Santa Barbara Funk Zone Food and Photo Tour

Overview

Eat your way through the Funk Zone - Santa Barbara's hip, new 'hood - while learning about local culture and how to take great food photos.

This food & photo tour starts on lower State Street and will walk you through the Funk Zone neighborhood where you will taste what Santa Barbara is known for with bites of fresh seafood, gastropub creations, Mexican food, artisan beer, and locally grown wines several different locations. Along the way, you’ll get immersed in the local culture and hear interesting stories about each place you’ll visit.

You’ll also learn easy-to-shoot photo tips from your pro tour guide and take your food photo skills to the next level using your smartphone’s camera app. By the end of your 3 hour tour, you’ll be eating like a local and shooting like a pro!
(Please note: we cannot accommodate shellfish allergies, vegan or celiac restrictions at this time. However, we only have one shellfish/seafood tasting on the tour.)

City: Santa Barbara

Wed 25 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Wed 25 Dec

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Wine tasting

Beverages

Food tasting

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Infant meals not included
Minimum drinking age is 21 years
Not recommended for vegan or celiac dietary restrictions. Shellfish allergies cannot be accommodated, but will only miss out partially on one tasting.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
We are still adhering to all current guidelines for Santa Barbara County. Please do a quick online search for "mask mandate Santa Barbara County" so you can stay in-the-know for your trip! We will also be updating all our guests on any COVID guideline changes as is needed.

What To Expect

Funk Zone

Begin your 3-hour Santa Barbara walking food tour at a central location in the Funk Zone, located near lower State Street. This region once housing warehouses and scuba shops — now revitalized into a bustling neighborhood of hip eateries, wine-tasting rooms, and artist studios — is where you’ll meet your guide for an afternoon food tasting and photo tour. Set out on foot at a moderate pace as your guide shares insights into Santa Barbara’s history and burgeoning art culture. Keep your smartphone ready so you can practice the helpful photo tips your guide offers along the way. You'll have many opportunities to take food photos and colorful portraits in the lively Funk Zone. Along the way, your guide stops for food & drink tastings (all included) at restaurants, a wine bar/bakery, & one microbrewery. Learn how to properly position your food for the best photos as you sample local fare. After your tour you can continue to explore and capture this fun & funky neighborhood on your own.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (93)

Jeanette_A

Oct 2020

The guided tour in Funk Zone was not worth what we paid for. The trip started off with confusion, we attempted to meet our guide in the designated meeting area provided to us via email. After 10 mins past our meeting time and still not spotting our guide, she (guide) eventually called us and let us know she was at a different location but had a hard time articulating where she wanted us to meet her. She kept saying by the train tracks without giving us names of the street? She was real bad at giving us directions so we could make our way. The tour started 25 min late. The tour guide seemed like she didn’t know what she was doing, and worst of all we felt we didn’t go to all the places described in this food tour when booked. For example, we never went to a distillery? Also, we didn’t get very many picture tips? At times it seemed as though we were just zig zagging down the same street hitting different eating places but walking up to a spot then back down to a different spot then back up....on the same street. We really got to know that one street :) The tour gets one star for giving us the opportunity to know where to go if we want good drinks and food and another star just because Santa Barbara is truly beautiful and we enjoyed the historical facts portion of the tour. Overall, I wouldn’t book this tour just go to Funk town on your own and google historical facts and food pics tips, you’ll get more for your buck that way!

Response from Host

Oct 2020

Thank you for your honest feedback. We take all comments and feedback seriously as we are always looking for ways to improve. I'm sorry to hear the tour did not live up to your expectations and we apologize for the late start. With all the changes we've had to accommodate with our restaurants and other places we visit, some of the details have had to change quite a bit and often last minute. Just know that we, too, are sad that some of our places have not been allowed to reopen or didn't make it through the shut down. We are doing our best to keep all sites updated with the latest info, but with all the constant changes we seem to fall a day behind here and there. Again, our apologies for that. We truly are grateful for your coming out and supporting small businesses like ours and many others while we navigate these uncertain times. I hope the rest of your stay in Santa Barbara was enjoyable.

KFSB2020

Jul 2020

My husband and I did this food tour early this year and we had a great time! First of all we originally had it scheduled for December 2019, but both came down with a stomach flu a few days before. I called the organizer and they gave us gift cards for a later date without any fuss! That was a great way to start off a positive experience! When we finally made up the food tour in January we had an amazing time. We were actually the only ones on the tour and so our guide Keith was able to really cater to us! The food was great and Keith was very knowledgeable about the city and the food (being a chef himself). We learned a lot, despite being Santa Barbara locals! It was a great date for us! We would definitely do this tour again with friends and family who come to visit!

Response from Host

Jul 2020

Thank you for taking time to write us a review about your tour in January! I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with Keith and we hope to see you again in the future on our Solvang tour. :)

jenniferdC4106RF

Jun 2020

My fiancé and I had an amazing time during our tour! It’s the first weekend we’ve really done anything since the pandemic and it was absolutely perfect. All the spots were so cool, delicious, and adjusted to the rules very well. Many of the places had to convert to outdoor patios and to be honest it was even better that way!! It was a beautiful day and enjoying these amazing foods and drinks outside made it even better. Our tour guide Andrew did an amazing job!! I would highly recommend doing this tour! Be kind, patient, and support all these amazing businesses! Also it was a great way to celebrate our engagement! Thanks again for a memorable experience!

Response from Host

Jun 2020

Thanks for coming out and spending time with us on our tour! I know it can be a little scary to get back out there again and we really appreciate you choosing to come on our tour. Congratulations on your engagement! We wish you both the best!