The Good Lion is my go to whenever I'm downtown. They always nail it when it comes to creative…read morecocktails. I especially love the names they come up with for each drink. The environment is casual, with indoor and outdoor seating. I love to people watch here! Located next to the Granada and the perfect spot to grab a few drinks before a show. Happy hour is Monday - Friday from 4-6pm and offers a small menu of $9 cocktails. Sometimes it gets pretty crowded depending on what events are happening downtown. My only gripe is that I wish they had two bartenders during the busier nights. They could be short staffed though. Nonetheless, it's still a great spot for good quality cocktails.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Cool artsy bar with great cocktails…read more We were looking for a place to wet our whistles before dinner and this place looked promising. Located right next to the Granada Theater on the main drag, it looked to have undergone recent renovations and had a very chill but stylish ambiance. There was plenty of seating on a Wednesday night, and our bartender was a friendly young woman. The hubby got the spiced rum old fashioned, which had an ice cube with a lion's face etched onto it--a nice touch. I got one of their tiny Negronis, which came in a cute tiny mug and cost $5 (it sounded fun). Both tasted great and we had a nice time sipping our drinks and taking in the decor. Alas we had to be on our way so couldn't linger long, but we'd definitely love to stop by again the next time we're in town.

We stopped at Dusk Bar for about an hour on 05/23/2026 (at about 6:30pm) while we waited for a…read moretable at a nearby restaurant. I love how this State street facing business, which is part of the Drift Hotel, has a Dawn (coffee shop) and a Dusk (bar). We were looking for a good cocktail before dinner, and this did not disappoint. We were a party of two, and there are plenty of seats inside, as well as some patio seats outside. I had the Sweet Gidget, which is a tequila based drink with strawberry liquer, lime and some strawberry sugar rim. We also shared the chips and salsa, which had some absolutely delicious chips and some great green tomatilla salsa. It actually had a pretty nice spice to it, which we really loved. We would return again in the future.

Cody is a FANTASTIC bartender! I had a flight of Mezcal and ended the night with Morning Dew. WE…read moreLOOOOOOOOOVED AND I MEAN LOVED MORNING DEW. Absolutely fantastic drink!!!!!! So smooth and refreshing and dangerous lol... super friendly and calm atmosphere! Great music too!

We went for brunch and I had fish tacos and they were very good…read more $21 for 3. My two dining companions had eggs Benedict with potatoes; they both commented how much meat was on the Benedict. Why are the five stars? Anyone who reads my reviews knows, I hate being offended by prices. The pricing was in line with the experience. It was a nice restaurant experience. The outside patio is a beautiful setting on the harbor. The service wasn't overbearing. We were able to visit and have a lovely ladies birthday brunch.

We dined here yesterday and it will be our last visit…read more The only positive was being seated right away -- after that, the experience went downhill fast. Our kids' food and the ceviche came out quickly, but the ceviche was overwhelmingly fishy and inedible. One of our entrees also arrived with the appetizer, while the rest of our food didn't come for another 20-30 minutes. Throughout the wait, our waitress kept reassuring us that our food was "coming" -- which felt misleading and only added to the frustration. When my fish tacos finally arrived, I received 2 tacos instead of the 3 that every review I'd read mentioned. No explanation, no adjustment to the price. The worst part was my husband's tuna melt -- he took a couple of bites and said something tasted very off. We had to send it back.

Amazing definitely recommend, great service and food! The environment was amazing as well!read more

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.

Came by here on Valentines day to have a couple drinks. Place is beautiful and the vibe is very…read morechill and relaxing. Took a minute to get some service unfortunately. The drinks were well made and we ordered the charcuterie board to eat. Small place, small menu FYI. Overall not a bad little spot to hang out and catch up with friends or bring a date.

I absolutely loved Pearl Social and kudos to my friend Jara S. For highlighting them and for the…read morestellar drink recommendation. Pearl social is such a whimsical fun spot to grab a drink and a snack in the funk zone. We stumbled in for a late afternoon drink and it wasn't very busy inside - giving off "best kept secret vibe". The decor is very feminine yet playful. Loved the design and bar area. We opted for a casual booth area by the bar which was really nice. Also all of the little things were done well, crisp menus, clean bathrooms, and music done at just the right sound level. Their menu in the bar area for food is small but mighty - oysters, cheese plates, you name it. I'm definitely going to keep coming here for the cocktails. I've had one of the best sips in 2025 here - which would be The Mixtape cocktail. My friend told me I had to get it and I'm so glad I listen sometimes lol. This cocktail completely blew me away. Passionfruit forward, it's silky, sweet yet very well balanced. One of the more unique and tasty cocktails I've had ever and honestly I'm not sure how I could come back and get anything else. 10/10 Cocktail and menu. Super impressed. Kudos to Mark who was working the bar. Such a lovely spirit and kind person. He really is passionate about his menu and the drinks he's curated. Loved talking to him as we got to know a lot more about Pearl social and how some of their drinks were concerted. Really appreciated his time and expertise. Anytime I'm in the funk zone I will 100% be stopping back by here for a cocktail and good vibes.

Long overdue review for this not so hidden gem…read more Rodeo Room offers amazing craft cocktails, delicious bites, and a killer happy hour 5-6pm. Did you also know there's also omakase? On Sunday (1 seating) and Monday (2 seatings), Rodeo Room transforms into a delicious (and affordable) omakase consisting of delicious bites of sushi and ends with a twist on a bar bite and dessert. Optional cocktail pairing (worth it!). The ambiance gives off a dark classy take on a classic bar setting. Service is friendly and the sushi chef prepares the food right where you can see (depending on where you are seated). I recommend the bar top vs table, unless with a larger group. Limited seating so be sure to make a reso in advance!

Friendly staff Really Dark Room that's still really cute!…read more Cauliflower Tacos recommended and the Laid Back cocktail yummy

Nice place on Cliff Drive. Great appetizers and drinks. Friendly service. Large inside and outside…read moreseating area with heatlamps.

The staff was great, the food was pretty good. The menu has been expanded significantly!…read more The chop salad was very good though I think the onions overpower it but others would absolutely love all the onions. I will just forgo the onions next time. That said, the salad was exceptional! The Korean fried chicken wings do you need some attention. They were very mushy and to be honest, slimy--not crispy on the exterior and tender on the inside and the gochujang sauce should be switched out. It's a little off in its taste. I feel it should have more of a spicy-savory honey-sweet mouthwatering gochujang balance. Hint, go to Den Den Korean Fried Chicken in Providence, RI--though I need to remember this is a pub and not a Korean restaurant, ...there are better recipes out there that are worth testing out. I think the flavor and texture was off and can be improved on significantly. The pizza was pretty good--great for a pub and even better heated up the next day in a skillet with olive oil making the crust slightly crispy. There's ample outdoor and indoor seating with that perfect Corner Tap vibe. Also, noteworthy, inside the place it is absolutely spotless! We will return as it is a great place in a great location.

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.

Super cute place that's dog friendly with outdoor seating under trees. Very friendly staff and…read moreservice. Lots of games and couches to lounge and chill. We came in for Happy Hour on a Thursday before a Bowl show and had a great time. Drinks were yummy!

We went to The Cruisery for my dog's 12th birthday, and I'm honestly obsessed with this place…read more I've reviewed this spot before, but this visit deserved an update because it was such a fun and unique experience. It's right on State Street and extremely dog-friendly--like, dogs of all sizes are welcome and actually celebrated here. Not just tolerated... celebrated. They offer dog birthday packages (yes, really), and for $49 it was such a fun experience. Lobo got a full birthday setup: a reserved table, a sign with fun facts about him, a birthday portrait, cake, a gift, and his own birthday dinner. I ordered him the filet and sweet potatoes, but they do have other options on their dog menu too. And for the humans--they don't slack either. They have a great food and drink menu. I ordered the Flaming Lips cocktail and it's such a fun one... I won't give it away, but yes, there are actual flames involved . I also got the Korean Crunch (fried chicken with red pepper sauce) and it was so good. Everyone else loved their food and drinks too... but I'll be honest, I was a little more focused on Lobo. Kyle was our server and he was amazing--super friendly and made the whole experience even better. Honestly, everything about it was just fun. It's such a unique idea, and I love that places like this exist. We come to Santa Barbara often, and this is 100% going to be a regular stop for us now. Already planning Lobo's 13th here

Great cocktail bar in Santa Barbara! Sean took care of us and made us many delicious drinks. We…read morecame on a Tuesday (Farm to Bar) where you state a liquor and spicy or sweet and the rest is taken care of. Overall a lot of fun and all the drinks were creative and fun. Will definitely be back, thank you Bobcat! Didn't see food and parking can be a little rocky but if you Uber, you will have a great time! Definitely recommend!

The DJ Smooth Exchange is awesome. The spicy passion fruit margaritas were great. It was neat to…read moresee the outdoor lounge area too with the silent disco. The service here was great too and the manager Travis is so sweet he always remembers me and says hi.