Great cocktails, great spot with Excellent customer service…read more It has good atmosphere , we were there after Happy Hour on a First Thursday and the band playing jazz was a lot of fun. Right next to the Granada Theater Downtown Santa Barbara

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.

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.

Amazing Eggs Benedict! Breakfast potatoes are sliced thin and are soooo yummy! Great view…read more Lovely interior, too.

Really fresh & delicious!…read more Came on a whim for lunch, got the CEVICHE to start and the SALMON as my main & both were so delicious. The salmon was cooked perfectly - maybe the best I've ever had..... 10/10 recommend for a lovely lunch & view.

I live close by and haven't been there in years. Boy they…read morefixed this place up! Brand new diamond pool tables, super nice knowledgeable staff. Great drinks and affordable prices. I'll definitely be back!!

My lady and I were vacationing in Santa Barbara and the Goleta areas. We are karaoke fans and…read moredecided to look for a place closer to our hotel. Notown Tavern popped up in the search. We were pleased that they do karaoke on Monday night! So we give it a try and we were beyond pleased. Chip at the bar keeps it nice and neat, great execution in the drinks as well as his singing! For Big Joe the KJ great kudos as well. He runs a good show, very inviting and engaging. The local regulars were also very nice people, like Mo #1. We didn't try the food but surely will do in our next visit. Thanks guys for making our night memorable!

First time at this restaurant and we loved it. Great food, lovely atmosphere and excellent service…read more Cole was our server and he was great! Very friendly, attentive and efficient. Several other staff members checked on us on their way by our table. Loved our experience and will be back.

I would like to be able to recommend this restaurant because it's very cute and the bartender was…read moreso friendly, but overall it was a disappointment. The food is so-so. I tried the Cali Hummus, shrimp quesadilla and chicken tacos while staying at the hotel the restaurant is in. The tacos were pretty good, but the pita bread with the hummus was burned and the quesadilla was lacking seasoning. The margarita on Margarita Monday was quite good though, so maybe just grab a drink before going elsewhere for food. The biggest problem though is that they don't open on time and the service is overall really spotty. One morning I was down for breakfast 30 mins after they should have opened and the front desk told me it could be 30 mins more because they were still waiting for someone to show up. The next time I tried to do breakfast they were open, but after standing around for a few minutes with nobody in sight, I decided to try something else. Fortunately there are some good options in walking distance. Sunshine cafe and Lighthouse coffee were both enjoyable.

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

We came to Haskell's Poolside Bar a couple of times during our stay. It has nice outdoor tables, a…read morevery fun vibe, and it is dog friendly. Service was wonderful. Both times Monica was the lady that helped us, and she is a true gem. Quick, attentive and super sweet. Food was surprisingly good. Hubby had the club sandwich and I had the hummus platter, and both were very tasty. The hummus was super flavorful, and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Easy to stop by while taking a stroll around the resort and have a couple of cocktails with snacks. So relaxing. Thank you Monica!

This is the bar that supplies the pool…read more The drinks are as good as they could possibly be while being served in a clear plastic cup. Haha! The food is great! Club sandwich is outstanding! Fries are great too. The chips and salsa are good for not being at a Mexican restaurant. Guacamole held its own. Great service as you would expect. They don't charge you the service fee, even though it says so on the menu. The views from the pool up at the surrounding buildings and down to the ocean are spectacular! Only downside for me are the Pepsi Products!! I like Coke and hate Pepsi. Amazing you can't get a Coke on the entire property.

Marisella in Santa Barbara was one of the highlights of our weekend trip at the Ritz Carlton. The…read morerestaurant is located along the coast, and the atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed. We had gone there to celebrate our anniversary, and it was such a great spot. We timed our reservation perfectly so that we were able to see the sunset over the ocean. As if that wasn't enough, we also spotted little bunnies hopping through the plants, which made my 6-year-old daughter's evening. She couldn't stop smiling! The meal started with complimentary fresh tomatoes served with an incredible seasoned salt for dipping. My daughter couldn't get enough of it. The house-made focaccia was easily one of the best breads I've ever had. Warm, fluffy, and paired with the whipped ricotta, it was absolutely amazing. If you come here, this is a MUST to order. We also shared the Festa Del Mar, which was packed with fresh seafood and was a very generous portion - perfect for sharing. The roasted carrots were also good. For drinks, we tried the Siren of the Sea, Intermezzo, and the Marisella Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was served with a beautiful monogrammed ice cube featuring an "M." All the drinks were good and they did not hold back on the alcohol. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, friendly, and super nice throughout the evening. He even offered to take our picture at the table and did such a great job at it too. The service definitely matched the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back here the next time we're in Santa Barbara. I'm still craving that house-made focaccia and the whipped ricotta. Soooo good!

Rating: 6/10…read more Ambiance is gorgeous, with a beautiful ocean view and great romantic lighting. However, service was severely lacking and slow, and the food was expensive for the portions and not the best. We ordered the focaccia with whipped ricotta, crudo, spicy rigatoni, and clam pasta. The focaccia was warm and crispy and contrasted well with the creamy, cheesy ricotta. The crudo was the best item and was fresh and well-seasoned. Pastas were underwhelming. Super small portions (we probably had about 2-3 mouthfuls per person per dish) for the price point. The rigatoni was slightly bland and could've used more salt, but the spice was perfect as someone who likes spicy foods. The clam pasta was a good lighter option but could have used more umami taste. Service was also really slow, which staff did tell us was due to them being understaffed. Overall, we paid $140 before tax for this meal, and it didn't fill us up. Gorgeous venue but I don't think I'd recommend this place as a must-visit restaurant in SB.