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Convivo, Santa Barbara, CA

Convivo

4.7
4.7
2134 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 41 times today
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Great for scenic views
  • Charming
Convivo is a Santa Barbara restaurant and bar with an Italian soul. Chef-Owner Peter McNee's food is best described as ‘Nomad Italian’. It strays from the standard or traditional Italian, sourcing inspiration from many other cultures’ cooking but its soul is thoroughly Italian. The ever-changing menu includes small plates, housemade pasta, wood-fired pizza, rotisserie chicken, fresh seafood and steaks served family-style. McNee’s all-star supplier network provides the freshest produce and local seafood the region is famous for.

Inspired by the bounty of the sea, the lush farms and abundant vineyards nearby and the cooking methods of Italy, Convivo is a festive gathering place for locals and visitors alike inside the newly-restored Santa Barbara Inn.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–11:00 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–1:30 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–1:30 pm Dinner Daily 1:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (805) 845-6789
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Peter McNee
  • Private party facilities
    We offer indoor and outdoor private event spaces that can host 14-90 people.
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross street
    Milpas Street
  • Parking details
    Additional street and private lot available.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,134 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Italian

  • Santa Barbara

    Best Ambiance

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for brunch

  • Santa Barbara

    Innovative

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Santa Barbara

    Romantic

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for scenic views

  • Santa Barbara

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Convivo offers a delightful dining experience with "beautiful ocean views" and "delicious food." The outdoor seating is perfect for enjoying a meal with picturesque surroundings. Guests rave about the "amazing service" and "creative" dishes, including standout pizzas and pastas. It's ideal for special occasions, with a "friendly and attentive" staff ensuring a memorable visit.

2,134 Reviews
  1. Kelly

    Los Angeles

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Another amazing Christmas dinner here. Everything was delicious!

    1 person found this helpful

  2. Nathalia

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great gluten free options for someone with an allergy. Appreciated the gf dessert options.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Kim

    Orange County

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    4th visit to Convivo for weekend lunch with friends. Surprisingly, the food quality was not the same. I ordered steak and eggs - tough steak flanked with a long ribbon of fat. The strange mix of seasonings & multiple sauces -red wine reduction, chimichurri, and some type of oil (sesame?) along with za'atar- looked like an oil slick on my plate. It did not taste good. The attempt here for a fusion meal tasted like confusion. My friends said there food was "meh'. The positives included great service, friendly and prompt seating, gorgeous patio, & perfect ocean views.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Claire

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on December 18, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It was my second time dining at Convivo . We sat outside on the patio, which I highly recommend. You can see the ocean across the street with the Christmas lights it was very festive It was a continuous celebration for our anniversary. Our waiter was fabulous. He was extremely attentive and very friendly and professional. The food was absolutely delicious. I had their flatbread pizza which was super yummy and my husband had the steak which was delicious.  I will say that the inside of the restaurant has a little bit to be desired in atmosphere, but if you’re looking for extremely good food and wonderful service, we had that !!!! Sit on the patio ;-) 

    Is this helpful?

  5. Chris

    VIP

    Central Coast

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebration evening together for my wife and I. For starters we started off with amazing cocktails while we watched the sunset. 👍 Jeff our server was very attentive and service was outstanding.. The food choices we made were so good. Margarita pizza, charred avocados salad, bucatini, and the bone in ribeye were all fantastic. The desserts also were very good. We had to take another one home! We will be back.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Geoff

    Central Coast

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The menu was well thought out. Everything sounded good. Everything we ordered was delicious and the food we saw going to other tables looked really good too. Very attentive staff and our server was friendly and on her game. Ambience could be improved with dimmer lighting and maybe some interesting art. A few changes could help the hotel restaurant vibe a little. TV at the bar was a distraction. Wine list was excellent with good Central Coast options. Wines by the glass seemed likevshort pours to us. When I asked the reply was unfortunately we measure the pours. A big turn off. Ultimately the food and service makes me want to go back.

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  7. Denise

    Orange County

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was so fresh and good. Service was perfect and the place was beautiful

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  8. Anna

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were pleased with our choice to try Convivo for our one month wedding anniversary as an elderly couple! The combination of flavors and textures in each dish was outstanding, and we enjoyed each one of them. Service was perfect - we didn’t feel rushed, and yet the food showed up in a timely manner without us wondering when it was coming. And another important t factor was the noise level - while the restaurant was quite busy, we two older people could actually hear each other! A very pleasant evening, and we hope to return.

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  9. Nathan

    VIP

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best experience in Santa Barbara for pizza and Italian.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ryan

    VIP

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Thanksgiving Feast Menu 4-course was all delicious! We’ll be back!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Convivo offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (805) 845-6789.

Convivo is rated 4.7 stars by 2134 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:30 PM
Booked 41 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Convivo

901 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Milpas Street
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–11:00 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 am Brunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–1:30 pm Sat, Sun 10:00 am–1:30 pm Dinner Daily 1:30 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Additional street and private lot available.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Peter McNee
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (805) 845-6789
  • Private party facilities
    We offer indoor and outdoor private event spaces that can host 14-90 people.
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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