As we were ending our night, we passed by Vaquero Bar, it seemed where locals and tourist meet, the…read morevibe was definitely it. It was definitely a busy night for a Friday night. Service was great. Drinks were great and music was loud enough where you can still have a conversation. Dog friendly for those who own a dog.

The novelty of spinning records wore off fast, and what could've been a cool, defining feature for…read morethe place ended up feeling more like a missed opportunity. Kelly seemed more focused on catering to a small group of guys in cowboy hats than maintaining the vibe that actually makes this spot stand out. Instead of reading the room, she and her May 1st bartender colleague locked into a single stream of country music that clearly wasn't resonating with most of the crowd. That's really the frustrating part, it wasn't just a music choice, it was the complete lack of awareness or willingness to adjust. People weren't being heard, requests were ignored, and the whole "records" concept felt pointless when it was treated so rigidly. If you're going to lean into vinyl as part of the experience, it should feel curated, responsive, and a little bit special, not like someone just putting on their personal playlist and tuning everyone else out. The drinks were genuinely great, which makes the situation even more disappointing. The potential is clearly there, but the execution on the atmosphere just didn't match. If the records are going to stay, they should actually be used to enhance the environment, not limit it. Otherwise, it might be better to ditch the gimmick entirely rather than let it drag down what could be an otherwise standout spot.

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!

Back Room is a cute little speakeasy in Solvang -- cozy patio, friendly staff, and a charming local…read morevibe. Note there's a $5 entry fee per person (locals can get a membership to skip it). They only serve beer, wine, and seltzers, so it's best for a casual drink rather than a full cocktail night. Great spot to stop by for a relaxed evening.

We had dinner AND brunch at Whiskey 'N Rye while visiting Solvang for the first time this weekend…read more Not only was the food delicious, but the service was even better. Mandy B (bartender) is so amazing at her job. She's someone who genuinely cares about the service she's providing and it shows. With so many options to choose from, it's service like this that brings customers back (even twice in one weekend!) We will certainly make Whiskey 'N Rye a regular stop when we visit the area in the future. Thank you for taking such great care of us, Mandy!

Loved the service, especially from Emily and Ashley...THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY A…read moreMEMORABLE ONE. Food was out of this world, highly recommend. Location superb, no wonder everyone comes here. The manager was pretty much the cherry on top and refused to let us go without a special treat will definitely be back. Oscar & Natalie Gonzalez

Copenhagen Sausage Company delivers precisely what the name promises, which honestly feels like a…read moresmall miracle in a town where half the storefronts are some version of a fake Danish windmill (no judgement I love Solvang!) . Great sausages, even great burgers, served unpretentiously in a setting that's perfect after a day of pretending to know what you're talking about at six different wine tastings. No fuss, no twelve paragraph menu description, no foam on anything. Just genuinely tasty food at a good value for the area, served to people who clearly just want a sausage and to sit down for a minute. This is the kind of place Solvang needs more of yet somehow has exactly one of. We keep coming back every time we're in the area, and it delivers every single time, sausage roulette has yet to fail us. Highly recommend making this a stop on any wine country trip through Solvang. Your liver will thank you for the intermission.

Stopped by Sausage Garden and tried the double smash patty and the Bratwurst Cheddar Jalapeño…read more The burger looked promising, but it ended up being the weaker of the two. The patties had a nice smash on them, but overall it was lacking seasoning and flavor. For a double smash burger, I expected a little more punch. The bratwurst was the better choice. Nice snap, good flavor, and the cheddar and jalapeño complemented the sausage well without overpowering it. Simple, but executed well. What kept this experience from being a lower rating was everything around the food. The beer was ice cold, the cashier was genuinely welcoming from the moment we walked in, and the staff throughout the garden were friendly and approachable. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the outdoor garden made for a pleasant place to hang out. They music playing, and if it had started a little earlier before we finished our beers, we probably would have stayed for another round. Had the burger packed a little more flavor, this easily could have been a five-star experience. While the food didn't completely win me over, the hospitality did, and I'd be open to coming back and trying a few other items on the menu.

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.

Would love to come back and try other beers. Space is very airy and chill. Perfect day for a…read morecold beer.

We loved this brewery! We got a beer flight of 4, and we were allowed to pick from any of the 10+…read morebeers, 3 wines, and 1 DELICIOUS cider! We absolutely loved the cider they had here and the two hazy beers. Our flight was only 12 dollars, and there were games to play on the inside like Cards against humanity and other games! The bartender was so sweet and thoughtful. This brewery was our favorite in solvang! Very cute indoor and outdoor area too!

*Brunch Review* We ordered shrimp cocktail, this was the…read morebest we have ever had. They were cleaned well and came with an amazing avocado shrimp cocktail sauce that was so good! It also came with fried crackers. I didn't like them, but my husband loved them. The french toast looked amazing, I will have to try next time. My husband got eggs Benedict. He loved it. The English muffins were house made, delicious sauce, thinly sliced ham, poached eggs perfectly cooked. I got fish and chips. The chips were malted wedge potatoes. It seemed like normal wedge potatoes, i didnt taste any malted flavor. The fish was rockfish. It was definitely fresh, really good, you could almost taste the sea. The batter was very very light and crunchy. They only thing I would say is it was a little oily. The tartar sauce was good, nothing unusual. There was a side of fresh greens, not cole slaw. They were very lightly dressed and exceptionally fresh, like just picked from someone's garden. If you love cole slaw you may be disappointed, if you love fresh greens you will be happy. My husband got a bloody Mary. It was quite tasty. Spicy and you could taste the horseradish. The olives were really good (I'm an olive lover). Coffee was excellent. Jared was our server and he was amazing. We had constant refills of our coffee and water from the staff. The patio was very nice and perfect for people watching. I loved the BTG wine list. I will come back to the bar again for shrimp cocktail and a Whitcraft wine (my fav pinots).

We made reservations ahead of time for dinner at Coast Range and had a great overall experience…read more Upon arrival, we had the option of sitting inside or outside. The dining room was beautiful and would make a great date night spot with its quieter atmosphere, but it felt a little warm for our liking, so we chose to sit outside. The patio was comfortable, and the staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout the evening. We started with the grilled skirt steak, ordered medium rare, although it came out closer to medium well. Fortunately, the sesame-cilantro marinade and pickled vegetables brought plenty of flavor to the dish and made up for the temperature miss. For our entrée, we shared the Creekstone ribeye. We ordered it medium rare, but it arrived closer to medium. Despite that, the steak was still very tasty. We paired it with the glazed wild mushrooms, which ended up being my favorite item of the savory dishes, along with the Stuffed Shell "Mac n' Cheese." Everything arrived hot and was well prepared. We also ordered a few cocktails, which were okay but didn't stand out. A little more attention behind the bar would have elevated the experience even further. Halfway through dinner, I asked for Maldon sea salt for the steak, and the team happily accommodated the request, which was appreciated. The highlight of the night was easily the Brown Butter Brioche Donuts for dessert. Absolutely fantastic. Soft, rich, and packed with flavor. They were the perfect way to end the meal and the one dish I'd tell everyone to order. Overall, while a couple of the steak temperatures missed the mark and the drinks were a bit mid, the service, atmosphere, and dessert made for a very enjoyable evening. We'd definitely come back and explore more of the menu.

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.