Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bluewater Grill

    3.9 (1.3k reviews)

    Bluewater Grill Photos

    BLUEWATER GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Romantic
    Trendy

    You might also consider

    More like Bluewater Grill

    Recommended Reviews - Bluewater Grill

    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

    Alex K.

    Maybe it was a bad idea thinking of grabbing a meal on one of the busiest holiday of the year. Fourth of July.... We normally don't mind grabbing a meal at the bar as we had our pup with us. Well, a table was at least an hour and half to two hour wait. Nope, not waiting for that. Sometimes you're lucky with open seating downstairs but as it was a holiday, it was pretty much full. Luckily we were offered a seat upstairs at the bar which was perfect. Still a view of the pier and people watching was a nice touch to dinner. Jack, believe that was his name took care of us. Starting off with some espresso martini which was perfect. And of course their mussels and chorizo as a starter. Broth was great and very flavorful. Perfect pair with the mussels and chorizo as well as the tomatoes. Entrees, the prawn linguines. Simple but very flavorful with nice big prawns. And the gemelli pasta with scallops and shrimp. Now this dish was amazing as well. Big meaty scallops and shrimp. Not those tiny bay scallops. Service was excellent at the bar upstairs. It's great meeting people as you're sitting next to them. Also easier to get a drink as they're right infront of you. Food was great, everyone was friendly and sweet. Hence we're back a lot.

    Christian A.

    We randomly decided to try this place and we weren't disappointed. We were seated quickly and orders were taken quickly. The oysters were fresh and the duo soup were good, Lobster Roll and the fish were perfectly prepared. Really can't complain. Definitely worth checking out in the area.

    Lobster
    Edie N.

    Easily top 3 favorite meals.. ever! We made a reservation on Fourth of July weekend for an early dinner to catch the sunset and got so lucky and was sat outside on the top deck. The views were stunning! I would recommend trying to get a seat at least upstairs! Food was INCREDIBLE. OH MY GOSH. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! My boyfriend got the surf and turf and I got the lobster. Both came with this amazing side of potatoes that we keep talking about until this day! It's probably the best potatoes I've ever had, please never take that off your menu! Our seafood appetizers were incredibly fresh, I would recommend getting the sashimi scallops they were so good! Service of course was great. They work as a team so everything came out quick and we were always attended to even if our server wasn't around! Loved how kind and bubbly their staff is here! Overall experience was a 10/10! Next time we're down in Santa Barbara we will be making this our first stop!

    Fish and Chips
    Ramon J.

    Stop by for lunch today on our way to Solvang. Nice location and great modern decor. We ordered clam chowder, fish and chips and fish tacos. The food is excellent and fresh. Great selection of local beer (IPA). Friendly and courteous service by Marco. Must check out when in Santa Barbara.

    Crab cake
    Harrison W.

    Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Took a nice day trip to Santa Barbara and decided to stop by this restaurant for lunch. Since it was the weekend, parking was pretty tough to find. Once I arrived, I opted to sit at the bar because I was hungry and didn't want to wait the estimated 10 to 15 minutes for a table. All the staff were friendly, and the bartender was knowledgeable, he recommended the Cali-Squeezed Blood Orange Hefeweizen, which turned out to be very refreshing. For food, I started with the crab cakes as an appetizer, then had the cioppino and pesto pasta for my main entrées. Everything tasted great, though I've had better cioppino elsewhere. Overall, it was a good experience. I'd definitely come back and recommend this spot.

    Peter T.

    We live in San Diego. We've hit a few of the Bluewater's around town. This one seems to be the best. It leans to the nicer side versus casual. Hostesses are always super friendly as are the servers. The food here may be better than in OB and Carlsbad. The clam chowder was bomb. My sand dabs (basic white fish) with white caper sauce was decent. 7/10. One downside is that the sides were ice cold, as in maybe they tried to serve the prior evenings portions cold and I had to send it back. They brought back piping hot sides maybe 2 minutes later. This may also be one of the more family friendly restaurants. Boosters, well trained staff. We don't let our kids iPad often but when we are meeting up with other family members and need a more social dinner we let them do art till food comes then iPads as they eat. Great spot. Not too expensive either, and pretty nice.

    Cpam chowder
    Melissa L.

    We had a huge party, amd the service was fantastic when she handled all 20 of us. Very happy with our waitress. The food was superb. Omg very tasty. The ambiance was very elegant. We were very happy celebrating a Bachelorette dinner at this establishment. I will be back again. Thank you for a wonderful dinner for my ladies.

    Mai Tai
    Sue H.

    Happy hour happiness! I will remember the view and the quality drinks and eats as some of the best from our Santa Barbara trip. Arriving at 4, we joined a solo diner at the upstairs bar for happy hour and view. Unfortunately the specials aren't available on the patio, so we had our hostess redirect us to the bar. Service wore crisply pressed shirts but was unpretentious. The view is superb, right across the street from the beach. I started with the captain's Mai Tai, and it was large and strong and I truly didn't need another drink afterwards! Good humor on the enamel mug drink cup as well. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Husband had an amber draft very value priced. Our charred edamame was delicious but deadly hot. I focused on eating the rich and cheesy crab and artichoke dip, which was a very large portion and served with tortilla chips. The blackened fish tacos were excellent, we both ordered the same dish. Two beautiful grilled tacos for $9 on quality corn tortillas, with a huge slice of fresh avocado on top. I am not always a fan of green sauce but the tacos did not need any more garnish. Service changed over before we left, there was a new bartender but no further drinks were required. Sign me up again matey, next time I am in town. This was my favorite place!

    Chicken
    Jenna A.

    Attended a birthday dinner at Bluewater, and the service was impeccable, especially for a large party! Jake was extremely helpful and accommodating, while also bringing on the fun vibes! While seafood isn't my typical choice, I did enjoy the Chicken option, with some substitutions made for fries instead of potatoes and vegetables. A wonderful recommendation for a lovely bite to eat, especially if you do enjoy seafood!!

    Arta S.

    While visiting the Santa Barbara area, I decided to try this lovely restaurant by the water and I'm so glad I did! From start to finish our waiter was attentive and helpful. I ordered the half chicken with rosemary infused garlic potatoes and asparagus, and everything was incredibly flavorful and delicious. This spot offers amazing service, great food, and beautiful views, making it a must visit when you're in Santa Barbara.

    Daisy G.

    What a wonderful place to eat when in SB! We opted to have lunch here on a sunny Saturday afternoon. So glad we decided to check out the menu! The ambiance is relaxing with nautical vibes that tie you into the Santa Barbara charm! Our waiter was super sweet and attentive. The food was delightful! We ordered the crab dip and it truly set the tone for the meal! Everything was full of flavor and fresh. Can't wait to eat here again!

    Jason L.

    Spontaneity made a trip to Santa Barbara and stumbled upon Bluewater Grill after browsing through Yelp. I highly recommend ordering the oysters. Tasted very fresh and was pretty big for an appetizer. I would definitely come back for the oysters alone. The prawn linguine was good as well and had a good amount of prawns. It wasn't too packed when I arrived. Service was pretty alright, not bad.

    Don M.

    Came here on my last night of a Santa Barbara vacation. Close to the hotel and came with a recommendation. Dined a bit early on a Saturday (5:30pm) and was seated immediately. Place was cozy with a good atmosphere. Lighting a bit dark for me, but that's a personal preference. Service was very friendly and attentive. Bread was good. Ordered the Scampi Linguini and it just missed the mark. Probably should have taken the server's recommendation of their seafood (blackened swordfish). Generally a good dining experience.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Lobster Mac was phenomenal! Best I've ever had! I would highly recommend this to anyone

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 5
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jim U.

    Jim U.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Peter T.
    490
    1331
    1384

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrew B.
    7
    166
    372

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jim U.

    Jim U.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jim U.

    Jim U.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of A J.
    1
    16
    1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mia T.
    378
    370
    1050

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Omri T.
    1
    20
    63

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris H.
    83
    97
    194

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Chela S.
    343
    23
    15

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    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

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Hello Christina, please see my direct message

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wendy A.
    102
    11
    9

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah S.

    Sarah S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 33

    Ask the Community - Bluewater Grill

    Hello...Do you have a Corkerage fee?

    Hi there, the first two bottles of wine are free. Any bottle after that is $10 each

    Do you serve Uni?

    We have fresh see urchin in the shell when we can get it locally. It is a delicacy caught by a well-known local female diver. You have to call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure they have it…

    Can I make a reservation and still take advantage of the happy hour? ALSO, when is HAPPY HOUR!? :)

    Their website says "Happy Hour: Mon to Fri 4pm-6pm, Call ahead for wait times or large parties on day of." ...And it looks like you can make a reservation during those time on website too :-)

    Do you take reservations for large groups (14)?

    You bet! Please call in for availability. 8058455121. Tonight we can accommodate anything today before 6:00.

    Is this place dog friendly?

    Unfortunately they only allow service dogs but there are several in SB that are dog friendly.

    View All 12 Questions

    You might also consider

    Dusk Bar - Gin martini ($13 on Happy Hour)

    Dusk Bar

    4.5(71 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    •$$

    Oysters hh 2 for 5 Drinks were about 10 to 12 each…read moreTheir paloma was great Not a whole lotta food options during happy hour fyi

    For some reason, this is considered the top cocktail bar in downtown Santa Barbara, however, we…read morefound the experience underwhelming and the service remarkably slow and unenthusiastic. When we arrived on a Tuesday evening, there were about seven patrons throughout the bar and the outdoor seating area with the live music drew us in. We were told to order at the bar, so while the rest of our party was seated, I stood there for five minutes before someone took my order. Totally fine, but no sorry for the wait or even smile or any warmth from the male bartender, who disappeared for a five minute break shortly after taking my order. The tables at the outdoor seating area were very sticky and since there were no employees in sight I (and the other patrons who arrived then) cleaned the tables ourselves. After waiting 10 minutes I went up to the bar and assumed since our drinks hadn't been delivered, I was supposed to pick them up, I was told don't worry, we'll bring them to you, and after another five minutes, our drinks arrived. The cocktails were decent, nothing revolutionary but I am spoiled in this department, well made but nothing to get excited about . After 30 minutes of enjoying the genuinely nice outdoor area we ordered another round, three shots took another 10+ minutes. When we realized we had to leave to make our reservation, we asked for a box for our untouched food, and we were told we don't have boxes. They ended up finding one for For us, but it appeared to be a pastry box from somewhere else. The female bartender who took over after the male clocked out, was much more personable, but not much more efficient. To their credit, this bar has an excellent selection of tequilas and Mezcal's, so if you're not in a rush and you enjoy those spirits it's definitely worth stopping by. The music was really great and was definitely the highlight of that bar.

    Photos
    Dusk Bar - Pleasant decor

    Pleasant decor

    Dusk Bar
    Dusk Bar - Ah huevo and Oaxacan old fashioned

    See all

    Ah huevo and Oaxacan old fashioned

    Pearl Social Cocktail Club

    Pearl Social Cocktail Club

    3.8(107 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    I absolutely loved Pearl Social and kudos to my friend Jara S. For highlighting them and for the…read morestellar drink recommendation. Pearl social is such a whimsical fun spot to grab a drink and a snack in the funk zone. We stumbled in for a late afternoon drink and it wasn't very busy inside - giving off "best kept secret vibe". The decor is very feminine yet playful. Loved the design and bar area. We opted for a casual booth area by the bar which was really nice. Also all of the little things were done well, crisp menus, clean bathrooms, and music done at just the right sound level. Their menu in the bar area for food is small but mighty - oysters, cheese plates, you name it. I'm definitely going to keep coming here for the cocktails. I've had one of the best sips in 2025 here - which would be The Mixtape cocktail. My friend told me I had to get it and I'm so glad I listen sometimes lol. This cocktail completely blew me away. Passionfruit forward, it's silky, sweet yet very well balanced. One of the more unique and tasty cocktails I've had ever and honestly I'm not sure how I could come back and get anything else. 10/10 Cocktail and menu. Super impressed. Kudos to Mark who was working the bar. Such a lovely spirit and kind person. He really is passionate about his menu and the drinks he's curated. Loved talking to him as we got to know a lot more about Pearl social and how some of their drinks were concerted. Really appreciated his time and expertise. Anytime I'm in the funk zone I will 100% be stopping back by here for a cocktail and good vibes.

    Came by here on Valentines day to have a couple drinks. Place is beautiful and the vibe is very…read morechill and relaxing. Took a minute to get some service unfortunately. The drinks were well made and we ordered the charcuterie board to eat. Small place, small menu FYI. Overall not a bad little spot to hang out and catch up with friends or bring a date.

    Photos
    Pearl Social Cocktail Club - Cute decor!

    Cute decor!

    Pearl Social Cocktail Club
    Pearl Social Cocktail Club - Accident in paradise and Stay Ready cocktails.

    See all

    Accident in paradise and Stay Ready cocktails.

    Cutler's Artisan Spirits

    Cutler's Artisan Spirits

    4.4(67 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    Cutlers was such a fun experience. They've got a cute patio area that is decorated well and they've…read moregot a small menu of cocktails. I had the apple pie mood lifter it was perfect for a warm summer day. It tasted like apple pie! And my hubby got a Negroni, which was very good. We ended up also getting a shot of the cold brew liquor and ended up taking a bottle of that home. We will definitely be back!!

    After a sweet drink, at a bar nearby, I was seeking something less sweet- thus we headed over to…read moreCutler's for a drink or two. This location is in the heart of the Funk Zone near the pier in Santa Barbara. When we approached the location, we saw that they were only offering drinks outside on the patio- as the temps were ok on Saturday in early September, we felt ok sitting on a small patio on lounge chairs with relaxing music in the background. The patio is in the back of Cutler's that can be entered around the corner (map on the front door of Cutler's shows the directions). The patio is next to other tasting room patios featuring wine and next door to Lark's restaurant. When we visited the tasting room at about 3pm in the afternoon, we were the only individuals there but started to fill up with other small groups. When a large group entered, the waitress said you will need a reservation as she was only wait staff there. Perhaps a sign is needed to notify people, that groups need reservations. The drinks were spot on- the drinks started at 14 dollars to about 16 dollars for cocktails. The tasting room also offers tastings of their products too. The tastings looked small. The cocktails were well poured. I was just disappointed to find out that I could not get a Bloody Mary on a Saturday- only Sundays- the Bloody Mary looked really good. If you are done with wine, and seeking something different, come relax on the patio here if your vibe is a low key environment with solid distillery cocktails.

    Photos
    Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Our cocktails

    Our cocktails

    Cutler's Artisan Spirits - 33 Bourbon and a shot of their Cold brew coffee liqueur.

    33 Bourbon and a shot of their Cold brew coffee liqueur.

    Cutler's Artisan Spirits - Signage on patio

    See all

    Signage on patio

    Santo Mezcal - Quesadillas vegetarian  QUESADILLA FLOR

    Santo Mezcal

    4.3(2.1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$

    This a beautiful restaurant in the heart of State Street and the restaurant food is even nicer…read more Santo Mezcal is modern Mexican done right. Service was warm, fast, and super knowledgeable. Highly recommend for lunch, dinner, or happy hour! Not your typical Mexican spot -- elevated, creative, and so delicious. Santo Mezcal in Santa Barbara blew us away. Seafood-centric menu with a real mixology focus. The ribeye tacos were cooked perfectly, the Halibut Verde Ceviche was bright and fresh, and the salsas are next level. Drinks are super well-balanced, not too sweet. Nice, trendy, casual vibe. Worth a reservation -- it gets busy. This place was one of several great meals we've had in SB. Highly recommend!

    Came here for dinner on a Monday night. Ambiance was nice. Our waiter came over a few times- we…read moreweren't ready, he looked a bit annoyed and said he'll be right back. Well he didn't come back. We waited 10 more minutes then asked another waiter to call for him. He then showed up another 5 minutes after that. I ordered the $45 steak and Mole. I ordered medium rare. The steak turned out to be very thin so the medium rare order was barely cooked- there was no flavor. If I was a waiter and someone said medium rare, I would say "our restaurant serve a very thin piece of steak so you might want to go medium instead. But ye didn't say that and the steak was under cooked, the fat was still cold. The Anaheim pepper stuffed with cheese, the pepper was also under cooked. So t had a few grill marks, but the pepper was still a bit cold and too crunchy. The mole was very good. I wouldn't recommend this dish for anyone.

    Photos
    Santo Mezcal - Seating area

    Seating area

    Santo Mezcal - Picana Oaxaquena

    Picana Oaxaquena

    Santo Mezcal - Sopecitos

    See all

    Sopecitos

    Bluewater Grill - seafood - Updated October 2026

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