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    CAYA Restaurant

    3.8 (109 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Services - CAYA Restaurant

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    CAYA Restaurant Photos

    CAYA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Live music
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - CAYA Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    salad
    Jamie W.

    I went to CAYA with some girlfriends after going wine tasting, so we were looking for a good meal to end our day out. Unfortunately, we left CAYA unsatisfied and out over $100. The one thing that was pretty solid was the espresso martini. For the Mac and cheese, I got it with asada for protein which was overcooked and dry. Also not very cheesy and didn't come out super hot. My friends who got the plain Mac and cheese because they're vegetarian were also underwhelmed by the lack of sauce. The fried onions were a good touch though. The salad situation though was quite frustrating. We requested for the vinaigrette dressing on the side- a pretty common request for salads if you want to control how much dressing on it. Well the salad came out overdressed, and was very sweet when we tried it. So we waived over our server to point out the mistake. She then replied "Do you want me to tell the kitchen?" Well yes, of course that's what we were asking. Then the manager came over to clarify that we didn't want dressing, like why is it such a big deal?! Then the salad (pictured) came out, with EVERYTHING on the side. Seemed passive aggressive and now we ended up paying for a bowl of wet lettuce and cups of toppings. Will all of the trouble it would have been redeeming if they offered to take the salad off of the bill, but there was no such offer. With the sub par service and disappointing food, I would not recommend this restaurant amongst many other options in Santa Barbara.

    My view while eating at the patio
    Emmy C.

    Service was really good and the view was very peaceful. The outside patio has a nice view of the mountain with palm trees and the pool. It made me think, this is the type of place I would have my family stay at if they were to visit. The last place we visited made me think I was getting burger week flavor fatigue... until Caya proved me wrong. Caya was our 5th burger of the day and WOWED me! This place was marked as "?" (we weren't sure if we really wanted to try it). Everything about the burger was cooked to perfection. The egg's yolk drips down the burger after you take your 1st bite, the flavor was a beautiful marriage in my mouth and the burger was juicy! At first I thought it was fat on the plate, but upon a closer look it was the burger juice (want to clarify it was not bloody). The jalapeños added a nice texture and slight heat, the chipotle was the perfect sauce for it. This burger is definitely worth trying for burger week!

    Fried Apple Pie
    Alyssa A.

    What a hidden gem to be found in Santa Barbara. No idea this restaurant was here until just recently, and now I wish I had known about it for longer! Right when you walk in, the restaurant gives off a chic, laidback vibe - like you can just relax with a drink in your hand and an appetizer in front of you. If the weather is nice, there'll be a breeze, and it just puts you in a good mood. Their dinner menu has so many delicious options. Love their Cali Fish Tacos - large piece of fresh fish complete with a chipotle sauce. Their Bucatini Burrata pasta comes with a hefty portion of burrata which really ties the whole dish together. Notable mention to the Gochujang Wings. However, their dessert was my favorite. The Fried Hand Pie was INCREDIBLE. Crisp with tender chunks of spiced apple inside complete with a scoop of vanilla gelato. Great drinks as well - Take me to the Mule is a must try. Overall, what a great dining experience, and we can't wait to return for another meal here!

    Tiffany B.

    Once again Seneca and now Chelsea were beyond impressive. The service remains impeccable, the drink are perfection Seneca is a true mixologist and tonight I tried the brussel sprouts with shishito peppers, all just phenomenal. Both Chelsea and Seneca bring the friendly warmth of a small town town charm. Oh! And the open bar restaurant concept is great. Pick between indoor or heated outdoor area. Both have great ambiance.

    Outside
    Jessie E.

    Restaurant is part of The Leta Hotel where we were staying. This was the best thing about our stay. We went for brunch. Sat on the patio near the pool, the weather was fantastic. Our server was friendly and helpful. I had the chilaquiles and my husband ordered the chicken sandwich with fries and a pancake. Everything was fresh and yummy.

    Water I was told to fill myself and grab my own cups
    Amaya Z.

    Extremely bland the food and worst service. I used to come here frequently and celebrate birthdays here. Was waiting at the host stand for someone to take our order or seat us for over 5 minutes. Wanted to get a drink with brunch and was told no because "we're not set up". Made us grab our own water glasses and carafe and fill it up ourselves. For the price at a place having to seat ourselves and fill our own waters at their bus station seems absurd. Then when asking for condiments server walks away and does not even respond to us. The service and quality has gone down. Staff was just sitting down at the tables inside restaurant instead of working.

    Shrimp tacos
    Alex K.

    Hit and miss. Tacos were not good. Poke bowl looked good one day when my friend ordered it but when I got it a couple days later it was not the same. Not very busy and cute place for a meal but the food inconsistency won't bring me back.

    Bar area
    Kim A.

    We had a lovely time celebrating my sons graduation. They had plenty of seating in the bar for 9. Drinks, and food were great and quick. Service was fantastic too.

    Cheeseburger with fries and seared tuna salad
    Chrys C.

    Wonderful experience while staying at the hotel. Our bartender Seneca was warmly welcoming to every guest and an absolute delight as he crafted truly inspired cocktails. The ambiance is casual and comfortable covered outdoor patio seating with a bar that is indoor/outdoor.

    eggs, toast, pancake + coffee breakfast
    Em B.

    i enjoyed a nice breakfast spread here at caya, and chose to sit outside on the beautiful patio overlooking the pool and mountains in the distance. my server was joseph, he was kind and patient. i ordered 2 eggs over medium, toast and a pancake with coffee. fantastic eggs, big fluffy pancake and delicious sourdough. the fruit preserves was plated with the toast, but i put it on the pancake instead and it was the perfect pairing. if you ask, they have real maple syrup available, which i really appreciated! although the menu has decent options, i wanted something relatively on the smaller side so i went for the a la carte. the coffee was decent, i would have liked for there to be flavored creamer options. i don't typically order eggs out but these were worth it! i would have ordered more if this meal wasn't so filling already. great prices. i did have to ask for silverware, salt, pepper and sugar. EGGS 10/10 PANCAKE 10/10 TOAST 9.5/10 this is a beautiful, convenient hotel restaurant that has good quality food (and drinks for later!) i tried the la perla and tommy's margarita, they were both excellent and strong. LA PERLA 7.5/10 TOMMY's MARGARITA 10/10 overall it's a great and convenient option if you're visiting. ambiance: 4.5/5 food: 5/5 drinks: 4.5/5 service: 4.5/5 Caya: 4.6/5

    Pork Posole (Soup of the Day) -  YUMMY!
 
 Blackened Ahi Tuna (hit and miss)
    Monica W.

    We were in Santa Barbara for my son's UCSB orientation, and we stayed at the Leta Santa Barbara Goleta Hilton. On our second night there, we decided to try the Caya restaurant for dinner. We had a nice meal there which I would give 3.5 stars, if possible, but I rounded up because of the service and decor. Ambiance was very nice. The decor was open air, rustic and inviting with cushioned benches and open air patio. Service was top notch. The wait staff were friendly and attentive, but not intrusive. Food was good, but a little heavy handed with the sauces and dressings. - Blackened Ahi Tuna - the blackened ahi tuna was very well done and flavorfully seasoned, but it was buried in the sriracha aoili (which seemed to be just srirachi with mayo). The napa cabbage slaw was also good, but it was drowning in the sesame ginger dressing. - Red Posole (Soup of the Day) was outstanding, with lots of pork and hominy and a nicely spicy broth. - Asian Noodle Salad with Salmon was very nicely seasoned and still moist. The yakisoba noodles were perfectly chewy, but again swimming the sesame ginger dressing. - Grilled Shrimp Salad (Special) was the best entree of the evening. Shrimp was nicely grilled, seasoned and cooked, and the salad was lightly dressed with the a fresh tasting miso dressing.

    Tony M.

    Hadn't been to this iteration of the restaurant at the Leta Hotel so it thought it only right to go give it a try. I've always loved this space both indoor and out so I was quite pleased that the food really measured up. The Caya Kitchen burger is a very good burger. Wagyu beef and cooked a perfect mid-rare with even a bit of crust or blackening/seasoning on the outside it was quite a delight. The bacon jam didn't really show though so maybe get an extra side of that to be sure you have enough because it's a good flavor. The Faroe Bay Salmon was also a quite solid dish, though we didn't get any of the squash. Still the dish was quite flavorful. Finally the pulled pork Mac and cheese was a wonderful. So many flavors going on at once, I would definitely get it again. We dined on a weeknight and the place was about half full. Service was great and overall the prices were reasonable by today's standards. This place is perfect for a quiet evening, even with a group it was quite easy to converse :-)

    Margarita

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    2 years ago

    this place is def a place to visit while in Santa Barbara. Stop in everytime we visit our daughter at UCSB.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - CAYA Restaurant

    The Imperial - White negroni and 2 hot toddy's

    The Imperial

    4.5(204 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Oh boy the amount of times I have been inebriated here. Birthday parties, coming home celebrations,…read morecheeky post-work cocktails that accidentally turn into two in the mornings; New Years Eves, Potlucks, Aloha Sundays, Halloweens and everything in between. This is a great bar and there's just no way around that. The drinks are tough, the vibes are immaculate, the bartenders have teeth and the regulars are absolutely bananas. I love it here. It's probably the only bar you can roll into by yourself as a woman and feel comfortable. As if things couldn't get any better, there's a treasure of a human in there who spins vinyl on Friday nights (maybe Saturdays also, but don't quote me) and you really shouldn't miss that experience. Thank you Imperial and staff for your phenomenal service. You've truly cultivated something wonderful.

    What an amazing hidden gem in Goleta!…read more While visiting the town, we were looking for a lounge walking distance from our hotel. We found this cool spot via yelp. A for atmosphere. You are transformed into a tiki/tropical/ vintage/bohemian not sure what to call it atmosphere. Super mellow and chill. We sat at a corner couch across from the bar. Comfy and relaxing, and dim lighting. Drink menu was diverse. Great selection. From cocktails to all types of alcohol. With an average price range of $15. Bartender knew his craft. All drinks ordered were great! C for service. The service dept needs some help, and I get it, with one person serving 15+ people. It is impossible to provide a5 star service. Initially service was great with a smile when we first arrived @ 6 pm. But soon after the bar became super busy. The wait was 20-30 minutes for an order. It was time to leave. We asked for our check and it came non-itemized. If it was 2 or 4 drinks that would be fine, but we were party of 3 with over 10 drinks. Then we had to wait again after asking for an itemized check. Waiter stated they need to hand write as their "machine" was not working. That took more time than needed. Ahhhhhh.... Ah well.. you can't get it all. Hence the 3.5 stars. I recommend, to sit at the bar and maybe pay cash to avoid hurdles I experienced.

    Photos
    The Imperial
    The Imperial - First Wednesday--yes, it's a thing.

    First Wednesday--yes, it's a thing.

    The Imperial - Jungle Bird

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    Jungle Bird

    Test Pilot - Juice Box

    Test Pilot

    4.4(429 reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$

    Amazing bar with a highly skilled bartender (on a Tuesday night) who managed to deliver…read moreconsistently perfect cocktails with zero help, to a crowd. The cocktails are highly creative, diverse in flavor and design, and really could stand up to any you would find at a top cocktail bar in a major city. The exterior doesn't scream "must come in" but you absolutely should. Is it a tiki bar? Yes, but in the best way. And the bartender deserves applause for pulling off 3+ quite complex cocktails every 5 minutes off of memory and without any support.

    Test Pilot lands somewhere in the orbit of tiki without fully crash-landing on a bamboo runway, and…read morehonestly, that works in its favor. In a stretch of Lower State packed with breweries, wine bars, and roaming weekend energy-drink humans in vintage bowling shirts, it threads the needle nicely between cocktail bar and tropical escape pod. The menu leans tiki-adjacent rather than deep-cut exotica, but the drinks are smartly built and avoid the "every problem can be solved with more rum" philosophy. There's a solid spread of spirits across the board, which makes the place feel more welcoming to a broader nightlife crowd instead of strictly rum disciples clutching vintage Trader Vic's mugs. The Oaxacan Dead was the standout for me. Smoky, balanced, endlessly sippable. One of those drinks where every sip quietly talks you into ordering another without turning into a sugar avalanche. The Jungle Bird was also great, though presented more in the direction of a Negroni than the punchier tropical versions you usually see. Bitter, restrained, and easy to settle into. Crowd-wise, things tilted a little frat-floaty as the night rolled on, but the staff handled everything smoothly and kept the vibe from turning into full pirate mutiny. Service stayed friendly and composed even when the volume of the room started climbing like a malfunctioning theremin. Big bonus points for the location and outdoor seating. Being right in the middle of Lower State makes it an easy launch point or final stop depending on your evening trajectory. Grab a drink, people-watch, drift between breweries and wine spots, repeat as necessary.

    Photos
    Test Pilot - Bananacapa and Oaxacan Dead cocktails

    Bananacapa and Oaxacan Dead cocktails

    Test Pilot - Inside

    Inside

    Test Pilot - Seasonal Slushy

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    Seasonal Slushy

    Marisella - Vongole pasta

    Marisella

    4.1(118 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$$$

    Marisella was easily one of my favorite dining experiences in Santa Barbara. The restaurant is…read moreinside the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, and the entire atmosphere is elegant, sophisticated, and beautiful without feeling stuffy. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was so professional, quick, polite, and genuinely friendly that I honestly wondered if she was the manager. She had that fresh, confident energy where you can tell someone really knows what they're doing and actually enjoys taking care of their guests. And the FOOD... wow. The whipped ricotta with honey and black pepper was probably my favorite thing I tasted all night. Creamy, slightly sweet, perfectly balanced -- I could have eaten the entire plate. The black truffle Wagyu carpaccio was incredible. The steak practically melted in my mouth, and the truffle flavor made it feel so decadent without being overwhelming. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka was also SO good fresh, rich, full of flavor, and exactly the kind of pasta you keep going back And I have to mention my virgin "Gossip Girl" drink because it was delightful! fresh, refreshing, and honestly such a fun drink. Everything from the food to the service to the beautiful setting felt elevated. This is definitely the kind of place I would come back to for a special dinner. Marisella really delivered. Thank you

    We came to Marisella to celebrate my child's birthday. First, I want to acknowledge that the staff…read morehelped us modify our reservation after it somehow changed from July 29 to July 30, and I appreciate that. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was very disappointing. We arrived around 8:30 p.m. and were seated around 8:45 p.m. We were immediately told that the kitchen was closing at 9:00 p.m., so we had to rush to place our order. Later, I asked for a glass of milk for my toddler. I was told the kitchen was closed. I then asked if the bar was still open, and the waitress replied, in a way that felt like she was making fun of me, "Usually we don't make food at the bar." I wasn't asking for food--I was simply asking for a glass of milk for my child. I even explained that if they could make cappuccinos, they should be able to provide milk. Unfortunately, my request was dismissed. The food was decent--about 7/10--but the portions were small. The biggest disappointment was the service. While we were still eating, staff were already taking plates and items away from the table. When they brought the dessert, they did not even clean the table first--there were still pieces of food left on the table, and they placed the dessert right there. It felt rushed and careless. For a Ritz-Carlton restaurant, I expected much better hospitality and attention to detail. Unfortunately, this experience felt like a waste of money, and I would not recommend Marisella.

    Photos
    Marisella
    Marisella - Orecchiette pasta

    Orecchiette pasta

    Marisella - Signature Tomato martini

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    Signature Tomato martini

    CAYA Restaurant - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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