Back in the day, about a hundred years or so ago, travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco was not a quick zip in the car up the coast. Instead, it was a stagecoach ride that would cross the nearly 2,500-foot pass above Santa Barbara and through the Santa Ynez Valley. With steep drop-offs, the route was often treacherous and the stagecoaches typically needed six horses rather than four.
The journey from Santa Barbara to Cold Spring Tavern would have taken about eight hours – in other foods stopping for food was a necessity. Enter Cold Spring Tavern. Built in 1886, the tavern looks much as it did a century ago. There are two main structures — the original tavern that houses the restaurant and the Log Cabin Bar next door. The restaurant is known for its wild game menu that features venison, rabbit, boar and wild trout. Meat lovers will not want to miss the somewhat famous tri-tip sandwiches. Vegetarians can also find options here with salads, soups and sandwiches. On the weekends there’s live music playing outside and it almost turns into a somewhat party high in the up in the mountains where you can’t help but feel you’re no longer even in California but rather the Colorado Rockies.
Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
www.coldspringtavern.com
Have you visited Cold Spring Tavern? What did you think? Any other favorite spots in Santa Barbara?
