Neighborhood || Santa Barbara | Montecito Real Estate

The American Riviera

Riviera

The Riviera neighborhood is perched on the hill above the city of Santa Barbara. With breathtaking ocean, harbor and city views, the Riviera is home to some of the most exquisite properties. One of my favorite parts of this neighborhood are the urban hiking trails and secret staircases that connect one street to the next. It is also home to the Riviera Theater and Belmond El Encanto Hotel. Situated perfectly between Montecito, Downtown Santa Barbara and San Roque, it is easy to get from one destination to the next on the famous Alameda Padre Serra Street and just a short distance to the 101. Some of my favorite streets on the Riviera include, Paterna Road, Lasuen Road, Dover Road, El Encanto Road and Mira Vista.

Hotels

Belmond El Encanto

Schools

Upper East

There is so much to love about the Upper East neighborhood of Santa Barbara. It is just a stone’s throw away from the Santa Barbara Mission, Mission Rose Garden, the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and the restaurants and shops of Downtown Santa Barbara. There is so much to do. Furthermore, the neighborhood is rich with history. If you are ever in the neighborhood, you will notice the original stone horse tethers on many of the sidewalks in addition to the famous Crocker Row on Garden Street. Crocker Row is comprised of 5 homes, all of which were designed by San Francisco Ferry Building’s Arthur Page Brown and commissioned by railroad heir William H. Crocker. The are the remarkable examples of the Mission Revival Style, each of them with their own unique windows and details.

Schools

Restaurants

Mesa

Perched on the top of the hill overlooking the city of Santa Barbara and the Pacific ocean, it is no wonder the Mesa is such a popular neighborhood. It is divided into East, West and Alta Mesa, with each area offering something unique. You will find beautiful public green spaces, including popular, Shoreline Park, which features a long strip of grass with walking paths, children's play structure and paths down to the beach. The Mesa is also home to Santa Barbara City College and their stadium, where you can attend college sporting events and use the track at your lesiure for exercise. The view at the top of the stadiums is worth the trek up!

Schools

Restaurants

San Roque

San Roque is one my favorite neighborhoods. As far as schools go, the neighborhood features sought after Peabody Charter School and Providence Elementary School. For those looking for a central neighborhood, you can easily get to the De La Vina corridor where famous Handlebar Coffee Roasters is, Gelsons Market and the La Cumbre Shopping Mall. Just minutes away from the homes in San Roque is Steven’s Park, San Roque Creek and the many hiking trails including, the Tunnel Road trail and Inspiration Point trail. Located just behind the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, there is even a walking trail that takes you directly to the parking lot which connects to a path to the Santa Barbara Mission, which makes picnics at the Mission Rose Garden a fun adventure. If you are looking for a peak of the ocean from San Roque, there are streets located right above Foothill Road that have homes with a view. Along with the quaint neighborhoods, there are also streets with larger, more stately homes, such as Canon Drive.