Boasting picturesque landscapes, world-renowned wineries, acres of lavender farms, and pristine equine ranches, the Santa Ynez Valley is the perfect place to spend a romantic weekend of wine tasting, fine dining and soaking up the spectacular natural scenery. Tuck into elevated, globally-influenced cuisine and fine wines at Hill Haven Provisions; head to Aly's by Alebru Restaurant for an upmarket fine-dining experience; sip California wines by the sleek fireplace and enjoy artful market-driven farm-to-fork cuisine at the contemporary Root 246.
1. Mad and Vin

Mad & Vin is a beautifully appointed Danish restaurant based in the Landsby boutique hotel in downtown Solvang that is an excellent spot for a romantic dinner. The elegant wood-clad food and wine bar serve a seasonal menu of wine-country inspired farm-to-table fare prepared with regional ingredients and produce that celebrate the bounty from California’s central coast. The cuisine is accompanied by traditional and craft cocktails, specialty shrubs, beer, and acclaimed, locally produced wine from a welcoming bar which attracts an after-work crowd. Mad & Vin is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.
1576 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-688-3121
2. Actor's Corner Cafe

The Actor's Corner Cafe is a charming, family-run eatery and boutique wine pairing restaurant that serves upscale Italian cuisine made with locally sourced, organic ingredients and seasoned with the flavors and spices of old Europe. The refined menu features dishes such as Capellini Bolognese with Kobe Beef, Lasagna, Braised Chuck Rib with Wine Sauce, which are accompanied by a selection of vintage Italian and California wines, premium local beers, and local Actor's Corner Coffee. The Actor’s Corner Café is open for dinner only Thursday through Monday.
443 2nd St, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-686-2409
3. Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn

Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn is a charming Santa Barbara Wine Country restaurant owned by the Nichols brothers, whose love of cooking great food and a strong sense of family values shines through in their cuisine. Renowned for their innovative cuisine, award-winning wines and gracious hospitality and service, Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn is a popular spot for a romantic dinner or celebration of love. The restaurant’s interior exudes the warmth of a local tavern with a white paneled ceiling, restored branded wood beams, rich oak accents, and wrought iron lighting, and an open display kitchen allows guests to watch the expert chefs at work. Two wood-burning fireplaces preserved from the original Red Barn create an intimate glow and a glass-enclosed wine room houses a curated selection of fine wines from the region. Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
3539 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, Phone: 805-688-4142
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4. Cecco Ristorante

Cecco Ristorante is a rustic country Italian eatery that serves classic Italian dishes, thin-crust pizzas, housemade pasta, and local wines served in a warm and welcoming ambiance. Located on 1st Street in downtown Solvang, the restaurant features a comfortable dining space with a wood-burning pizza oven and a charming patio for outdoor dining. The restaurant offers a menu of authentic Italian fare prepared with farmer’s market and artisan products, including handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, antipasti, prime beef and veal, fresh seafood, and crisp salads and vegetables. Local wines are served by the bottle, glass, and quartino, and other drinks include craft beers, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails. Cecco Ristorante has intimate spaces for private dining and is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
475 1st St #9, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-688-8880
5. First & Oak

Located inside the boutique Mirabelle Inn in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, First & Oak is a refined Michelin-Plate restaurant that serves a seasonal menu of elevated farm-to-table fare in a stylish and sophisticated environment. The restaurant serves several menus including from three, four, or five-course tasting menus which feature delicious, market-driven cuisine made with local and regional ingredients and artisan produce. Guests can also create their own tasting menus, and the food is accompanied by a curated selection of local wines from the surrounding Santa Barbara Wine Country, along with craft beers and classic cocktails. First & Oak is open for dinner seven nights a week.
409 1st St, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-688-1703
6. Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe

Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe brings that tastes and flavors of the Central Coast to the table with a menu of delicious Cal-Med fare paired with local wines. The casually elegant café uses only the highest quality ingredients sourced from their own CCOF certified organic Cafe Farm and other local and regional producers, and an extensive and award-winning wine list specializes in local and Central Coast wines with more than 500 labels from which to choose. The exceptional cuisine and world-class wines are complemented by impeccable service and gracious hospitality, making for an unforgettable dining experience. Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday.
2879 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-688-7265
7. River Grill at the Alisal

Located the at Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang, the River Grill at the Alisal is a rustic eatery with a cozy fireplace and charming outdoor patio that serves an inventive menu of New American comfort fare. The intimate and comfortable restaurant features a high-beamed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows that flood interiors with natural light and boast beautiful views, and a large stone fireplace that creates a warm and intimate glow. The outdoor patio is perfect for alfresco summer dining and can seat up to 200 guests, and the restaurant can cater for private events and functions for up to 250 people. The Alisal River Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.
150 Alisal Rd, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-688-7784
8. S.Y. Kitchen

Based in a beautiful Italian-inspired California farmhouse in the heart of Santa Ynez, S.Y. Kitchen is a contemporary café that serves thoughtfully sourced, refined Italian fare and casual wines in a warm and welcoming setting. Featuring a stylish dining space and a lovely porch with patio seating for alfresco dining, the restaurant serves a creative menu of farm-to-table cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients and regional produce. Three dining rooms are stylishly decorated rustic wooden tables, and intimate seating and an open courtyard and outdoor lounge area have cushioned seating, heaters, blankets, and soft tree lights. S.Y. Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, daily.
1110 Faraday St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, Phone: 805-691-9794
9. Toscana Pizzeria Tapas Enoteca

Overlooking Frederik’s Court in downtown Solvang, Toscana Pizzeria Tapas Enoteca is an Italian pizzeria that serves classic Italian cuisine, thin-crust pizzas, and casual wines in a cozy, country-chic space. Owned by Chef Michele Mancuso, who studied Culinary Arts in Firenze, in the center of Toscana, after which the restaurant is named, the family-friendly eatery serves a variety of delicious Mediterranean fare such as wood-fired pizza, seasonal Spanish tapas, and other regional specialties, and traditional Italian pasta plates. The Enoteca (wine bar) offers a wide variety of both local and Italian wines, as well as Prosecco, Italian sparkling wine, seasonal fruit juices, and Moretti beer on tap. Toscana Pizzeria Tapas Enoteca is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.
485 Alisal Rd #163, Solvang, CA 93463, Phone: 805-697-7445
10. Trattoria Grappolo

Trattoria Grappolo is a casual Italian bistro set in the heart of the Santa Ynez wine valley that serves authentic Italian eats such as homemade pasta dishes, wood-fired pizza, and other favorites in a warm and welcoming space. Surrounded by the lush vine fields and oak-studded hills of Santa Ynez, the family-friendly restaurant offers the perfect setting to enjoy some of Central California's most creative and authentic Italian dishes. The menu features portions of pasta and wood-fired pizzas, prime New York steaks and fresh seafood, with signature dishes such as Carpaccio and Rollino Veneto. Trattoria Grappolo features an expansive wine list with vintages from Italy and the Santa Ynez and is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday and dinner only on Mondays.
3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, Phone: 805-688-6899
What are the 10 Best Restaurants in Solvang, CA?
The 10 Best Restaurants in Solvang, CA according to local experts are:
- Mad and Vin
- Actor's Corner Cafe
- Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn
- Cecco Ristorante
- First & Oak
- Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe
- River Grill at the Alisal
- S.Y. Kitchen
- Toscana Pizzeria Tapas Enoteca
- Trattoria Grappolo