Cold Spring Tavern
American restaurant · Santa Barbara County
5995 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Highlights
Historic mountain stagecoach stop serving tri-tip & wild game
Historic mountain stagecoach stop serving tri-tip & wild game
"Located in the hills above Santa Barbara, this 137-year-old establishment serves smoky Santa Maria-style barbecue and represents one of the Central Coast’s oldest restaurants." - Mona Holmes
"When in Santa Barbara, always plan a drive through the San Marcos Pass. It’s one of three passages through the expansive Santa Ynez Mountains with a perfect stop to break up the drive at Cold Spring Tavern. It’s a former stagecoach stop that’s been serving food since 1865. Bikers and wine country aficionados dine at picnic tables and admire the vintage wagon wheels hanging from the walls. Order the beer-battered onion rings, tri-tip sandwich, wild game black bean chili, baby back pork ribs, or the behemoth buffalo burger." - Mona Holmes
"Cold Spring Tavern is a living Santa Barbara legend, pushed into the hillsides above the Central Coast city. Loaded with roadhouse favorites like grilled tri-tip and other steaks, piping-hot chili, and saucy ribs, this 130-plus-year-old getaway is still as popular with travelers as ever before. Expect live music and a mid-to-long wait on weekends." - Eater Staff, Mona Holmes
"Set in the Santa Ynez Mountains just above Santa Barbara, Cold Springs Tavern is an old cabin and former stagecoach stop that dates back to 1886. But the crowds don’t drive up here just because it's a living museum. Cold Springs also serves some of the best tri-tip on the Central Coast: thick juicy slices of medium-rare beef grilled over oak and seasoned with garlic and spices. During the week make a reservation for a full meal inside the restaurant, or show up on weekends for the big outdoor barbecue where families load up on tri-tip sandwiches slathered in barbecue sauce or house salsa while drinking beer, picnicking in the gardens, and enjoying whatever live bands happens to show up." - brant cox, garrett snyder
"Set in the Santa Ynez Mountains just above Santa Barbara, Cold Springs Tavern is an old cabin and former stagecoach stop that dates back to 1886. But the crowds don’t drive up here just because it's a living museum. Cold Springs also serves some of the best tri-tip on the Central Coast: thick juicy slices of medium-rare beef grilled over oak and seasoned with garlic and spices. During the week make a reservation for a full meal inside the restaurant, or show up on weekends for the big outdoor barbecue where families load up on tri-tip sandwiches slathered in barbecue sauce or house salsa while drinking beer, picnicking in the gardens, and enjoying whatever live bands happens to show up." - brant cox, garrett snyder
