The Funk Zone

Funny that I have never before reviewed the Funk Zone. It's my home away from home. When I had a somewhat alcohol heavy dinner at Joe's with mayor Schneider a number of years ago I asked if I could be the Mayor of the Funk Zone... her response was "no problem, I sure as Hell don't want it!" I took that responsibility very seriously and made a point to "patrol" and monitor it several days a week.

When I started going it wasn't referred to as the Funk Zone, just a forgotten part of SB. Santa Barbara Winery was the only wine for decades, Pierre LaFond was a visionary for sure. Gradually Giessenger Winery popped up, a wine collective which is now Oreana and eventually Kalyra, which was the spark that truly ignited the flame that created what we have today.

As Kunin, Corks n Crowns, Municipal and others popped up the Urban Wine Trail was coined and quickly succumbed to the title Funk Zone. The appropriate name since before the expansion and high rents, that is exactly what it was. Art studios and surfboard shapers living in their work spaces, creating art and selling it, often doing potluck wine and food events to bring people to their openings. Some of the original vibe lives in places like Loveworn, Wallace's gallery, a tattoo shop and a surfboard museum. As more wine tasting rooms, restaurants and beer gardens pop up let's never lose the history or feel of what it one was.

There are a lot of wine tasting places in Santa Barbara and we're glad we got to try this establishment. The Funk Zone's wine offerings in Santa Barbara is an adventure for the senses that transcends the traditional wine-tasting experience. This vibrant district, known for its artistic flair, seamlessly intertwines creativity with the world of viticulture. The Funk Zone's tasting rooms, housed in eclectic spaces adorned with local art, provide an immersive journey into the diverse terroir of Santa Barbara wines.

From the crisp Sauvignon Blancs to the velvety Pinot Noirs, each winery in the Funk Zone introduces unique flavors that capture the essence of the region. The friendly and knowledgeable staff curates tastings that cater to both novices and seasoned enthusiasts, ensuring a memorable and educational experience. The relaxed atmosphere and artistic surroundings make the Funk Zone a captivating destination for wine lovers seeking not only exceptional vintages but also a sensory voyage through Santa Barbara's dynamic and creative wine culture.

It's aaallll for the funk of it! As its' name states, the Funk zone is quite funky. This is a hip and swanky little area in Santa Barbara that's filled with cute tasting rooms, restaurants, and boutique shops. It's bustling, lively, and there's never a dull moment here. It's a fun area to take a stroll and explore. Although the crowd seems to be more on the hipsterish side, I wouldn't call this area completely hipster. What's nice is that there's something here for people of all ages.

There's also some really nice street art around these parts. Apparently there used to be a lot more artwork but the city has toned it down. I was still able to spot some nice street art during the stroll through. There's also some quirky quotes and signage that lets you know that you're in the funk zone. Little districts like this really make me smile because it confirms that uniqueness and individuality isn't dead. It's very much alive and still embraced in these kinds of environments.

I feel like this area is most known for its' wine tasting rooms. There are a TON to choose from and many of them are literally right next to each other. This makes for an ideal wine bar hopping session. And if you've had wine from Santa Barbara, you know that it's dayum delicious. I feel like you can't really miss the funk zone because it's right in middle of everything. Have some good wine, enjoy the yummy restaurants, bask in the local artwork and enjoy the funk while you're here.

A nice carve out near the coast. Was a light industrial area, transformed to shops, dining and libations. Highly recommended.

I have been coming here since before it was the official Funk Zone and it was always eclectic and had cool shops and little wineries etc. Little by little it's being ruined. When you see the Fess Parker's and now maybe 3 little retail stores with $180 T Shirts, you know the rents are $$$$$ and the cool, small businesses can't hang with the big dogs.

It's no longer a destination. Just a couple of streets to walk through and maybe do a tasting. Beyond that? Don't plan on spending the day there.

Capitalism and gentrification destroys everything

This place is a must go in Santa Barbara. Came here with some friends while visiting Santa Barbara and we had an absolute blast. Plenty of places to eat drink shop and just browse. This will be a must go place whenever we come back.

The Funk Zone? It's a revitalization of an approximately ten block area between State St and Garden St and Montecito St to Cabrillo Blvd by the Wharf that housed manufacturing, produce, citrus and fishing businesses into arts, culture and business area consisting of wineries, restaurants, art galleries and shops.

On a Thursday, we were here around 3pm for an early dinner at a restaurant in the area so we had time to explore. After parking, we visited the State St. Visitor's Center and got a map of The Funk Zone and the surrounding area. Following the map, we walked through the area that consisted of art studios, retail shops, wineries and breweries and dining spots. I guess since it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, the area was kind of quiet. Maybe it's livelier in the evening and weekends.

After walking through the area, we had time to walk down to the Stearns Wharf and into Downtown which borders the north and south sides of The Funk Zone.

A hip an artsy area but glad we got to check it out. We enjoyed a great dinner at The Lark.

It's been obviously been years and years since I've been to Santa Barbara because when I was here last, there were only a few restaurants and a couple of hotels on this end of State Street, not enough for the local businesses to team and label themselves "The Funk Zone".

No complaints here.

This super trendy area is reminiscent of LA's Arts District with beautiful murals, fantastic new restaurants with instagrammable walls and foods and plenty of wine bars to choose from.

They even have more hotels and a couple of museums now. And even an art installation right. there on State Street!

Some of the best new restaurants in town can even be found here.

If you're mobile, the Funk Zone is very walkable from a lot of points of interest in town like the beach, the wharf, the Public Market and the Presidio.

Parking might not be the best, but like I mentioned before, it's within walking distance of a lot of places you'd be walking to/from anyway.

Really cool setting for a beer and some food. Only downside was ordering ahead of time and paying - we ordered the pizza that had sausage on it and then they brought us a pizza with just peppers, onions and undercooked bacon pieces and asked what happened to the sausage and they said they ran out of sausage. Wish they would have let us know before they cooked it because we would've ordered something different and they didn't offer us a replacement or any type of refund. Other than that the beer was good!

I look for reviving areas like this... certainly a place with creativity, artistic vibe where innovation is part of the location and the visitors. This is a vibrant Area, so nice to see the antiques, Art, Vintage, up-cycled items. With so many places for small bites, a drink, some laughter and friends time. Thanks Santa Barbara- it was a great day to explore!
We enjoyed the stroll through shops, friendly folks, ice cream, and quirky transportation. Good fun. Easy 90 minutes parking. Fantastic people watching. Close to the ocean, and easy exit from Highway 101.