Costa Kitchen & Bar is located on the beautiful coast of Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera. The setting inspired the menu of the restaurant, which in part informed the design direction. Inspired by Italy’s Amalfi Coast, home of the world’s best limoncello, the design for the restaurant brings a taste of the Mediterranean to the California coast.
The restaurant occupies a historic space that originated as a dining room in the 1930s. Over time, the space was expanded and reconfigured, creating a disjointed experience for the guests. The space was reorganized to create difference dining zones and opened up to connect the different areas. Part of the interior was transformed into a patio to connect the restaurant to the views of the Pacific Ocean.
The beams and posts in the bar and lounge are part of the original structure. It used to the end of the building before it was swallowed up by the multiple expansions. Now, it beautifully defines the bar experience. A large wine room was included to celebrate the many great wines from the Santa Barbara region.
The dining room was intentionally kept intimate and rustic. The wire brushed ceiling paneling, white-washed
