The Good Lion is my go to whenever I'm downtown. They always nail it when it comes to creative…read morecocktails. I especially love the names they come up with for each drink. The environment is casual, with indoor and outdoor seating. I love to people watch here! Located next to the Granada and the perfect spot to grab a few drinks before a show. Happy hour is Monday - Friday from 4-6pm and offers a small menu of $9 cocktails. Sometimes it gets pretty crowded depending on what events are happening downtown. My only gripe is that I wish they had two bartenders during the busier nights. They could be short staffed though. Nonetheless, it's still a great spot for good quality cocktails.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Cool artsy bar with great cocktails…read more We were looking for a place to wet our whistles before dinner and this place looked promising. Located right next to the Granada Theater on the main drag, it looked to have undergone recent renovations and had a very chill but stylish ambiance. There was plenty of seating on a Wednesday night, and our bartender was a friendly young woman. The hubby got the spiced rum old fashioned, which had an ice cube with a lion's face etched onto it--a nice touch. I got one of their tiny Negronis, which came in a cute tiny mug and cost $5 (it sounded fun). Both tasted great and we had a nice time sipping our drinks and taking in the decor. Alas we had to be on our way so couldn't linger long, but we'd definitely love to stop by again the next time we're in town.

Oh boy the amount of times I have been inebriated here. Birthday parties, coming home celebrations,…read morecheeky post-work cocktails that accidentally turn into two in the mornings; New Years Eves, Potlucks, Aloha Sundays, Halloweens and everything in between. This is a great bar and there's just no way around that. The drinks are tough, the vibes are immaculate, the bartenders have teeth and the regulars are absolutely bananas. I love it here. It's probably the only bar you can roll into by yourself as a woman and feel comfortable. As if things couldn't get any better, there's a treasure of a human in there who spins vinyl on Friday nights (maybe Saturdays also, but don't quote me) and you really shouldn't miss that experience. Thank you Imperial and staff for your phenomenal service. You've truly cultivated something wonderful.

What an amazing hidden gem in Goleta!…read more While visiting the town, we were looking for a lounge walking distance from our hotel. We found this cool spot via yelp. A for atmosphere. You are transformed into a tiki/tropical/ vintage/bohemian not sure what to call it atmosphere. Super mellow and chill. We sat at a corner couch across from the bar. Comfy and relaxing, and dim lighting. Drink menu was diverse. Great selection. From cocktails to all types of alcohol. With an average price range of $15. Bartender knew his craft. All drinks ordered were great! C for service. The service dept needs some help, and I get it, with one person serving 15+ people. It is impossible to provide a5 star service. Initially service was great with a smile when we first arrived @ 6 pm. But soon after the bar became super busy. The wait was 20-30 minutes for an order. It was time to leave. We asked for our check and it came non-itemized. If it was 2 or 4 drinks that would be fine, but we were party of 3 with over 10 drinks. Then we had to wait again after asking for an itemized check. Waiter stated they need to hand write as their "machine" was not working. That took more time than needed. Ahhhhhh.... Ah well.. you can't get it all. Hence the 3.5 stars. I recommend, to sit at the bar and maybe pay cash to avoid hurdles I experienced.

Happy hour was the bomb! I had the ahi street tacos and a drink that was recommened by the hostess…read morebut not on the menu, Saturn. It was delicious!! The decor is cute and appropriately themed. The service was really fast and really sweet. I highly recommend checking this place out.

I stopped by around 10:40pm knowing they closed at 11. The bartender and another employee told us…read morethey were closing soon but said they could still make us a quick shooter, so we came in and ordered. Shortly after receiving our drinks, the bouncer suddenly walked in the bar and very aggressively demanded to know who "let us in." I explained that the door was open, there were still plenty of people inside the bar and on the patio, and no one at the entrance had told us they were closed. We started heading toward the patio and he then yelled at us that we had to stay inside while they cleaned up. As we stood there trying to enjoy the shooters we just purchased, he kept chirping about why we shouldn't have walked in the bar. I finally responded by saying something along the lines of, "Isn't watching the door your job?" and he immediately escalated the situation, cursed at me, and threw us out. I understand bars are trying to close down at the end of the night, and I would've had no issue leaving if we were simply told they were closed. The bartenders and other staff were completely polite the entire time. The interaction with the bouncer, however, felt unnecessarily hostile and unprofessional.

Convivo was a delightful way to end our Santa Barbara vacation. It's located in the Santa Barbara…read moreInn, and it has free valet if you're visiting the restaurant. Sit on the patio, which overlooks the beach. I'm sure at night, it's just beautiful. - Avocado toast: My dad had this, and it was filled with ripe avocados. - Furikake eggs: I really enjoyed this dish. It was light, and not heavy like most brunch foods. The brioche bread was delicious. - Chorizo and egg scramble piadina: Wow this was unexpectedly the best dish of the morning. Hearty, flavorful and the crust was perfect. I'd order this the next time I'm in town.

This is a review specifically a review for the bar…read more Convivo is lucky to have an unassuming rockstar mixologist in Devin. We sat at Devin's bar for over 2 hours drinking and eating and running up a decent tab after arriving at the Santa Barbara Inn. Espresso Martinis, Old Fashions, and more were expertly crafted and creatively presented. I suspect we will be back at SBI's restaurant and bar again based upon the great experience we had earlier today. Thank you Devin for the great work and service!

One thing we quickly noticed in Solvang is that there aren't many places open late, so finding High…read moreRoller Tiki Lounge open until 11 PM was a huge plus! After a delicious dinner nearby, we stopped in for drinks, live music, and a good time and this place delivered. They had a great live band playing fun tunes that really set the atmosphere. The vibe was relaxed, lively, and exactly what we were looking for to end the night. Their drink menu is packed with creative and fun options. I ordered the Mango Michelada, and it absolutely did not disappoint. Our waiter was also fantastic, very attentive, friendly, and kept checking in on us throughout the night. If you're in Solvang and looking for a fun late-night spot with good drinks, music, and great service, High Roller Tiki Lounge is definitely worth stopping

I want to start by saying that I have never in my life experienced such a negative response when…read morewalking into a place. I wanted to love this place because of the aesthetic however, the owner (guy who wears the golf cap) immediately seemed annoyed that my friend and I wanted to grab a drink there. He just handed us the menus without acknowledging us. For reference it was not busy. So we sat down and he did stop by to take our order. There was one couple next to us and WOW! He came and asked them "Where are you guys visiting from?" And that was a whole conversation. He then came back a few minutes later to ask how their drinks were. And my friend and I were not acknowledged one bit and we were sitting right next to them and were the only ones in the room with them so it was very obvious. We did not feel welcome at all. It was such a bad feeling so I will definitely not waste my time or money at this place if I were you.

Super cute place that's dog friendly with outdoor seating under trees. Very friendly staff and…read moreservice. Lots of games and couches to lounge and chill. We came in for Happy Hour on a Thursday before a Bowl show and had a great time. Drinks were yummy!

We went to The Cruisery for my dog's 12th birthday, and I'm honestly obsessed with this place…read more I've reviewed this spot before, but this visit deserved an update because it was such a fun and unique experience. It's right on State Street and extremely dog-friendly--like, dogs of all sizes are welcome and actually celebrated here. Not just tolerated... celebrated. They offer dog birthday packages (yes, really), and for $49 it was such a fun experience. Lobo got a full birthday setup: a reserved table, a sign with fun facts about him, a birthday portrait, cake, a gift, and his own birthday dinner. I ordered him the filet and sweet potatoes, but they do have other options on their dog menu too. And for the humans--they don't slack either. They have a great food and drink menu. I ordered the Flaming Lips cocktail and it's such a fun one... I won't give it away, but yes, there are actual flames involved . I also got the Korean Crunch (fried chicken with red pepper sauce) and it was so good. Everyone else loved their food and drinks too... but I'll be honest, I was a little more focused on Lobo. Kyle was our server and he was amazing--super friendly and made the whole experience even better. Honestly, everything about it was just fun. It's such a unique idea, and I love that places like this exist. We come to Santa Barbara often, and this is 100% going to be a regular stop for us now. Already planning Lobo's 13th here

At Crocodile, their culinary focus is centered around fresh, locally sourced ingredients and…read morecreating dishes that are both flavorful and nourishing. My family and I came for Mother's Day and overall had a nice experience. The restaurant is attached to the Lemon Tree Inn/Motel and was fairly quiet during our visit, which I actually appreciated because it made for a relaxing meal. The only downside was pit server as he forgot to bring cutlery with the food and when we mentioned it, he kind of just shrugged it off, which did not feel especially welcoming or hospitable. We ordered the: *Parmesan Crusted Salmon-parmesan crusted salmon on steamed vegetables, creamy lemon caper sauce *Lemon Chicken Salad- grilled chicken on mixed greens with feta, artichoke, tomato, lemon vinaigrette *Coconut French Toast-texas toast, cinnamon, vanilla, fresh coconut shreds, maple syrup, butter, banans and berries *Mud Pie-homemade oreo crust with cappaccino ice cream Everything we tried was enjoyable and the food itself is what would bring me back. Another plus is the parking situation. Since the restaurant shares the motel parking lot, parking was very easy and free, which is always a bonus.

Was staying in Santa Barbara and decided to try this place out. As we walked in I noticed this…read morerestaurant is a little tired and really needs some updating. Service was amazing it was a young man his name was Jack. He had awesome customer service he was very friendly and had a nice smile on his face! He suggested the clam chowder. So we ordered the Clam chowder and a burger. He wasn't wrong the clam chowder was a 8 out of 10. It had a lot of tasty clam in the soup. The burger was nice and juice. So if you're in the area ask for Jack and order the clam chowder!

Ha!! What a freaking cool spot I love that I walked in the door and completely felt like I was at a…read morelittle bar in Waikiki lol The bartender is freakin cool and fun which is how a bartender should be! Drinks are strong and you better believe all the drinks are only 9.99 which is freaking fantastic in today's economy I'm used to having to drive to LA for cool spots and so happy we are now gettin hip local spot!! I had dans pink drink and the mai tai both were hitters and you order food too Amazing decor and vibes

Ate there on 3/25/26, The Chipotle chicken and Canadian pizza was okay, not much flavor in the…read moresauce. The Tiki bartender, didn't even acknowledge my wife and I as we walked in. He was in a lengthy, loud conversation with 1 lady sitting at the bar. There was one other man eating, at the table next to us, he was an employee. I had to go up to the bar and mentioned to him it was our first time here. He didn't seem to volunteer, any information on how to order, until I asked him. Then he just said there is a number on the table to order. I asked if he had a menu, he seemed bothered that I asked for a menu. He mentioned I could order from the hostess, so I did. She was very nice and polite and took our order. While waiting for the pizza, trying to get the napkin dispenser on the table to work. They were not even popping up to use. Bar tender ignored the tapping the dispenser on the table. So I switched one dispenser from another table to ours. He never said a word when I tried to get the napkins to pop up. The bartender looked and took the faulty ones and placed them on the bar counter, and never tended to the problem. He didn't even say anything, not a sorry about that, He just continued talking to the lady. Pizza was delivered and we had a few slices left. I just went to the hostess and asked her for a box. She was very fast and we thanked her on our way out. He did not do anything behind the bar, other than talk to the lady. Then he served her a drink, and then waved his hand over the screen, it appeared he didn't charge her for the drink, He did not type in anything. Then a man walked in and sat at the bar, he ordered a beer. Then suddenly bar tender, has lots of work to do, moving around the bar like he is supposed to. It was like someone knows somebody in the business. He was slacking and ignoring us, he never asked, is everything okay or if we needed a pizza box to go, I was already asking the hostess for a box. Probably because I got my own napkins, because I didn't want to interrupt him talking to the lady. We will not be going back to the 999 pizza Tiki bar. I am giving 1 star for the bar service. 5 Stars to the hostess.

Nobody plans to spend an evening in Bakersfield. You pass through it on the way to somewhere else…read more-- Mammoth, the Sequoias, the long flat grind up the 99 to Sacramento -- and if you stop at all, it's for gas or a bathroom or because your BMW's brakes have decided, somewhere around the Grapevine, that they'd rather not. Thank you, Weatherford BMW of Berkeley, for the near-death experience and, inadvertently, for one of the best nights out I've had in years. Stranded and waiting on repairs, we checked into The Padre, the only hotel in Bakersfield that feels like someone with a subscription to Dwell had a hand in it, and set out walking through a downtown that time has treated with more kindness than reputation suggests. There's a Woolworth's luncheonette still hanging on. There are old brick facades and wide sidewalks and the particular quiet of a Central Valley evening when the heat finally breaks. And then, on 18th Street, there is Tiki-Ko, and suddenly you are no longer in Bakersfield at all. You are, instead, inside someone's magnificent obsession. Tiki-Ko is a proper tiki bar -- not a tiki-themed cocktail lounge, not a place that bought some bamboo at a craft store and called it atmosphere, but a genuine, committed, floor-to-ceiling shrine to mid-century Polynesian fantasy. The carvings are real. The lighting is correct -- which is to say, barely there. The mugs are serious. There are pufferfish lamps and carved totems and the whole glorious taxonomy of tiki ephemera, accented here and there with a skate-culture edge that keeps it from feeling like a museum. It's reverent without being precious. The drinks are the real thing. Mai Tais built with actual orgeat. Zombies that earn the name. The bartenders make them with the kind of care and enthusiasm that tells you this isn't a gig -- it's a calling. They want you to be here. They want to talk about rum. They want you to try the Painkiller. In a city that most Angelenos regard as a punch line, somebody built a world-class cocktail bar and filled it with joy, and the regulars clearly know it. You will not plan a trip to Bakersfield. But if you find yourself there -- by mechanical failure, by accident, by the peculiar mercy of a bad brake job -- walk downtown. Find the tiki bar. Order a second round. Stay longer than you intended. Bakersfield has been underestimated, and Tiki-Ko is the proof.

Visited The Sinking Ship with friends and enjoyed ourselves very much. The drinks were good and the…read moreatmosphere was really cool. It was a fun evening in a laid back environment, the bartenders were nice and the lady clearing tables was pleasant. The only thing I, personally, didn't enjoy was the weird ambient soundscapes. A little music would have been nice, rather than the creaking ship noises and ghostly wailing.