39 Best Bars in Santa Barbara

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

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“Great spot for low-key locals.“

“I absolutely love coming here with loved ones for their pizzas, they are so delicious! I also love how sweet the workers always are. They always check in and make sure we don’t need anything else. As well as always being ready to answer questions! I have developed a dairy allergy and yesterday was my first time back since, Frankie was super helpful and accommodating! Really appreciate his help!“

“Dusk Bar at the Drift Hotel is hands-down one of the best spots in Santa Barbara to grab a drink and soak in the atmosphere. The space itself is beautiful—open, modern, and airy during the day, then intimate and moody at night. It manages to feel both elevated and approachable, making it perfect whether you’re stopping in for a quick happy hour or settling in for the evening.

We tried - The Picante Amante, Dapper Dave, La Adelita, and Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em were all phenomenal—balanced, bold, and beautifully crafted.

Goose and Shiloh, behind the bar, were absolute masters. Their artistry transformed each cocktail into a sensory experience. Their craftsmanship made every sip feel intentional and the evening memorable. Goose and Shiloh are not only skilled mixologists but also genuinely personable and welcoming. They take the time to connect with guests and make you feel like a regular even on your first visit.

We will be back soon!“

“Beautiful place, amazing staff and delicious food and drinks! I definitly recommend.“

“Authentic, and a pleasant surprise.“

“Love this spot! We come as often as we can when we’re in town. Such a welcoming and chill atmosphere. Tanya and her staff are all wonderful people. They take care of you and are all so friendly and make you feel like you’re family. Highly recommend going by for a quick one or two!“

“Looking forward to some more live music and a nice selection of whiskey. The bartenders here are super cool ! also , the location is great !“

“This is a little slice of heaven. What a nifty joint. A little swanky spot with yummy hand crafted cocktails. Such a great atmosphere. Get here early though. The place tends to fill up. Another great feature is that it connects to the wildcat around back. So you can always start your evening here and then transition to the kitty later. Really enjoy their drinks in this cool retro-like place.

Parking: take an uber or lyft. cops are just waiting to get you here on ortega.“

“Truly excellent people and wine“

“I love the Crocodile Restaurant!! I found this place last year when I was asked to perform for a birthday there. I knew it would be the right atmosphere for my vocal entertainment. I'm there every THURSDAY & FRIDAY night! (5:30-7:30) I sing mostly romantic songs but change it up for the kids to enjoy the fun of live music. I love taking requests to make the evening what the guests want it to be. The extensive food menu as well as the variety on the song menu make this restaurant a really cool place.“

“Live band named last light was playing .. great band great music.. pizza was amazing.. drinks were cold. Service was great..pool was free when i was there.. id recommended this restaurant.
If i ever were to consider a 5 star rating, i believe that this would be a solid contender.“

“I literally cant say enough about this place..... The bartenders were super nice, the atmosphere has a great vibe and the karaoke was awesome fun! The DJ was organized, he interacted with the crowd and was super friendly. Not to mention the patrons were all so nice... everybody claps and cheers for you, if I lived there I would be there every week, for sure! Cant wait to go back!“

“My husband and I got married here after our ceremony in the Mural Room of the courthouse, it was right across the street in a prime location.

They offered amazing service throughout our entire experience, at such a fair price!!! Andrew and his team went above and beyond to give you a beautiful set up, amazing drinks, and food that our guests raved about!! We loved the family style option of the chicken parmesan, pasta bolognese, and the Farfalla with pink sauce.

If we could get married again and again we would do it here. I highly recommend booking your wedding or event here!! The staff is so tight knit and really care about the service they’re offering. They were a big part of the reason we had such a great night!“

“First of all, being an out of towner & putting down roots for the next 2 years….Alice made us feel like we were home!!! Right out the gate! Popcorn, watermelon & the best pours!!! I’m telling you, the Ambiance is you & what you do with the time you’re there❤️🦋🍸🍹🍺🥃“

“Friendly, inviting, relaxed atmosphere. The best wings around by far. We love Mel and her staff! 🍻“

“Great service, delicious food and nice atmosphere. The guys who was playing guitar on a street was fantastic 🤗!“

“Took our youngest for her 16th and the staff was exceptional, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the food was delicious! Thank you!“

“The bar tenders on the third floor are horrible. After waiting 10 minutes they refused to sell me beer and friend wine. Went to second floor and got drink service in less than 30 sec. Place would be better off installing a vending machine on the third floor to replace the bar.“

“One of the best lunches we’ve ever had! This place is a very happy surprise. My husband and I shared the crispy chicken sandwich and macho salad. Both choices were fantastic.

The chicken sandwich was very well balanced. The bread was very light and didn’t overwhelm the sandwich and the spicy slaw, Swiss cheese, and tomato complimented the crispy chicken.

The macho salad was very unique with the dates, chicken, goat cheese, avocado, almonds, tomatoes and greens lightly dressed in a vinaigrette and the most amazing corn bread croutons.

We had to finish every last bite even though the portions were generous as it was just too good!“

“We desperately needed an Irish Coffee, and not only did James Joyce deliver, we've already gone back for seconds and plan to make this a frequent stop!Would highly recommend! Friendly bartender, security, and easily one of the best Irish Coffees in Santa Barbara.“

“We have we our company holiday lunch the attention was excellent as the service all the staff is super friendly el señor the Manager Marciano is awesome 👏 Felipe as well I highly recommended this place and the food and drinks just awesome 👏👏👏👏was a great time“

“Amazing service and good. The decor was great. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap and chicken Sharma platter. Both were great. I let our server know we would be driving back home thst might and it ws about a 3 hour drive so he checked in with us multiple times and made sure we had a great experience. Pricing is very reasonable for santa barbara. Highly recommend!!!“

“ambience and stuff are very friendly. food tastes amazing 😋👌 good non alcoholic beverages 🍹🧋“

“Stopped by after a local recommended this place and it was well with the stop for drinks and a great snack! We had frose, burgers and tacos and everything was so delish! We especially liked that it was dog friendly and had a puppy menu! 🐾“

“I’ll be honest. I could have eaten anything in Santa Barbara. I hadn’t eaten anything since 9am and it was 5pm when I arrived in Santa Barbara. I walked one mile away because of the great things I heard about Jill’s Place. And you know what? I was not disappointed! I was stoked and impressed greatly 🥰😁 I had two wonderful, dazzling, and sweet waitresses (lucky me!). I was served a yummy chicken breast sandwich and it was the best one I had ever! No seriously! It wasn’t too salty and the bread was golden brown and ready to be munched on. The tator tots had the perfect texture. It’s almost as I had food from some amazing restaurant, which, hello, I did 😅 The place was packed, since it was Fiesta, but I imagine it always is. It sucks I live 45 minutes from this great establishment. The atmosphere was fun and a little country, but I love that. It’s casual, and not some elegant place like Lucky’s is. I’d still show up in a suit, if I could and would. Definitely check this place out and ask for the two blonde sisters who work there. They’ll dazzle you with their charm and diction 😉 Hope to be back again one day!“

“Just to inform you that the name Dutch is the English name for the language and the inhabitants of the Netherlands. They are called the Dutch, and the language spoken is Dutch. There is nothing Dutch about the food. It’s more traditional German food, so maybe rename the restaurant Deutsch.
And the language and culture are not the same.“

“Alex is the best! Food is great, and the service is amazing.“

“sumptuous food. great beers and wine. a favorite place to meet old neighborhood friends every time I visit!“

“I gotta say it was my first time trying the food I order yaters meal it was a grilled chicken sammich with the toppings and the Caesar salad with shaved parmesan cheese with croutons and fries with ranch. It was soo delishhhhhh!!! I highly recommend you give it a whirl. Follow Your Taste Buds!!!!“

“some good shows and supports local punk rock“

“Great location, good food, but do NOT order limoncello. It is their own production they say. But tastes like bad wodka. For the rest we will be back. Piet & Annette“

“Elsies is such an amazing hidden gem, I almost don't want to leave a review to expose how incredible it is. As a cash only, beer & Wine bar, it feels like stepping back in time. What I love most is that I can show up dressed up, or dressed down, and be welcome no matter what. Love this place! If you want to see some of the real SB scene, you must stop here :)“

“We stopped by Lucky Penny in Santa Barbara and I have to say—this place absolutely lived up to the hype! I ordered the Salty Surfer pizza with a few customizations: I swapped the peppers for mushrooms and kept the pineapple and prosciutto combo. The vodka-based sauce tied it all together beautifully. The crust was phenomenal—crispy, chewy, and packed with flavor. Truly one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a long time!

The frozen margarita was perfect for the warm weather—refreshing, balanced, and hit the spot.

We also tried the Caesar salad, which wasn’t quite to our taste—the dressing had a very bold, strong flavor that didn’t quite work for us. We also ordered the pepperoni pizza, which was decent, but the Salty Surfer definitely stole the show.

The only downside was the seating—we were with a group including kids, and there just wasn’t enough shade, which made it a bit uncomfortable in the heat.

Overall, though, the food—especially the Salty Surfer pizza—and the atmosphere made for a great experience. I’d definitely return (hopefully with a bit more shade next time)!“

“The best was our master waiter Chris !!
I had been there before and the service was not great .
But i decided i would give it another try since i live in town for the last 40 years...
We were delighted by his excellent service.
We will be back for sure ... Food was still amazing...
Keep the good work Chris(alias Keanu Reeves.)..
you were amazing ,coming from a French couple , that means a lot...Best of luck for your future !
He totally deserve a RAISE !!“

“Great food, drinks, and desserts.“

“Love this restaurant, great service and their menu keeps getting better.“