Attended the Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival at the Santa Barbara Bowl for the first time, and I was extremely pleased with the experience. It's a beautiful, intimate venue, and the concert was very entertaining, featuring a variety of talented singers who kept the crowd dancing throughout the evening. It was my first time seeing Joss Favela and Majo Aguilar, and I instantly became a fan of both! Mariachi Los Camperos also performed, and I've been a fan of theirs for years, so it was wonderful to see them live. The small, intimate setting made the experience even more enjoyable. I had a great time and am definitely planning to attend again next year! read more

We came here to see our favorite comedian Trevor Noah at this beautiful outdoor concert venue. We listened to our hotel valet to park our car in the neighborhood near the high school and did a mild hike up the hills. They provide trolley rides for guests to get to the actual venue. They have concession stands to sell foods, beers and wines. We'd just had dinner so we just got some mead, seltzer, wine & sparkling water to enjoy. Our seats were among the first few rows on the side. The view was awesome and easy for me get out for restroom trips. The restrooms were very spacious and clean. The show was amazing, the one and only Trevor Noah never disappoints! The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the event. It got chilly at sundown, glad we brought a light jacket to keep warm. We enjoyed our comedy show so much and we loved this beautiful venue as well! read more

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Fantastic venue, wonderful staff and killer views of the stage and SB! We stayed off State Street and walked to avoid car traffic. It was a super easy and beautiful walk. The staff is super friendly, upbeat and quick to help and give suggestions. The grounds are well managed and there's a nice area at the top to take photos all the way to the ocean. We loved our pulled pork sandwiche and cheese plate. You can bring up to 1 Ltr of water in a sealed plastic water bottle. Our seats were 4th row and amazing sound and experience! Well worth the drive up from OC! read more

By far my favorite music venue! Highlights: There are no "bad" seats. Parking is easy. The view is wonderful. The food and drinks- its good and the most affordable of any venue I've been to. They also have vegan and vegetarian options which are a plus for myself. If you haven't seen a concert here, highly recommend! read more

One of the last perfect venues in California even ahead of the Hollywood Bowl because of the traffic in that area. Highly recommend. Parking can be tricky. We parked down the hill and used the e-scooters to approach. The high school was having grad night so that made attempting to park a car at the bowl against better advice. It also made getting in and out a long wait. We didn't get any food but in the past it's all been quite decent. Ambiance? What's better than a June night in Santa Barbara? Where? No where is better. It was perfect weather, perfect temps. And the band. Also a 10. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The SB bowl has come a long way since my last visit. Growing up in Oxnard, this was the closest venue for live events when one didn't want to schlep all the way to LA. The vibes are certainly much more chill. I've seen numerous acts here throughout the years and sat in different areas. The GA section is still my favorite even if you do have to stand the whole time. My friends treated me to the Disclosure show on a Wednesday night. My experience this time around was so enjoyable, in all ways. We found parking less than 5 mins walk away. A win! There was no line for our area when we entered which was right as the opening act was finishing his set. We made it inside with enough time to get a bevy and hear the last song the opening act played. The team who were applying the wristband for the people in GA were so nice. 10/10 vibes Also just want to mention how nice everyone was. Specially on our way out. The folks at the entrance/exit greeted everyone good night and told us to drive safe. I mean, c'mon. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Absolutely beautiful venue!!! The sound system is great and to see gorgeous trees and the stunning ocean in the background WOW! One of the most stunning outdoor venues I have been to (this and Redrocks are definitely two of my all time favorites). Security and getting in went smoothly. They have shuttles to help you get up or you are able to walk to the venue. I am so happy I get to see my favorite band Lord Huron at this lovely venue! I didn't try any food, but it looked good and there is a big variety of options. read more

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The SB Bowl is so amazing. It's a gorgeous venue and the acoustics are beyond amazing. I have loved every show we have ever been to at this venue. The people that work there go above and beyond to make sure your experience is amazing in every way. We could not have had a better experience and cannot wait for the next show!!! read more

It's a great venue - our first time. We had great seats in the first section. We went to see Bob Dylan. The stage was dark, and it really was hard to figure out which one was Dylan. We actually thought someone might be impersonating him. Turns out he was in a dark hoodie basically covering his face. The ushers were all over no one taking photos or videos to the point of telling someone they would confiscate the phone if they had to remind him a 2nd time. Kinda crazy. Dylan was great but it was a weird experience. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - We're here for our brother whose birthday is today. He passed away in February. We're here for him. - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The Santa Barbara Bowl is definitely one of the best venues I've been to for a concert. It is easily accessible and has a really good sound system that is not too loud or too quiet. I was able to park close to downtown and walk to the venue, it was only a 20 minute walk too, so if you don't mind walking, this is the way to go! Getting inside is also pretty easy and straightforward. No long lines or anything like that. Plus the ushers are all really kind and welcoming. I was greeted multiple times as I was directed to my seat. Upon sitting down, I realized that the seat I picked was in a good section, not too far back or too close. I was worried it would be too far back and I wouldn't have a good view of the stage but it was perfect! The opener, John Carroll Kirby was awesome. Usually I don't care much for the opener when I go see a show but this time, I was so happy I got to see them. Him and his band were sensational, with the flute player being a big standout. Khruangbin, who came on at 8, were simply amazing. I enjoyed every single second of their set! They sounded awesome, I would say even better in person than on recording, and they had the whole crowd cheering and dancing along to their music. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better band to see for my first time at the Santa Barbara Bowl! I am already looking forward to coming back next year and seeing them again. read more

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Unique, intimate and absolutely beautiful. Concerts end at the right time for my old ass and there's both floor and seating. Not a bad seat in that house. Be sure to spot the view at the top and don't take drugs ;). read more

The Santa Barbara Bowl is the perfect venue for a show! Located on the lower riviera of Santa Barbara, the bowl has amphitheater seating overlooking the stage. Also, with it tucked away on the hillside you don't get any noise pollution during the shows. If you're looking to grab a beverage they have multiple spot to get a drink or two. The venue has one entrance so plan accordingly when arriving at the show. You also want to be mindful that parking at the bowl is limited so street parking and ride services are the most convenient way to go. With an awesome staff and other volunteers the SB Bowl is a definitely the spot to be go to for live concerts in Santa read more

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What a neat venue tucked away in Santa Barbara! Decided to pop in for a last minute show and although the "cheap" seats were far from the stage you can't really go wrong with seats in a bowl shape. The crowd was good, everyone up and dancing and the staff helpful when we arrived on the later end of the concert. Parking is around if you know where to look, tucked into quiet neighborhood streets or a local high school or I read there was a parking lot at the bowl. There's a pretty hefty walk to the venue and then up the venue, reminding me to get into better shape (new year's resolutions am I right?) but I think you can take a tram up but not sure how that worked as I was running in to catch the show. They had food and drinks but didn't try any. Also a cool looking VIP area maybe? Looked like a treehouse. Would come again for another show! read more

Santa Barbara Bowl was insane for Justice The venue is gorgeous, open air with ocean views, and the sound hits perfect no matter where you're sitting. Crowd was on fire all night. Food was actually solid too tri-tip sandwich slapped, garlic fries were addicting, and plenty of drink spots around so you're never waiting too long. Pro tip: grab your food early and hit the overlook at sunset, vibes are unmatched. read more

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Great venue !! clean and spectacular views. Food and drinks were available too! Highly recommended read more

We just experienced our first time at the Santa Barbara bowl! We have been to other bowls, but this bowl is truly a nice welcoming experience! When I say welcoming: I mean welcoming! Plenty of staff on-site that welcome you, help you and share the best places to see the sights: referring to the ocean! The bowl is just a short walk from downtown! With that did, the walk is uphill from downtown!!once you get to the bowl you weave through a beautiful garden area to the entrance! There is also a trolley to the bowl! Or you can take a quick Uber to the bowl! Once we got to the bowl! We grabbed a wrist band for drinking! And then took in the views at the bowl! We were recommended to climb up a zillion steps to see a beautiful view of Santa Barbara and the ocean. Plus there is a refreshment station up there! The views were very nice! We saw a lovely sunset over the ocean! We then grabbed some drinks and headed to our seats! The drinks are reasonable for a bowl! For wine you can get a single or double pour! There were about 5 wines and some beers on the menu! The wine selection was good! But our seats were better! Although I hear every seat in the house is good! We sat in the front section of seats! No standing allowed ! If you like to stand and dance there is a big pit by stage! Something for everybody! Bathrooms were clean and plentiful! Women bathroom was very efficient! Bathroom located underground! We got out of venue easily! A mile walk for us or a quick Uber as it was very dark! Uber pick up areas are clearly marked outside venue! Only issue is pickup area is dark! We look forward to our next show at the bowl' read more

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This venue has now stolen my heart for favorite SoCal venue!!!! We saw John Carol Kirby open for Khruangbin last night and had the best concert experience ever! Everyone that we encountered, from security to ticketing to the ushers were so incredibly kind and helpful. It was a magical walk up to the venue through the trees! The food was delicious and priced very reasonably. Highly recommend the trip-tip and pork sandwiches (love that you can get 3-6oz of protein only too), arugula salad with the citrus dressing, and Mediterranean plate -- hit the spot! I don't think you can go wrong with any seat there, but we sat in N section w/ the comfy padded fold down seats which was nice when you wanted to stand and dance you had a lil more room! Even leaving the venue was easy and not stressful considering the amount of folks exiting. We didn't take the tram but it was so adorable and a nice way to save some energy or helpful for those in need. Bonus: bathrooms were also very clean! Truly a special venue and appreciate the hospitality! Thank you! read more

This week was my first time to the Santa Barbara Bowl. I'd seen on social media that a musical act that I follow was going to be performing here so I bought tickets to go see them here and I knew it was going to be nearby so that made it a lot easier to come and visit them. When I was looking around for tickets I decided to go to the main official Santa Barbara Bowl website and then realize that they were affiliated with axs.com so then I was able to find tickets for this venue. I thought it for all it was a great experience. A couple days before the show they sent out an email giving you instructions of how to get there, where to park, food options and lots of great details. The amphitheater itself is located on the top of a hill so there are shuttles that can take you back and forth. Otherwise it is quite a steep walk. I thought the concessions were reasonably priced. I got a bottle of water and some popcorn. There were a lot of different snacks such as churros available and lots of great items. I really wanted and Arnold Palmer but they had to run out of lemonade. Some of the food windows had proper food from what I saw but the lines were longer. My tickets were located towards the front of the stage so I'm not sure how the entire experience is seeing the back but it was really easy to get in and out. I was able to get parking in one of the last spots at Santa Barbara high school. Luckily they take credit card as well so they made the process a lot easier and overall it was just a great experience especially with the show organizers they've done this many times where it was fairly seamless I will now be looking to see if there are any other acts that I would love to see here at this great venue in the hills of Santa Barbara. Was very surprised about this venue that I didn't know existed prior to a week ago. So great job and overall I was very impressed read more

Best venue around. Not a bad seat in the whole house! Ushers are so friendly and helpful!! Thank you!

Saw Empire of the Sun here and it was the best thing ever. My one complaint was with the older lady checking IDs for the 21+ wristbands. She was very rude and immediately thought my and my boyfriend's ID were fake which has never happened in my whole life. I even showed my vertical ID (from before i was 21) as well as my current horizontal one which both have my birth date on it. She sent us over to some other ladies who actually knew what they were looking for and they were very nice when verifying our IDs. That older lady has no business checking IDs, she has no idea what shes looking for. She did that to every younger looking person we saw so maybe she is just a miserable witch. Everyone has a job to do, but we couldn't help but be a bit offended. Her attitude didn't help either. So i guess just be mindful of that if you come here. Shoutout to those other two younger women who helped us out. Maybe they need to have an ID scanner on the property to avoid this issue. Kind of puts a downer on the experience. Get rid of her. Also side note- AXS SUCKED to buy our tickets. DONT DO IT. Whoever chose them for ticket resell needs to be fired. What absolute nightmare. After being timed out of the website on five different devices, and after four of our payment methods got rejected, it finally worked. Thank god it did because i was about to give up. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This was my first time coming to the Santa Barbara Bowl. I'd always heard it was a nice venue, but I didn't realize how great it was going to be! This is an intimate venue tucked up in a hill, and it is absolutely perfect for concerts. Because the venue is smaller, all the seats are great with great sound. And the seating lay-out is one of the best I've ever experienced at a venue; the rows are big enough that when someone needs to step out, you don't have to stand up and smush against each other - at most you just might have to pull your legs in a bit. Besides hearing how great this venue is, the one other thing I always heard was that you'd have to climb up a big hill to get to the venue. There is a hill, but it's not nearly as bad as everyone describes it - about five minutes of work and you're there. But they do also have shuttles to get you to the top if you're not able or not wanting to make the climb. Because the venue is in the hills, there are beautiful views overlooking Santa Barbara from the top. They have multiple stands for food, snacks, and drinks, so you can buy it and then enjoy the view while waiting for your show to start. The food and drink were well-priced here, too. My sandwich was $14, and beer and wine were around $11-13. Parking wasn't too bad, they sent an email in advance with the parking locations, and they're an easy walk to the Bowl. If you have an option to see a show here, hands down get the tickets and enjoy! read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Worst experience I've ever had at a music venue. The staff was incredibly rude, making disrespectful remarks about patrons while we waited in line for drinks. We left early, disgusted by both what we experienced and what we witnessed. Truly unacceptable. read more

Wonderful venue and the artists are amazing. Beware though people get crappy drunk, are obnoxious and are inconsiderate of others with the constant babble. Don't get seats in the front row if any level as the drunks congregate, best to stay higher up. The sound here is incredible and lots of food places to go to nearby. read more

I purchased ground-floor tickets through one of the venue's trusted partners, only to be reassigned to the very back with no assistance or resolution from staff. While I understand that issues can arise with third-party platforms, the complete lack of support was unacceptable. If the venue chooses not to sell tickets directly online, it should take responsibility when problems occur. Very disappointed--and be warned when buying tickets. read more

We love a night outside, and this is one of the best places to do it. The bowl is built right into the mountain which creates a great setting for seeing live music. Be warned, there are a lot of steps and a steep hill but they now offer trolley service to assist guests who need it. There is no bad seat here. You can see and hear well because it's an intimate enough venue for such. It's one of the best places to see bands in SoCal. The prices are also usually reasonable. There is plenty of beer and wine options, as well as non alcoholic drinks too. There are food vendors too. Plenty of clean bathrooms are available at the bottom and top of the venue. Cool breezes, beautiful Santa Barbara and music? Yes, please! Parking is $20. Get here early for best spots and availability, if driving. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Adorable venue! I actually much prefer the Santa Barbara Bowl over the Hollywood Bowl even though the Hollywood bowl would technically be my local concert venue. For a historic concert venue they really have tried to make it as accessible as possible and because of the size not much has to be done to make the place accessible for most people who have mobility issues. As a disabled guest I was treated with respect and there were so many Staff available to help me out as I worked my way to where I'd be viewing the concert. Their little trolley system is also very cute. I must warn you though that the parking lot is very small so if you are disabled, it may be hard to reserve an ADA space for 20 bucks. However, there is neighborhood parking very close so if you have a placard you still would be able to get a pretty close space to where the trolleys are, which are located just inside the main entrance at the bottom of the hill. read more

it's super cute and has stone decor everywhere lol high key up a steep hill going towards there but all cool on the way down back. parking was at the santa barbara high school lot lol. quite a good amount of security and ushers for such a small venue imo read more

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I was enjoying Justice and eagerly anticipating the encore when a man two rows in front of us whipped out his hog and started peeing in the stands and peeing on people. The show and venue were 10/10. Minus one star for the urination and long lines for beer. read more

Still one of the best venues I've been to. Ocean views, excellent acoustics and some great performances. Radiohead was exceptional. UCSB alum Jack Johnson was excellent. Passion Pit was another great one. Last night it was the legendary James Taylor and his all star band. Others aren't at the tip of the fingers but it's always the place for any audience. Seats just under 5,000 and has an intimate atmosphere and feel. Bonus the artists nearly always mention more than casually their love of the venue. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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After looking for a review from an ADA aspect and not finding any in my searches I'm going to post mine and if there was any hopefully this serves as an update to the experience,, the date was 5/22/25 Khruagbin / John Carrol Kirby (Opening Ac) the day I purchased my tickets from the box office the staff was a pleasure to deal with very courteous and patient even waiting as I tried to guess my password for the AXE site , I called back same courtesy different operator, after my purchase of the ADA seating she reminded me of the parking which i would have hung up and not been prepared for the day of event, my name was placed on a list for the main parking lot it is a fairly small parking lot and gates open at 5:30pm for a 7pm show so since it was my first time she advised to get there early to give myself time to unload my Mobility Cart (I was late) there was no more ADA slots left so they accommodated me in a standard spot , be sure if your unloading your mobility cart you get the parking space with nothing behind you to obstruct you unloading and loading , now looking at the venue I can see after the security check point it's through a beautiful courtyard and from my point of view is equivalent to the incline of the dodger stadium parking for those that want to gauge it and are thinking of taking that challenge or in my case put the mobility cart battery under that load of power I would say if you have upgraded your battery pack and your cart battery holds a charge we'll go for it , the views inside and photo opportunities are really.nice and will make some great picture memories, it's a very clean well maintained path going up, the other option and for me being that I'm a big guy on a small cart (I do have upgraded battery pack) but I didn't want to risk wearing out my battery on the incline if i had this other option and that is to ride the courtesy trolley that take guest up the hill to the venue entrance (backstage ) wheel chairs , mobility carts will navigate to the rear of the trolly and a lift gate lowers you go forward they will assist you when to stop they secure the back behind you and you will lift to the back of the trolly where everyone else is seated (very nice vintage wood seating with glossy varnish btw) the driver will have you pull forward and then stop where he then secures the cart in place the trolley then proceeds uphill and you can see the pathway of guest making their way to the top once at the top it's the same procedure in reverse order (mind you the employees have been outstanding and patient I was really comfortable with their assistance) once unloaded you'll now be back stage which is the courtyard with several food vendors and amenities not sure where to go next just look for the closet usher and they will take you not just point to the next destination, the opening act had already began so I didn't get a chance to get anything I had planned for my guest and I as far as food, but I did get a pint of brew in a really nice silicone souvenir collectors cup and my guest was then instructed to take these stairs up and I was going underneath the stage to another lift that is about 20 feet up the usher up top keeps you company talking with you as you ascend to the main stage area , you'll be just off to the right side of the venue and after exiting the lift you take a well lit path to the ADA section seeing it in person plenty of room they removed the chair which I was worrying about sitting on and it being able to hold my weight , these chairs are metal solid frame and thick cushion padding really nice premium seats for the guest to sit on and that's for every section these ain't those flimsy plastic chairs that after half hour of holding weight will eventually snap break and drop you they're solid , for those that can walk the stairs you can go up to the top of the venue where you have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Barbara, just from our seats though which is about 30ft from the stage with zero obstruction from the Standing room general admission area in front of our section , the venue is very clean well designed well lit and the sound was incredible being an audio engineer/ producer myself the house engineer does an amazing job no distortion very clean mix made the experience memorable even more than it was to begin with , as this was supposed to be a concert for my wife and I to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary , sadly I lost my wife to her fight with cancer this past November 2024 , it was very hard for me to even go to this show without her ,but with the help of a friend , I was able to feel her presence again as the band played many of our favorite songs , I dedicate the review to my loving wife ,until we meet again, our daughter Maddy and I miss you deeply, Rochelle A. Cordova. read more

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What a beautiful spot to view a performance. As it was our first experience there and we had some questions on our ticket, we arrived early to get it sorted out. The entire staff could not have been more helpful or friendly. The grounds were spotless and there were a couple of comfortable spots to purchase and enjoy a beer or a glass of wine. All seats appeared good though as is sometimes the case, one nearby woman was over-served and kept talking and hollering, and then laughing at all the wrong times. Anyway, we loved the whole "Bowl" experience and would not hesitate to visit any time. read more

What's that? You want to hear an anecdote involving Jimmy Fallon and the Cure? No, sorry. But I do have one involving Dennis Miller and Duran Duran. But first... You would think they're can't be a bad seat in a venue that only seats under 4600. But, compared to a place like Mesa Amphitheater (4950) which is spread out, Santa Barbara Bowl (carved into a hill in 1936) has seats going straight up like bleachers, so you can get a nosebleed seat. It has about 27 concerts from April to October, most notably the filmed concerts of Joni Mitchell (Shadows and Light, live album 1980), Tears For Fears (Going to California, 1990), Maroon 5 (Friday the 13th, live album 2005), and Kanye West (Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, 2006). No cigarettes, vaping, marijuana, no controlled substances, no backpacks, no shoulder bags, no shopping bags, no large bags, no sleeping bags, no bags (except handheld bags 10" x 7" x 2", or some infant or medical bags), no standing in aisles and stairways, no baskets, no ice chests, no cans, no glass, food or beverage (except factory-sealed plastic water bottles smaller than 1.5 liter), no photography (unless noted), no bare feet, no wallet chains, no spiked clothing, no spiked jewelry, no gang emblems ese, no knives, no mace/pepper spray, no weapons, no fireworks/sparklers, no balls, no glow sticks, no laser pointers, no strollers, no seat cushions with exposed metal, no banners/signs, no iPads or tablets, no laptops, no selfie sticks, no GoPros, no unapproved merch, and no umbrellas, thought events take place rain or shine. I had nosebleeds for Steely Dan here in 2011 and decent seats for Duran Duran in 2003 (Section G, Row G). Having been asked by my friend during a song to run down to concessions to buy the five pack of buttons (each with a band member face), I walked around the empty terrace and enjoyed the view, bumping into Dennis Miller, who lives nearby. I asked him if I could give him the Andy Taylor button (my friend doesn't like him) and asked why. I said, that way when I give my friends her buttons, she'll ask, "Where's Andy Taylor?" and I can say I gave it to Dennis Miller. So he took it. Either because he understood the non-sequitur humor, or he was afraid of me and wanted me to leave. Of course, that's just my opinion- I could be wrong. Either way: Suck on that, Readers Digest. (They didn't accept my story). read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You know - it's all about the people and the people here are GREAT! The bowl is really a nice place for a show. We will return for sure. My wife was having some back issues and no problem, we took the shuttle up the hill and done. Easy peasy. Parking at the high school? Super easy. Been wanting to see shows here for a long time and wish i hadn't waited this long. Did i mention that the ushers and security and vendors were all super nice, fun, helpful and friendly? The ushers in particular. Every time i was climbing stairs in the dark an user was shining a flashlight so i could see where i was going. Where does that happen? Super impressed and very grateful. See you again soon SB Bowl!! read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - the bowl on a nice day - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had a wonderful time under the stars at the Santa Barbara Bowl. We took an Uber from our nearby hotel, but it was close enough that we enjoyed the walk home in the warm Labor Day night. From what I could tell, parking was easy enough. We took the quick 60 second tram up the hill to the venue, which would have just as easily been a nice walk, but it was our first visit so we enjoyed the full experience. The ride up the hill was exhilarating, our driver thought he was Mario Andretti, he raced up the hill to the delight of the cheering tram audience. While leaving we took the stairs down, which was a beautiful canopy of trees, adding to the allure of the Santa Barbara Bowl. Once inside they had a great beer selection at totally reasonable prices. SHOCK. The bathrooms were really clean and the seating was cozy and intimate, capacity is 4,500 people. Being from Los Angeles it reminded me of the Greek, but even smaller, this is the spot to see a favorite band. I really had a fun night at the Santa Barbara Bowl, I hope to go back soon. EVERYONE we encountered working at The Santa Barba Bowl was so nice, all locals who take immense pride in sharing their concert venue and local culture. read more

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The Santa Barbara Bowl has always been my favorite venue in Southern California. It's a beautiful venue with a serene ocean view, a peaceful surrounding neighborhood, and a feeling of privacy away from the city. It's also intimately sized for a venue that draws a lot of arena-sized acts, making every seat a good one, and the sound is always stellar too. Some of my favorite shows have happened here, even from acts that I've seen countless times elsewhere. The wine-sipping crowds in the seats can be a little stiff and chatty, but there is often pit area for the more active fans. The patios and lookout terrace up top are classy and great to hang out at before the show, and the bathrooms are both large and clean. The steep hill entering the venue might be a bit daunting for some people, but they have a shuttle option to get you up and down the hill easily. While there is a paid parking lot at the high school, you can find parking in the residential areas that are the same distance away, possibly even closer. Shows start early here thanks to the 10pm curfew that is strictly enforced, but it's also appreciated, as I can get to bed at a reasonable hour even after the long drive back. read more

Beautifully located outdoor venue. We attend numerous concerts annually and appreciate the evolution of the bowl over the decades. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Seating for the bowl from the second row to the stage. - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great place to see a show but buying tickets through AXS app is literally impossible. Hit and miss with ancient technology that is so secure one cannot buy tickets with any payment method. Several hours down the drain. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - Errors after 4 attempts 4 payment methods. I give up - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

You can't go wrong with the Santa Barbara Bowl. It's an intimate venue without a bad seat in the house. It's nestled up on a hill among the trees with beautiful views that can't be beat. Parking was easy. If you arrive early enough you may be able to find street parking, or there are nearby lots for $20 that are very convenient. Entrance was quick, and then you need to get a wristband for alcohol. We really enjoyed the beverage selections, and there were plenty of stations to grab drinks. The sound system was wonderful and the whole experience went smoothly. I would come back here to see a show any day. Those of us from LA know it's a much less hectic experience than the Hollywood Bowl. read more

This is the best concert venue ever. The bowl is outdoors. Every seat is a good seat, even at the very top. The very top has a nice view of the city and the neighborhood. It's nice to go up to the top just before the show. There are plenty of ushers and works that can help if there are any questions. Be sure to follow all of the guidelines and regulations. The check-in system for bikes and other personal items is very easy. read more

Santa Barbara Bowl - View from the top - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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First time there. Thankfully I went with some seasoned concerteers. We arrived at 5ish, parked at the high school for $20 (hopefully some of it goes to the children? Lol) and walked a couple blocks to the venue. There were tons of security and ushers, so there was no confusion as far as where to go or what to expect. Gates opened at 515 and they promptly started letting folks in for the trolley as well as the hill to walk up. For 21+ and floor bracelets, they had A TON of folks early on to do the process and also kept a few stations at various points of the venue throughout the show. This proved helpful for folks arriving late or who maybe decided to drink after not getting a band at the entry. Acoustically, the bowl was a beauty! Not to mention the light show was phenomenal! The food and drinks were absolutely tasty. Everything from the usual cheap snacks like coffee, pretzels, soda and chips; to more exquisite pairings of craft beer and vegan hot doggos. They also offer their beers in reusable aluminum cups that look like solo cups! There are water stations for your refilling needs. Getting in and out to the venue was a breeze, as was finding the seats and coming/going for restroom or snack breaks. The seats were more comfortable than most, with ample padding. I had plenty of room but in all honesty it may be a tight squeeze if you are a bit on the plus size side; genuinely not trying to be rude, just sharing what I believe may be a helpful tip. Definitely somewhere I would recommend and plan on visiting again! read more

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