Montecito, California (Including a Map)
Wandering past the long drives and dutiful gates found throughout the curvy hills of Montecito, California, we found two villages—both considered to be the village of Montecito.
Montecito’s upper village and Montecito’s lower village.
Interestingly, these villages weren’t clearly labeled as such on maps and they were almost two miles apart (hence, my map of Montecito below, which notes both of these village locations).
Montecito Upper Village
Montecito’s upper village was quietly nestled near the intersection of San Ysidro Road and East Valley Road.
That’s where we found a small library, church, gas station, post office, and market—plus quiet eateries and shops in the Montecito Village, San Ysidro, and Pierre Lafond buildings.
A calm and treed neighborhood village, upper Montecito felt like the small quaint town where I grew up, with just a tad more polish. It felt so relaxing.
Upper Montecito is also where…
we found some GF vegan deli food at the Montecito Village Grocery
we found some GF vegan specialty deli food at Pierre Lafond Montecito
I saw some beautiful sustainable jewelry and linens tucked inside the little shops
Montecito Lower Village
Montecito’s lower village filled the length of Coast Village Road, between (lower) Hot Springs Road and Olive Mill Road.
This village of small upscale eateries and shops was a bit glitzier and busier, winding parallel to Hwy 101, making it louder, too.
Locals and visitors gathered in lower Montecito for more robust socializing and mingling.
I loved that there were beautiful public restrooms located on the south side of Honor Market (at the top of the outdoor stairs).
Lower Montecito is also where…
we stayed at the vintage and affordable Coast Village Inn
we loved eating Oliver’s vegan food (but I hear it’s being replaced)
I found locally-made linen clothing “perfect for a safari” (the salesperson whispered)
More in Montecito
Roaming throughout Montecito for several months … enjoying leisurely meals, picking up packages, visiting the library … had us feeling almost like locals.
We really wanted to enjoy the surrounding trails, too, but we didn’t have our bikes, nor close enough lodging to park at, and we had a vehicle that we couldn’t leave at trailheads.
This means we’d love to return to Montecito to thoroughly explore its surrounding trails.
