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    Whiskey Richards

    4.0 (104 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Whiskey Richards Photos

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    Grown Folks...
    Asahn S.

    Haven't been DTSB in 5 years. Stumbled across the legendary dive on our exodus home from the "Funk Zone". After a few IPA's here the bartender told Is that THIS was Whiskey Richards LAST NIGHT of business. It has sold to new owners who plan to make changes. Lots of memorable times here. Great Bands, Solid staff & Stiff drinks. Here's to you!

    Stopped to grab a Santa Barbara Blonde while figuring out our dinner plans!
    Michelle T.

    Tonight we stopped by to grab a drink before dinner and the bartenders are attentive and friendly. They have metal and punk bands on the weekends and karaoke during the week so check out their live music schedule. There are 2 pool tables upfront. They just switched ownership and moved the music stage to a better spot and are in the process of an interior refresh. There is a front patio that faces State Street to hang and have a drink.

    Whiskey!
    Jennifer H.

    Who the hell gets wasted before heading back to LA? Apparently we do! We totally had to stay another night. -.- Had this place bookmarked just because I thought it was all Whiskey bar, false alarm! Don't let the name fool you, because it fooled me :( but it was okay, dive bar = cheap drinks! This bar hands out chex mix! perfect for munchies! :D As always, we sat by the bar. Not too many people on a Sunday afternoon. Well drinks were $4 during their happy hour. There was only one bartender who was serving us. She did a pretty good job. Kept refilling us up. Her pouring was never watered down nor weak. Ahh... Now you know why we ended up staying another night. Ha... The crowd? Well, I would say it's a mixed during the day time. I have no idea how it's like during the nights. Great dive bar to go to if you're in downtown SB. I would suggest to eat before coming here if you're planning to get swasted. :P

    A look at the bar

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    If you're in Santa Barbara this place is a must! Great bartenders, drinks, and the absolute best Karaoke in town!!

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    A great place to go if you're looking to buy mediocre coke or get a blowjob in the bathroom. The drinks are alright.

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    18 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Awesome karaoke! We had such a great time at this bar. The drinks are reasonable too! There are pool tables if you want to play pool.

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    12 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

    This place smells like weed. it's just a place to hang out and get high and not much of a music selection.

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    17 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Whiskey Richards

    Do they allow dogs?

    We do…friendly ones anyway. And if we have live music we keep them on the patio to protect their sensitive ears. The staff on the day you visit always has the final decision. But they are usually happier to see dogs than people

    Do they still have a photo booth?

    We had to make room for a kickass stage, so the photo booth had to go.

    Do you still have karaoke?

    Yep, usually on Satudays and sometimes on Thursdays. Keep an eye on our social media pages!

    Is food served here?

    No, but several options are nearby, including pizza next door.

    When does Karaoke happen?

    Saturdays 9pm to 1am

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Whiskey Richards

    Fun little spot, good drinks, nice staff, nice atmosphere- I enjoyed this place most on State Street.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Test Pilot

    Test Pilot

    4.4
    (426 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Bananacapa and Oaxacan Dead cocktails
    Bananacapa and Oaxacan Dead cocktails
    Inside
    Inside
    Seasonal Slushy

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    Seasonal Slushy
    Old Kings Road

    Old Kings Road

    3.8
    (105 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    They don't respect the alcohol limits. Today I had a terrible experience. I went to pick up my…read moreboyfriend, who was already drunk, and the bartender, knowing that the alcohol level was already high and that he shouldn't have sold him any more drinks, did so anyway. A man even bought drinks for my boyfriend, and I told him not to! The man got furious and started yelling at me. I recorded him, the bartender, and the bar staff too! I had to leave the place. I would like to file a report!Four months ago, the same thing happened! My boyfriend ordered some tequila shots, and I put my hand over the glasses to stop him from getting them. I told him he couldn't see the alcohol level, and the bartender got angry. I told him it was illegal to serve them like that! He didn't get them, but I had to intervene; otherwise, he would have gotten more drinks!

    Yeah, it was all right. I popped in 'cos you know me, every time I'm in a new place, I've got to…read morehit up the British or Irish pub. Did like the attempt at English decor, namely the phonebox hanging on the side of the bar and the usage of the Underground signage. Appreciated the (at least two) beers on tap that were imports -- couldn't quite see what they were, but they had my Guinness, so that was enough for me. (They do have a good selection of taps, including 805, another blonde, etc. Again - since I really only drink Guinness, I can't say I paid much attention.) The one thing I will say is that the atmosphere can give off a... I dunno, vibe. It's quite dark inside, even when it's moderately light out. (I called in around 7pm). Nevertheless, you can get a Guinness, so that's good enough for me. 2025: 23/100

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Old Kings Road
    Old Kings Road

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    Whiskey Richards - divebars - Updated July 2026

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