Second place we visited this week to try some wine…read more Great outdoor patio with lots of seating, nice vibe. I am not a white wine fan, but we did like some of their whites. Red wine was decent, we had a grenache, a syrah and some blend. Not blow your socks off kind of wine, but decent and fun vibe and staff were pleasant and seemed happy to be there. Would recommend to friends visiting the SB area.

Frequency has a wonderful outdoor patio, fantastic wines and great service. Our server really took…read moreit over the top with her friendly manner. We were seated in a prime spot next to their fountain and ordered 2 tasting flights. To get the tasting flights comp'd, you need to purchase 2 bottles of wine. That's a bit steep as some places will comp it with 1 bottle. Nonetheless, our server had the perfect pacing for the tasting and even gave us a little extra sip at the end for our photo. I truly enjoyed every wine that we tried. They have a small charcuterie or potato chip offering that comes from the nearby cheese store.

This winery was such a fun and adorable spot! The atmosphere was lively and inviting, with games to…read moreplay and even dogs inside, which made it feel relaxed and perfect for hanging out. It's definitely a great place to gather with friends and just enjoy the moment. Their frozen drinks were amazing. We had such a great time and would absolutely come back!

My friends and I love coming here to enjoy some froses, chats, and fun games whenever we are in…read moretown! It's a super relaxed bar that does serve full entrees (food is from the cruisery) so it's definitely a great place to go with friends. Happy to see all of the changes throughout the years and that it is still a staple of SB. I just had the pineapple cherry frose and honestly I enjoyed it even more than the years of having their lavender frose. It's not as sweet and more fruity which I think is just more personably enjoyable for me.

I've been wanting to stop in and try Pali Wine for quite some time. We found ourselves in Santa…read moreBarbara on New Year's Eve and we decided to stop in for a glass of bubbly. Taylor and Joe were both so helpful and let us try anything we would like. We bought a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir from 2021. I follow a girl that is married to the owners daughter and it's been so fun to see the journey of this wine company up until now. They have got a nice selection of natural and regular wines. Some lovely bubbly wines. The entire experience was excellent from start to finish. Don't miss Pali!

My partner and I recently visited this wine tasting establishment and while the venue itself is…read morebeautiful and the live music created a great atmosphere, our overall experience was unfortunately very disappointing due to poor service and presentation. We had a series of issues from the start. Our assigned waiter was completely inattentive; he ignored our table, failed to check on us, and never brought the cheese board we ordered. We eventually had to flag down another member of the staff just to get any service at all. Even after we caught his attention, our server seemed aware of us but made no effort to approach or assist. Additionally, the wait time for our wine flights was excessively long. When the cheese board finally arrived, I was shocked to find that all three cheeses were served still inside their original plastic wrappers--not even sliced. To make matters worse, we were provided with plastic knives to cut the cheese ourselves, which was incredibly difficult and frustrating. I have never encountered a cheese board served this way at any establishment. I really wanted to enjoy this visit, and I want to give credit to the other waitresses who were working that day--they were great and were the only saving grace of the experience. However, the lack of basic service and the bizarre presentation of the food made this a trip I wouldn't recommend

Not the first and definitely not the last we'll be here. Stumbled upon Aperitivo a few years ago,…read moreand it was some of the best and most authentic Italian food I'd ever had (even before knowing what real Italian food tasted like). Now that I've come back from Italy, I have a greater appreciation for Aperitivo and what it stands for. Definitely fell in love with the concept of aperitivo in Italy, and this restaurant really embodies that concept. Sat down and got myself a Negroni. It was pretty damn good and close to what a real negroni would taste like if it had Campari. Was pleasantly surprised that they gave us snacks on the side (in true spirit of aperitivo) and then proceeded to crush some crudo and mortadella sandwich. Afterwards, ended the night off with delicious affogato. Really brought me back to my time in Italy. The menu is always fresh and seasonal, so there's always something new to look forward to. Will definitely be back.

Aperitivo is the place you come to for flavorful light bites and cocktails when you need to unwind,…read morebefore a night out on the town, a concert or catching up with friends. I'm still thinking of the pistachio gelato here. Hands down the best pistachio flavored gelato in town! I love how they served it with pieces of pistachio. First bite was heavenly. Sometimes you can't really taste the pistachio in a gelato, but clearly they've nailed it here. For eats, I tried the Crème di Carciofi. It's marinated artichoke and fava bean spread, confit garlic, pine nuts, mint, and olive oil. Served with toasted bread. This was excellent! It's comparable to hummus, but with a totally different flavor profile. Easily serves 2-3 people. I also ordered the Crudo. It was light, delicate and so fresh! This one is not shareable because it's too delicious to share. For cocktails you can't go wrong with a Spritz. I tried the Torino Spritz which was perfectly made and refreshing. The ambiance here is inviting and the music play list is such a vibe! Overall, a great place to check out if you're wanting a casual yet fun experience.

We were in the area for Flight of the Concords at the Bowl. They talked about the Funk Zone so much…read moreduring the show, we had to check it out the next day! Plenty of public parking close. Cut shops inside with art and a tiki bar. We love SB!

So much to love about these 10 blocks of Shopping, Wine, Beer, Coffee, Restaurants, Art, Museums…read moreand Culture, Hotels, and more Shopping. And all nestled nicely between Highway 101 and Cabrillo Blvd, and between Garden Street and State Street. Can't even start with what my favorite spots are, I find a new one each time I visit. Usually plenty of street parking on the weekdays, and on the weekends definitely need to use one of the assorted public parkling lots in the area. You'll also find Live DJ's, Karaoke, Trivia Nights, Live Music, Bingo, Happy/Hoppy Hours . . . and sometimes dancing in the streets.

Corks & Crowns is an absolute gem. The vibe is amazing--warm, stylish, and effortlessly cool--with…read morelive music that sets the perfect tone for a relaxed but elevated night out. The bartenders, Serenity and Reilly, were outstanding: friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming, which made the experience feel personal rather than transactional. Their recommendations were spot on. We enjoyed a bottle of Lapis Luna Pinot Noir, and it was excellent--smooth, well-balanced, and exactly what we were in the mood for. Between the wine selection, the music, and the overall atmosphere, this place really delivers. If you're looking for great wine, great people, and a great vibe in Santa Barbara, Corks & Crowns is a must.

I used to come here often, and several of my friends had memberships for years, which is why this…read moreexperience was so disappointing. We visited over Memorial Day weekend with a group of five after taking the train in specifically to spend time here. Before committing to purchasing bottles, we simply wanted to taste a few wines. From the moment we arrived, Amanda was incredibly rude, dismissive, and clearly uninterested in helping us. It felt as though we were an inconvenience the entire time. Thankfully, Cory stepped in and was welcoming, professional, and kind enough to offer us samples of the wines we were interested in trying. What was completely unacceptable, however, was Amanda making comments like, "the owner doesn't even like you." This was both inappropriate and unprofessional, especially considering I do not know the owner and the owner does not know me. There was absolutely no reason for such a disrespectful remark. And that is just ONE example of remarks she made to my friend and I. She also talked down on a stutter that I have, just inappropriate!! The manager or owner (not sure which roll he played exactly) seemed to have been drinking because while he was defending his out of line staff, he yelled "I'm not even supposed to be here, I should be out golfing!" As if that was my fault. Overall, this was a horrible experience and a major disappointment from a place I used to genuinely enjoy and recommend to friends. It is unfortunate that what was once a great spot is now associated with such poor treatment and lack of professionalism.

This was our first time at Skyenna, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish…read more Mickey took the time to share the history of Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley wine region, which made the tasting feel much more meaningful and immersive. We sampled a variety of wines, including Sauvignon Blanc, Anastasia Red Blend, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay--each one was excellent. Mickey is also a sommelier, and his knowledge really shows. He not only educated us on the wines but also highlighted and supported other local businesses. He truly feels like an ambassador for Santa Barbara. Hands down one of the best wine tasting experiences we've ever had. Highly recommend! Ian Lantz

Mickey pour Thursdays! Delicious wines and friendly conversations. Anastasia blend is the wine of…read moreday

Unfortunately, I didn't have the best experience here as I imagined it to be. I stopped by on a…read morewarm day and wanted to enjoy a Spritz. I walked in and spoke with the guy working the bar area. I wasn't sure if I had to order my drink there or if there was table service. He said he could take my order and then I could go find a table to sit at. I placed my order for a Spritz and found a table outside. It seemed like 15 minutes had passed by and still no drink. He tended to another table in front of me with a group of women he knew. I thought he would stop by my table after, but he didn't even acknowledge me. Finally, another staff member tended to me and I told her I had placed my order at the bar and was still waiting for it. She was very kind and quickly got it for me. My observation of this guy, was that he acknowledged everyone around me but for some reason never acknowledged me until my bill was ready. Such a bizarre experience! In any case, I still managed to enjoy myself and was glad the Eva waited on me. She was very kind and I appreciate her getting my drink and food in a timely manner. I ordered the Spanish cheese plate, which was the perfect snacking board. It comes with manchego, membrillo, corn nuts, cornichon, quince, strawberries, focaccia, and charcoal sourdough bread. This plate is great for two people. Overall, a not so great experience, but grateful that Eva came to the rescue! It left me unsure of whether I would come back, only time will tell.

The natural wine bar of my dreams! We came to SB on a trip and were searching for wine bars that…read moreserve natural wine, and this one kept popping up as a top choice -- and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It's located right on State Street, so there's plenty to explore nearby. We came right at opening and were greeted by the friendliest host. The style of the space is amazing -- walls lined with bottles, funky furniture, and such a fun, modern vibe. They were also super dog‑friendly and immediately brought my pup a water bowl, which I always appreciate. The host was incredibly knowledgeable and answered all my questions (and I had many). I'm still new to the wine world, so her openness and guidance meant a lot. I sampled two wines and chose the one that was perfect for me. I also loved that they bring the bottle to your table to show you and tell you more about it. My partner had one of their vermouth cocktails and loved it. We even learned about a natural wine event happening next month that we might come back for. The host also recommended wineries in the area based on our preferences -- such a thoughtful touch. Would definitely come back anytime we're in SB.