Home for the Holidays: Lower Coast Village Road

by Kelly Mahan Herrick and Jeff Wing

The first in a four-part series on shopping locally in Montecito, we’re throwing some light (and a lot of love) on our shade-dappled Lower Village: Montecito’s Coast Village Road and beyond, which has long been a shopping and dining destination for locals, visitors, and lucky accidental tourists. We don’t want to boast our main street’s amazing array of experiences. On the other hand, here it goes.

In our sun-splashed Montecito Country Mart there are over a dozen highly curated shops, several delightful restaurants, a coffee shop, and an ice creamery. One of the Mart’s longest retailers, Mate Gallery, is owned by two locals: Matt Albiani and Ron Brand, who have brought a little slice of their New England style to the West Coast and our painterly little village. Think nautical and maritime accessories and gifts, foreign vintage textiles, and a rotating roster of special collections including Albiani’s own photographs. There’s also signature eyewear from Cynthia Benjamin and darling children’s clothing and gifts from Poppy Marché. Grab a coffee or lunch at locally-owned Merci. Fuel up! An afternoon of mood-elevating purveyance stretches before you as you head east on Coast Village Road.

Just up the road a piece is Fab Spectacles Central, more commonly known to locals as Occhiali Fine Eyewear. This lovely sunlit chamber could be a cave stuffed with loot, its interior bejeweled with frames of every known description – and more than a few that defy description. Occhiali serves up20/20 vision with a side of uncommon high style, and in a place that doubles as a crossroads of neighborly chit chat. If there is a cozier spot for an ocular upgrade, we haven’t found it.

Across from Montecito Bank & Trust, you’ll stumble upon True Love Always. An eclectic, stylish mix of globally sourced must-haves for home and wardrobe. Inspiration from owner Lori’s travels plus daughter Olivia’s editorial eye make it a destination for the new and next.

Nearby Peregrine Galleries, one of the road’s oldest shops, continues to offer ethnographic jewelry and art, including collectible vintage designer jewelry by Bakelite, Georg Jensen, and a little-known upstart named Chanel. You will also find Native American jewelry and artifacts. Owner Marlene Vitanza has manned the shop since its opening in 1984. She is always adding new pieces and treasures to the store’s eye-pleasing cases.

Homer is one of the newer additions to Coast Village and the leather-bound brainchild of Terry Pillow – a local face and legend of men’s apparel from Tommy Bahama to Coach and more. Located near Tre Lune at 1129 Coast Village Road, Homer features the finest handmade leather goods, incorporating organic processes and truly intricate craftsmanship.

This world is nothing if not an aromatic grab bag of exquisite variety. Lily got the memo – and may even have written the memo. So deeply delightful and diverse are the objets d’émerveillement you’ll find there (if you’ll pardon our French), you can walk in with a troubled expression and walk out with a grin that speaks serenity. Amethyst votive? Gold tulip Pippa Small earrings? A forearm chiming with conversation-spurring, flexible 24k gold-flake-and-polyvinyl-carbonate bangles? You may have to see to believe.

Across the street, Kevin and Katie Frank’s boutique, K. Frank, specializes in men’s and women’s designer clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. The stylish husband-and-wife duo pointedly offer relevant fashion collections from around the world, and delight in dressing their clientele – helping them hone in on their individual sense of style. Each season the Franks curate a collection with a true commitment to styling, quality, fabric, and manufacturing, coupled with a dedication to exceptional customer service. The Franks’ shop windows are showing off gorgeous coats and flannels for both men and women, as well as fuzzy scarves and hats for the cooler weather. 

If jewelry is on your list, South African-born Daniel Gibbings has been quietly plugging away at his Coast Village design workshop and retail outpost for over a decade. Now one of the world’s premier jewelers, Gibbings appeals to Hollywood celebrities, fashion models, and other discerning individuals drawn to his unique, classically inspired designs, and eye for detail. Daniel often combines pure silver and 22-karat gold in his creations, which can also feature coins and other artifacts as well as precious gemstones in all the vibrant hues our generous Earth can offer. Daniel has also created a line of stunning, unique engagement and wedding rings, as well as bridal jewelry. Another not-to-miss jeweler on the road is Silverhorn Design Studio, which is owned by Mike and Carole Ridding. The Riddings opened their first store on Coast Village in 1986, and have downsized to a smaller design studio, located at 1235 Coast Village Road. Each piece designed at Silverhorn is hand made using centuries-old artisanal craftsmanship. The results? Literally unique works of understated elegance. From bold gemstone rings to dainty diamond earrings, Silverhorn offers a collection of fashionable and sophisticated jewelry. Watch their master jewelers wielding their craft right there in the studio. It’s okay to stare.

The Lower Village is home to several bespoke boutiques, offering a selected mix of luxury clothing brands and home décor. Whistle Club showcases a tightly-curated assortment of women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts from both emerging designers and industry favorites. Owner Rebecca McKinney says she focuses her offerings on quality, integrity, ethical production, and design – and seeks to spark joy for her customers through their experience in the store. On racks now are textured handwoven twill wraps, statement puffer jackets, and fluffy scarves. Nearby, Kimberly Phillips Hayes keeps her beloved shop, Maison K, stocked with the most beautiful and unique home decor, furnishings, clothing, and accessories from her travels around the world. Hayes is particularly drawn to a neutral and natural palette and this time of year the shop oozes with cold weather coziness – think soft cashmere coats in creams and beiges, warm throws for sofas or beds, beautiful and practical Paris-made ceramics for holiday tablespaces – and more. A visit to Maison K truly feels like you are transported to a different part of the world. Does fine art stir your coffee? You’re in luck, to say the least. This is the neighborhood of Portico Fine Art Gallery,whose quietly dazzling collection of mesmerizing contemporary landscapes, still life, and figurative works may send you into a swoon. Representing such contemporary masters as Dennis Newell, John Budicin, Jordan Pope, and other celebrants of this polychromatic life, Portico prides itself on thoughtful curation of stirring, singular works of art. As it happens, you are now close enough to Coast Village Road’s Waterhouse Gallery to strike its door with a tactically flung color wheel (if that is your fancy). Sung Eun Kim’s glowing urban cityscapes, Ann Sanders’ breath-slowing plein air daydreams, Ralph Waterhouse’s enfolding oceanscapes and roseate sunsets, Albin Veselka’s textured statements… the Waterhouse Gallery continues its 40-year run of inexhaustible, deeply felt excellence drawn from a dynamic roster of strikingly original artists.

Allora by Laura on the corner of Coast Village Road and Coast Village Circle is always a great place to shop for classic and timeless luxury clothing. Marrying fine European clothing with California’s laid-back style, Allora offers an elevated daily aesthetic as well as special event ensembles, curated for each individual client by a knowledgeable staff, ready to help. In addition to clothing, the shop offers fine jewelry from designers including Kai Linz and Ali Grace, as well as a limited selection of handbags and shoes. Offering several trunk shows and special events per season, Allora is the place to see and be seen on Coast Village. 

Proximal to Allora is artist Cassandria Blackmore’s Gallery, which draws shoppers in with her eye-catching reverse paintings on glass, showcased on the gallery’s white walls and in the windows. Blackmore, who opened the shop in 2020, is world-renowned for her unique work, which has been exhibited and collected internationally. She began reverse painting when she was painting a self-portrait on glass, and in frustration, threw it to the ground, spilling her glass of wine in the process. From such happy accidents are epiphanies made. As she moved the pieces back together, Cassandria realized she had created a new medium. Her work has only grown more startlingly rich in the intervening years.

Right across the street from Lucky’s and the Honor Bar you will find a repository of matchless contemporary fine art to help round out your CVR Walk with some right-brain nourishment. The frankly astonishing Caldwell Snyder Gallery will reframe your perspective with stunning work from today’s most acclaimed visual artists. Deladier Almeida’s popping, almost disturbingly gorgeous landscapes rub shoulders with Charles Arnoldi’s embraceable color bursts, while Tom Fruin’s tactile sculptures of scavenged plexiglass, steel, and plastic strikingly remind us that beauty is a found medium. Caldwell Snyder’svanguard collection will stay with you…

To make sure you are picture perfect for the holidays, you might also consider visiting Montecito Med Spa, which offers a discreet, luxurious space in which to experience the latest innovative techniques for facial and body enhancements, under the care and expertise of clinical professionals. Owned by Karen Neary, MSN, RN, the Med Spa specializes in innovative therapies including EMSCULPT NEO, Potenza RF Microneedling, Elite IQ hair removal, TempSure Firm cellulite treatments, TempSure Envi treatments, FlexSure body boost treatment, HydraFacial, Liquivida IV therapy, and an array of injectables including Botox, Xeomin, Juvederm, and others. These treatments target concerns such as aging skin, sun damage, unwanted hair, wrinkles and fine lines, cellulite, and more. Your body is a lovely vessel whose natural beauty Montecito Med Spa is expert at optimizing.

If you’re looking to imbibe this holiday season, or are seeking the perfect bottle of specialty liquor or wine to gift, make sure to stop into the Liquor & Wine Grotto. How can three little words and an ampersand summon such warm vibes? Step into the grotto and feel for yourself. While the store has been in existence since 1976, current owners Jason Herrick and Brian Brunello have spent the last 13 years perfecting the shop, and forming connections with loyal clientele. The guys have carefully selected an array of wine, spirits, liquor, and beer, drawing both locals and tourists to their enclave of bottles. They have an impressive offering of small-batch bourbon, whiskey, and tequila, perfect to craft those cozy cocktails at your holiday gatherings. In addition to carrying hundreds of competitively priced, mainstream wine labels – including a large selection of French and Italian wines – the duo also hand selects local wines, increasing their selection and setting themselves apart from other repositories of spirit and grape. Herrick and Brunello pride themselves on working closely with many vendors to stock the store with the right products; if a customer is looking for something that they don’t carry, they will avidly hunt it down and, if possible, special order it.

Whether it is comfy yet fashionable clothing with a California-flair, custom jewelry, or just a bottle of something to bring to the holiday table, Coast Village Road is as charming a destination as its cozy name infers, and offers myriad options for your holiday shopping.  

If you need a little more help on what to look for this season, click this link for more gift ideas!