Arnoldi's Cafe Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Weddingwire
34 reviews
Google
451 reviews
-
Featured
Annie Sent on 10/07/2025The dreamiest place
Arnoldi’s was an incredible, wholesome, whimsical, and especially amazing place to join our lives together. We planned a wedding for 92 guests all by ourselves an Arnoldi’s made the process easy, transparent, stress-free, and fun! They were immediately responsive from the very beginning of our inquiry. They were the only venue in SB that made us feel cared for and like we weren’t just another number to them. They love love and it shows. I sent millions upon millions of emailed questions to Sara (event coordinator/main point of contact) and she responded to each of them so fast and with allll of the information I needed. They set up our event for us and even with limited instructions they transformed the space into exactly what we wanted. You already feel like you’re in a different world when you’re there, but they made it feel like our own special world for the night. The food is incredible. The staff in unparalleled. The prices are perfect and so incredibly valuable for what they are giving. I wouldn’t have wanted my wedding and reception to be anywhere else. We’ll be back -
-
Sarah Sent on 12/12/2018
Amazing Wedding at Arnoldi's
We had our wedding at Arnoldis back area this November, and it was amazing. Sara from Arnoldi's was a pleasure to work with, and she helped make our big day easy and stress free. Arnoldi's was very flexible with our changing guest total, and the food was excellent. I highly recommend!! -
-
![Kyle]()
Kyle Sent on 10/11/2024A fabulous venue for our wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome reception!
Arnoldi’s is an amazing restaurant and event venue! It was the ideal spot for our wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome reception. Booking the patio and bocce courts for a private event was incredibly easy, and we had a great experience working with Sara. She was extremely helpful, addressing all our questions and ensuring everything was taken care of smoothly.
Initially, we had some concerns when the restaurant briefly closed after we booked, following the passing of one of the long-time owners. However, Sara stepped up and has been running everything without a hitch.
Highlights:
Ambiance: The atmosphere and location are superb. The restaurant is nestled in a charming, classic Santa Barbara building, and the patio feels like an Italian backyard. The bocce courts add an extra element of fun!
Décor: The newly updated chairs and decorations are lovely and complement the space perfectly.
Food: The food is phenomenal—authentic Italian at its finest! From the bread and salads to the pasta and sauces, everything was delicious. My personal favorites were the chicken parm and Tuscan chicken. For the reception, we went with heavy appetizers and desserts, and both the cannoli and tiramisu were exceptional.
Drinks: Sara’s wine recommendations were a big hit, and for a fun touch, don’t miss out on a classic Hamm’s after enjoying a Negroni.
Lastly, the staff (especially Guillermo!) was fantastic—super attentive, helpful, and on top of everything the entire evening.
We can’t recommend Arnoldi’s enough! If you can’t host your event here, do yourself a favor and at least come for dinner. You won’t regret it! -
-
![Christine]()
Christine Sent on 10/29/2019Wonderful place for a wedding reception
We had the wedding of our dreams at Arnoldi’s. Everything from the venue, to the food, and the staff were excellent. Our guests all raved about how good everything tasted. They happily accommodated those with special diet needs and were particularly attentive to both my husband and I, setting food aside for us as we socialized with our 100 guests. Their patio is romantic and simple, making it a versatile space for any wedding type, especially with flowers and decor provided by Ruben Pedregon who was a pleasure to work with and styled my “literary dreams” theme perfectly in the outdoor venue. Event planner Sara went above and beyond helping us plan our day, and was always courteous and professional through our many months of correspondence. Our wedding reception at Arnoldi’s was intimate, yet elegant and we will always be grateful for the amazing evening we had at this wonderful restaurant. -
-
Lisa Sent on 11/10/2021
Rehearsal Dinner
We hosted the rehearsal dinner for our Son at Arnoldi's Cafe. We had family visiting from NY and we were looking for a venue unique to Santa Barbara. Arnoldi's historical building and the 80 year tradition of serving great Italian food, was every thing we hoped and more. The event coordinator Sara was very helpful and the service the night of the event was exceptional. The food was delicious and the servings were plentiful. We booked the outdoor venue and following our dinner service, we stayed until after dusk drinking wine, laughing and playing Bocce Ball.
Thank you Arnoldi's Cafe for making this night for our Family a truly unforgettable evening! -
-
![Payge]()
Payge Sent on 11/02/2021Above and beyond! Perfect wedding experience!
How do I even begin to say how amazing Arnoldi’s made my wedding night. Serving and catering to 39 people is never easy but the team made us feel so welcome and gave us an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Sara the event manager was so down to earth, a joy to talk to, and made the whole planning process easy. The prices are reasonable, especially for Santa Barbara.
My guests are still raving about the food. And the family style we had at our tables was so fun, everyone loved being able to try each entree. They put a curtain up for privacy and it felt like we had the whole restaurant to ourselves.
I’ve also never received such amazing service anywhere ever. I’m easy to please but the servers and bussers were so on it, helpful, attentive, every good word in the book. Especially the head waiter (kicking myself for not getting his name) but I’ve seen him there in the past. His personality was so warm and fun. He immediately greeted my husband and I to champagne just for us. Then throughout the night made sure my wine glass was never empty. He and the team helped us cut and serve the cake, he had a rag ready for our faces for the inevitable cake smash haha.
My nieces and family got to enjoy some bocce ball after dinner. Nobody ever made us feel rushed when the food was done (which honestly if I was still working in a restaurant I’d be so ready for us to leave haha). I could seriously go on and on.
Long review short: Arnoldi’s Cafe checks all the boxes you could want. Whether it be for a romantic dinner, a casual hang out and drinks, or an event like a wedding. It’s the perfect local restaurant and event space for all occasions with amazing food and even more outstanding service. Thank you Arnoldi’s crew for making my wedding so special! -
-
![Alex]()
Alex Sent on 10/22/2018Beautiful location for a low key/stress free wedding dinner!
I had a very memorable wedding reception at Arnoldi's this weekend. Sara was super helpful from the beginning of this process - quickly responded to all of my questions and helped considerable in accommodating guests with food allergies, setting up music for the night as well and helping coordinating with flower drop off. The staff was also awesome, friendly and prompt with service. The food was great, the choices for wine and beer were ample and the desert choices were awesome. I loved this restaurant as a choice for a most special weekend. -
Melissa Sent on 03/06/2018My husband and I had our wedding reception at Arnoldi's late August 2017. I was expecting to be stressed out on our wedding day but I was not at all. The venue is really pretty so I did not feel the need to over-decorate. Arnold's took care of EVERYTHING! Our photographer & DJ coordinated really well with Arnoldi's as well. Sara, the event coordinator was extremely nice, professional, and very helpful! The staff at Arnoldi's are seasoned pros.
I am currently looking for an excuse to throw another party there!
-
-
![Ashley]()
Ashley Sent on 07/24/2025The cutest venue in Santa Barbara!!
First of all.. this place is the cutest little gem in Santa Barbara… and OMG the food is 10/10! I had a friend recommend this place for my daughter’s wedding reception so I called, and Sara, the owner, went above and beyond to help me with literally everything! She helped me stay within a budget, food recommendations, decor,, parking, and even helped us with other stuff we needed to do in the area for the wedding!! It worked out perfect because we hosted beer and wine only but they have an amazing bar inside if guests want to go that route too! The second we walked in, Sara and the staff greeted us and welcomed us in like they’ve known us forever.. by the end of the event the staff felt like family! You should see the adorable patio where we had the event! You don’t have to do too much because it’s already fabulous! Some candles and flowers are all we needed!! If you’re thinking about Arnoldi’s just do it!!! We can’t wait to go back there to eat and visit the staff again! -
-
![Teresa]()
Teresa Sent on 10/05/2021Wonderful Venue for an Event!
Last weekend we threw a wedding rehearsal dinner party for 50 on the back patio and it was absolutely amazing!! We had dedicated bartenders and servers who spoiled us. Everyone was so impressed by the food which was delicious and so plentiful. The fried calamari appetizer was amazing and we got many full platers of it. The lasagna was a stand out, but actually everything was excellent! Pana Cota for desert knocked it out of the park. We hung out around the fire pit for hours and they didn't try and rush us out and kept serving the wine and beer. Our guests were all so impressed and commented on the excellent food. Best of all was the general good feeling that was created by the beautiful setting and very friendly staff. I would highly recommend having an event at Arnoldi's Cafe. -
Bree Sent on 09/03/2024
everything was perfect!
We had our welcome dinner at Arnoldi‘s and everyone loved it! The food, the service, the vibes - everything was perfect! Sara was so easy to work with, and Guillermo gave us a great experience. I would highly recommend having your wedding/welcome dinner with them. -
-
![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 09/24/2025Amazing!!!
We had our wedding reception at Arnoldi's and it totally exceeded our expectations! We did a cocktail hour, buffet, bar, coffee, and dessert for ~110 guests, complete with a dance floor, for a reasonable price, and food quality that was much higher than standard catering. They were very flexible with our configurations and planning.
When we first started dating we would go to Arnoldi's for dinner on special occasions, and thought it would be a great spot for our reception (and it was!). We got so many compliments from guests on the food and ambiance. The staff are so kind and helpful, and we loved working with Sara to get everything set up for our wedding. We really could not imagine anything better. We are so glad that Arnoldi's has remained open and that we were able to share it with all of our family and friends. If you are considering hosting an event we highly recommend holding it at Arnoldi's! -
![Katy]()
Katy Sent on 07/05/2019Best Venue in Santa Barbara
This Venue met and exceeded every expectation we had for our big day. They made sure every detail was perfect, memorable and DELICIOUS. Sara was fantastic to work with, bending over backwards to make sure we had everything we needed. The staff was professional, personable and friendly... and our guests raved about our food. The 5 cheese rigatoni is to die for, and if we HAD to pick a favorite- that would be it. Everything was amazing and we had so many people comment that this was the best wedding and venue they had ever attended. Thank you Arnoldis for the service, and the memories. I think we will do an anniversary party there every year! -
-
![Alyssa]()
Alyssa Sent on 07/22/2025Best Day Ever
We had our wedding reception at Arnoldi’s Café in Santa Barbara, and it was truly a dream come true. From the moment we began planning, the staff went above and beyond—gracious, professional, and sincerely excited to help us celebrate. As the bride and groom, we felt prioritized and pampered every step of the way. Every request we made was met with kindness and enthusiasm, and we were made to feel like royalty.
The food was absolutely incredible—everything we could’ve hoped for on our wedding night. The pastas were rich, perfectly cheesy, and full of flavor, and the garlic bread was deliciously garlicky and fresh. You could taste the love in every bite.
The ambiance at Arnoldi’s was just as magical. The setting is warm, charming, and full of character—perfect for an intimate, joy-filled celebration. We felt completely at home sharing such a special moment with our loved ones.
To top it all off? We found out Demi Lovato had her rehearsal dinner here too—clearly, we were in excellent company!
If you’re a couple looking for an unforgettable, romantic, and delicious place to host your reception, we couldn’t recommend Arnoldi’s more. It was the perfect setting for the best night of our lives. 💫 -
-
![Linzee]()
Linzee Sent on 10/18/2020Excellent food, excellent service
My husband and I had dinner at Arnoldi's a couple of times and knew we wanted to have our wedding reception there and then Covid happened. We had already put a deposit down and were working with Arnoldi's event planner Sara, who was very helpful and accommodating during this time. We ended up having a small dinner with socially distanced tables the night we got married and it was perfect. Everything from the food and drinks to the beautiful setting of their outside patio area. The few guests that were there raved about how amazing it was.
The only suggestion I would have for the restaurant is to remove the "recommended florist" you have listed on your website. Ruben from Elevate Floral is a crook, who stole our money and left town without ever providing flowers for our wedding day.
Arnoldi's cafe is a restaurant I would recommend for a date night, a family dinner or when wedding receptions are happening again, a beautiful reception! Great food and great service and we will definitely be coming back for years to come! -
Ashes Sent on 03/14/2023
Awesome service and beautiful outdoor patio
We had an amazing time and the restaurant accommodated all 40 of us and it turned out beautiful and the food was great! The service was out of this world and they were so attentive and sweet. Thank you for everything! -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?