I am glad I came by I was able to get some of the last apple cider drinks. The service was really good. He was about to serve a hot chocolate but he said he couldn't because there was big chunks in it. The ambiance was really well decorated in here with Halloween and Christmas together. The theme here is the nightmare before Christmas. read more

Shaker Mill - Skeleton in the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Any cocktail bar that uses Lalo tequila immediately deserves a 10/10. Love the ambiance and the vibes here- a perfect first drink of the night spot to hit! read more

The drinks here are amazing and made with care for the craft! Last time I was there one of the bartenders was getting ready for their bartending competition, they are NOT playing. A bit pricey but compared to other bars similarly priced in sb this place is much better. And you can just mosey on over to the broad street oyster window if you're hungry and get yourself a grilled cheese or lobster roll, YUM! read more

Super cute spot for drinks, plenty of seatings and super cute decor perfect for photos. Staff is super friendly. Would definitely come back read more

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Paul and Emma were exceptionally great and kind during my time there. Not only did they recommend great drinks, but were able to navigate unruly guests. Such a great atmosphere and such yummy drinks. Will be back! read more

Came back two days in a row because it was that cute! Service: great! Friendly, super fast 10/10 Drinks: great taste, but in terms of volume there's not much Atmosphere: friendly and love the open bar/ restaurant concept it's well decorated and welcoming Bonus: the restrooms have a bunch of stalls = minimal to no lines and lots of mirrors and very clean read more

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After spending the afternoon in the Funk Zone, we made our way up State Street to get drinks at Shaker Mill. We had a good experience at their sister location Test Pilot (both are managed by Good Lion Hospitality), so we decided to give this Cuban-themed cocktail bar a try. It's located inside the Kim's Service Department building, which is a mixed-use space. Parking is available in the surrounding streets, and there's also public lots/garages nearby. You can sit outside on the front patio, in the bar area, or at the tables near Cubaneo. There's another business towards the back called Modern Times, which is a craft beer place. The atmosphere is slightly rustic, with a mostly tropical theme. Plants, ornamental light fixtures, garage doors as windows, and exposed wooden beams make the space feel industrial, yet cozy at the same time. Cubaneo's menu consists of sandwiches, sides, and other Cuban plates. Shaker Mill serves wine, beer, cocktails, and a few non-alcoholic drinks. We ordered chips with guac for the table, which were nicely hot and freshly made. Since I had a long drive after, I decided to get the boozeless Seasonal Shrub Soft Cocktail. It was light, refreshing, and well-crafted! Everyone in our group enjoyed their drinks, and we had a great time socializing. Overall a fun place to hang out if you're strolling around downtown and need a pick-me-up. read more

Shaker Mill - Seasonal Shrub Soft Cocktail ⋅ State Street - Santa Barbara, California - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

if only I could put zero stars. very discriminatory against Asians, served me last and said I wasn't really 21 even after looking at my ID. iv never felt to discriminated in SB. read more

Stopped in for a drink and a bite to eat (late lunch/ early dinner). Enjoyed a Greyhound II prepared by the busy but friendly bartender, and it was great-a nice twist on the usually simple vodka with grapefruit juice I often enjoy when not drinking wine. Perused the small but appealing seafood menu of bites from the 'in-house' Broad Street Oyster Bar which offers the food on the premises, and knew right away that a lobster roll with fries would be my selection. Nice casual stop on State Street. read more

Shaker Mill - Shaker Mill Greyhound 2.0 and Broad Street Oyster o. Lobster roll and fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This bar has amazing cocktails, and our bartender was so friendly. He gave us recommendations about hidden gems in the city while whipping up some of the best libations I have tasted. I loved the tropical decor and open air vibes. It's no wonder it always makes Santa Barbara's best cocktail bar list. read more

Shaker Mill - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came to this place because of its high rating. To my surprising, there was no waiter or waitress at the time when we were there. We had to go to the bar and ordered our drinks there. That's definitely in convenient. The drinks were good and we liked them. We might come again to check if there's waiters or waitress at different times. read more

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This place is great! It has lots of outdoor seating and a fun tiki vibe. My friend and I sat at the bar, the seats are a little close together, but we were there early enough that it didn't matter. We shared a "Miami Vice" which is a pina colada, and a strawberry daquari served side by side in a class conch shell, delicious and very lovely. We also tried the Mango Lassi and the Arroz Con Pollo, which were both really good, would absolutely order again. Great friendly service, slightly pricey because of the location but worth it. We didn't eat any of the food but it looked and smelled good. And as a bonus, the brewery "Modern Times" is in the back, so if you're into beer, just walk straight through! read more

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Really cool place, open and airy. Feels very tropic, but not overly themed. Drinks were decently priced, frozen ones weren't too sweet which was great. All the staff were very polite and not pushy, the bartender also really seemed to take pride in the drink presentation. read more

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This may come as a shock to tourists and those living in other parts of the country; but us folks who have called Los Angeles home forever often need to skip town and get the heck outta here. One of the most popular nearby spots that allows us to de-shed the LA stress; is the lovely city of Santa Barbara. I've never met a soul who doesn't love Santa Barbara. What if you could leave Los Angeles AND Santa Barbara?! What about Cuba? That's right, Cuba. Well, you can. Kind of, by way of Shaker Mill - a Cuban themed eatery and cocktail bar. Grab your passport. Shaker Mill is located on the main party-hopping State Street of 'downtown' Santa Barbara on the lower half heading towards the ocean. This means that Shaker Mill isn't smack in the center of the (fun) chaos that is State Street but close enough for easy access on foot. Basically, you can't miss it if you are gallivanting up and down State Street. I've been going through an incredibly traumatic and horrible time and an escape to Santa Barbara was exactly what I needed. This desperate need for fun and relaxation included the, "Sure, let's live it up" - attitude of happy hour drinks. Santa Barbara is already deemed as a resort town; but Shaker Mill welcomes guests by kicking it up a notch with a Cuban-themed cocktail bar and eatery complete with outdoor patio, al fresco bar and an indoor dining area. If you like the sitcom, "The Golden Girls" (and who doesn't?!) then you will find Shaker Mill to be similar in decor and esthetic to furniture, decorations and even knick knacks to the home of Rose, Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia. Shaker Mill features plants (lots of them), exposed wooden beams, rattan style patio furniture and a cabana-feel. The issue is that it doesn't necessarily feel authentic to Cuba and just feels outdated and late 80s/early 90s - just like the TV show. We sat at the bar and noticed that the bar area was quite messy and 'dirty'. The prep area (we'll call it the back bar) had dirty blenders, glasses etc and the water with the towels was dirty and nasty. The floor was equally gross and the entire area was filthy. I didn't mention my discontent to my friend joining me for drinks and he even commented, unprompted. Shaker Mill needs to tidy it up! Despite this mess and cheesy, outdated interior; we still ordered some drinks and decided to be silly with girly cocktails. My friend ordered a Pina Colada (house rum blend, coconut, pineapple, lime, amaro di angostura, blended - $13) while I went with the Bay of Santiago (vodka, tropical green tea gin, apricot, almond, lemon, cocchi americano, bitters - $12). We also ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri to share (real mccoy 3yr, strawberry, lime, curaçao, sherry, overproof funk, blended - $13). Our bartender, Gavin, prepared our drinks and despite the unruly bar; his skills were evident. He was quick but smooth and elegant with his hands and clearly has a passion for mixology. Gavin was also pleasant to chat with and seems like a friendly, likable guy. Great job, Gavin! The actual bar experience was quite enjoyable, in that respect. But how were the drinks you ask? My friend's Pina Colada was quite a feast for the eyes with beautiful presentation of pineapple, shavings, and a fresh flower. The drink was tasty, not too sweet and perfect with the creaminess of coconut although I think it needed a little more rum. Slightly overpriced, as well. My Bay of Santiago was a straight-forward drink with no fancy bells and whistles to decorate the glass; but the flavor was soooo good! I generally dislike vodka AND gin but I was enticed by green tea gin and I love apricot and almond. Although 'strong', it was balanced beautifully and was the perfect combination of sweet cocktail with class. Highly recommended! Our shared Strawberry Daiquiri was just mediocre and there is nothing to much to say about it. It was somewhat blend and low on both the alcohol and the strawberry. Basically, it is like the Strawberry Daiquiris you would imbibe when you were underage and thinking you're cool drinking cocktails (not that I condone underage drinking! I do not!). Shaker Mill's Strawberry Daiquiri is certainly overpriced for what it is and can be skipped. Shaker Mill is a cute-enough escape to Cuba (or more accurately, "The Golden Girls" living room) with good customer service and average drinks (although I did really enjoy the Bay of Santiago). The prices are a bit high for the drink quality and the bar needs more Health Department standards met but overall; it isn't bad. Honestly, it would probably stand out more if there weren't so many options and competitors literally on the same street. Shaker Mill is an okay choice to grab a drink before you head to the beach or Stearns Wharf but don't expect to be blown away. read more

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Owen makes a mean Pima colada!!! So delicioua!! My husband loved his fruit cart drink

The Shaker Mill formerly India House has now taken over. If you've been to Test Pilot this place is owned by the same people. Love the whole outdoor bar and patio area. Definitely what State Street needed! As of right now 3.30.19 they're operating under soft opening status. The hours aren't officially set so their hours begin at 4pm until 1am. Cubaneo is also part of The Shaker Mill so you can order delicious Cuban food here too! Scotty and Alex were our bartenders and they were awesome!! Thank you guys for tending to us and making some refreshing flavorful cocktails! I tried the Mango Lassi and Piña Colada and both were over the top delicious!! The Piña Colada has coffee beans which take this to another level. A must try! Overall great new bar and I foresee this place doing good business!! Best of luck to you guys! read more

Refreshing and aesthetically pleasing cocktails to enjoy on a summer day. This is the perfect spot to relax, gather with friends, or people watch after a long day in the sun. Beautiful themed decor, lots of open indoor seating and a small outdoor patio and bar that faces State St. (this is where the people watching comes in... and dog watching, so many dogs!) The patio is dog-friendly as well. I was really wanted to try one of the frozen cocktails and was torn between the Piña Colada and the Cuba Libre. I decided to go with the Cuba Libre because you don't really see a frozen version of that on too many menus. The drink came with a paper straw and was garnished with a lime and a little Cuban flag, so cute! The blended texture was perfect and it didn't separate. Great spot to try if you are interested in craft cocktails. Prices range from $11-$12 per drink. read more

Shaker Mill - Cuba Libre - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Great spot, cool vibe, wonderful drinks! 10/10 recommend stopping in if you're in the area! Service was great! read more

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LOVE this bar!!!!! Favorite drinks in sb. Amazing vibe inside, get a lobster roll from next door and sip on a great cocktail. Great staff great music great vibe. I always recommend this place read more

First of all, this review is for the biz, pre-coronavirus. I started this a while ago and never finished. Why bother? Well, even a year later I remember the night I was there, it was that good. Service was excellent and the cocktails fantastic. I kept it tame and ordered a mojito and my friends ordered cuba libres. Both drinks were amazing and went down way too easily. I will definitely be returning asap. Idk if they're open during Covid but give them a call and please give them your biz if you can. No, I was not paid to say that. ;) Basically, if you're in Santa Barbara, you've got to give this place a try! read more

All the bartenders are super friendly and attentive. That's always a great way to take my monayyy. Anyways I tried the cigar box which was my fav, but anything mezcal they make is fire. I just dislike the chair stools hurts these buns when buzzed lolllllz read more

The bar had a cute tropical feel to it. You could see the hussle and bustle of State Street and the bartenders. I loved how they bring you your tab in a cigarette box. i had the Porto Guava cocktail. it was good but did not WOW me. read more

Shaker Mill - Porto Guava - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Stopped in during a California road trip. The drinks were amazing. Bartender was even more amazing. She was very personable and informative. I loved that they use only alcohol that has no additives, but still delicious. The ambiance was great, very laid back and mellow. Definitely recommend. read more

Shaker Mill - Mimosa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I always love shaker mill and love what these guys have done around town. However! Went in with a party of 8 to grab some cocktails, one of the lady's in our party asked Alex The manager if we could put some tables together and he replied to her. "Do your arms work". She wasn't asking him to do it she was just asking if it was ok. But the rude response was way out of line! So you get what you give. Once we heard that. We were rude back. Needless to say, some other Bartender came along and tried to smooth things out. We just wanted an apology from the "rude manager" Alex, bartenders response. "Yeah, not gonna happen". Needless to say we took our $400 dollar business to another establishment that knows how to respect ladies and people. It's too bad that's the type of people shaker decides to hire and have run their bar!! Kook! We won't be going back anytime soon! read more

Drinks were good , nice and strong and flavorful. My friend and I came in on a Friday at 3:20pm and were disappointed they didn't have a happy hour . But we got these two drinks . read more

Shaker Mill - Miami vice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I love how you can go to Shaker Mill for a drink after work and everyone else seems to be doing the same. There is a 5 o'clock buzz during the week day that hangs around the bar and tables, and there is a LIVELY weekend buzz when you are looking for a good time!! Drinks are on par with the vibe and aesthetic of the place: Amazing! I got an old fashioned and, while I was at I it, jumped over to Cubaneo (in the same space as Shaker Mill) for a sandwich. My wife and I met here, shared the drink and 2 sandwiches, and the combo was post-work perfection! Pro tip: order a drink and just walk around the space. Great interior design and fun old Santa Barbara art work! read more

Shaker Mill - Old Fashioned :D - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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After an all day virtual conference with a Hot Havana Theme going on, we searched out a place to continue the Havana Fun! Since our stay was during COVID, it was nice to sit outside and enjoy the Santa Barbara evening air. The waiter was masked and gloves and tables were safely distanced. I must say I enjoyed being here verses farther down State Street where crowds of people walk by and it's a bit too crowded. The food was amazing! So flavorful and authentic to its Cuban claim. And I am in no way complaining, because it was just so good... I did order the Plato Combination with chicken and was served lechon instead. I decided it was so beautifully presented I'd just enjoy it and happy for the unintentional mistake. The markita chips and salsa were so good we ordered some to go. Truly an exceptional dining experience. Would go back in a heartbeat. Though I will say, I wish they had music playing a bit louder to enjoy the Cuban vibe on the street driving area. read more

Shaker Mill - Outdoor Dining - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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What a delicious treat. I went to the Shaker Mill with some friends from out of town last night and we had an amazing time. A great representation of the Santa Barbara nightlife. I really enjoyed their beer selection and my fiancé loved the mango lassi (a little too Much haha). I really like how there are different food options that you can bring to the Shaker Mill area (both Cubaneo and modern times restaurant). Our friends visiting from LA had a great time. read more

Shaker Mill - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A reliable place to get really good custom cocktails! The vibe is definitely for older millennials with disposable income, so if you're under 27 you might feel a little old to be there. Also, the workers wear masks, which is really nice because a lot of the bartenders in SB don't wear masks, regardless of the case status in the county. I've had about half the cocktails on the list & they're all really good. I would recommend Arroz con Pollo, because I've never had a cocktail like it. read more

There are a lot of places to eat or get a drink on State St, but honestly a lot of them are meh. Shaker Mill is NOT MEH. I love it for so many reasons. First, the decor is so cozy. I love the rich wood tones and deep green tile on the bar. When I'm sitting with my drink, it's important to like what I'm looking at because it will make or break my vibe. The design and ambiance here were one of my favorite things. But my second reason was my drink of choice, I had the espresso martini, and I couldn't stop talking about it. My fiancé had to hear about 74 times how perfect this drink was. I wish I could explain how perfect it was. I can't. But it was. I will never come back to Santa Barbara and not come back for it, it was that good. Finally, the bartender David was fantastic!! I hope Shaker Mill doesn't lose him because he was a lot of the experience. He remembered us and our drink order the second time we came in, and we had only ordered a drink or two and not been there that long. Nothing like hearing "welcome back!" when you've only been somewhere once. We never had to wait for a drink, David would check in on us regularly, and also took care of all the other patrons deftly as well. Aaaaaannnd he wrote a list of places for us to see while in town. Talk about going the extra mile! I will be back for sure. Specifically to say hi to David and enjoy my espresso martini! read more

Amazing cocktails and the friendliest bartenders! I had the most unique and best tasting piña colada here! These bartenders know what they're doing. The coffee beans in the piña colada changed my life! It added an entire different component to an already delicious cocktail and helped balance out all of the flavors. The Bay of Santiago was also incredibly light and refreshing. Perfect for a summer pick me up. read more

Shaker Mill - Piña colada and Bay of Santiago - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I went here with a girl friend and had a great time! This place is so fun! There is a patio out front and back along with a hanging swing inside. The bathroom is Insta worthy so take your phones (this is the girls' restroom but i assume the boys' is just as hip). I enjoyed my pobrecito sandwich a lot! I will be coming back for sure! read more

Shaker Mill - Pobrecito sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Wow! I'm pretty impressed with this place! The whole concept of three different businesses sharing a space is very smart! It gives you and your friends different options. My friends and I came here on a Sunday and we had some awesome cocktails. We had the mai tai, Porto guava, and an old fashion. We all tried each others cocktails and I must say hands down the Porto guava was dangerously delicious! We all will definitely be back for more! read more

Shaker Mill - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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My favorite thing about this meal was the soft shell crab sandwich, it was crispy, juicy, and flavorful. The homemade chips that came with it were very flavorful as well! The lobster roll was very small, I think smaller than a hot dog but it was refreshing. The strawberry daiquiri + pina colada was served on a conch shell and absolutely delicious as well as the daisy tequila drink (however that one was a small glass). The bar/restaurant was beautiful and had many places to sit inside and outside, definitely photo op worthy. However, it was a bit hard to get the bartender's attention when sitting at the bar despite us being the only people sitting there. If prices were lower, I would go here all the time! read more

Shaker Mill - Strawberry Daiquiri + Pina Colado, Lobster Roll with Mayo base, and Soft She'll Crab Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Shaker Mill has finally opened on State Street and I couldn't be more excited! I heard about the soft opening from some friends so I had to go check it out! I ended up checking it out on Friday and Saturday since I had so much fun Friday I had to come back on Saturday. This new cocktail bar is owned by the same people who Test Pilot and The Good Lion so all of their cocktails are super unique like these two places! Since I went their both Friday and Saturday I had the chance to try many of their cocktails since my friends and I all tried each others. We tried the Mango lassi, the house old fashioned, the hemingway daiquiri royale, and cuba libre. Every drink we had was incredible! Each drink was handcrafted and done right in front of us while we sat at the bar. The Mango Lassi has to be my new favorite drink here! It reminds me of something that I would have in Thailand with the coconut in the drink. The old fashion was delicious and I loved the spice in it. The hemingway daiquiri royale was sort of tangy with the grapefruit in it and bubbly because their bubbles in it. The cuba libre was very refreshing and will be such a great drink to have in the summer after a hot day. Right now they are operating under their soft menu and soft opening hours. They have the hours right now from 4pm-1am but will be changing that very soon! They will also be releasing their full drink menu in a week or two too! They have such an awesome layout and even a small patio that is on state street. Overall this is such a great new bar and I can't wait to check it out again when the full menu comes out! :) read more

Great vibe, strong yummy drinks. Our bartender was awesome. Great place to hang out or stop by for a while. I would definitely come back in the future. We loved our special POG shots and the mango lassi drink. read more

Shaker Mill - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Such a cute vibrant place to hangout. I come here mainly for Cubaneo's food but Shaker Mill's drinks are fantastic as well. Cocktails wise I have tried piña colada and tequila sunrise. They look so pretty and taste delicious. The blended piña colada sort of gave me a brain freeze. I ordered it after midnight, it would be perfect during the day, warm and sunny. They add coffee beans to it which is interesting. I would have it again. Beer selection can be improved. There are only 4 options, they are local or Californian beers, which is great. Maybe non-alcoholic beers can be added to the menu? I'm happy to see Shaker Mill is doing well. Every time I drive by the place is packed and looks so fun. I definitely will be back. read more

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Ordered drinks and food. Order from a window for food and from the bar for drinks. The lobster roll was buttered and delicious and the clam chowder was amazing! 10/10 would eat here again but too full currently read more

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This is such a nice addition to the 400 block of State. Cocktail-wise, they know what they are doing. I tried the House Old Fashioned and the Hemingway Daiquiri Royale (pictured here) and both were fantastic. I came here during their soft open, like before you could tag the location on Instagram (whoa, fancy!), so I'm going to give them a pass on how long it took to get served. The bartenders were very attentive once they took our drink order. It was busy in there guys, we can't all be the center of the universe every second of our lives. It's so cute inside and very instagrammable (I'm sure you can geotag them by now!) We sat at the bar on the patio side and it was nice people watching with the slight breeze coming through. I highly recommend this spot. Five stars. read more

Shaker Mill - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came here just a couple of days after it opened on Friday, and had already tried the Cubano sandwich when Cubaneo was in the Night Market during the holidays, so I already knew the food would be good. This time I tried the Pobrecito, which is a shrimp sandwich, and it was so delicious! The bread was nice and crunchy and the flavors of the actual filling were so good. I also tried 3 out of 5 of their cocktails that day--the mango lassi (absolutely incredible), the Hemingway daiquiri, and the tequila sunrise. They were all very well made and also very pleasing to the eye. It seemed like they were trying out different drink menus every day, because I talked to a couple of friends who had gone the day before and they had different drink options. I really like that they are trying out a lot of different drink ideas to see what people like the most. The decor was also really cool, definitely gave you a feel of being in Cuba (though I haven't actually been so I can't say for sure). I loved their flamingo logos throughout the space and the tropical feel. Can't wait to go back! read more

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