Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

    4.1 (1.6k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Barbarella Restaurant & Bar Photos

    Business Info

    BARBARELLA RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

    Recommended Reviews - Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ann V.

    My first time at Barbarella was wonder-filled and I love their Holiday Spirit. This restaurant is decked out to the Tee with beauuutiful decorations boosting this holiday cheer for sure. All I can say...is wooowww! My inner child appreciated it a lot :-) When we arrived, it was a full house. Luckily, we had reservations. We had a chance to look around the restaurant admiring the festive decor. We even walked to nearby restaurants to discover that they were not "on-n-poppin" like Barbarella. Barbarella definitely attracting the crowds. Because of the busyness, we did have a wait. It was worth it though. We were taken to an overflow room in the back which was also nicely decorated too. Once our waitress appeared on the scene, she was on-it...answering our questions and making recommendations. My yummy refreshing Santa Special Cocktail made me feel sooo special. I can tell the bartenders are working their magic at the bar. Cheers!! My Ricotta Ravioli with half Bolognese & Lemon Cream sauce made me feel sooo saucy but in a good good way. My adult self appreciated it a lot ;-) I'll definitely return to this super cool Italian spot.

    Calamari
    Cryetti C.

    Food: 4 Service: 3.5 Ambiance: 4.5 We visited Barbarella during the holiday season, and the restaurant was fully decked out with festive Christmas décor. The lights both inside and outside really added to the lively, cheerful ambience and made the whole experience feel extra special. We had a 5:00 PM reservation, just before the dinner rush, and were seated promptly. The service at the front desk was okay, but our waiter more than made up for it. He was attentive, friendly, and checked in on us often. Our water glasses were always refilled, and we felt well taken care of throughout the meal. I was actually pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. We ordered the bread and butter, calamari, lamb medallions, and broccolini. The lamb medallions were absolutely the star of the show, cooked to perfection, and paired beautifully with the sweet potato, which was delicious. The broccolini was also very good. The calamari was just okay, a bit too breaded and not as fresh as we would've liked, so we probably wouldn't order that again. We also tried two holiday cocktails, the Ornamentini and the Partridge in a Pear Tree. Both drinks were super cute and festive, and they were light and refreshing. I'm glad we tried them. For dessert, we ordered the mint lava cake topped with mint gelato, and it was very, very delicious. We enjoyed it immensely. The location is another big plus. After a heavy dinner, we took a nice walk down the street and ended up at the beach, which was the perfect way to end the night. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would definitely return. I highly recommend Barbarella for a girls' night out or a date night.

    menu | tiktok & insta: @trinhiesworld
    Trinh T.

    Food: Funghi Pizza (9/10) - i love mushroom pizzas but i didn't expect how well made this one was! it came out hot and fresh with the perfect amount of cheese and mushrooms. so tasty! Pasta Al Forno (7/10) - be sure to mix it well because my scoop ended up not having enough sauce haha the sauce eventually disappears and lacks flavor. overall decent but i do think the sauce was a little separate from the noodle and felt less together? wasn't enough sauce and meat but still good! Fettuccine Bolognese (7.5/10) - more on the creamy and toasty side. pretty good flavor and you can taste the bacon bits. wasn't mind blowing but decent! Service: We had the most helpful and conversational server! Flagging someone down was a little hard at times because no one was around for some reason for a long time for us but they would be very nice and helpful once we did Ambiance: I went during christmas times so this place is fully decked out in so many christmas decorations! Such a nice place to visit especially at night with all the lights turned on. Very spacious with the patio seats and multiple rooms/sections for more seating

    Seafood Linguine
    Maridel A.

    This place is so festive! I honestly felt like I walked into a Hallmark Christmas movie. I love the holiday spirit here. I started my meal with a nice cup of hot chocolate, and it set the tone perfectly. I really enjoyed the vibe, the service, and the food. It was definitely busy, but our server was super nice and totally on top of everything. I ordered the seafood linguine with the white sauce -- it was good, but I think I prefer the red sauce. The bread and butter was $5, and it was worth it... the butter is what makes it! My friend even ordered one to go, lol. I highly recommend the mint ice cream lava cake. So good! This place is very family-friendly, and I'll definitely be back with my kids so they can experience the winter wonderland too.

    Inside decor
    Marie L.

    I was SO excited to try this spot for Christmas vibes but was extremely disappointed. Only reason for 2 stars is for the Christmas decorations which were very jolly indeed. HOWEVER the service was SO poor and the food was even worse. We had a reservation for 5:30pm on a Sunday, and we didn't finish dinner till close to 9PM. I do realize it was very busy since this is a popular spot, but everything was slow and things came out wrong too. Now onto the food: Charcuterie Board: was afraid of food poisoning honestly, seemed like it had been sitting out for a while (cute plates though) - also the meat was touching the cheese so my vegetarian friend couldn't try it. Caesar salad: actually not too bad! Pepperoni pizza: can't expect much from pizza in California but this was gross - crust was sloppy and undercooked and way too much cheese. Cocktails/wine: Specialty Christmas cocktails seemed super cute but I learned the espresso martini is batched so I couldn't get tequila instead of the vodka. The other tequila option was VERY blue and way too sweet. Ordered white wine and it came out warm - gave me a massive stomachache and headache due to poor quality. Maybe the food and service is better when it's not so busy during the holidays, but do not recommend the Christmas pop up as it is overpriced, slow service, and poor quality.

    Salmon Entree Upcharge
    Cristina B.

    The food is baaaad. We tried to give it so many chances but each plate that came out just missed. The best thing was the bread and vanilla ice cream. They do have the cutest Christmas decoration!!!! Indoor and outdoor was covered head to toe and we loved it. They had delicious Christmas cocktails with the best one to me being the partridge in a pear tree. It came in a cutesy bird glass and was perfectly balanced. Service was good for being a busy night. Inside did smell like piss and the bathroom line was long so I didn't even get to see the bathroom door and you can still smell the pee. Overall--- maybe come for cocktails and bread ?? Take pictures with the decor. Hopefully you have a better experience if you try.

    Prime Steak
    Jeannie B.

    We recently celebrated our annual Christmas dinner here. We chose this place specifically for the holiday cheer and decorations that are displayed throughout. It's like stepping into my Christmas past of the 80's with tinsel, yard lights, and trees and garland galore. We had a reservation for 12 and were happy to accommodate us even by adding an extra table for more elbow room. Service was excellent with close attention to making sure we got what we needed. I had the their specialty egg nog cocktail which was delicious as well as a class of Daou cab to go with my dinner. The Brussels sprouts were tasty. The food was okay. I ordered the Fettuccine Bolognese & my husband ordered the steak and both agreed they were okay. I tasted the Funghi Pizza which was delicious. Four stars for the ambiance and the service. I think improvement on food would make this place a frequent spot for me

    Ginger L.

    I came here with my boyfriend last weekend for a late valentines celebration. We came for brunch and the food and mimosas were super good! It wasn't crowded, really cute decorations and our server was great! We had the pancakes, scrambled eggs, their signature potatoes, sourdough toast, and the French toast. We both the bottomless mimosas and tried peach, pineapple and cranberry flavors. Pineapple was my favorite. Highly recommend checking this place out! I will be back to check out their dinner menu

    Julie T.

    A friend and I enjoyed dinner here after sunset on a Thursday night. Our server Carly was very attentive. I had the burrata and prosciutto pizza, it was delicious. We easily could've shared a pizza, but I was unsure of my friend's choice with the Pizza Max. It was also delicious, and my first time having salmon and capers on a pizza. Thank you again Carly for taking such good care of us on the patio this evening!

    Entrance
    Jillian C.

    MUST TRY HOLIDAY THEMED RESTAURANT Barbarella is a charming, super fun and festive kid-friendly restaurant in La Jolla, that goes all out with holiday spirit! We came for the decorations and the vibes, but the food was also a hit. Our favorites were the French Onion Soup (with a hefty amount of melty cheesy goodness) and the rack of lamb (full of flavor and cooked to perfection). They offer a special holiday cocktail menu with a ton of options, including a martini served out of a Christmas ornament (the ORNAMENTINI). The Christmas Spirit is OFFICIALLY making its appearance and we're HERE for it! Ornamentini Whiskey for Santa Partridge in a Pear Tree French Onion Soup Chicken Parmesan Pasta Al Forno Grilled Lamb Rack Medallions KId & dog-friendly! Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking!

    Interior (February 2026)
    Kay C.

    Just returned to Barbarella's for Valentine's season. It is always so beautifully decorated, and one of the popular restaurants during holidays. Indoors and outdoors seating. Reservation is definitely recommended especially during holidays. The food is always so tasty! We shared the Brussel sprouts, Fritti (fried calamari), Funghi (mushroom) pizza, Prosciutto and Burrata pizza, seafood linguine, and woodfire oven roasted salmon. Their festive drinks were good as well. Service was friendly and on point, even though it was busy. Recommended!

    Chanel C.

    They go all out for Valentine's Day here. Super pretty vibes. The food was great and service was very nice but a bit slow.

    Freddy
    Yvette S.

    Visit trés! I have visited Barbarella's three times and each time it's just as great as the last, from the service to the food to the festive atmosphere. People were dressed in Halloween attire having a great time, waiter was super awesome and attentive despite the very busy time and my food was amazing! I've tried both mushroom dishes in the past, and loved them, this time opted for their steak. Did not disappoint! Green beans were crisp and flavorful, whipped mash was amazing 11/10 for me! Restrooms are always a fun time too haha. Can't wait to visit again soon before the end of year. Worth my hour commute to LJ. *lots of patio seating out front, bar area and take reservations.

    See all

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Maridel A.
    1973
    1378
    2721

    5 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 3

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 50
    Thanks 12
    Love this 40
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rachel S.
    89
    123
    91

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Frank W.
    13
    69
    51

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Addy W.
    107
    541
    1404

    5 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 3

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Vero G.
    117
    19
    8

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kirstin H.

    Kirstin H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 40

    Barbarella Restaurant & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Barbarella Restaurant & Bar

    Does anyone know what date the holiday/christmas decor will be up for winter? :)

    It is already up as of November 15 2023. :)

    What's parking like?

    You can find parking on the surrounding streets.

    Not sure, but Do you still have the decorations up for Christmas? or took them out?

    Hello Komal, We are slowing taking down the decorations. Most of the decorations are still up.… Read more

    Do they still decorate for Halloween?

    Yes we do... BOO!

    I am wondering what is in your winter breeze/berry(?) cocktail? It was the best cocktail I've ever had so I'd like to know what was in it.

    Hi Zoe, WINTER BREEZE: Malibu Rum, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple, Splash of Cranberry… Read more

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes!!! Very dog friendly ! Even have a dog menu

    View All 9 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Cottage La Jolla - Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

    The Cottage La Jolla

    4.2(5.3k reviews)
    1.3 miLa Jolla
    $$

    Came here with the family while on vacation. Very family friendly, and the food was incredible. I…read morehad the Avocado Smash (toast) with smoke salmon. The bread was amazing, as was everything else. Everyone loved their food. I also had the Green Devotion drink, which tasted... very healthy. Wouldn't get that again, but not sure if it's possible to make somethign that healthy taste good :)

    It had been years since my last visit to The Cottage, but on a gorgeous, impromptu morning, we…read moredecided to follow our appetites and return. Weekday brunch worked in our favor parking was just a block away, and there was no wait, a welcome change from the usual crowds. The staff greeted us promptly and seated us on the patio, where the setting felt as charming as I remembered. I'm typically an eggs Benedict loyalist, but this time I was in the mood to explore more of the menu. We ordered the pastrami sandwich and the French dip, both generously stacked and visually promising. Unfortunately, while the portions impressed, the flavors didn't quite deliver. The pastrami felt like it was missing a key note something bright and tangy to balance it. I ended up adding dill pickles at home, which helped, but not enough to make it memorable. The French dip had a similar issue; the au jus leaned more toward a thick sauce rather than the lighter, savory broth you hope to dip into. The side salad was fresh, the fries perfectly crisp both enjoyable but they couldn't quite make up for the lack of depth in the sandwiches themselves. Next time, I'll stick with what they're known for and return to the breakfast classics. I'm not giving up on The Cottage just yet it simply deserves another chance, with a different order.

    Photos
    The Cottage La Jolla - Interior

    Interior

    The Cottage La Jolla - Morning Glory Sandwich

    Morning Glory Sandwich

    The Cottage La Jolla - Braised Beef Hash

    See all

    Braised Beef Hash

    Destiny Coast

    Destiny Coast

    4.4(171 reviews)
    1.3 miLa Jolla Shores, La Jolla
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    My husband and I stopped and had dinner at this hidden gem last night before experiencing the…read moreScrippshenge at sunset. Glad we did. Destiny Coast is located in La Jolla nestled on UC San Diego campus above the coastline with a spectacular panoramic views. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by the hostess with a friendly warm smile and the same attentive warm service continues from the commis waiter to our waitress. The small outdoor space and soft jazz music set the ambiance for a cozy and intimate space. My husband had the Roasted Mediterranean Chicken with a house salad and I had the Slow Roasted Salmon on lentils. We shared the crispy smashed potatoes with caviar dipping crème. Each bite was satisfyingly delicious. We finished the evening with dessert recommended by our waitress. It was the Basque cheesecake served with graham cracker crumble, apple bites, sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and a Caramel whip crème. It was like eating a caramel candy apple. Amazing. If you are looking for a quiet place with delicious food, warm services, speculator views and relaxing intimate atmosphere, Destiny Coast is the spot.

    I feel that the food was not the most amazing and for the price. This chicken orchard sandwich was…read morebig portion but I would have preferred a soft croissant. It is a harder crunch croissant and my friend also got one too and thought the same thing. The side usually is a salad but I upgraded for the potatoes. I will say I'm a HUGE potato lover and the potatoes were delicious and highly recommend. Two of my other friends got the salmon bowl which they did like. My friends and I each got various coffees: Purple Haze Latte, sunrise latte, and pacific coast cloud. All the coffees did taste delicious. I only gave this 3 stars because I feel that with the parking situation how you have to park on the hill parallel and walk down, and their lot is only valet, it's a bit annoying. It's first come first serve seating so we didn't get a table closer with a view even though we called ahead, then later they said those were saved for other people - kinda confusing. You do get up and go order the food yourself then they bring it to the table. Overall for the food and cost, I think other spots may be better!

    Photos
    Destiny Coast - Fresh baked Cinnamon Rolls, Croissants, and Patries daily...

    Fresh baked Cinnamon Rolls, Croissants, and Patries daily...

    Destiny Coast - Patio Bar - Specialty Cocktails, Curated Wine List, perfect location to meet friends for drinks

    Patio Bar - Specialty Cocktails, Curated Wine List, perfect location to meet friends for drinks

    Destiny Coast - Destiny Coast Retail Selections

    See all

    Destiny Coast Retail Selections

    Barbarella Restaurant & Bar - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...