Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach is an upscale seafood restaurant in Santa Barbara, California, offering a memorable dining experience beside the ocean. Located at 2981 Cliff Dr, the restaurant pairs panoramic ocean views with a heated outdoor patio, creating an inviting setting for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a relaxed drink.
Its atmosphere is casual, cozy, romantic, and trendy, making it well suited to a wide range of occasions—from solo dining and comfortable meals to leisurely gatherings with family and friends.
The menu and beverage selection provide plenty of choice throughout the day, including seafood, comfort food, healthy options, coffee, beer, cocktails, wine, happy-hour drinks, and happy-hour food. Guests can also enjoy a great beer selection, great cocktails, a great dessert, a great wine list, and local specialties.
With a bar on site, fireplace, restroom, table service, and a reputation for fast service, Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach brings together the convenience and quality customers look for in a full-service restaurant. Outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, and on-site services make it easy to choose the experience that suits your plans.
Accessibility is an important part of the visit, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet. Reservations are accepted and recommended for brunch, lunch, and dinner, while guests should also be aware that there is usually a wait. The restaurant accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Rated 4.50 out of 5 based on 4,948 reviews, Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach offers a well-regarded destination for oceanfront dining in Santa Barbara. To learn more or make plans, call +1 805-898-2628.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Tullamore Dew/Butterscotch schnapps. OJ chaser and a strip of smoked bacon
House-made snow & rock crab cakes under poached eggs. Topped with chipotle hollandaise. Served with avocado, salsa fresca and potatoes.
Slow-cooked pulled pork in tomatillo salsa, over easy eggs. peppers, onions, and chedder over corn tortilla chips. Topped w/ avocado, sour cream, salsa fresca and queso fresco. Served with black beans.
Chorizo, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, peppers, onions and potatoes wrapped in a flour tortilla. Topped with ranchero sauce and queso fresco.
Cinnamon, orange zest & vanilla bean thick-cut French toast. Topped with powdered sugar Served with maple syrup and butter
Over easy eggs between crispy corn tortillas. Topped with ranchero sauce. avocado, sour cream and queso fresco. Served with black beans and breakfast potatoes.
Tom White's decades-old recipe for curing salmon. Topped with capers and lemon pepper Served with a toasted bagel, tomatoes. red onions and house-made dill cream cheese.
Locally made Blueberry Lemon or Gluten free Vanilla Super Seed. Served with berries, agave and choice of yogurt.
Fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Topped with powdered sugar. Served with maple syrup and butter
Canadian Bacon and poached eggs over an English muffin. Topped with citrus hollandaise. Served with breakfast potatoes
Rich pork belly under poached eggs. Topped with chipotle hollandaise Served with avocado, salsa fresca and breakfast potatoes
Avocado, poached eggs, tomatoes and red onions over an English muffin. Topped with citrus hollandaise. Served with breakfast potatoes.
Cured salmon, poached eggs, tomatoes and red onions over an English muffin. Topped with citrus hollandaise & capers. Served with potatoes.
3 or 6
6 or 12, ask for daily selection
(upon availability) 5 pieces of local Sea Urchin atop a scallop crudo and inly sliced citrus
jalapeno, radish, micro greens, soy, chili amarillo, citrus
Combination of our raw bar selection- ask your server!
6 prawns, cocktail sauce, cabbage, green onion
cabbage,green onion, cocktail sauce, avocado
citrus, cucumber, pico de gallo, cabbage, lime creme.
cirtus, jalapeño, red bell pepper, red onion, cabbage, lime creme.
Old Bay tries topped with our New England chowder & chopped bacon
Island slaw, wonton crisps, sesame-ginger soy dressing & wasabi aiol
Served with fried onion, jalapeno, and chipotle aiol
Housem ade crab cakes, chipotle hollandaise, house made coleslaw
Cavatap pi pasta, local lobster, black truffe, gruyere cheese, leeks & breadcrumbs
Hearts of Romaine, house made dressing, croutons & parmesan cheese
Butter lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, green apples candied walnuts and champagfe vinaigrette
Iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, bacon, red onion, chives, blue cheese dressing & crumble
Local greens, bacon, tomatoes, avocado, chopped egg, cucumbers, radish & shrimp with 1000 island dressing
Guacamole, black beans, grilled corn, cilantro, tortilla chips, tomatoes, cucumber & queso fresco. Served over mixed greens with tomato basil vinaigrette.
Grilled mahi mahi served over napa cabbage & bok choy tossed with sesame ginger & soy dressing, served with pickled ginger orange segment wontan crisps
Kale, carrots, cucumber, pickled shallots, goat cheese, and orange segments Tossed in a oregano vinaigrette
Grilled seasoned Local Snapper, sauteed with fresh pice de galle lopped w/ cabbage pickled shallots and roasted salsa crema Served w/ spanish rice mixed with black beans & corn Fried fish available upon request
Butterflied mexican white shrimp sauteed with fresh pico de gallo, lopped wicabbage, pickled shallots, and roasted salsa crema Served w/ spanish rice mixed with black beans & corn
Seared rare with avocado, grilled pineapple, bacon, red onion, island slow&greens with wasabi aioli on toasted sourdough, served with Old Bay tries
Boathouse specialty spicy tomate broth mussels clams, fresh fish, shrimp, scallops, stone crab claw & mesquite grilled garlic bread
Slow roasted pork tossed in 880 sauce, caramelized onions, shishite peppers smoked gouda, gruyere cheese on sourdough with chipotle aioli with Old Bay tries
Alfalfa sprouts, avocado, lettuce, tomate, sauteed onion, and house-made whole grain garlic mustard on a brioche bun With Old Bay tries or Garden Salad Gluten free brieche bun available upon request
Spicy slaw, pickled shallots, chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. Served with sweet potato fries.
Maine lobster, chopped celery, onion, capers, chives, drawn butter mayo salt and pepper tossed together on a brioche roll. Served with Old Bay fries
House-made tuna salad, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion on toasted sourdough, Served with Old Bay tries
Scallops, shrimp, fresh fish, penne pasta with spicy marinara cream sauce, fresh basil &mesquite grilled garlic bread
Beer battered and panko crusted Atlantic Cod or Mexican white shrimp. Old Bay tries & cole slaw
Half pound blend of Harris Ranch's top sirloin and brisket cheddar cheese, lettuce tomato & red onion on a brieche bun Served with Old Bay tries
70 grilled Harris Ranch sirlain steak. Old Bay fries, leaf spinach, red wine reduction
Market vegetables, mange sticky rice, pineapple butter sauce
Sticky rice, market vegetables, coconut curry sauce & pineapple salsa
3 or 6
daily selection half dozen fresh shucked oysters, cocktail sauce & mignonette
(upon availability) 5 pieces of local Sea Urchin atop a scallop crudo and inly sliced citrus
jalapeno, radish, micro greens, soy, chili amarillo, citrus
Combination of our raw bar selection- ask your server!
half dozen fresh shucked littleneck clams
6 Littleneck clams. panko bread crumbs. clarified butter. garlic. parsley. & parmesan cheese
6 prawns, cocktail sauce, cabbage, green onion
cabbage,green onion, cocktail sauce, avocado
citrus,cucmber. pico de gallo, avocado. cilantro, cabbage, lime creme.
cirtus, jalapeño, red bell pepper, red onion, cabbage, lime creme.
our spin on the classic-bacon. parmesan. Pernod, served with citrus hollandaise
White wine, fresh garlic, thyme, tarragon, & mesquite grilled garlic bread
Island slaw, wonton crisps, sesame-ginger soy dressing & wasabi aiol
Served with fried onion, jalapeno, and chipotle aiol
Housem ade crab cakes, chipotle hollandaise, house made coleslaw
Cavatap pi pasta, local lobster, black truffe, gruyere cheese, leeks & breadcrumbs
crispy pancetta cooked in our spicy cioppino broth with mesquite grilled garlic bread & Old Bay aioli
mexican white prawns rolled in flaked coconut and lightly fried with sweet chili lime dipping sauce
panko crusted cauliflower, sweet chili sauce, sesame seed. shistio peppers.
slow cooked pork belly, sea scallops, frisee, warm potato salad & pommery mustard butter
Hearts of Romaine, house made dressing, croutons & parmesan cheese
Butter lettuce, blue cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, green apples candied walnuts and champagfe vinaigrette
Iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, bacon, red onion, chives, blue cheese dressing & crumble
arugula, pickled beets, goat cheese, marcona almonds, & balsamic vinaigrette
peppered steak, arugula, red onion, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles & balsamic vinaigrette.
Grilled mahi mahi served over napa cabbage & bok choy tossed with sesame ginger & soy dressing, served with pickled ginger orange segment wontan crisps
Kale, carrots, cucumber, pickled shallots, goat cheese, and orange segments Tossed in a oregano vinaigrette
mango sticky rice, market vegetables, coconut curry sauce & pineapple salsa
herb & garlic roasted fingerling potatoes, market vegetables & lemon-caper butter sauce
oyster mushroom scallion-sesame sticky rice. tempura vegetables & ponzu butter sauce
black truffle mashed potatoes, leaf spinach. grilled asparagus & lemon-saffron butter sauce
lobster mashed potatoes. leaf spinach. green beans & white wine butter sauce
lobster and crab risotto, broccolini & spicy tomato basil broth
Boathouse specialty, spicy tomato broth, mussels, clams, fresh fish, shrimp, scallops, stone crab claw & mesquite grilled garlic bread
Fresh Manila Clams, garlic, sundried tomatoes, shallot, white wine, basil, cream & mesquite grilled garlic bread
Beer battered and panko crusted Atlantic Cod fried golden brown. served with Old Bay fries & cole slaw
grilled corn. pasilla chilis, baby carrots. leaf spinach, que so fresco. parmesan cheese, cilantro & mustard marsala sauce
16oz. split bone in ribeye, scalloped potatos, asparagus. spinach. & peppercorn brandy sauce
7 oz. Harris Ranch filet with scallion mash potatoes, market vegetables & red wine shallot reduction.
14 oz. Harris Ranch New York steak. leaf spinach. Old Bay fries. Brandy peppercorn sauce.
scallops, shrimp. fresh fish. penne pasta with spicy marinara cream sauce, fresh basil & mesquite grilled garlic bread
mango sticky rice, market vegetables, coconut curry sauce & pineapple salsa
baby bok choy, potato pancake. pineapple butter sauce.
Harris Ranch's top sirloin and brisket, cheddar cheese, lettuce. tomato, red onion on a brioche bun. Served with Old Bay fries
Our take on the traditional mud pie. rori's "Cup o' Joe Spinelli" ice cream, chocolate cookie crust, roasted macadamia nuts, housemade whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
Sliced ripe bananas, brown sugar and rum flambeau over a pastry square. Topped with rori's "Vanilla Bean" ice cream.
Housemade New York style cheesecake, seasonal fruit
Housemade vanilla custard with a crisp burnt sugar coating.
Housemade brownie stuffed with rori's "Vanilla Bean" ice cream and topped with a mixed berry compote.
rori's "Vanilla Bean" ice cream dipped in dark chocolate topped with sprinkles
Topped with house made whipped cream and lime zest.
Our chefs twist on a dessert classic. Lady fingers soaked in St. George cold brew coffee liquor, whipped Marscapone, housemade whipped cream, dusted with grated chocolate.
Hear from our valued guests
I randomly remembered this place today even though I was there about two years ago — that’s how memorable it was. We were just spending time at the beach nearby and decided to stop in for food, and honestly, it ended up being one of the best spontaneous restaurant decisions ever. At that time, I thought I hated oysters… turns out I had just never had fresh ones before. The oysters here completely changed my mind. They were incredibly fresh, clean-tasting, and absolutely delicious. We also tried an uni shot, and it was amazing — such a fun and flavorful experience. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. But honestly, what made the whole experience special was the atmosphere. Sitting near the beach, enjoying amazing seafood, ocean air, and beautiful views just felt perfect. It’s one of those places that stays in your memory for years. I recommend this place to people all the time now, and I really hope I get the chance to come back someday myself.
Such a special beachside cafe/restaurant with the most amazing views, service and food. Everything necessary for a fantastic dining experience. We had Sunday brunch here and wile there was a 30 minute wait, the location was such a joy be at with the beautiful beach views and lively beach goers that the time flew by. Brunch was awesome. Will come back for dinner for sure.
Great place! My family and I went for breakfast, sat outside by the beach patio. Great breeze. At first, I thought the restaurant just sold the "view" like many other restaurants in the area, but then I bit into their CHILAQUILES and knew they where in it for the food. One of the best chilaquiles plates I've ever had...EVERY!! DEFINITELY coming back!! We went around 7:30am in a Sunday. Family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) spent ~$80 but that included some extra dishes and drinks
A quintessential California spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Honestly they don’t have to have good food as a result their spectacular location but not only is the food great, the atmosphere is spectacular and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I can’t think of another place where you can eat this close to the waves! They do get busy so please plan ahead and the weather can change on a dime, which in my opinion is part of the charm. Highly recommended!
First time here. Sat outside and just slowed down. Sounds of the ocean and music from the bar flowed easily. Ordered the steak fries and was amazing. Come enjoy the sounds and the food. Staff was amazing!!!
We showed up at 12:30p on a beautiful Friday afternoon, our first time here, and the host got us a nice seat overlooking the ocean right away, no wait. Our server Alex, came by immediately after and was friendly, and very knowledgeable about the wines, helping us choose a great wine that we loved, and also recommended some excellent choices for our meal, we had the Hamachi tuna starter which was awesome, very fresh, Sashimi, and the crab claws, both excellent choices. Then we had our second course, the fish & chips which were done perfectly, and the Lobster Bisque, also perfect with many nice chunks of lobster in it, creamy, excellent! Then I had a third course, the Lobster Roll, see photo, it was unbelievable!!! It was so full of lobster and the bread was so good, toasted and soft, full of butter, soooo good, definitely order this, you won’t be disappointed. Alex was so attentive and fun the whole time, you’re lucky if you get her as your server, she’s awesome and made our decision to come back for dinner the same day easy. The view is also spectacular- right on the most beautiful beach, a perfect vibe and atmosphere, please enjoy as much as we did!
We visited Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach and the location is absolutely beautiful. We waited about 30 minutes and got a table right on the beach — totally worth it. The food was delicious we had the tuna tartare and seabass, both were great. Special thanks to our server Sam — he was amazing and did a great job taking care of us. The only downside was that people from the beach kept coming right up to our table to take photos of the sunset. Some groups didn’t respect personal space at all. For a place at this price level, it would be nice if the restaurant created a bit more separation so guests can enjoy their meal in peace.
This place has such a beautiful view! Food is great and I think the menu is reasonably priced considering the ocean view. I'll definitely come back again and try more dishes. We all enjoyed our food. The wait can be long, but usually it moves much faster than they originally tell you. I think a lot of people change their mind and leave. I really appreciate the kitchen for taking back a dish 2 times and remaking it. We had a miscommunication about an allergy and they did a great job handling it with kindness and professionalism.
Incredible views. Great location, and literally on the beach at Arroyo Burro beach. Decent size parking lot, and free, but also used by people visiting the beach. Very good menu for lunch, very good service. Apple and walnut salad, crab cakes and ceviche are excellent.
4 of us went there on a Saturday night in early June while visiting friends who live in Santa Barbara. They had recommended it. We had made a reservation and we're seated immediately. We chose to sit outside because it's a beach restaurant and you can sit on the sand hazing at the ocean while patio heaters keep you warm. We had cocktails and wine. We shared a couple of appetizers which were very good. Everyone loved their main course. I had the ahi tuna and although slightly on the bland side, it was good. We took an Uber home and the Uber couldn't get through to the driveway so we walked up to the street to get it. The service was very good, the wait staff were very polite and attentive. The main attraction here is dining on the beach, overlooking the ocean.
Common questions about Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach is located at 2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, United States, Santa Barbara, CA, United States.
You can reach Boathouse at Hendry's Beach by calling +1 805-898-2628.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 4948 customer reviews.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following service options: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following highlights: Fast service, Fireplace, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Romantic, Trendy.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Lunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
Business Features
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