Things To Do in Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos might be the smallest town in the Santa Ynez Valley — a single walkable downtown of roughly three blocks — but it has one of the highest concentrations of premium wine tasting rooms in California. Grand Avenue is lined with boutique tasting rooms, art galleries, and restaurants, all within a five-minute walk of each other. A visit to Los Olivos often starts with a single stop and expands into a full afternoon: the tasting rooms here tend to pour wines from small-production estates in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and the newly established Los Olivos District AVA. Add in The Inn at Mattei's Tavern (an Auberge Resorts property in an 1886 stagecoach stop), a couple of art galleries, and weekend Santa Maria barbecue, and Los Olivos rewards a full day.
Upcoming in Los Olivos
Full calendar →Today
5 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with Jayden Secor
Carhartt Family Wines
Tomorrow
12 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with the Ray Jaurique Trio
Firestone Vineyard
Sun, Aug 30
2 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with Bobby & Steve
Carhartt Family Wines
Fri, Sep 4
5 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with the New Vibe
Carhartt Family Wines
Sat, Sep 5
12 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with CRV
Firestone Vineyard
Sun, Sep 6
2 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with Carly Powers
Carhartt Family Wines
Fri, Sep 18
3 PM
Live music in Los Olivos with Noach Tangeras
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Top Attractions in Los Olivos
Wine Tasting on Grand Avenue
Grand Avenue is Los Olivos's main street and the heart of its wine culture. More than 20 tasting rooms operate within walking distance, representing producers from across the Santa Ynez Valley AVA and the Los Olivos District AVA — a sub-appellation established in 2016 for the area's distinctive clay soils and warmer temperatures. Most tasting rooms are walk-in friendly, pours run $15–$25, and the relaxed, village-scale format makes it easy to visit several producers in one afternoon without a car in between.
Zaca Mesa Winery
One of the pioneer wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley, Zaca Mesa was founded in 1973 and is credited with introducing Syrah to the valley when it planted the variety in 1978 — the first significant Syrah planting in Santa Barbara County. The estate winery is a few miles outside town on Foxen Canyon Road, but its legacy runs through the valley's entire Rhône-variety movement. Tastings available at the estate.
Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant
Named 'Best Restaurant for Wine' by Wine Spectator, Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant has been a cornerstone of dining on Grand Avenue for years. The menu leans Mediterranean and California-seasonal, the wine list is deep and locally focused, and the indoor-outdoor patio is a pleasant setting for a long lunch. A wine shop within the restaurant lets you take home bottles from the list.
The Inn at Mattei's Tavern
The Inn at Mattei's Tavern (2350 Railway Ave) is a 67-room Auberge Resorts Collection property that opened in 2023 on the grounds of the original 1886 Mattei's Tavern stagecoach stop. The historic building has been restored; around it spreads a 6.5-acre property of freestanding guest structures, landscaped gardens, a pool, Lavender Barn spa, and five dining venues including The Tavern (recognized by the Michelin Guide). Even if you're not staying, The Tavern restaurant is worth a reservation.
R-Country Market
On weekends, R-Country Market on Grand Avenue serves Santa Maria-style tri-tip sandwiches grilled over red oak — a Central Coast BBQ tradition that predates and differs from Texas or Carolina styles. It's casual, inexpensive, and deeply local. A great option for a no-fuss lunch between wine tastings.
Art Galleries on Grand Avenue
Los Olivos has a small but genuine gallery scene concentrated along Grand Avenue. Gallery Los Olivos and other galleries display paintings, sculpture, and mixed media by California artists, with a focus on landscape and wine country subjects. Most galleries are open daily and welcome browsers without purchase pressure.
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail runs north from Los Olivos along Foxen Canyon Road toward Santa Maria, passing through hillside vineyards and a sequence of estate wineries that includes Foxen Winery (in a renovated siding shack), Fess Parker Winery, and Demetria Estate. It's a scenic half-day drive that reveals the northern, wilder end of the Santa Ynez wine country. Tastings by appointment or walk-in, depending on the producer.
The Los Olivos District AVA
In 2016, Los Olivos and the surrounding area received its own sub-appellation designation: the Los Olivos District AVA. The appellation sits in a slightly warmer zone than the broader Santa Ynez Valley AVA, with clay-rich soils and afternoon winds that moderate the heat. These conditions produce wines — particularly Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc — with distinctive texture and structure.
The new AVA reflects the growing recognition of Los Olivos as a serious wine-producing zone rather than just a gateway town. Producers like Dragonette Cellars, Beckmen Vineyards, and Coquelicot Estate Vineyards have built reputations around the Los Olivos District's specific terroir.
A Half-Day Itinerary
10 AM: Start at R-Country Market for coffee and a pastry, or walk Grand Avenue while the first tasting rooms open at 11. Most walk-in tasting rooms have a fee of $15–$25, which is often applied to a bottle purchase.
Noon: Lunch at Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant or grab a tri-tip sandwich from R-Country Market on weekends. Most tasting rooms are fine with you ducking in and out for lunch.
2–4 PM: Continue tasting along Grand Avenue or take the 10-minute drive up Foxen Canyon Road to visit Zaca Mesa Winery or Foxen Winery at their estate. The canyon road is beautiful in the afternoon light.
5 PM: End the day with a glass on the patio at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern if they have walk-in availability, or head to Solvang (5 miles south) for dinner.
Los Olivos During Wine Harvest
September and October transform Los Olivos into the most active version of itself. Harvest season means the tasting rooms are pouring wines that were made from the very grapes you can see turning gold in the vineyards along Foxen Canyon Road. The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail is especially worth driving in October — gondolas stacked roadside, crush pads running, winery trucks navigating the narrow road. This is what wine country looks like when it's actually working.
Los Olivos tasting rooms during harvest often have tank samples, barrel samples, or new releases poured before they're on the formal wine list. Staff have more to talk about — this is the moment all year they've been building toward. Weekdays in September and October are ideal: uncrowded, tasting rooms have time to engage, and the light through the valley oaks is spectacular.
Annual Festivals & Events
Santa Barbara Vintners Festival (April (dates vary))
The Santa Barbara County Vintners Association organizes an annual festival in April that draws producers from across the county — including many Los Olivos and Santa Ynez Valley wineries — for a major public tasting event. One of the premier wine events on the Central Coast.
Harvest Wine Trail (October)
During October harvest season, the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association organizes a multi-weekend wine trail event that opens estate vineyards and wineries for special tastings, vineyard walks, and winemaker encounters not available the rest of the year.
Practical Visitor Information
Getting There
Los Olivos is about 35 miles north of Santa Barbara. The most direct route from Santa Barbara is CA-154 (San Marcos Pass Road) north to Roblar Avenue — a scenic mountain crossing that deposits you in the valley just minutes from downtown Los Olivos. Alternatively, US-101 North to CA-246 East through Buellton and Solvang (5 miles further, 15 minutes longer).
Parking
Los Olivos is very small. There is a free public parking lot at the corner of Grand and Alamo Pintado Avenues, and street parking along Grand Avenue and the side streets. The town is so compact that wherever you park, the entire downtown is within a 5-minute walk.
Best Time to Visit
Los Olivos is excellent year-round for wine tasting. Spring (March–May) brings wildflower blooms along Foxen Canyon Road. Summer is the busiest season but most tasting rooms are open daily. Fall harvest (September–November) is the best time to taste new vintages and visit estate wineries. R-Country Market's tri-tip is a weekend-only offering.
Nearby Communities
Solvang — Danish heritage, windmills, and Old Mission Santa Inés — 5 miles south. Santa Ynez — Chumash Casino Resort and boutique shopping — 10 miles southeast. Buellton — Craft breweries and Hitching Post II — 10 miles southwest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Los Olivos
What is Los Olivos known for?
Los Olivos is known for its exceptional concentration of wine tasting rooms on Grand Avenue — more than 20 within easy walking distance — and for being the gateway to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. It's also known for the historic Mattei's Tavern (now The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, an Auberge Resorts property) and its small but genuine art gallery scene.
How many wineries are in Los Olivos?
More than 20 tasting rooms operate within the walkable downtown area of Los Olivos on or near Grand Avenue. Additional estate wineries are accessible within a short drive on Foxen Canyon Road and the surrounding wine trails.
Is Los Olivos walkable?
Yes. Los Olivos is one of the most walkable wine towns in California. Grand Avenue's downtown core — where nearly all tasting rooms, galleries, and restaurants are located — spans about three blocks. You can visit 6–8 tasting rooms in a single afternoon without moving your car.
Is there a hotel in Los Olivos?
The Inn at Mattei's Tavern (2350 Railway Ave) is the primary accommodation in the area — a 67-room Auberge Resorts Collection property that opened in 2023. It is the most luxurious option in the entire Santa Ynez Valley. For more affordable options, Solvang and Buellton (both about 10 minutes away) have a wider range of hotels and inns.
What was Los Olivos like in Sideways?
The 2004 film Sideways featured several Los Olivos tasting rooms and the broader Santa Ynez Valley wine country. The film significantly raised the profile of both the region's Pinot Noir and the wine tourism scene along Grand Avenue.
How far is Los Olivos from Santa Barbara?
Los Olivos is approximately 35–40 miles north of Santa Barbara. The scenic CA-154 route (San Marcos Pass) takes about 50 minutes; the highway route via US-101 to CA-246 takes 60–70 minutes but passes through Buellton and Solvang.