Oysters hh 2 for 5 Drinks were about 10 to 12 each…read moreTheir paloma was great Not a whole lotta food options during happy hour fyi

For some reason, this is considered the top cocktail bar in downtown Santa Barbara, however, we…read morefound the experience underwhelming and the service remarkably slow and unenthusiastic. When we arrived on a Tuesday evening, there were about seven patrons throughout the bar and the outdoor seating area with the live music drew us in. We were told to order at the bar, so while the rest of our party was seated, I stood there for five minutes before someone took my order. Totally fine, but no sorry for the wait or even smile or any warmth from the male bartender, who disappeared for a five minute break shortly after taking my order. The tables at the outdoor seating area were very sticky and since there were no employees in sight I (and the other patrons who arrived then) cleaned the tables ourselves. After waiting 10 minutes I went up to the bar and assumed since our drinks hadn't been delivered, I was supposed to pick them up, I was told don't worry, we'll bring them to you, and after another five minutes, our drinks arrived. The cocktails were decent, nothing revolutionary but I am spoiled in this department, well made but nothing to get excited about . After 30 minutes of enjoying the genuinely nice outdoor area we ordered another round, three shots took another 10+ minutes. When we realized we had to leave to make our reservation, we asked for a box for our untouched food, and we were told we don't have boxes. They ended up finding one for For us, but it appeared to be a pastry box from somewhere else. The female bartender who took over after the male clocked out, was much more personable, but not much more efficient. To their credit, this bar has an excellent selection of tequilas and Mezcal's, so if you're not in a rush and you enjoy those spirits it's definitely worth stopping by. The music was really great and was definitely the highlight of that bar.

Very enjoyable ambiance - airy with nice music. Beautiful salads. Wagyu burger fine quality - acrid…read moretaste however, as if charred on a grill that was overdue for cleaning. Gen Z waitstaff launched into specials without warning and when requested to repeat first items to boomers in attendance, told us to listen up as he had four other tables to get too. More funny than anything. Long-ish wait for food but in a pleasant and comfortable setting. Overall a very nice experience and would recommend, minus the suspect grill condition.

Inside at their spacious bar, or outside on their patio, Gracie is a great place to enjoy Brunch,…read moreLunch, or a fun Happy Hour. And there is nothing better than sitting out on their patio, with one or two of their Signature Cocktails, and/or a nice glass of Storm Sauvignon Blanc, or Dragonette Rose . . . sun shining, the ocean breeze blowing through our hair. Perfect. Whether it's Brunch, Lunch, or Happy Hour, we've been thoroughly enjoying their Ceviche, Shrimp Cocktail, Fish Tacos, and Beef Short Rib. Thanks to the Gracie Staff for always taking such good care of us. Very much appreciating Dudley, Grace, Chris, Harley, and everyone.

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.

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.

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.

Great vibe and server Small but didn't get too packed…read moreReally creative flavors for their drinks.

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!

A friend of my wife's recommended The Corner Tap. I remember noticing it years ago as I drove by…read moreand thinking, "We need to check this place out." Since we don't live in the neighborhood, it became an "out of sight, out of mind" situation. When my wife mentioned her friend's recommendation, we finally decided to give it a try. This visit was takeout, but after stepping inside, we're already looking forward to dining in. The dining room and patio felt warm, inviting, and welcoming--exactly the kind of place you want to spend an evening with friends and family. The NOTORIOUS P.I.E. was off the hook! Slam dunk. Three-pointer. Nothing but net! Without question, it's the best pizza I've had in Santa Barbara. As a chef from Chicago, I have very high pizza expectations. Let's start with the crust: a light, airy, chewy interior surrounded by a crispy, caramelized cheese crust that was perfectly executed. The pepperoni was crisp and slightly salty without being greasy. The house-made tomato sauce was restrained and unobtrusive--just enough to complement the mozzarella, white cheddar, and burrata without overpowering them. The only thing I would change is that it was a little heavy on the pickled chiles. But the pièce de résistance was the hot honey drizzle. It brought everything together and elevated an already outstanding pizza to another level. We also ordered a Caesar salad, but honestly, we couldn't stop eating the pizza long enough to give the salad the attention it deserved. The romaine appeared fresh and crisp, the dressing was thoughtfully packed on the side, and it looked well prepared. We'll definitely be back. If this pizza is any indication of what The Corner Tap is capable of, I can't wait to work my way through the rest of the menu--and next time, enjoy it from that welcoming patio with a cold drink in hand.

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.

I made an itinerary for my birthday trip to Santa Barbara and even though I planned out every…read moresingle detail, we still managed to accidentally stumble upon this absolute gem by total surprise! We left completely and totally in love with this spot. The food was out of this world incredible, the service was welcoming and neighborly, and the decor was so tastefully unique. I can't get over this place; I crave it all of the time, and I am seriously wishing we lived in Santa Barbara just so we could be daily locals at The Cruisery. We went in for happy hour and ordered just about everything on the menu because the tapas selection is where it is at. I realized we ordered every single one; we couldn't help it because everything we tried was spectacular! The absolute standouts that we kept ordering over and over again were the Elote Cups, which are essentially esquites served in a clever, edible tortilla bowl, the Bacon Poppers, which are cream cheese-stuffed jalapeños wrapped in crispy bacon, and the Riding a Pig, which is smoky BBQ pork with a perfect, crunchy slaw served on bread. Since we had been wine tasting all day, I switched over to a few rounds of their refreshing sangria, while my husband stuck to their beer and absolutely loved the unique craft selection they have on tap. As a huge bonus for pup parents, even though we did not have our dog with us this time, Santa Barbara is incredibly pet-friendly, and this place goes above and beyond. We saw they provide actual dog treats and fresh water bowls for the fur babies. Next time we visit, our pup is definitely coming with us. Don't do what I did and leave your itinerary to chance. Make this a planned stop on your next trip, order a drink, get the entire tapas menu, and thank me later!

One of my favorite bars in SB!…read more Of course, it's bike themed, so there's bike decor, it's a little darker during the evening time. They also serve food here as well. I haven't had any complaints about service, they're usually communicative and will get to you as quick as possible. There are paid parking lots nearby (free after 12a and free street parking nearby). I'd come with friends when they hosted bingo nights and when they have happy hour. During the bingo nights, you have the opportunity to win free drinks and some other prizes. For drinks, I highly recommend the tangerine spritz, Jamaican 10 speed, scooby snack shooter, or the red sangria!