Yum! We came on Indian night and it was fantastic, the food and the service. I got the cauliflower…read morecurry which came with a side of rice and homemade naan. They have a great wine selection as well. Others should definitely come here!

I sat down outside, and it has been 7 minutes, yet no one has asked me if I need a menu…read more 10min... We shall wait and see how much longer it takes before I get noticed. Other patrons were asked if they needed anything.. twice. Finally, I flagged down the waitress for a menu and was guided inside to order my food. I opted for the anniversary special: potatoes, corn, shrimp, and a sweet wine. The owner was a little taken aback when he received a notification about my low-star review. I expressed that it was me, and to help him understand better, I explained the reason why. What was very unprofessional was that he verbalized this to the table next to me, revealing exactly what had happened and who had rated his establishment with low stars. Food 3/5 Music 5/5 Cleaningness 5/5 Customer Service 3/5 (May some improvement/ $7 tip for the Hostess,who finally attended me :) Sofie As I read the response from the owner I'm baffled..so from 3 stars to 1 stars . To say I used profanity, for what reason ?, however I did give a tip .Sir you have a bad temper. I didn't check in with anyone because no one was there and when I asked for a menu, 10 minutes later I was told the Menu for food was Inside. This is when you greeted me with a smile did you not forget. It's ok my review will stay and no I didn't just come to review, I wanted to yelp an eatery and I chose your establishment, I spent well over $40. Your passive aggressiveness shows.

Fantastic little wine tasting room up the street from Chumash casino. We popped in to escape the…read morelocal heat and sample their offerings. We actually had the entire room to ourself and we were surprised to see they had so many games to offer as well. Super relaxed vibe and we enjoyed all the wines. A/C was awesome too if you are hot and need a cool down. Great music. Cute patio outside with couches for cooler days too. For sure stop in and grab a sandwich at Bakers Table next door too!

This is the place to come if you like Cabernet Franc. Carr makes several every year. each one is…read moregreat!! 5 for the Cab Franc!! I feel bad giving only 2 this trip. The only reason that Carr gets 2 stars is because of the tasting room staff lady, Christina. It was not busy while we were there. One person was sitting at the counter and no one else except for my party. Christina was not friendly. She just poured our wine, told us what the varietal was, and walked away. I felt like we were interrupting her work day. Although, her work was to engage with her customer, us. If she continues like this, the Carr business isn't going to be in Santa Ynez anymore.

Food was fresh seafoods & great ambience. Service very good; friendly & attentive! I shall return…read morewhen I go back to Solvang

The only time I seem to go for Happy Hour these days is when I am out of town. Actually, staying in…read moreSolvang this time around meant no driving required, so first stop, HH at Mad and Vin inside the Landsby Hotel Every item we ordered was on point. Between the olive and fig bruschetta and Santa Ynez sliders with duck fries so good, I should've ordered a full order of those fries, to go with that Chata-tini of rum, horchata, cream, cinnamon, my only regret is not returning the next day for dinner.

After being pretty disappointed with our experience at a nearby tiki bar, we were heading back to…read moreour Airbnb when we stumbled across Lost Chord Guitars. Talk about a happy accident. We were lucky enough to catch the last two songs of ZB Savoy before they wrapped up for the night, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. The interior is awesome--guitars everywhere, great artwork, photography on the walls, and a vibe that immediately makes you want to hang out a little longer. It feels part music venue, part gallery, and part neighborhood hangout. The service was nothing but friendly from the moment we walked in. We grabbed a beer, which was cold and crisp, and noticed they also had a solid wine selection. If you're in Solvang and looking for something a little different from the typical tourist stops, I highly recommend checking this place out. Great atmosphere, friendly people, and live music to top it off. Can't wait to come back on our next trip.

Had a great time and met some great people Lost Chord! Teresa and Chris were great hosts. Looking…read moreforward to our next trip and see some great live music!

The Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe has a name that seriously undersells what is happening…read moreinside. It sounds like a place where you buy a bottle, eat three responsible almonds, and leave. Instead, they are serving some of the most satisfying farm food in town while the name stands outside pretending this is all perfectly ordinary. The building feels old in the right way. Not fake old, where someone bought distressed wood last Tuesday and charged it with having memories. It feels like locals have been wandering in from nearby vineyards, ranches, farms, and homes for years, sitting down without needing to study the room first. The tourists discover it. The locals appear to already have a system. The focaccia arrived soft in the middle with a crisp little edge that made tearing into it far more entertaining than bread has any right to be. The olive oil tasted raw, green, and incredibly fresh, as though the olives had been pressed somewhere nearby and were still slightly annoyed about it. The vegetables come from the restaurant's own farm just down the road, and they looked almost suspiciously healthy. Bright, crunchy, colorful, and full of life. Most restaurant vegetables sit beside the meat like nervous witnesses. These had confidence, opinions, and possibly retirement plans. The burrata was creamy and uncomplicated, with excellent olive oil doing what excellent olive oil does, which is make you briefly consider whether bread, cheese, and oil might be enough to sustain human civilization. The skirt steak was beautifully cooked and full of flavor. Every cow only has one skirt, which seems like a design flaw considering how many people want to order it. The vegetables alongside it were not there to provide moral balance. They were good enough to start arguments over who got the last one. My mushroom ravioli was exactly right. No puddle of oil. No cream sauce trying to bury the evidence. No pasta cooked to the consistency of a damp envelope. It was rich, earthy, and satisfying, with every bite feeling complete rather than simply preparing you for the next one. The wine wall is practically a geography lesson with alcohol. Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Paso Robles, Napa, France, Italy, and enough local bottles to make you wonder whether every nearby hill has quietly started producing wine. The wines we tried were approachable and easygoing. They joined dinner politely instead of barging in and demanding we admire their résumé. We finished with crème brûlée, which remains one of the few desserts that begins with minor property damage. Cracking through the warm sugar into the cool butterscotch custard underneath is childish, elegant, and deeply satisfying. Marcos was upbeat, knowledgeable, and clearly knew the menu well enough to recommend it without sounding like he had memorized a hostage statement. The whole evening felt relaxed, local, and completely unforced. This is the kind of restaurant where you finish dinner, walk outside, and immediately start wondering what time they open tomorrow.

The Wine Merchant is a nice wine country restaurant on the main drag in Los Olivos. Had dinner here…read moreafter a day of tasting. The restaurant decor is nice, though nothing special, with a sizeable patio for outdoor dining. We started with a couple of local wines by the glass. The wine list here is heavily biased towards local wines as one would expect from a wine country restaurant. Kudos for the local focus! The menu here is wine country, farm-to-table and the restaurant even has their own organic farm a short distance away where they source ingredients. For dinner we started with the beet salad special served over a citrus yogurt. For main courses we had the grilled rack of lamb and a quinoa bowl with salmon. Every dish was expertly prepared and delicious. The fruits and veggies were exceptionally fresh being sourced directly. David was our server and coincidentally was our server at a wine tasting earlier in the day. His service and that from the supporting team were professional and friendly. I give this restaurant my highest recommendation!

One thing we quickly noticed in Solvang is that there aren't many places open late, so finding High…read moreRoller Tiki Lounge open until 11 PM was a huge plus! After a delicious dinner nearby, we stopped in for drinks, live music, and a good time and this place delivered. They had a great live band playing fun tunes that really set the atmosphere. The vibe was relaxed, lively, and exactly what we were looking for to end the night. Their drink menu is packed with creative and fun options. I ordered the Mango Michelada, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Our waiter was also fantastic, very attentive, friendly, and kept checking in on us throughout the night. If you're in Solvang and looking for a fun late-night spot with good drinks, music, and great service, High Roller Tiki Lounge is definitely worth stopping

Don't judge this place as soon a you walk in. Like any tiki bar worth its weight, you are…read moreimmediately brought back to a darker sitting area filled with kitchy tiki decor and presented with a long list of available drinks. They have all the typical tiki fare, plus fun new ones to try! As a Vegas local, I loved to see the tribute drink to Frankie's Tiki Room too! Of course, everything comes served in a fun cup with a photo worthy presentation. The gentleman that served us was helpful and our service from him was great. I removed 1 star for the younger person who was behind the bar when we left and were trying to pay. To start, he seemed annoyed by a large group that walked in and was deciding if they wanted to stay. It also rubbed me wrong when he was loudly talking with someone at the bar about beliefs that might not be considered kind to some potential customers. Overall, didn't ruin the experience as it was a small part of it, and I would still recommend visiting this unique spot!

I am known for many things (some good, some bad, some pretty, some ugly - but I digress); with one…read morebeing my obsession with all things medieval. In fact, I professionally moonlight as Historian specializing in medieval English history! This means that I am a sucker for anything reminding of the time period; making the Santa Barbara-adjacent Danish city of Solvang right up my alley with its medieval storybook streets/architecture. Among the many spots in Solvang that make my heart go pitter-patter is The Good Life: a cellar wine/ale/tavern- bar. Grab your favorite wench and come along to grab a pint... Stroll down Mission Drive in the famous Danish city of Solvang and you will be delighted to venture upon The Good Life that appears to pop out of a medieval history book with exposed wooden beans, plaster exterior walls and an entrance that resides at basement level (they don't call it a cellar bar for nothing!). Owned by a husband-wife team with extensive hospitality and restaurant experience under their belts in 2012; the charm of The Good Life is instantaneous and perfect for a gal like me obsessed with this sort of thing. Prepare to be instantly transported into the 15th century! Once you cross the threshold of The Good Life, the Shakesperean feel continues but is also modernized with a glowing fireplace, plush arm chairs and high bar tables (plus bar seating) and floor to ceiling wine racks. The Good Life is a perfect ratio of Solvang tradition with hints of romance making it ideal for a casual beverage, tourist pop-in or memorable date night drink. The latter is exactly how my boyfriend and I happened to come across The Good Life as we were visiting Solvang from Los Angeles for the city's Christmas-time Julefest. We had just spent the evening making holiday memories among the city's Christmas trees, twinkling lights and sugary delights. Post Danish-dinner, we decided to wrap up our forever-Solvang memory with a drink at The Good Life. We were immediately greeted by the male manning The Good Life without any attitude or distaste towards us for coming in as he was preparing to close for the evening. If he was upset with us in any way - he certainly didn't show it! The Good Life features an amazing menu of local and international wines, beers, ales, meads, ciders, and ports that make The Good Life feel fancy-schmancy and artisan; but also, neighborhood friendly for your favorite hipster or friend next door. My boyfriend and I shared a cider (I wish I remembered the specific one but alas my memory evades me) while enjoying the atmosphere of warmth at The Good Life. Other customers sat in the plush chairs with notepads and tarot cards, an older couple arrived to cap off the evening and I enjoyed the view of my boyfriend in a medieval-Danish inspired cellar bar. The Good Life is standout at accommodating to all customers and making sure no one feels out of place. A bountiful tip as important as the bosom of a medieval bar wench: the bathroom at The Good Life is labeled as 'Office'. Don't worry, you won't walk in on someone preparing accounting books and the only business happening behind this door involves you and your private matters. The Good Life is delightful and unique but doesn't just stop there: it also differentiates itself with a truly impressive alcohol selection that allows you to be introduced to local, national, Danish and international bevies you have surely not tried prior. The Good Life is recommended for a drink on your next trip to the tourist-friendly city of Solvang. Even if you aren't pretending to be in medieval times...

My favorite bar and wine tasting downtown…read more Our server was super friendly and really took the time to tell us about each drink as he poured. The location is 21 and over which creates a really relaxing atmosphere. The drinks were so good we even bought a bottle to take home.

We jumped from wine tasting to Come here cause Ryan Sent us here from Folded Hills. He simply said…read moretell them Ryan sent you and BAM we were in. The owner was really nice and let us come in and explained how to become a member and all that good stuff. It def was a fun Speakeasy cause you don't know it's there unless you know what to look for because as you enter it's just a store that sells beer and snacks and that all. They have different varieties of beer here for purchase as well. As we came in the vibes are so chill not a very big place but enough to come hang with friends and have a beer on tap. They have an outdoor patio with heaters and TV's to catch a game as well. They sell some snacks but you are able to bring your own food which is really neat. Their beer selection was great and just loved every corner and wall of this place. List of history, fun displays and fun souvenirs for purchase. Def coming back here we loved it!

Food: 0/5 Service: 4/5…read moreAmbiance: 5/5 Parking: 3/5 Family friendly: 4/5 Stroller friendly: 3/5 ADA accessible: 3/5 Initially, I set out to go to Solvang Brewery, but they were closed. So I ended up just walking a bit farther to find a place to finish up some work on a Friday evening. Enter, Backroom Brewery. It's almost like a nondescript main entrance, like a store front where to go beers are sold. But then real through the store towards the back; voila the bar and patio. The vibe is super chill. There are a multitude of other breweries drafts on tap so that's great. Prices are a tad higher than what I've paid but it's a tourist area so it is what it is. Come check their place out when you get a chance!

This is a really good place to get an oak smoked steak right off of their Santa Maria Grill. The…read morefood here is good, and I absolutely love the taste of the oak that screams Central Coast. (If you sit in the middle of the easternmost dining room you'll have a great view of it.) I've had numerous steaks, their pork chops, lamb, and quail and it's all delicious. Right now I am absolutely in love with their duck. It's really good. The wines here are great as well. They make their own wines, and specialize in Pinot (their Big Circle Syrah is pretty good too). They really care about their wines and it's very apparent in their taste. The service here is excellent as well. This is an amazing place that we make sure to visit every time we're in town.

For the last 40 years, the Hitching Post has been a Buellton institution, serving oak grilled…read moresteaks "West Coast BBQ" style and their own wines. Like many people I heard about it because of the movie Sideways with Paul Giamatti. Despite its notoriety, this place feels authentic and hasn't been over taken by the fame monster...not in the slightest. They just offer great food, great service, and great wines. For all the hype, this place was better than I expected. The patio views out back were sweeping, and I highly recommend coming here when it's still light out (lunch or an early dinner) so you can see what I mean. The views were better than the scenery at some of the winery vineyards in the area. For lunch, I took the recommendation of the worker and got "the best thing on the menu" which was their steak and caramelized onion sandwich. I dont normally order this kind of thing but she convinced me of it and I am glad I listened to her. It was juicy and savory, and the steak was so nicely seasoned. Whenever I've gotten a steak or beef sandwich before usually you have to dip it in au jus bc it's on the dry side, but this was not the case at all here. There was no aioli or sauce to drown out or hide the quality of the meat. It was perfection. We also tried the grilled chicken sandwich which also was beautifully seasoned and slightly blackened and had the juiciest tomato with it. Overall: a very simple lunch but done extremely well, with the best outdoor views in town. As a bonus, birders may appreciate seeing the occasional hawk high overhead or the abundant Blue Jays on the patio. Ample parking on sight.

This was a quick stop on our way to Big Sur. We used to frequent the Santa Ynez Valley but hadn't…read morein a while. We found Stica via Yelp and decided to stop by with our dog. Thankfully they had plenty of patio seating. We ordered the mortadella sandwich, the proscuitto and tomato panini, a slice of the Scarpetta and a protein bowl for later. To say the mortadella sandwich hit the spot would be an understatement. It was probably my favorite mortadella sandwich I'd ever had, including the cracker like "bread" it came on. I still think about it from time to time, a month later. Nothing we got disappointed. The pizza was also top notch but what really kicked everything up was the little side of Calabrian chili paste they give you with the sandwiches. The folks were nice and friendly. Definitely a great stop for us and would 10/10 come back if we were in the area. Check it out!

Come here and support them, you won't regret it! Pizza is super light and crispy. The mortadella…read moresandwich also had perfect balance between all ingredients. Definitely a must stop next time we're in Solvang again.