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Paseo Nuevo
updated: Dec 11, 2010, 9:00 AM
By the dedicated staff
If you plan to go shopping during your trip to Santa Barbara, the downtown open-air shopping mall Paseo Nuevo is one recommended destination.
Anchored by Nordstrom and Macy's, Paseo Nuevo parallels State Street between Carrillo and Ortega Streets (three blocks). The mall is currently decorated for the holidays, giving it a festive feel. The closest public parking lots with hourly fees are available off Chapala Street underneath the mall and on Canon Perdido, between Chapala and State.
The intent of the Paseo Nuevo developers was to create a project that took advantage of Santa Barbara's near-perfect weather and drew from the inspiration of a European shopping experience. You'll see that influence in the brick walkways and other architectural details of the paseo.
The Paseo Nuevo project, completed in 1990, effectively transformed lower State Street, shifting much of the foot traffic closer to the ocean and prompting multiple other stores to open in the adjacent blocks.
In addition to more than 50 stores, most of which are national chains, there are restaurants, a movie and performing arts theater and an art gallery here.
Our top five reasons to visit:
 Great people watching. There are lots of well-placed benches within the mall. They do double duty as a good place for dads/husbands/boyfriends to cool their heels while their daughters/wives/girlfriends shop and the perfect people watching perch. Since the translation of "paseo" is in fact a walkway, this mall is a natural selection for sitting and sighting while shoppers are strolling.
 Best stairs in SB. Don't miss the vibrantly colored stairway that rises from Chapala and De la Guerra streets on the mall's west side. It's a calf-stretching staircase that takes you to the mall's second level, where the Center Stage Theatre and Contemporary Arts Forum gallery are located. The second level is also a good place to look down at the shoppers below as they pass through the t-shaped walkway at De la Guerra street.
 Shopping and snacking. There are 8 restaurants, an ice cream shop, candy store and coffee shop in the mall, and fare ranges from traditional mall-eats (Chipotle, Panda Express, California Pizza Kitchen, Wetzel's Pretzels) to some homegrown local favorites (Kahuna Grill, Pascucci, Rudy's Mexican Takeout). There's also the Café Nordstrom on Nordstrom's third floor, a popular local spot for lunch, where you can sit outside and look down at the mall below. If you can't find anything you like within the mall, there are dozens of restaurants close by downtown.
 Centrality to State Street. What's probably most unique about this mall from an out-of-town visitors' perspective is that it likely won't seem like a mall at all. No stagnant air, traditional food courts, ceilings or bad carpet here. When you finish your shop, snack or stroll, you'll still be in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara and ready to check out other area shops and attractions. You'll also be in a good spot to hop on the city's environmentally-friendly Electric Shuttle, which has stops on State Street right outside the mall, and cruise down to Stearns Wharf for some salty sea air.
 Shopping, of course. If you are looking for a particular store or item, see the mall's list of shops The mall is weighted more heavily toward shops for the female consumer, and tends more toward clothing and personal items than household things. Other major department stores in town include another Macy's and Sears at the La Cumbre Plaza mall (if you want to take the kids to visit Santa, that's where he's hanging out) and Saks, one block north of Paseo Nuevo on State Street.
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