Housed in an industrial warehouse building and retrofitted to be hip and trendy the Helena Avenue Bakery is the latest addition to an ongoing stunning change to the Funk Zone, a former unsightly industrial area two blocks from the beach. There are multiple tasting rooms, Figueroa Mountain Brewery, a distillery, art galleries and multiple places for food, like Mexican street food at Money’s, to food trucks to Seven Bar & Kitchen, Lucky Penny and The Lark - these last two owned and operated by Sherry Villanueva, who started the bakery. “Having a bakery was a logical progression for us,” Sherry Villanueva told me when I stopped in.

Loquita, a bib gourmand selection (chosen by Michelin for affordability and quality) is a restaurant in the city’s Funk Zone that serves Spanish food tailored to the Mediterranean climate of the city. Bib gourmand Corazon Cocina is simply a taco stand in the Santa Barbara Public Market, but calling its food “simple” is a disservice - options include three varieties of ceviche and tacos inspired by Chef Ramon Velasquez’s Guadalajaran heritage served on house made flour and corn tortillas. Mesa Verde is a bib gourmand selection for its plant-based menu filled with mushroom-umami burgers and squash blossom quesadillas.

On Friday night, I met up with Ted and Greer Ellis, owners of the recently opened We Want the Funk in the Funk Zone to hear their story and taste their food. I’ll report on the details in a future article, but my immediate takeaway was that the colorful space is great for both quick bites and long chill-outs, with lots of shareable food on the menu and a varied drink list. They’ll be adding much more in the weeks to come — spritzes being on top of that list — and are still figuring out where exactly to park their food-truck-as-commercial-kitchen, home to a Forno Classico wood-fired oven, made in Goleta.

If Santa Barbara had an epicenter of food, beverage and energy, it would be the Funk Zone. A contemporary collection of converted warehouses, industrial buildings, shops, murals, and a memory of when the railroad was the only way in or out of Santa Barbara. The heartbeat of the area is at 131 Anacapa Street, a historic 1920s warehouse that contains a bakery, a restaurant, wine tasting, cocktail bar, a pizza joint and a who’s who of locals and visitors in the know.

Today, the formerly overlooked neighborhood that Santa Barbara Winery found 60 years ago is a thriving food and wine destination known as the Funk Zone, home to multiple restaurants, breweries, a distillery and more than a dozen tasting rooms. The Eastside, meanwhile, picked up a handful more wineries as well, and so did the rest of town, from the promenade of State Street up to the Presidio Neighborhood and all the way out to the suburbs of Goleta.

A mainstay of the Funk Zone, Blackbird in Santa Barbara offers an iconoclastic, upscale take on your favorite flavors that pays homage to the culinary bounty of the Central Coast. Our coastal location allows Executive Chef Travis Watson to bring you the best of both land and sea. Enjoy inventive cocktails by legendary mixologist Devon Espinosa alongside an extensive list of local wine and craft beer that highlights the terroir of the region.

For art enthusiasts, the nearby Funk Zone is a dynamic arts district filled with galleries, studios, and colorful murals. This area also boasts an array of wine tasting rooms, breweries, and trendy eateries, providing a perfect spot to unwind and savor local flavors. Don't miss the chance to explore the Santa Barbara Harbor, where you can embark on a whale-watching tour, rent a kayak, or simply relax and watch the boats come and go.

Situated in the booming Santa Barbara Funk Zone, Shalhoob’s Funk Zone Patio has provided our community with savory barbeque since 1973 as a butcher shop and 2017 as a restaurant. Lucky for us, their butcher shop is still open for orders and now includes Freezer Packages with several different cuts at a discount. Shalhoob’s is also taking takeout orders via a new webstore they’ve setup in response to the pandemic.

Check out The Funk Zone – one of the cutest areas in Santa Barbara with lots of shops, restaurants and wine tasting rooms. It reminds me of RiNo in Denver because it’s filled with old warehouses and manufacturing plants with a ton of artists’ studios and galleries, breweries and other shops. It’s a total different feel from everything else you find in Santa Barbara

Shalhoob (Funk Zone): We’ve heard amazing things about their burgers, but we actually haven’t been here yet. However, i’ve heard parents rave about this place since the patio area is great for kids. I checked their online menu and didn’t see one specifically for kids, but there are definitely kid-friendly options, or you can just bring food for the littles.

Located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, Brass Bear Brewing & Bistro blends brewing with casual dining. This brewery is known for its approachable beer styles, including blondes, red ales, and pale ales. Its outdoor seating area offers a view of the waterfront, making it a convenient stop while exploring nearby tasting rooms and galleries.

The area known as the Funk Zone has several wine bars, and since Santa Barbara County is part of wine country, an abundance of small vineyards and wineries are found just a short drive outside the city. If you'd like to enlist the help of a local for more in-the-know recommendations, sign up for one of Santa Barbara's best wine tours.

Sevens: An American-style hot spot in the heart of the Funk Zone of Santa Barbara, Sevens has scrumptious classics like its back-to-basics mac & cheese and upgrades to your favorites like truffle fries. With its rare blend of a cool, artsy atmosphere and good old-fashioned friendly service, there’s nothing not to love at Sevens.

Municipal Winemakers: This winery is located in the heart of the Funk Zone, and it offers a wide variety of wines from local vineyards. They are open every day, have indoor and outdoor seating and you can get wine by glass or bottle. Make a reservation for Potok Winery located at The Mill on Haley Street.

••• Corazón has closed its outpost at the Project in the Funk Zone. From the announcement: “With great pleasure we want to thank everyone for the amazing support we have received in the past two years. We hope to have brightened some of your darkest days with delicious food during the pandemic.

This upscale corner spot in the Funk Zone is a great choice for sipping cocktails and people-watching. The massive patio makes it ideal for a big outdoor group dinner and the incredible Spanish food only sweetens the deal. From tapas to desserts, all of the food is flavorful and fun to share.

The Lark- The foodie's favorite in the heart of the Funk Zone. Small gourmet plates in a sophisticated yet casual setting are served family style for a wealth of tasting experiences. This place has got quite a buzz around it, so be sure to make your reservations well in advance.

Santo Mezcal is a modern, elevated Mexican restaurant serving up ceviche, enchiladas, seafood, tacos, and more delicious dishes. It also has plenty of great vegetarian options. On the other hand, Shalhoob’s is perfect for anyone looking for a casual, more low-key eatery.

Shalhoob’s Butcher Shop and Restaurant is a Santa Barbara classic. Known for its succulent meats and BBQ-style dishes, it’s the ideal spot for carnivores looking for a satisfying meal. Shalhoob’s offers everything from tri-tip and brisket to house-made sausages and ribs.

Once we arrived in Santa Barbara, we stayed in one of my fave areas, The Funk Zone, at the Hotel Californian. This well-appointed Spanish Colonial property is in the heart of it all so you can do and see as much as possible in Santa Barbara.

The team behind the popular Los Agaves eateries opened Santo Mezcal near the Funk Zone* and it’s no surprise it was an instant hit. Get this: You can supersize your margaritas, as they offer a choice of “regular” or “extra large.

April 2024: Dart Coffee, 113 Harbor Way; Ethnic Breads, 137 Aero Camino, Goleta; Nick the Greek, 508 State St.; Oat Bakery, 1014 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; Petra Café, 14 East Cota St.; Shalhoob’s, 5112 Hollister Ave, Goleta

Take a romantic trip to Spain without the expense of air travel. Loquita is a bustling restaurant in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone that serves tapas, dinner and more.

It turns out at Rare Society, the sophisticated yet cozy steakhouse nestled in the Funk Zone, you can have the best of both worlds.