Amazing bar with a highly skilled bartender (on a Tuesday night) who managed to deliver…read moreconsistently perfect cocktails with zero help, to a crowd. The cocktails are highly creative, diverse in flavor and design, and really could stand up to any you would find at a top cocktail bar in a major city. The exterior doesn't scream "must come in" but you absolutely should. Is it a tiki bar? Yes, but in the best way. And the bartender deserves applause for pulling off 3+ quite complex cocktails every 5 minutes off of memory and without any support.

Test Pilot lands somewhere in the orbit of tiki without fully crash-landing on a bamboo runway, and…read morehonestly, that works in its favor. In a stretch of Lower State packed with breweries, wine bars, and roaming weekend energy-drink humans in vintage bowling shirts, it threads the needle nicely between cocktail bar and tropical escape pod. The menu leans tiki-adjacent rather than deep-cut exotica, but the drinks are smartly built and avoid the "every problem can be solved with more rum" philosophy. There's a solid spread of spirits across the board, which makes the place feel more welcoming to a broader nightlife crowd instead of strictly rum disciples clutching vintage Trader Vic's mugs. The Oaxacan Dead was the standout for me. Smoky, balanced, endlessly sippable. One of those drinks where every sip quietly talks you into ordering another without turning into a sugar avalanche. The Jungle Bird was also great, though presented more in the direction of a Negroni than the punchier tropical versions you usually see. Bitter, restrained, and easy to settle into. Crowd-wise, things tilted a little frat-floaty as the night rolled on, but the staff handled everything smoothly and kept the vibe from turning into full pirate mutiny. Service stayed friendly and composed even when the volume of the room started climbing like a malfunctioning theremin. Big bonus points for the location and outdoor seating. Being right in the middle of Lower State makes it an easy launch point or final stop depending on your evening trajectory. Grab a drink, people-watch, drift between breweries and wine spots, repeat as necessary.

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.

We went to Oku around 6pm and it was BUSY, but somehow we lucked out and were seated right away! We…read moresat outside with an amazing view of the water. The vibe was classy and trendy but still lively. Such a pretty spot! The four of us shared a bunch of things. The Everybody Loves Raymond was my favorite roll. It had these little cubes of tuna on top that were almost like a mini poke bowl. SO good! The Crouching Tiger was another favorite. The rainbow and spicy tuna rolls were good too, just more classic. The crispy tuna nigiri was my favorite appetizer. Super fresh with perfectly crispy rice. We also loved the firecracker rock shrimp, which was light and crispy without being oily. We got the sauce on the side so the spice was totally manageable. But the GARLIC NOODLES!! Easily some of the best I've ever had. Buttery, garlicky, creamy and everyone at the table agreed they were amazing. The shrimp fried rice was great too, and they were able to make it non-spicy for us. We obviously did not have room for dessert, so we ordered it anyway The French vanilla crème brûlée was delicious, the green tea mochi was good once I got past the texture since it was my first mochi experience lol, and my sister said the tiramisu was the best she's ever had! Service slowed down a little after our entrées came out, but they were also extremely busy. Great food, gorgeous water views and such a fun dinner. I would absolutely come back. And I'm not sharing the garlic noodles next time.

I don't get the hype--come for the bartender, skip the sushi…read more ​With so many incredible dining options in Santa Barbara, Oku unfortunately misses the mark. ​We started the evening dealing with a host who had completely unnecessary attitude, which immediately set the wrong tone for the night. Thankfully, we opted to sit at the bar, and our bartender was the absolute highlight of the visit--attentive, friendly, and highly professional. They completely saved the service experience. ​As for the food? "Mid" is the most accurate way to describe it. We ordered the warm sake, the Tuna Crispy Rice, and the Sunrise Roll. I understand this is a massive waterfront spot trying to cast a wide net and cater to a huge variety of tourist palates, but the execution suffers for it. Nothing was terrible, but absolutely nothing stood out. It is painfully average sushi at premium prices. ​The Verdict: 2/5 stars. Great bartender, but the host's attitude and mid-tier food mean I won't be coming back. There are just way too many better places to spend your money in Santa Barbara.

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.

Very enjoyable ambiance - airy with nice music. Beautiful salads. Wagyu burger fine quality - acrid…read moretaste however, as if charred on a grill that was overdue for cleaning. Gen Z waitstaff launched into specials without warning and when requested to repeat first items to boomers in attendance, told us to listen up as he had four other tables to get too. More funny than anything. Long-ish wait for food but in a pleasant and comfortable setting. Overall a very nice experience and would recommend, minus the suspect grill condition.

Inside at their spacious bar, or outside on their patio, Gracie is a great place to enjoy Brunch,…read moreLunch, or a fun Happy Hour. And there is nothing better than sitting out on their patio, with one or two of their Signature Cocktails, and/or a nice glass of Storm Sauvignon Blanc, or Dragonette Rose . . . sun shining, the ocean breeze blowing through our hair. Perfect. Whether it's Brunch, Lunch, or Happy Hour, we've been thoroughly enjoying their Ceviche, Shrimp Cocktail, Fish Tacos, and Beef Short Rib. Thanks to the Gracie Staff for always taking such good care of us. Very much appreciating Dudley, Grace, Chris, Harley, and everyone.

If you are in Santa Barbara, or if you are craving great Mexican food near the beach, this is the…read moreplace to go! I literally drive to SB for this place!! It's a 2.5 hr drive for me and I'll tell you it's worth it!!! Delicious, everything on the menu, the drinks are amazing, the service is outstanding, never disappointed when I go! Great location and the style is simply the best, the play the right music at a volume where you can still have a conversation and actually hear each other lol. Sorry, I always forget to take pics because I'm quick to jump in and just EAT! But I can honestly say everything is great, my faves are the enchiladas Ensenada, the empanadas and of course the rib eye tacos, OH and the rice ... now that's some good rice!!! If you happen to stop on by! ENJOY!!

I do agree with others that the hype is more than the substance, however, they do have standout…read moredishes that I would go back for. The octopus was cooked very well, that alone would get my repeat business. Not chewy at all, good smokey flavor. The crab enchilada was indeed jam packed with crab meat. Flavor was good. But again, jam packed with fresh crab meat. Ceviche had what looked like squid ink, it was pitch black but tasted very good. A lot of citrus flavor.

Great vibe and server Small but didn't get too packed…read moreReally creative flavors for their drinks.

Long overdue review for this not so hidden gem…read more Rodeo Room offers amazing craft cocktails, delicious bites, and a killer happy hour 5-6pm. Did you also know there's also omakase? On Sunday (1 seating) and Monday (2 seatings), Rodeo Room transforms into a delicious (and affordable) omakase consisting of delicious bites of sushi and ends with a twist on a bar bite and dessert. Optional cocktail pairing (worth it!). The ambiance gives off a dark classy take on a classic bar setting. Service is friendly and the sushi chef prepares the food right where you can see (depending on where you are seated). I recommend the bar top vs table, unless with a larger group. Limited seating so be sure to make a reso in advance!

Came here for a quick drink and had an amazing time…read more The bartender Chesco was super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I was craving a drink that was not on the menu and he was nice enough to make the drink and it was also DELICIOUS. It was a great drink and a great time, I can't wait to return.

Stopped by Shaker Mill for a quick drink while enjoying a beautiful day in Santa Barbara. The bar…read morehas a cute setup and a nice patio area, which made it a great place to sit outside and relax. There were only two beer options available, as the focus seems to be mostly on mixed drinks and cocktails. I ordered a margarita was a Tajin rim and my husband ordered one of the two beer options. The Tajin was pretty on the glass but I was really hoping for a Tajin rim to enjoy as I sipped in the margarita. The server was friendly, and even though the bar area itself was busy, we were still able to find seating on the patio. Prices were about what you'd expect for the area. Overall, it's a nice spot to grab a drink and enjoy the atmosphere.