Paradise Café Closes After 37 Years

The Paradise Café, which opened on the corner of Anacapa and Ortega streets in 1983 and became a preferred watering hole and eatery for generations of Santa Barbarans, has closed for good. 

Upon shutting down in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 37-year-old restaurant never resumed operations, not even for takeout. The ownership group Acme Hospitality, which had just purchased the iconic restaurant in November 2019, announced that a new concept is in the works. 

“After 37 years, the Paradise Café is closing its doors for good,” read a statement from Acme. “It enjoyed a long and well-deserved run as a neighborhood watering hole, a place for celebrations, date night headquarters, and as the best patio in downtown. It’s no wonder that the community fell in love with this iconic corner of Anacapa and Ortega. We are grateful to you, Santa Barbara, for your support over the years.”