Arnoldis Cafe

t and reasonably priced event

rts in the back was a breeze, and we loved working with Sara. She was incredibly helpful, answering all of our questions and making sure everything went smoothly. We were initially concerned when the restaurant temporarily closed after we booked, following the passing of one of the long-time owners. However, Sara took the reins and has been running things seamlessly. Highlights: • Ambiance: The location and atmosphere are exceptional. The restaurant is housed in a classic old Santa Barbara building, and the patio feels like an Italian backyard. The bocce courts add a lot of fun to the experience. • Décor: The updated chairs and decorations are beautiful and fit the space perfectly. • Food: The food is outstanding—classic Italian cuisine at its best! From the bread and salad to the pasta and sauce, everything was delicious. My personal favorites were the chicken parm and Tuscan chicken. For the reception, we opted for heavy appetizers and desserts, and the cannoli and tiramisu were both incredible. • Drinks: Sara’s wine suggestions were spot on, and for a fun twist, don’t forget to enjoy a classic Hamm’s after a Negroni. Finally, the staff was amazing (especially Guillermo!)—attentive, helpful, and on top of everything throughout the evening. We highly recommend Arnoldi’s! If you can’t host your event here, at the very least, treat yourself to dinner. You won’t be disappointed.

ce 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!

e 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!

pily 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.

more perfect for an outdoor wedding reception! The staff were attentive and helped decorate, made sure all of my needs and requests were met! The food was delicious! We had a prepaid bar, and it was setup outside for my guests, there is also an option for mixed drinks at the bar. They allow amplified music so we had a dj and plenty of space for dancing. The kids all played on the bocce ball court and had a blast! They have wheelchair access, since we needed it for my mother in law. The staff and wedding coordinator made my day so special! I highly recommend booking Arnoldis for your reception!!

way, but far enough to have decent parking on the streets! We met the owner while we were in the back patio area (scoping it out on our first visit) and found out it's a family owned business since the 40's. We wanted something more on the casual side, but still feeling elegant, and they hit it right on the head. We booked the place without even trying the food first! Dimitri was amazing, we did a quick run down with him of what we wanted the table set up to be and left the rest up to him. We couldn't have been more pleased. They have bocce ball courts in the patio area, which my family LOVES to play, so that was a wonderful find. This restaurant really makes you feel like you are in a family member's backyard, in the best possible ways. They are so professional, but still keeping a light-hearted vibe. Everyone raved and raved about how good the food was. My family has even gone back without us for dinner! To sum things up, this is a great place if you are looking to have 20-120 people and want an intimate dinner following your ceremony.

il 1 am and dance the night away. Big rarity in SB. Great deal too. We chose an option of only $37 a person plus tax and tip. The alcohol was a bit steep (Over $2000) as our friends our big drinkers and we forgot to put a cap on how much we would spend. This is a family owned space and they don't use a contract only an email thread. Get everything in writing!