.
If you stay in nearby Los Olivos, Nella is an Italian restaurant that was a welcome surprise. I still think fondly about my meal at this resturant. Returning to the area, this would most definitely be on my list of places to return. They serve traditional Italian fare including pizzas and pastas. There is a robust selection of wines, or you can bring a bottle for a corkage fee of $30. Don’t skip a peak at their cocktail menu. Their Roquette Fuel cocktail was innovative and flavorful. I recommend making a reservation in advance of your visit.
Santa Barbara has so many wine tasting rooms. We went into the Santa Barbara Winery and tried their tasting. Another option is to get a glass at Pali Wine Co. The pour here was very generous. In reality, you could spend your entire weekend just in Santa Barbara going to different wineries.
Places to Stay
The Landsby. If you want to stay in the heart of Solvang, the Landsby is the place to be. The hotel has a clean, minimalist esthetic. It allows you to stay within walking distance of everything. For convenience, Mad & Vin is a great restaurant choice located steps from their lobby. Their website also provides a great guide to local wineries in the area.
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Collection. This Auberge property is located in Los Olivos just over a 10 minute drive from Solvang. Although this property could allow for a vacation itself, a short car ride to Solvang could be the perfect way to spend part of your day. On property, they provide options for activities such as creating your own olive oil using different herbs for taste. During Christmas, they had their own holiday market. Their restaurant and tavern on site provides the coziest start to the day or perfect end to the evening. You cannot go wrong with an Auberge property.
Final Thoughts
Solvang could be the ideal weekend getaway. Consider a short trip here while visiting Santa Barbara or Los Olivos versus spending a slow weekend in Solvang alone. There are options to stay in town versus nearby in Los Olivos or Santa Barbara. The charm of the Danish appearance is a refreshing change of pace. Each area has its own distinct feel, making your experience unique at every stop. If you love exploring new restaurants and tasting wine, this might be the weekend getaway for you.
