44 Best Cocktail Bars in Santa Barbara

“Food is fantastic and so delicious!“

““This is the best meal we’ve had here” he said. And he was right, all 10s given to the wings, bok choy n duck salad, crispy rice, coconut braised chicken, and the service (thanks Izzy!)
Leaving a bit sad, my cooking will never taste this good“

“Blackbird, located at the bottom of State Street, is a hidden gem offering a wonderful dining experience. The expertly crafted cocktails, flavorful dishes, and inviting ambiance create a memorable meal. The friendly service enhances the experience, making guests feel right at home. Whether for a casual night out or special occasion, Blackbird impresses with its culinary offerings and charming atmosphere, making it a must-visit destination for a culinary adventure. We will definitely be returning!“

“We had a pre-wedding party of 8 on Friday (8/9). Everything about the meal was outstanding. The service was great and food was delicious - all 8 dishes. The dessert was chocolate filled churros. I usually don't eat churros because I have been disappointed so many times - I had 3 of these - they were that good. Augie came over to our table as well as the cook - couldn't have been nicer.

I highly recommend Augie's if you are in Santa Barbara“

“Ensaladas y mariscos en realidad todo está riquísimo“

“Never had tapas like these! Loved it! So sad we live in Europe…would go there everyday! It was soooo jummy!“

“Great spot for low-key locals.“

“Favorite spot to go to in Santa Barbara! Food, service, and atmosphere is always exceptionally consistent! Big shout out to Bethany and Ricky! They are big part of what makes Rodeo Room amazing and keeps my friends and I return every time we go out!

-AJ“

“Very nice place, the atmosphere is really chill goog vibes. The food was good, perfect flavor , very good breakfast i had here. The drink was refreshing and really good. The service was great, everyone has this good mood that make you feel comfortable“

“During the day it's a great coffee place. I by my coffee beans here for home use. Good selection. At night it turns into a speak easy. Staff in the morning and at night ate great. Great drink selection of cocktails. Good place for a date night or just hanging out with friends.“

“Played a show here. The drinks are dope. The crew had a great time . Though all of California need to do something about the drinks being super high in price, I understand it’s inflation. We need to find an alternative such as paying a fee for self serve like a jukebox for drinks. To cut bar costs and help more people coming. Just a thought.“

“Good cocktails and a nice place to relax especially for Friday Happy Hours.“

“Authentic, and a pleasant surprise.“

“The Pickle Room is a "must visit" to enjoy an old-school Santa Barbara bar. I have no idea how I've lived in SB so many years without visiting the Pickle Room. It enjoys a prominent spot downtown in a well-known historical building. It is surprisingly small. There is a bar and a handful of booths. Upon entry, you are hit by the red color and intimate size of the place. We visited on a slow night and shared the space with locals and tourists. The drinks were all good and the service was friendly enough. I would not call the Pickle Room a dive. Leave those boring fern bars behind and try an SB original. We will return.“

“If you're looking for a dive bar, look no further. this place has dive bar written all over it. If you're looking for a dive bar that also offers karaoke then you're really in luck. The one thing I will say is that this place has great drinks. You can rest assured i that department. Its located up on the mesa sort of next to taco bell near cliff and carillo. If you're looking for the same thing but upper state try the tiburon.“

“Always fun! Great times had by all! Free pool! Happy, friendly, and CLEAN staff.“

“Great bar ! Sultan was so nice & made amazing drinks ! I loved my non alcoholic “smoking “ fruity cocktail he made me !“

“Test Pilot in Santa Barbara is one of our favorite tiki bars! The ambiance is absolutely adorable, with a fun and relaxing vibe that’s perfect for unwinding. The outdoor seating is super nice, especially for groups—our group of 6 had a fantastic time just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.

The drinks are amazing, especially the Painkiller with the rum float—definitely a must-try! We also loved the spicy margarita; the Level 4 was perfect! The music adds to the chill vibe, making it an ideal spot to kick back with friends. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy great tiki drinks in a cozy setting!“

“Best view and service in town. Food is outstanding“

“A wonderful evening with great food, incredible service and a beautiful setting. We dined on the back patio for the first time, and that will be our go-to place for the future. Black Sheep, from owner, to staff make you feel very welcome and so happy to be dining with them. A favorite Santa Barbara restaurant!“

“We held our wedding reception at Pearl Social and it was perfect! Our wedding was on the smaller side -- 55 people -- so we needed a space that was intimate. Pearl Social was literally perfect and we loved that there was a small outdoor space as well.

The drinks were incredible and so many people commented on how good they were. Our friends rallied hard and the Pearl Social team was super accommodating to it.

We worked with Megan to plan the event and she was extremely helpful in coordinating everything.

Highly recommend holding any event here! Thank you Pearl Social team!“

“Great dinner experience... very busy for a Tuesday night. The placed was packed. The service was excellent and our food was wonderful. I had halibut with a coconut curry sauce and the Mrs had Filet Mignon with a brandy peppercorn sauce. Both were really great. Highly recommend Intermezzo.“

“First time here and spent a lovely rainy evening here with John and Ian who were tending the bar. First and foremost, the drinks are creative and SO well made; even a classic like the paloma was such a joy to drink. We also got a few round of their oysters which were pretty much perfect. The the ambiance and atmosphere fit the vibe 100%Check this place out, super good for a chill evening out. ?“

“This is a great place located in a lovely city …very comfortable. Good food, delicious choices, wonderful service and fair prices and happy hours. Really good too.

Vegetarian options: Vary but they are happy to amend choices to accommodate your desires!“

“Loved Haley!!! We had great conversations!!“

“Amazing delicious drinks! Marcos was the best bartender, highly recommend the ceviche and signature cocktails!“

“A huge thank you to EOS and in particular, Shasta, for making my wedding after party epic! From our initial inquiry, Shasta was so easy to work with and on the night of our event, she took car of everything with a smile so we could relax & enjoy the party.

The bar itself was the perfect setting for our after party. The DJ was great, the vibe was high, and we loved that we had the option to make it a private event. Our guests loved that they had access to the dance floor as well as the outdoor space to relax a bit and chat.

Honestly, we can't thank Shasta and the entire team at EOS enough for making our wedding after-party so special. It was the perfect way to cap off an amazing day, and we'll definitely be back! If you're looking for a place to host a private event, look no further - this place is the best!“

“Came here for cocktails & the entertainment, after dinner (elsewhere), so did not order any food. The bartenders were super busy but still managed to be attentive! The vibe was lively, very fun, and very upbeat! We were amazed at the non-stop piano-playing! If you are looking for late-night fun in Santa Barbara, be sure to stop in to The Red Piano!“

“My pilots and I strolled in here by chance (close to our hotel) and were pleasantly pleased by the outcome. Our server was friendly and *perfectly* attentive throughout, and since it was happy hour, we ordered a variety of tapas as well as cocktails.

Tapas-wise, I personally enjoyed the aranci while my pilots raved multiple times about the goat cheese and banh mi. I can’t personally confirm since I don’t eat meat/non-seafood lol, but I believe them since they ordered multiple rounds. I wish we had had more of an appetite because the rest of the menu looked just as, if not more, appetizing.“

“Friendly staff. Great Happy Hour specials.“

“Hi I enjoyed it very much thank“

“Just an absolute killer bar. Great staff, decent prices. The karaoke jockey, Joey is probably the best KJ I've ever had the pleasure of singing with. Tipped him a fiver and he mixed me so I sounded great! The bar has a fun, welcoming atmosphere too. A lot of regulars but they seem to love new faces.“

“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.“

“This was a beautiful day to sit outside in Santa Barbara, sipping a tasting flight of Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, and Liqueur at Cutler's Artisan Spirits. We ended up buying 2 bottles of Grandma's Tommy's Apple Pie Liqueur. It was like drinking an apple pie out of a glass.“

“Had breakfast here twice during our five-night stay. Food was delicious! Highly recommend the french toast!! Our server, Alex, was delightful. She was very pleasant, friendly, and made the absolute best latte -- better than most baristas in most coffee shops!“

“I celebrated my 21st birthday at Backstage and had an amazing experience. The drinks are great, the service is friendly, and there is a massive selection of beverages to choose from. If you can't decide the bartender can mix something up just for you.

The atmosphere is unique with three floors and a mechanical bull, and best of all, the bathrooms are clean and well-maintained.

Vegetarian options: Most drinks are vegetarian

Kid-friendliness: Not kid friendly“

“Great relaxed environment to eat delicious food. The beer selection has some classics and lots of local central coast breweries on tap. Highly recommend the pizza as the crust is perfectly light and crunchy - ideal for deep dish. Dog friendly patio, kid friendly indoor and outdoor seating. Sunday special tri-tip sandwich is always lick the plate clean good. The service is friendly and efficient. We keep coming back and are always very satisfied no matter the occasion.

Kid-friendliness: We’ve come from lunch, brunch and early dinner and the kids have always been welcomed. Lots of other families usually dining here as well.“

“July 9, 2024 - we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Bacara for two nights during our vacation driving down the PCH from Oregon to San Diego. Our dining experience at San Setto did not disappoint. The views are spectacular and the service was attentive and friendly. We brought our own wine from our Napa Valley stop at Caymus Vineyards and they were very accommodating opening and pouring our 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon. All the dishes we ordered were very flavourful and the pace our evening was relaxed yet attentive. Thank you.“

“Amazing ambience.
The food and service was really good. They have good veg options and starters were also tasty. The food presentation styles are so simple yet pretty. Also, the options available for non alcoholic beverages are good.
Thanks to the team?“

“love this place, great atmosphere and i love how they have games or you can bring your own!“

“Yummy food, quick service, and solid cocktails. We’ve come here a couple of times, and enjoyed everything we’ve had each time! It is part of a hotel lobby, which dings the ambience so slightly, but it’s very nicely re-done and a pretty place to be!“

“We had our civil ceremony lunch here with our close friends and family and we had an amazing time. From the planning process with Anthony, Assistant Director of Food and Beverage, to our waiter Jake, and Manager Sabit, the staff were all attentive and really accommodating. As soon as we got there, the staff came out and introduced themselves which we appreciated. We had one special request for a Vegan dish and the Chef went above and beyond to accommodate. Overall, the food and drinks were amazing. Huge thank you for making our special day that much more memorable. We will definitely come back. Thanks all!“

“excellent macadamia nut encrusted salmon in a light curry sauce. garlic mash potatoes and vegetables“