Restaurant in Montecito, United States
Book it. One dinner earns its price.
Caruso's holds a 2024 Michelin star and back-to-back La Liste recognition inside Rosewood Miramar Beach, with patio seating directly above the Pacific and a Southern Italian menu built on hyperlocal California sourcing. The wine list runs to 2,850 selections and the eight-course tasting menu is the right call for a first visit. Book at least a week out and request a patio table — sunset seats go fast.
If you want one dinner in Montecito that combines a Michelin star, a Pacific Ocean backdrop, and a cocktail program built on local distilleries, book Caruso's. It holds a 2024 Michelin star, scored 76 points on the La Liste Leading Restaurants list in both 2025 and 2026, and sits inside Rosewood Miramar Beach fronting the water. The price is real — cuisine pricing lands at $$$, meaning a typical two-course meal runs $66 or more before wine — but the credential set is strong enough to justify it for a special occasion or a first serious dinner in the area.
Caruso's opened in March 2019 and has held its position as Montecito's most formal dining address since. Chef Massimo Falsini, who trained at Forbes Travel Guide-recommended Solbar in Napa, leads a kitchen built around Southern Italian technique applied to hyper-local California ingredients. The sourcing is specific: Santa Barbara uni pulled by a local diver, produce from the restaurant's onsite garden, honey from an onsite beehive. That precision shows up on the plate in dishes like pasta with diced abalone and spot prawns topped with uni in a ramp sauce, and a compression of carbonara that holds its shape on the plate. The A5 wagyu with foraged mushrooms and hand-pulled burrata appetizer are listed as standouts. For dessert, the owner's finish of choice is a chocolate-toffee budino laced with Johnnie Walker Blue.
The room is set with leather booths, linen-robed tables, and white chairs, but the pull for a first visit is the patio. An alfresco seat at Caruso's with Pacific waves audible below is the strongest case for the price. Overhead heaters keep the patio warm through a full dinner service, so there is no need to plan around the coastal chill. That said, the dress code is enforced: Caruso's runs strict casual elegance. Leave jeans and nightclub attire at home.
The wine program, overseen by Wine Director Rob Smits and Sommelier Alfie Wang, is one of the more serious cellars in the region. The list runs to 2,850 selections across 18,000 bottles, with depth in California, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Piedmont, and Tuscany. Wine pricing sits at $$$, meaning many bottles are $100 or above. Corkage is $75 if you bring your own. If the cocktail list interests you more, the program sources from locally based distilleries and receives consistently positive mentions.
For a first-timer deciding on format: the eight-course tasting menu is the clearest way to experience what the kitchen is doing. It highlights the full range of the culinary team's work and aligns with why Caruso's earned its Michelin star. If you prefer ordering à la carte or eating lighter, note that Caruso's maintains a dedicated plant-based menu, which is genuinely uncommon for an Italian-leaning restaurant at this level. Vegans and vegetarians have real options here, not a token dish.
Late-evening timing matters at Caruso's. The restaurant is Montecito's most visible see-and-be-seen address, and the energy later in the evening reflects that. If you are coming for a quieter, more focused meal, go early. If the social energy of a later reservation appeals, Caruso's delivers it. The cocktail program holds up late in the evening, making it a reasonable option if you want to extend the night after dinner at another Montecito spot. Compare that to AMA Sushi, which skews quieter and more intimate, or San Ysidro Ranch, which has its own formal dining room but a different atmosphere altogether. For the full picture of where Caruso's sits in the local dining hierarchy, see our full Montecito restaurants guide.
Navigation note for first-timers: Caruso's is not visible from the Rosewood Miramar lobby. Walk toward the ocean, cross the train tracks, and look for descending stairs on your right, or take the elevator to the first floor and turn right. Budget a few extra minutes.
For context against other Michelin-level California coastal restaurants: Providence in Los Angeles runs a comparable tasting menu format with a stronger seafood focus; Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg goes deeper on the farm-to-table sourcing story; and Citrin in Los Angeles offers a similar Californian fine-dining approach at a slightly lower price ceiling. Caruso's wins specifically on location: no equivalent restaurant in California puts you this close to the Pacific during dinner service.
Against its most direct Michelin-level peers in California fine dining, Caruso's occupies a specific niche: Italian-leaning, ocean-fronting, and hotel-anchored. The French Laundry in Napa and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown both run more immersive tasting experiences with longer lead times to book. Lazy Bear in San Francisco offers a communal format at a lower price point. Le Bernardin in New York City is the benchmark for seafood precision at the leading end. Caruso's is not trying to compete on those terms , it is the right answer specifically if you want a Michelin-credentialed dinner in a Santa Barbara coastal setting with a strong Italian wine program.
Solo dining at Caruso's is workable but not the strongest fit for the format. The room is built around booths and tables oriented toward the view and conversation, and there is no confirmed bar counter for dining. If solo, the eight-course tasting menu is the most natural way to engage with the kitchen's full range without needing a larger party. Book early in the evening for a quieter experience.
The venue has a cocktail program and bar presence, but seating configuration details are not confirmed in our data. Contact the restaurant directly to ask about bar dining availability before assuming you can walk in and eat at the bar.
Yes, clearly. A Michelin star, Pacific Ocean patio seating, an eight-course tasting menu, and one of the more serious wine lists on the Central Coast make Caruso's the default answer for a milestone dinner in Montecito. Book a patio table and give at least a week's notice, more if you want a specific sunset-facing seat.
For a first visit, the eight-course tasting menu is the right call. It is the clearest expression of what earned the restaurant its Michelin star, showcasing the full range from locally dived Santa Barbara uni to the A5 wagyu and the chocolate-toffee budino finish. If you prefer flexibility or a lighter meal, à la carte is available, but the tasting menu is where the kitchen shows its full hand.
At $$$ for food and $$$ for wine, Caruso's is a real spend. The Michelin star (2024), back-to-back La Liste recognition, a 4.6 Google rating from 186 reviews, and a wine list of 2,850 selections support the price. It is worth it if the Pacific setting and Italian-Californian tasting format are what you are after. If you want comparable technical cooking at a lower price ceiling, Citrin in Los Angeles is worth comparing.
Better than most Italian fine-dining restaurants at this level. Caruso's maintains a dedicated plant-based menu for vegan and vegetarian guests , not a token substitution but a full menu. For other restrictions, contact the restaurant directly; hours and phone are not confirmed in our current data, so reach out via the Rosewood Miramar Beach reservation system.
AMA Sushi is the closest alternative at the same $$$$ price tier, better suited if you prefer a Japanese format with a quieter, more intimate room. San Ysidro Ranch offers a different style of upscale Montecito dining with a distinct ambiance. For a casual step-down, Montecito Coffee Shop is the low-key local option. See our full Montecito restaurants guide for the complete picture.
Caruso's enforces a casual elegance dress code, which is notable for a beachside Southern California restaurant. Skip jeans and anything that reads as nightclub attire. Smart casual at minimum: think collared shirts, trousers or a dress. The dress code is applied consistently, so do not assume the beach location means anything goes.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caruso's | Californian | $$$$ | Perched over the Pacific in Montecito,California, Caruso’s is the fine-dining restaurant of Rosewood Miramar Beach. Here,you’ll find elevated Southern Italian fare with hyper-local coastal California touches.; La Liste Top Restaurants (2026): 76pts; La Liste Top Restaurants (2025): 76.5pts; WINE: Wine Strengths: California, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Champagne, Piedmont, Tuscany Pricing: $$$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Corkage Fee: $75 Selections: 2,850 Inventory: 18,000 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: Californian Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Rob Smits Sommelier: Alfie Wang Chef: Massimo Falsini Owner: Rick Caruso; Perched over the Pacific in Montecito, California, Caruso’s is the fine-dining restaurant of Rosewood Miramar Beach. Here, you’ll find elevated Southern Italian fare with hyper-local coastal California touches. **Our Inspector's Highlights You can’t beat Caruso’s location. Enjoying a meal alfresco with crashing waves as your scenery and soundtrack cannot be topped. Premium and locally sourced ingredients are a priority here, from the farmer’s-market-fresh produce to the honey from the onsite beehive.Unexpected for an Italian restaurant, Caruso’s takes care of its vegan and vegetarian patrons. There’s an entire menu dedicated to plant-based dishes. For an elevated dining experience, Caruso’s offers an eight-course tasting menu highlighting the best of the culinary team.The impressive cocktail list uses quality ingredients from locally sourced distilleries.** **Things to Know Opened in March 2019, Caruso’s has quickly become Montecito’s see-and-be-seen hot spot. Be sure to reserve your seat at least a week in advance, especially if you want a patio table with unobstructed sunset views.Outdoor seating gets toasty with heaters overhead and nearby — no need to bring layers to stay warm throughout dinner. Unique for a beachside Southern California restaurant, Caruso’s adheres to a strict casual elegance dress code. It’s best to leave the jeans and nightclub attire at home. Rosewood Miramar Beach’s signature restaurant is somewhat hidden. From the lobby, walk in the direction of the ocean, cross the train tracks and look for the descending stairs to your right, or take the elevator to the first floor and turn right.** **Treatments:** The Food With a career in esteemed restaurants like Napa’s Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Solbar, Falsini and the team ensure each dish is a work of art unto itself. Standouts include the hand-pulled burrata and octopus appetizer, compression of carbonara, and A5 wagyu with foraged mushrooms. If you prefer your sweets to have a little kick, splurge for the owner’s favorite end to a meal: a chocolate-toffee budino (pudding) laced with Johnnie Walker Blue. **Amenities:** 1773 South Jameson Lane, Montecito, California 93108; Located within the posh Rosewood Miramar Beach and fronting the Pacific Ocean, Caruso's has an enviable location. The dining room is beautifully set with leather booths, linen-robed tables, and white chairs, but make no mistake: Chef Massimo Falsini's seasonally driven, seafood-forward, and Italian-leaning prix-fixe takes center stage. From Santa Barbara uni sourced from a local diver to produce grown in the restaurant's onsite garden, there is a strong commitment to regional products, evidenced in dishes like pasta with diced abalone and halved Santa Barbara spot prawns topped with uni in a rich and creamy ramp sauce. Desserts are especially enticing, as in the "S like Strawberry" with a ring of pasta frolla filled with rhubarb sauce, mascarpone, and perfectly ripe strawberries.; Michelin 1 Star (2024) | Hard | — |
| AMA Sushi | Sushi | $$$$ | Unknown | — | |
| San Ysidro Ranch | Unknown | — | |||
| Montecito Coffee Shop | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Montecito for this tier.
Solo diners can make it work, but Caruso's is optimized for pairs and small groups. The eight-course tasting menu format plays better with company, and the patio's sunset views are easier to linger over when you're not eating alone. If solo dining is your plan, arriving early for a bar seat is worth exploring, though bar availability is not confirmed in the venue data.
Bar seating availability is not confirmed in the venue's published information, so contact Rosewood Miramar Beach directly before planning a walk-in bar experience. What is confirmed: Caruso's has a cocktail program built on locally sourced California distilleries, so if you do land a bar spot, the drinks are a draw in their own right.
Yes, and it's one of the stronger special-occasion cases in Santa Barbara County. You get a Michelin star (2024), a Pacific Ocean backdrop, an eight-course tasting menu option, and a dress code that keeps the room from feeling like a hotel buffet. Reserve at least a week out and request a patio table for sunset views — that combination is hard to beat at this price point.
If you're already spending $$$+ per head on dinner, the eight-course tasting menu is the format Massimo Falsini's kitchen is built around — dishes like A5 wagyu with foraged mushrooms and Santa Barbara spot prawns with uni point to a kitchen that executes best at full length. For a shorter, lower-commitment meal, the à la carte menu exists, but the tasting menu is the clearer value case given the Michelin recognition.
At $$$+ per head for dinner with a wine list where many bottles clear $100, Caruso's is a considered spend. The Michelin star (2024) and back-to-back La Liste Top Restaurant appearances (2025: 76.5 pts, 2026: 76 pts) confirm the kitchen performs at that level. The location — Pacific-facing, heated patio, open-air — adds material value that most Michelin-starred rooms in California cannot match.
Better than most restaurants at this tier. Caruso's runs a dedicated plant-based menu — uncommon for an Italian-leaning fine dining room — and sources ingredients locally, which gives the kitchen flexibility. Vegans and vegetarians are not an afterthought here. For other restrictions, contact the restaurant ahead of your reservation; the tasting menu format benefits from advance notice.
San Ysidro Ranch is the most direct alternative for a luxury Montecito dinner, though the setting skews more secluded garden than oceanfront. For something lower-key and local, Montecito Coffee Shop is the neighborhood's go-to for casual daytime eating. AMA Sushi covers a completely different format — omakase rather than Italian-Californian — and suits a different kind of splurge.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
