The Good Lion is my go to whenever I'm downtown. They always nail it when it comes to creative cocktails. 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. read more

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STEPH JUDGEMENT: Cool artsy bar with great cocktails. 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. read more

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Trendy place with excellent cocktails. Very casual Downtown night vibes. The old fashion is my husbands go to drink other than wine. The B&B old fashioned was very good! read more

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What a great place. Drinks and atmosphere are awesome. Great place to chill. I would recommend it to anyone visiting Santa Barbara. read more

The Good Lion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Although the cocktail menu seems limited ... you can ask for your favorite ... and they will gladly make it if they have the ingredients. Fun place with limited outside seating. We will go back. read more

The ambiance and the room feels great.The service at the bar was excellent. It is a cocktail bar, The demographic is on the younger side. My beef: your white wine offerings are sauvignon blanc and prosecco. Nothing wrong with a good sauvignon blanc, but prosecco, please. A chardonnay might be a nice addition. You are in wine country. read more

Scram! Says the bartender. Scram! Kinda funny coming from a young girl who started the night rude and ended the night rude. My friends and I were at the Good Lion for a birthday and mind you ordered a few pilsners (not the specialty cocktails they're used to, but still fairly easy so they could get to the other orders) and planted to a little corner where we could catch up. Within an hour of being there the lights came on and this little brunette was screaming "last call, scram" and giggling to her not-so-cool-cool staff. Just immature and annoyed is how I'd call the staff. Tolerable if you're younger. Not so tolerant if you're headed to the Granada or Arlington. Meh, as they say. read more

The Good Lion is hands-down one of the best cocktail spots in Santa Barbara, and a huge part of that is Edgar. Absolute legend behind the bar. He takes incredible care of us every time welcoming, attentive, and clearly passionate about what he does. The cocktails are consistently some of the best in town! Edgar always knows exactly what to recommend and somehow makes every visit feel like you're a regular, even if it's been a minute. If you're going to The Good Lion, sit at the bar and let Edgar do his thing. You won't be disappointed. read more

The Good Lion - Edgar - Ken-tiki Kentucky - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The drinks here are great and average priced. Stopped by here after grabbing dinner next door on Friday evening. The tables were a bit dirty, i asked for a napkin to wipe down but still left sticky. Other than that, it was a good experience. read more

The Good Lion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Good Lion is a contemporary, "green-certified" craft cocktail bar located in the Theater & Arts District of downtown Santa Barbara. Known for its intimate, "speakeasy" vibe and inventive mixology, it is a popular spot for dates or a pre-show drink next to the Granada Theatre. Sleek and dimly lit with plush leather banquettes, local artwork, and a sophisticated "American Riviera" design. It features a cozy, lamp-lit interior that feels like a secret library or upscale lounge. The beverage program features a weekly rotating menu driven by seasonal, organic produce from local farms. While primarily a cocktail bar, they offer a curated selection of tapas and snacks, often sourced from their partner restaurants. read more

What a great find! Like a hidden gem on State street in downtown Santa Barbara! Nested on state street right next to the Granada theater is this unique bar! This is almost like a speakeasy but out in the open! A cool place to just kick back in a relax environment with some solid cocktails that are very well balanced! Note only drinks at this establishment! You can get traditional cocktails or unique ones offered at this establishment! This establishment has a few tables that line the windows inside along state street. Plus a couple tucked on the side and some bar stools. Truly a cool environment with decorations and sophisticated environment. A perfect place to go before dinner or a show. Note: this bar is part of a hospitality group thus they have other establishments to visit. Each with their own unique vibe. read more

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Bartender chesco was very fun and welcoming per usual whenever my boyfriend and I want to go out for some nice delicious drinks! He never fails to make an amazing cocktail!! read more

Our favorite bar in the world! My husband and I are huge cocktail connoisseurs. We've been to over 30 countries, and honestly, we always gravitate back to The Good Lion. The technique from these bartenders is so unique, the vibe is sexy, and the drinks are consistently amazing every time we visit. This time, I stuck with a classic gin martini, but their Kentucky Mule is also incredible. It has a little spice to it that makes it stand out. Feels like a speak easy vibes, you can either sit/stand inside or sit outside on State Street. read more

The Good Lion - Gin martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Quality of drinks 10/10| Price of drinks 10/10 | Ambiance 10/10 For about $15 a drink, the cocktails are incredible and top notch. They really put the effort into the crafting of their drinks and it isn't just some new out of bartending school textbook cocktails. These are fine tuned down to the ingredients. Please walk in to the bar, grab a menu, order your drink, and then sit anywhere you can find. Hope this tip helps anxious people like myself! read more

One of the best bars you'll ever visit. The owners are wonderful people and the staff is always on point. It would be tough to find a more knowledgeable staff and better vibe than The Good Lion. read more

Came here at the recommendation of the bartender at Dusk, and it did not disappoint. Craft cocktails and amazing decor. Quiet enough at happy hour to hang out and talk. Loved their fizz drink and their seasonal cocktail. We would come back here again. read more

The Good Lion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Lauren and Griffin are brilliant. They can make any drink you can think of, or pretty close to it. Give them a raise!

Lauren was our bartender and gave us great recommendations. The east side was one of the most delicious cocktails I have ever had. We also loved the espresso martini and the tangerine spritz. The ambiance was wonderful- it's not too loud, I love when I can still hear the person I am with at a bar! Highly recommend this spot. read more

The Good Lion - Tangerine spritz, espresso martini, and east side - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Never been one for an old fashion but it was my drink of the month. After extensive amounts of trial and error I found my go to specs!! Chesco'$ old fashion rye cognac is a must! Will definitely be going back this weekend for my fix. read more

Very attractive cocktail bar right across from The Arlington Theatre. The cocktail menu has interesting choices. I had a craving for a Pisco Sour which was not on the menu but the bartender offered to make me one & then he realized he was out of egg whites. He made a version of the drink that was pretty good. My only complaint or warning to anyone is check your bill. I only had one drink and he charged me for two. read more

Stayed the night in Santa Barbara and there was not much to do but this bar was lively with people. They had a holiday menu and their drinks were delicious! I had a fun time! read more

I haven't been to this cool little bar in years. It's still great. My cocktail wasn't as great as I wanted it to be but it was nice & balanced. Cheers! read more

The Good Lion - Jaguar moon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This is my favorite place to go to for cocktails and ambience. Meg is the absolute best if you have the pleasure of having her as your bartender you got lucky! She is a connoisseur of crafted cocktails and will guide you to the right drink for you. read more

I've been here plenty of times, and I can easily say Jenna is the reason I keep coming back! Be careful, her million dollar smile and endless charisma will charm you. She's never missed on a cocktail or a story... read more

Jenna makes a fantastic spicy margarita! Awesome service and music choice, love the ambiance.

I love the ambience of this bar -- the super low lighting really sets the perfect vibe. The service is excellent, and if you happen to meet a bartender named Edgar, definitely ask him for local recommendations. He shared some really cool spots around town that are worth checking out. read more

Ask for Edgar! service was attentive without being overbearing, and the vibe felt classy but relaxed. Definitely one of my favorite spots for a quality drink. I'll be back. read more

Was expecting more from this place. The tables were all dirty, it didn't really feel like a speakeasy and the drinks were forgetful. Service was decent. read more

The Good Lion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I stopped in here recently on a Friday after work and it was so fun! Definitely seems like a popular spot right on State Street next to the Granada Theater. The bartenders were both very attentive and immediately caught our attention to take our order. They had a great menu of options, including seasonal drinks to choose from. I opted for a gin cocktail from the seasonal menu. Such a great time sitting outside and people watching. They do have indoor seating too. read more

The Good Lion - Gin Seasonal Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Drinks were really amazing and they'll let you bring in the Mexican food from the restaurant across the street. Service was awesome. Crowd was probably the best looking I saw in Santa Barbara that weekend. Just an awesome experience. read more

I am a local and have been here countless times. The lack of options for beer and wine is honestly ridiculous. But if you're into the craft cocktails I can see the appeal. The vibe and decor are great, however last night my two girlfriends and myself went in for a couple night caps to end our 45th birthdays and we could not have been more disappointed. The two young ladies working the bar were dismissive, rude and outright ignorant. You have three 45 year old local women with money to spend, and you treated us as if we were trash. Completely ignored us, then acted annoyed when we ordered two beers and a vodka soda. Last call was called while I was in the bathroom (at 12:20) so I came right out and asked for one last round and to close out my tab. She acted as if I asked her to solve work peace. Annoyed because you had to open me a beer? Then told me I had to go ask the other bartender if if she could make me a vodka soda. Then acted annoyed that I asked if I was going to be charged for the cocktail if she said no? Really? By this time it was 12:26. On a Friday night. What a shame. I hope the owner knows who he's hired. Never again. read more

Love this place!!! What can I say? From the minute I walked in, I loved the vibe. It's pretty much my fave bar and its location is perfect right next to the Granada. The drinks are epic and bartenders are excellent! Even found out they have a happy hour at 5 perfect timing after work! read more

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10 years since opening and good lion is still the best cocktail bar in SB! I love watching the bartenders make the drinks while sitting at the bar. They have creative seasonal menu but you can also ask for their classic menu. The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are reasonably priced. It's the perfect stop before or after dinner. read more

The Good Lion - Pisco sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Ambiance is lovely for a date. Prices are so reasonable and how much cocktails should be priced anywhere nice. Drinks were delicious.

This is an awesome bar! Staff is friendly and quick! They have pretty good happy hour drink specials to enjoy after work! The bartenders can make all the classics. Their old fashioned is my favorite! They have a small outdoor seating area that is dog friendly! read more

The Good Lion - Old Fashioned! Love the ice! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I was looking for somewhere to get an expresso martinii! Stumbled upon this place and so glad we did! It was absolutely delicious and we loved the aesthetic. Our bartender was also very sweet and helpful. read more

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We stopped here for a quick cocktail after having dinner at Barbareña. A friend mistakenly told us it was only wine and beer but it turned out it was mostly cocktails! I prefer sweet drinks over non-sweet so I opted for the first drink on the menu, which had gin, almond, lemon, and a few other flavors. It was good but actually TOO sweet for me. One of my colleagues got the last drink listed on the menu and it came with some chocolates from 24 Blackbirds, which we visited earlier in the day, and some salt, which was interesting. On a Wednesday night it was about half full, which was nice because although it wasn't quiet, I could still hear and converse with my colleagues. read more

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This is my go-to cocktail bar when I visit Santa Barbara! This intimate lounge serves high quality drinks on a rotating menu to provide their customers (me) with a difficulty decision every time they visit. I greatly enjoy visiting to see what new concoctions they put together, and it feels like a great spot to grab a drink before or after dinner right along State St. I highly recommend! read more

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Really cute cocktail lounge. The bartender was really sweet and quick. This was my first time here and I will definitely be going back.

Beautiful bar right on state street. The front has large bay windows so you can't miss it. They had holiday speciality cocktails and their other drinks were great as well. Definitely a booster in mood after the awful pizza down the street. Kylie was super kind and informative while serving us. Highly recommended! read more

The Good Lion - Coco Nog - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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