The only time I seem to go for Happy Hour these days is when I am out of town. Actually, staying in…read moreSolvang this time around meant no driving required, so first stop, HH at Mad and Vin inside the Landsby Hotel Every item we ordered was on point. Between the olive and fig bruschetta and Santa Ynez sliders with duck fries so good, I should've ordered a full order of those fries, to go with that Chata-tini of rum, horchata, cream, cinnamon, my only regret is not returning the next day for dinner.

What a great find! We were walking down the street looking…read morefor a restaurant and a woman approached us and asked us if we needed a restaurant recommendation. She recommended Mad and Vin!! And a couple others. We enjoyed a beet salad, mushroom pasta, a Pinot Noir, and a butterscotch crème brûlée!!! All a 10 out of 10! Our server was George and our busser was Rudy! A perfect team, never had to ask for anything they were very attentive, perfection! This is one of those restaurants that if we lived here, we would come regularly.

We celebrated our anniversary here tonight and had such a great experience. The staff went above…read moreand beyond to make the evening feel special, and everyone we interacted with was genuinely friendly and welcoming. The food was fantastic, as always. This place never disappoints. The atmosphere was great too. The whole restaurant just had a fun, upbeat energy, and it seemed like everyone was having a good time. It's one of those spots that makes you want to keep coming back. We're already looking forward to our next visit and working our way through more of the menu. Definitely one of the gems of Solvang.

Brunch was outstanding! Service from the front door to a hearty thank you as we left, was as it…read moreshould be and then some. Food was excellent, my bacon was perfect. Wifey's eggs Benedict twist had her singing. Can't wait to visit Solvang again, so we can visit once more!!!

We had dinner AND brunch at Whiskey 'N Rye while visiting Solvang for the first time this weekend…read more Not only was the food delicious, but the service was even better. Mandy B (bartender) is so amazing at her job. She's someone who genuinely cares about the service she's providing and it shows. With so many options to choose from, it's service like this that brings customers back (even twice in one weekend!) We will certainly make Whiskey 'N Rye a regular stop when we visit the area in the future. Thank you for taking such great care of us, Mandy!

Loved the service, especially from Emily and Ashley...THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY A…read moreMEMORABLE ONE. Food was out of this world, highly recommend. Location superb, no wonder everyone comes here. The manager was pretty much the cherry on top and refused to let us go without a special treat will definitely be back. Oscar & Natalie Gonzalez

This cozy lounge is just off the lobby of The Vinland hotel. They offer a nice cocktail menu with a…read moreselection of small plates. We tried the Danish meatballs and the deviled eggs, and can see why they are considered favorites. A huge shout out to Rick, the bartender- he is a true mixologist and also a pleasant conversationalist. He was also offering seasonal cocktails separate from the menu offerings and I went with the peppermint bark martini- so delicious, it's a holiday dessert in a glass. Fortunately, we are guests at the hotel, making it easy to return, because this place is truly a gem.

This a lounge area in the Vinland hotel. We were staying there and ordered at the lounge. No…read morecomplaints. You can tell they work hard here :) some inconsistencies on their DoorDash v. their online menu. But they gave up the chicken tenders no problem! They are open late too which is nice because things in solvang close pretty early.

As we were ending our night, we passed by Vaquero Bar, it seemed where locals and tourist meet, the…read morevibe was definitely it. It was definitely a busy night for a Friday night. Service was great. Drinks were great and music was loud enough where you can still have a conversation. Dog friendly for those who own a dog.

The novelty of spinning records wore off fast, and what could've been a cool, defining feature for…read morethe place ended up feeling more like a missed opportunity. Kelly seemed more focused on catering to a small group of guys in cowboy hats than maintaining the vibe that actually makes this spot stand out. Instead of reading the room, she and her May 1st bartender colleague locked into a single stream of country music that clearly wasn't resonating with most of the crowd. That's really the frustrating part, it wasn't just a music choice, it was the complete lack of awareness or willingness to adjust. People weren't being heard, requests were ignored, and the whole "records" concept felt pointless when it was treated so rigidly. If you're going to lean into vinyl as part of the experience, it should feel curated, responsive, and a little bit special, not like someone just putting on their personal playlist and tuning everyone else out. The drinks were genuinely great, which makes the situation even more disappointing. The potential is clearly there, but the execution on the atmosphere just didn't match. If the records are going to stay, they should actually be used to enhance the environment, not limit it. Otherwise, it might be better to ditch the gimmick entirely rather than let it drag down what could be an otherwise standout spot.

*Brunch Review* We ordered shrimp cocktail, this was the…read morebest we have ever had. They were cleaned well and came with an amazing avocado shrimp cocktail sauce that was so good! It also came with fried crackers. I didn't like them, but my husband loved them. The french toast looked amazing, I will have to try next time. My husband got eggs Benedict. He loved it. The English muffins were house made, delicious sauce, thinly sliced ham, poached eggs perfectly cooked. I got fish and chips. The chips were malted wedge potatoes. It seemed like normal wedge potatoes, i didnt taste any malted flavor. The fish was rockfish. It was definitely fresh, really good, you could almost taste the sea. The batter was very very light and crunchy. They only thing I would say is it was a little oily. The tartar sauce was good, nothing unusual. There was a side of fresh greens, not cole slaw. They were very lightly dressed and exceptionally fresh, like just picked from someone's garden. If you love cole slaw you may be disappointed, if you love fresh greens you will be happy. My husband got a bloody Mary. It was quite tasty. Spicy and you could taste the horseradish. The olives were really good (I'm an olive lover). Coffee was excellent. Jared was our server and he was amazing. We had constant refills of our coffee and water from the staff. The patio was very nice and perfect for people watching. I loved the BTG wine list. I will come back to the bar again for shrimp cocktail and a Whitcraft wine (my fav pinots).

We made reservations ahead of time for dinner at Coast Range and had a great overall experience…read more Upon arrival, we had the option of sitting inside or outside. The dining room was beautiful and would make a great date night spot with its quieter atmosphere, but it felt a little warm for our liking, so we chose to sit outside. The patio was comfortable, and the staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout the evening. We started with the grilled skirt steak, ordered medium rare, although it came out closer to medium well. Fortunately, the sesame-cilantro marinade and pickled vegetables brought plenty of flavor to the dish and made up for the temperature miss. For our entrée, we shared the Creekstone ribeye. We ordered it medium rare, but it arrived closer to medium. Despite that, the steak was still very tasty. We paired it with the glazed wild mushrooms, which ended up being my favorite item of the savory dishes, along with the Stuffed Shell "Mac n' Cheese." Everything arrived hot and was well prepared. We also ordered a few cocktails, which were okay but didn't stand out. A little more attention behind the bar would have elevated the experience even further. Halfway through dinner, I asked for Maldon sea salt for the steak, and the team happily accommodated the request, which was appreciated. The highlight of the night was easily the Brown Butter Brioche Donuts for dessert. Absolutely fantastic. Soft, rich, and packed with flavor. They were the perfect way to end the meal and the one dish I'd tell everyone to order. Overall, while a couple of the steak temperatures missed the mark and the drinks were a bit mid, the service, atmosphere, and dessert made for a very enjoyable evening. We'd definitely come back and explore more of the menu.

We jumped from wine tasting to Come here cause Ryan Sent us here from Folded Hills. He simply said…read moretell them Ryan sent you and BAM we were in. The owner was really nice and let us come in and explained how to become a member and all that good stuff. It def was a fun Speakeasy cause you don't know it's there unless you know what to look for because as you enter it's just a store that sells beer and snacks and that all. They have different varieties of beer here for purchase as well. As we came in the vibes are so chill not a very big place but enough to come hang with friends and have a beer on tap. They have an outdoor patio with heaters and TV's to catch a game as well. They sell some snacks but you are able to bring your own food which is really neat. Their beer selection was great and just loved every corner and wall of this place. List of history, fun displays and fun souvenirs for purchase. Def coming back here we loved it!

Back Room is a cute little speakeasy in Solvang -- cozy patio, friendly staff, and a charming local…read morevibe. Note there's a $5 entry fee per person (locals can get a membership to skip it). They only serve beer, wine, and seltzers, so it's best for a casual drink rather than a full cocktail night. Great spot to stop by for a relaxed evening.

Here's a clean version that keeps your voice but tightens it up a bit:…read more We went to The Victor for Sunday brunch in Santa Ynez and it was kind of perfect. We started with Bloody Marys, which were insanely good. They were out of the Verde, but the bartender improvised and made us something even better. It came with what might be the best bacon I've ever had, which is a bold claim but I stand by it. He even came out to check on us and talk through what he was testing. We loved them. We ordered the deviled eggs with trout roe, which were to die for. Highly recommend. Then we split the breakfast sandwich. They divided it in the kitchen and brought it out with two side salads, which is always such a nice touch. Service was incredible, the atmosphere was lovely, and the whole thing felt a little indulgent in the best way. Exactly what you want on a beautiful spring day in Santa Ynez. Would absolutely go back.

Visited for our 10-year anniversary while staying in Solvang and had an excellent experience. The…read moredry-aged New York steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and my wife said the shrimp scampi was the best she's ever had. Great wine selection, wonderful service, and a beautiful atmosphere both inside and out. We also appreciated the complimentary bubbles for our anniversary. A memorable dinner and definitely worth a visit if you're in the Santa Ynez Valley.