Very cool hidden spot in Goleta. Drinks were yummy and strong and staff were very kind. They were extremely busy and were training some new staff, but Sarah was sure to check on us often and apologized for the delay. The owner Donald was super helpful as well. Lots of booths so good for a few people to sit together and the vibes are great. Patio is cute and spacious as well. read more

It pains me to give The Imperial anything less than a five but I have to honest about this one. I was kind of hoping for Mercury with booze but let's be honest The Imperial is a completely different experience. A good one at that but not the epic glory I had in mind. Drinks: The drinks are amazing. They have really elaborate cocktails and it's not like that crap you get at busier bars. The Imperial has a slower pace as others have mentioned. It's a hidden gem of a bar. Atmosphere: The proximity to a hotel might be partially to blame but The Imperial does remind me of a hotel bar. The leather seating is different, the outside door is unassuming, the inside doors confusing. It's very dark as well yet intimate. This is somewhere to go on a date with probably not a good place to hang out with friends without looking like you're Sex in the City or something. The Imperial is interesting. Fair warning just like with Mercury there's no food in this area so don't get too hungry. Stay thirsty though. read more

The Imperial - The Imperial (The Cocktail, not the bar) - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

Ah, the Imperial. The older, more refined, yet still hip(ster) sibling of the Merc. This place is an excellent, unique, low-key place to go in Goleta. The bartenders are polite and prompt and knowledgeable enough to be - dare I say it - MIXOLOGISTS. The back patio and the big booths are just superb. All in all, a really great bar that goes the extra mile and feels like it's worth spending a bit more. read more

Santa Barbara's best bar? Best one I've been to anyway. Nestled and hidden behind a bike shop, this bar used to be known as the "Bak Dor Lounge" and was reportedly a genuine turdhole teeming with violently drunk regulars. No, not the kind of dive bar with ironically-bearded hipsters drinking Old Milwaukee, but truly a scummy spot serving glasses filled with cheap off-brand vodka to chronic AA relapsers. Now with a more enlightened ownership, the interior of the entire bar has since been made-over, though they've kept the old exterior markings, even as they've changed the name to "The Imperial." The Imperial is a mixology-driven establishment with a barely-lit Manhattan speakeasy vibe and a background vinyl soundtrack. The transformed bar offers an expansive modern cocktail program. During my visits, I've gone off-script mostly, as I've felt comfortable in the competent hands of Kyle, a fantastic bartender who has mixed me penicillins, negronis, bourbon godfathers, and everything in-between. The Imperial offers a "house" boulevardier that is stored in a barrel and has picked up a slightly "woody" flavor -- not to be missed. Regardless of what cocktail you order at The Imperial, you can be assured it will be made by the hands of a bartender who has mastered his or her craft, and you will struggle to find that same cocktail made better anywhere else. The Imperial does not serve food -- this is a pre-dinner or post-dinner bar. Very few drinking-only establishments will ever compel me to write a Yelp review, but The Imperial is a special place. read more

This place is really cool. They make really good old-fashioned drinks. The atmosphere is super neat because the bar is tucked away and it's a locals spot. Very cozy inside with a classy jazzy good old days vibe. read more

Zero stars. Rejected me after entry with my medical alert service animal. Establishments such as this are required to by law to allow entry and not discriminate against people with disabilities. However, this was not my experience, and it was completely humiliating and degrading; especially as a person with a disability. When I called to speak to the manager, I ended up speaking to the man who forcibly made me leave with my service animal, and it turns out he is the owner/manager. I am so disappointed at this establishment and how it is considered to be a part of this community. This is not the image that SB or Goleta represents. Be better... read more

Wife and I have been going to Imperial for years. Cool vibe. Service is excellent and drinks are great.

Great ambiance and even better drinks! The staff has always been very friendly every visit I've been.

I think I found my new bar in my new home. I first came to The Imperial on my birthday in November when I was in town to to interview at UCSB. I immediately took the vibe of this spot. Half Tiki Bar and Half Jazz Lounge, this is like the perfect vibe for me. I knew that if I got the job at UCSB and I moved to the area that this was going to me go to. I started right after the first of the year and I went a few times the 2 weeks I was in the area and got to know the bartenders. All of the people working at this spot is great. They do a lot of custom cocktails that are just delicious. Now that I am moving to the area in March, expect to see me at this spot often. And if you come to visit me in SB then expect to be taken here. read more

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The Imperial is by far my favorite bar in Goleta/Santa Barbara. No doubt at all. The location seems random, but with it being kinda tucked away in Old Town, it gives it even more of that "hidden gem" vibe. Look for the "Bak D'or Lounge" sign, and you know you're in the right place. The inside has a true Mad Men / 1950s theme with low couches, soft yellow lights, and crystal and metal accents everywhere. It's spacious enough to have several groups throughout the bar, but each seating area is cozy. Personally, I love sitting outside when we have a big group. Head toward the room divider left of the bar and snag a spot near one of the outdoor heaters. The Imperial is known for their STRONG drinks, or in reality, how the cocktail *should* taste. They have a variety of unique drinks and classics, but don't expect pages & pages to choose from. If you need suggestions: The Cucumber Gimlet is crisp and refreshing. The Mai Tai is sweet and packs a punch. The Imperial is a strong classic. Each drink is awesome, but know that you'll need to try them over time - my husband can normally only handle 2, tops, and he usually reconsiders the 2nd if he intends to drive. These are the best, strongest, fairest-priced drinks in town, offered in such a cool atmosphere. The Imperial is top of our list to take our friends! read more

The Imperial - Amazing & cozy outdoor seating - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

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I really love this bar. Inside is very intimate. Dim lighting, booths, and cool couches are inside, and outside there's a decent size patio with lots of different seating options. Inside and outside have very different feels, so this place is great to have drinks with friends OR romantic for a date. The bartenders are awesome. They're good at their job, and fun to talk to. They have a great selection of beer and wine, but they make really yummy craft cocktails too. This is a true hidden gem in Goleta read more

The Imperial - Raspberry margarita - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

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My friends and I are 23-24 years old, and have been to this bar once and we were never asked to present our IDs. Tonight my friends and I came in and presented our IDs to the bartender when asked, yet we were met with a strangely hostile bartender (tall older gentleman) who interrogated me about my ID, making me feel uncomfortable. After questioning me about my ID, he eventually denied us service without providing a proper reason. I understand we look young as we are in our early 20s, but we respectfully presented our completely valid IDs (not to mention we had secondary sources of identification too), and if bartenders here are going to be so aggressive with customers who are asked to present ID, maybe they should make it common practice to ensure grounds are ID'd every time they visit. read more

Say hi to Donald! He's a great bartender! This place looks questionable from the outside but is a great dive bar! It's very mellow and has outdoor seating. You may feel this place is too hipster for you, and it is, but you'll appreciate it anyways. read more

How anyone can give less than a 5 star review for this place is unbelievable. The ambiance of this nostalgic 60's tiki bar, with it's beautiful design, vinyl music, ample seating and mellow vibe is the definition of "cool". Their staff make each drink with painstaking attention to detail, fresh fruit they cut right in front of you and astounding knowledge of ingredients that make each cocktail a delight- with generous pours. An air-conditioned, ample parking, out-of-the-way place to have an amazing drink and good conversation in a lively, sophisticated atmosphere. A total Goleta gem. read more

2 1/2 stars. Ehh. It was ok. I was underwhelmed. Advertised online as a jazz club, but there was literally nothing jazz about it. Decent little lounge as far as seating. Went on New Year's Eve. $25 cover, which was fine for NYE, but it was pretty dull. The couple sharing a large booth with us actualy got up and left before midnight. Music wasn't really conducive to dancing. Only 1 couple on the dance floor. They had some basic snacks (chips, candy, etc.) for the evening and a champagne toast at midnight. Had tamales for everyone, which were actually pretty good. Accompanying salsas were very good. Free NYE hats and poppers. And they took prom style photos at the door that you could take with you when you left. My date and I actually got "Most Photogenic." People were nice. Ladies at the door were sweet, but the place was pretty dated and lacked energy. I was very disappointed and a little embarassed that I chose the place for such a big night because my date is from New York City and they do it up for the new year. He's really into me and was cool about it, but we both were looking forward to a jazz lounge and didn't get that. Also, it's pretty difficult to find, but the guy on the phone was helpful. Overall, drinks were ok, place was dated, music was alright, but not the best to get down to. Older crowd, which I appreciatd, but I definitely wouldn't go again. read more

Great little bar, tucked away, look for the bak door! Lovely patio, inside design is fantastic it's like stepping back in time. Had a few drinks at the bar before heading back to our hotel. Highly recommend this special spot. read more

This space is lit. Much atmospheric. Bangin' drinks. Deck randos. If ya gots the chedda, totes worth. read more

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For me, the Imperial is the best bar in town. Sure its not in a premiere location but being tucked way out of the way has its advantages :-) Whats great about the Imperial is that as soon as you walk in the door you're back in 1960 with a light topical flair. There's no pretense, its just dark and cool and classy. Cocktails rule at the Imperial. They have just 1 tap for draft beer (though a decent selection of bottles) as well as some good local wines but the cocktails here are the real deal. The bartenders here dress sharp and expect you to appreciate the finer aspects of a well made cocktail as well. This isn't the best place for the Noob :-) On the outside, they've added an excellent and expansive outdoor patio that's completely isolated from the park lot and also sporting a vaguely tropical/tiki theme. This place rocks, but in a subtle, cooler than you kinda way :-) read more

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Not your average vintage bar! I love this place, the music and the early-20th century vibe. Plus the drinks are amazing. I find exciting we have such a cool place in old town Goleta. read more

This cocktail bar is the best in the area!!! The cocktails are delicious, using only great spirits and fresh ingredients. They have an extensive list of spirits ranging from a handful of selections of mezcal, absinthe, and pages of options for whiskey and bourbon. If you're looking for something in particular, they probably have it. This is our go-to spot for special occasions, random Thursday nights, and anytime really!!! The cocktails are in the 10-13 dollar range, but they are 100% worth it. Scott and Donald are phenomenal bartenders. They are artists at what they do, and are open to requests and custom drinks. I also love the atmosphere. It feels like you've been transported into an old timely bar from the prohibition era. It's a little dark, with ambient lighting, booths and standing tables. The outdoor patio is spacious with plenty of couches and comfortable chairs. If you're looking for a top notch drink in a cozy atmosphere, look no further!! read more

The Imperial - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

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Great atmosphere, quiet chill vibe. Great drinks and a large nice patio. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. Great find in Goleta. read more

The Imperial - Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

Shhhhhhhh, it's a secret so I will whisper. Don't tell your friends and whatever you do DON'T post it on Yelp!! We don't want this place to get busy. First of all it is hidden so I am not going to describe where it is. But if you like the Mercury, if you like Elsie's you will probably love the Imperial! Unlike the other two this place is a full bar, in fact it is a full bar and then some! Do you want to try some Absinthe? They have five to choose from, who else has that? Are you from the Big Easy and missing those Sazeraks because nobody in town seems to know how to make them correctly? Go to the imperial. They have Galliano for God's sake! Get a Harvey Wallbanger. From the outside it looks like a dive bar, I won't post a photo because I don't want to give away the secret. But when you are inside it is everything you want a bar to look like. A serious paradise for the bar enthusiast. It is a little dark and a little intimate. They have trays and trays of wonderful bottles, many of them unique to this bar and this bar only. At the moment my rating is five star. They fully deserve every one for their creative drink menu and overall awesomeness. But I will probably be changing it to one star just to keep the crowds away. (Sorry Imperial, but you are just too cool to be ruined by troves of UCSB students--you should be word-of-mouth only) read more

Hidden gem. Upscale Tiki bar with speakeasy vibes. The drinks were really good and the friendly staff helped us pick out the best options on the menu. read more

While this is by no means my kind of place, we had a great time here and the bartender went above and beyond to make sure we were having a great time. Chatted with locals which is something I also don't usually do, this turned out to be the best spot on our tour through the area. Looking at the pictures they now seem to offer liquor, when we went it was only beer and wine and they sent us to the Mercury, owned by the same person, for cocktails. Beer was fine, nothing special, they were out of the first few we wanted to try. What really stood out was the service, really really great. Dive bar space with bar tops, a few couches and the best area, the outside seating. Worth checking out while in the area! read more

Came with some friends and couldn't be more delighted. In a inconspicuous strip mall you'll find this gem. Highly recommend for a great experience and a staff that know how to make proper drinks. read more

Worlds best bar and what a great Mai tai. Don't ever change. Servers are very polite and fun to talk to

STRONG is the name of the game here! True, the drinks are very delicious, but you'll want to sip rather than guzzle. Although it has some tiki-inspired decor that'll remind you of the 50s and 60s, the drinks are definitely not sweet here. Honestly, Dawn, the owner of both the Imperial and Mercury Lounge, has a knack for creating an amazing atmosphere in which you can totally relax and just enjoy the amazing drinks. Yelp says, "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" and it truly is as good as it gets! read more

I was so excited to try this place with my friends, since I've heard great things about it. The ambience was so cool, and I was enjoying my experience until I ordered my drink. I asked the bartender for a Mudslide since I was really craving something with Baileys-- she gave me a look, first of all, and had to ask the other bartender if he knew how to make the drink. He proceeded to say "...Who is asking for that?!..." and the female bartender pointed to me. At this point I'm already uncomfortable and feeling judged, but it gets worse-- the male bartender continued with "I haven't made one of those in a while... and I was expecting like a 7 year old to be ordering it." Okay, first of all, I wouldn't have been as offended if perhaps the bartender was talking to me directly and just joking around, but no, he was talking ABOUT me to his COLLEAGUE while I was standing right there. Just because I am probably the youngest person in the room doesn't mean you get to be condescending. Second, I'm literally about to give you money to make me a drink, and even tip you to do so, so why not keep your pretentious remarks to yourself? Now you've pissed off me and my friends, and lost all of our future business. In other words, I guess don't go to this place unless you're a hipster above the age of 25 or else they will treat you like crap?? EDIT: just scrolled through the other reviews of this place, and seems like there is at least one another person who had a very similar experience a week ago. I really wanted to love this place, but I guess I, and other people my age, are not welcome there. read more

This place was a literally a hidden gem. Our friends were getting married and they had their guests check out this place for drinks. Amazing! The drinks were great but strong! I was quite happy after two cocktails haha. The next day we were like, wow! The drinks didn't taste strong but we definately felt the effects! I would definately recommend this bar/lounge to chill and have a good time. read more

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By far one of my favorite lounges in town. From the dim lighting, decor and jazzy music, this place is a hidden gem. Drinks are deliciously crafted with the service to match it. The outdoor patio is perfect for warm summer days, surrounded with luscious plants, twinkle lights and comfortable seating. Gin Martini, Old Fashion, and Jameson Ginger- beautifully poured stirred and shaken. read more

If you are looking for a hip and cocktail-y spot to hit up, this is the place. Not only do they do solid classics, like a delicious Manhattan and a fabulous Old Fashioned, but their twists and interpretations on oft-overlooked cocktails like the Daiquiri and Mai Tai are not to be missed! In fact, bring your great-aunt here for her wedding drink request of an Amaretto sour--it is approachable, reinvented, and completely drinkable to those of us not wearing muumuus! The bartenders, Cody specifically, are happy to walk you through their totally rad menu of drinks and point you towards cocktails that might be out of your normal comfort zone, but are a great wake-up to your tired tastebuds! Come here and you will not regret it! P.S. the decor here is totally unique and a gem among the tiki bars in SoCal! read more

Wow what a hidden gem. Great cocktails and such a cool speakeasy vibe. The decor reminds me of the weird tiki heirlooms from my great grandparents who fought in the pacific during ww2. Nice booths inside and chill patio outside. read more

Everything good you read about this bar is true. Anything bad is false. You pull up to a non-description building with a light above the door reminiscent of a speak easy. Walk inside and Be take to a timeless past. It has a very "Mad Men" sort of feel. So low key and comfortable. Drinks are strong and carefully assembled by charming bar keeps. The outside area is an entirely different casual and comfortable vibe. Hang with friends and enjoy a cucumber gimlet or an Old Fashioned. I just want to end my day there every day. No higher recommendation I can give. read more

Great drinks. Great atmosphere. What else do you need? Oh yeah. You need them aging their own recipes for weeks in the barrels on the shelves. Try their aged Manhattan of its available. You'll find out that you had a need for that all your life. read more

The Imperial - Lounges Near Me - Goleta, California

My boyfriend and I are regulars at this establishment. We love Don & Kyle, they always make us feel welcome and right at home. We've attended their NYE bash a couple of years in a row, as well as their Tiki events. We live right across the street so whenever we feel like grabbing a quick nightcap it's just a skip and a hop away. read more

This is number one on our "go to" places when people come to visit us in Santa Barbara. It's just a perfect example of the laid-back vibe that makes this place so unique. Don't be fooled by the "Bak D'or Lounge" sign above the door--you're in the right place. Typically I'll sample something from their (extensive) Japanese whiskey or bourbon collection and Molly will get a Mazatlan Mule or a Brandy Crusta. Friendly warning, they don't hold back when making cocktails. No watered down libations here. If you have two or more you may want to get a cab. Their inside space has a great mid-century Mad Men feel with dim lighting and tropical influences, but take it from me--you're going to want to walk straight outside. Their outdoor space is one of the best spots in town. read more

I'm thrilled this bar didn't go out of business with Covid. It's one of my favorite bars I've ever been to. Very relaxed, speakeasy vibe with friendly staff that are happy to make just about any drink you could want. The drinks are strong, their records are great and it's cozy enough that you'll want to stay for hours. read more

So, we're not from around the area and we asked several people who live in the area where a nicer, upscale lounge/bar was in town. They all said The Imperial. It was described as a dark, velvety, and plush speakeasy. When we arrived it looked more like a 70s man cave. The couch we sat on was ripped and the air felt musty. I guess being from LA brings different standards when it comes to nightlife. You'd have better luck elsewhere. read more

If you're looking for a place with ambiance where you can go to have a quiet night or catch up with friends the Imperial is the place. The drinks are strong with a good mix of traditional and creative mixes. There are a bunch of books and crannies inside and out to sit. It is pretty dark inside but the patio area outside is lit and there are warmers available although I haven't personally used them. read more

I've been coming here and the Mercury for years, and what a shame that I'll never be returning. I smoke when I drink, and I spit. The owner of the bar saw my puddle, and went on to not only scold me, but eventually kick me out of the bar. She came over once (to scold me about my disgusting behavior), then she came back to falsely accused me of spitting again (after she had just scolded me), which led to her kicking me out of the bar. I read a previous comment mentioning she might be a racist. I completely agree. Before officially forcing me to leave she says (AND I QUOTE) "You don't go into people's houses and spit, NOT IN THIS COUNTY you don't, let's just leave it at that." White business owner. Latina customer. (I almost want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but that last remark was completely uncalled for.) What shame to leave to leave so offended, and on such a sour note. read more