Great craft cocktails in an incredible and historic building. We got there right at opening so…read moreservice was very quick and happy hour was in full swing. We only got two drinks because we were on a time crunch but both were delicious. The space is very intimate and dimly lit, the perfect space for a craft cocktail.

Great cocktails, great spot with Excellent customer service…read more It has good atmosphere , we were there after Happy Hour on a First Thursday and the band playing jazz was a lot of fun. Right next to the Granada Theater Downtown Santa Barbara

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.

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.

Waking inside, you'll immediately notice the relaxed beauty of Leta Bar with plenty of comfortable…read moreindoor seating options. They also have outdoor options, but nothing beat sitting inside with the AC on a hotter day. Great drinks. They did a dealer's choice while we were there, where the bar tender gets to know you a bit and makes a drink based on your preferences. No wonder they told us about it because they made us some drinks that fit our flavor palettes perfectly! Also told they had some food options, but we didn't order anything while we were there. Something to look into if you're hungry, though! Great bar to relax and wind down with a drink with friends. Definitely recommend stopping by!

To end the night, we walked over to The Leta Bar part of The Leta boutique hotel. Super cute…read moreambiance, always love sitting at the bar. Bartender was very sweet and was currently in training and politely told us that if our drinks weren't great to let him know. But they were amazing! I ordered the Bucatini and finished it in about 5 minutes. I was hungry, but the portion size was a little small. Needs more pasta. I did not add protein which would have helped. We checked out the breakfast menu and once I saw chilaquiles, I knew we were coming back.

Excellent SERVICE! This restaurant is inside the hotel. Brunch & Happy hours available ( I missed…read morethose). Indoor & outdoor seating WITH heat lamps, perfectly placed. Nice bar seating also. Live music. Every server was A1 from smiles, to attention & presentation. My favorite was the ceasar salad with EXCELLENT croutons! It was perfection! I did not care for the fish tacos, very bland BUT presentation and quality was A1! NEXT stay i will catch breakfast & happy hour!

Went here for happy hour today. Server was grumpy…read more Quesadilla came out wrong. Asada was dry and hard to chew. Hummus was good but the pita was burnt and also very stale... do not recommend. They don't have any clean tequilas... not a lot of options for tequila in general. Waste of calories basically.

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!

We came to Haskell's Poolside Bar a couple of times during our stay. It has nice outdoor tables, a…read morevery fun vibe, and it is dog friendly. Service was wonderful. Both times Monica was the lady that helped us, and she is a true gem. Quick, attentive and super sweet. Food was surprisingly good. Hubby had the club sandwich and I had the hummus platter, and both were very tasty. The hummus was super flavorful, and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Easy to stop by while taking a stroll around the resort and have a couple of cocktails with snacks. So relaxing. Thank you Monica!

This is the bar that supplies the pool…read more The drinks are as good as they could possibly be while being served in a clear plastic cup. Haha! The food is great! Club sandwich is outstanding! Fries are great too. The chips and salsa are good for not being at a Mexican restaurant. Guacamole held its own. Great service as you would expect. They don't charge you the service fee, even though it says so on the menu. The views from the pool up at the surrounding buildings and down to the ocean are spectacular! Only downside for me are the Pepsi Products!! I like Coke and hate Pepsi. Amazing you can't get a Coke on the entire property.

Marisella in Santa Barbara was one of the highlights of our weekend trip at the Ritz Carlton. The…read morerestaurant is located along the coast, and the atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed. We had gone there to celebrate our anniversary, and it was such a great spot. We timed our reservation perfectly so that we were able to see the sunset over the ocean. As if that wasn't enough, we also spotted little bunnies hopping through the plants, which made my 6-year-old daughter's evening. She couldn't stop smiling! The meal started with complimentary fresh tomatoes served with an incredible seasoned salt for dipping. My daughter couldn't get enough of it. The house-made focaccia was easily one of the best breads I've ever had. Warm, fluffy, and paired with the whipped ricotta, it was absolutely amazing. If you come here, this is a MUST to order. We also shared the Festa Del Mar, which was packed with fresh seafood and was a very generous portion - perfect for sharing. The roasted carrots were also good. For drinks, we tried the Siren of the Sea, Intermezzo, and the Marisella Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was served with a beautiful monogrammed ice cube featuring an "M." All the drinks were good and they did not hold back on the alcohol. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, friendly, and super nice throughout the evening. He even offered to take our picture at the table and did such a great job at it too. The service definitely matched the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back here the next time we're in Santa Barbara. I'm still craving that house-made focaccia and the whipped ricotta. Soooo good!

We came to Marisella to celebrate my child's birthday. First, I want to acknowledge that the staff…read morehelped us modify our reservation after it somehow changed from July 29 to July 30, and I appreciate that. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was very disappointing. We arrived around 8:30 p.m. and were seated around 8:45 p.m. We were immediately told that the kitchen was closing at 9:00 p.m., so we had to rush to place our order. Later, I asked for a glass of milk for my toddler. I was told the kitchen was closed. I then asked if the bar was still open, and the waitress replied, in a way that felt like she was making fun of me, "Usually we don't make food at the bar." I wasn't asking for food--I was simply asking for a glass of milk for my child. I even explained that if they could make cappuccinos, they should be able to provide milk. Unfortunately, my request was dismissed. The food was decent--about 7/10--but the portions were small. The biggest disappointment was the service. While we were still eating, staff were already taking plates and items away from the table. When they brought the dessert, they did not even clean the table first--there were still pieces of food left on the table, and they placed the dessert right there. It felt rushed and careless. For a Ritz-Carlton restaurant, I expected much better hospitality and attention to detail. Unfortunately, this experience felt like a waste of money, and I would not recommend Marisella.