8am: Seaside start

Stroll along popular East Beach (E. Cabrillo Blvd) past packed volleyball courts into Montecito – home to movie stars, business titans and media moguls – to Jeannine’s (1253 Coast Village Rd). Grab a table on the patio and tuck into the eggwhite vegie scramble or throw calories to the wind with the Kahlua banana French toast.

10am: To market

Stop by Pierre LaFond Montecito Market (516 San Ysidro Rd) for up-market goods (think roast garlic, Champagne mustard and fig balsamic), cookbooks and local wines.

11am: Local culture

Refuel with an espresso or drip coffee at The French Press (528 Anacapa St), then wander down the street to tour the ornate Moorish style Supreme Court (1100 Anacapa St) and take in the panorama from the top of the 26-metre El Mirador clock tower, including the town’s iconic namesake, Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St), which is steeped in 225 years of local history.

1pm: Hot tamales

The ramshackle taco stand La Super-Rica Taqueria (622 N. Milpas St) was a favourite of Julia Child’s and is known for the Super-Rica Especial – tortillas filled with pork, roasted pasilla chillies and cheese. However cross-town rival, Super Cuca’s (626 W. Micheltorena St), was voted best burrito in Santa Barbara last year.

2pm: Wine time

Explore the sub-culture chic of downtown via the Urban Wine Trail. More than a dozen tasting rooms within a kilometre radius means you can sample the region’s best vineyards minus the designated driver. Along the way, stop at Chocolate Maya (15 W. Gutierrez St) for decadent hand-made confections including organic vegan truffles and dark chocolate scented with rosemary.

4pm: Sundowner

Any local will tell you that the perfect Santa Barbara sunset includes the trifecta of fresh oysters, New England clam chowder and a perfectly seasoned Bloody Mary at Brophy Bros. (119 Harbour Way) while overlooking the harbour.

7pm: See and be seen

Oprah Winfrey is one of the famous faces to call Lucky’s Steakhouse (1279 Coast Village Rd, Montecito) their local. Best known for their steaks, the chophouse also has the market cornered on martinis and moreish sides. Follow up dinner with a signature coconut ginger mojito from Blue Agave (20 E. Cota St) or a flight of boutique tequilas.

11pm: Hit the hay

Citrus-farm-turned-luxury-hideaway, the romantic San Ysidro Ranch (900 San Ysidro Ln) has catered to celebrities (Audrey Hepburn, John and Jackie Kennedy, Bing Crosby and Winston Churchill, to name a few) for years, while current A-listers seek solitude in the cottages tucked away in the hills. For a thriftier alternative, Victorian Upham Hotel (1404 De la Vina St) is the ideal bed and breakfast.

For more Californian travel hot-spots like the best places to buy produce in Santa Monica and Venice Beach click here.