Tucked between the Pacific and Highway 101, Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone is a vibrant enclave where art, surf culture, and wine converge. As part of the city’s Urban Wine Trail, this compact, walkable district is home to more than 20 tasting rooms, allowing visitors to sample world-class wines without ever leaving city limits. Once a gritty warehouse area, the Funk Zone has transformed into one of the city’s most dynamic destinations—equal parts bohemian, beachy, and boutique.
What to Expect at The Funk Zone
Start your tasting journey at spots like The Valley Project, a schoolhouse-inspired space offering flights from all six of Santa Barbara County’s AVAs, complete with chalk mural maps and jars of soil samples that give a literal taste of the terroir. Then, head to Riverbench, beloved for its estate-grown sparkling wines, or Municipal Winemakers, where bottle-fountain decor, bold blends, and a casual, garage-like atmosphere reflect the area’s creative ethos.
Continue your crawl to Pali Wine Co., which pours its signature Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from a rooftop deck, or, if you're after a different kind of buzz, Area 5.1 delivers cheeky, alien-themed branding with solid red blends. For panoramic ambience, the Santa Barbara Wine Collective’s urban wine garden pairs curated flights with coastal breezes and shaded patios perfect for lingering.
When you’re ready for a break from sipping and swirling, explore the Funk Zone’s many galleries and artist studios, which showcase everything from contemporary painting to surfboard art. The area’s industrial past lives on in its architecture, now repurposed for loft-style showrooms and eclectic retail spaces. Don’t miss the ever-evolving murals along Mason Street, a visual feast of street art that doubles as a selfie backdrop. Then stroll just a block toward the beach to dip your toes in the surf or watch the sunset over the Santa Barbara Pier.
Dining in The Funk Zone
Hungry? The Funk Zone’s culinary scene is as exciting as its tasting rooms. Helena Avenue Bakery, which shares space with the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, serves up ideal wine-friendly fare like wildflower honey ricotta toast, seasonal salads, and griddled sausage biscuit sandwiches. Just around the corner, Lucky Penny doles out wood-fired pizzas from a funky corrugated steel facade covered in pennies, while Loquita specializes in modern Spanish cuisine—think sizzling gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas, and expertly sliced jamón ibérico.
For a more casual pairing of beer and bites, head to Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop, where more than two dozen rotating taps pour local brews, craft imports, and experimental ales. Lama Dog shares its industrial space with The Nook, a food counter slinging creative comfort food like duck-fat fries and shrimp-and-grits. Down the street, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. offers IPAs and amber ales in a spacious, family-friendly taproom with outdoor seating and occasional live music.