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    The James Joyce

    3.8 (186 reviews)
    ModerateIrish Pub
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The James Joyce Photos

    THE JAMES JOYCE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Live music
    Loud
    Good for groups

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    Irish coffee.
    Desiree P.

    The James Joyce in Santa Barbara is a lively, casual Irish pub on State Street known for its authentic, cozy atmosphere, featuring peanut shells on the floor and eclectic decor. It is popular for live music--particularly New Orleans-style jazz on Saturdays--karaoke, and a good selection of beer and cocktails.

    Shalini G.

    ooh weee! after a super fun day in Santa Barbara we stumbled across a sign for irish coffee's that drew us into the James Joyce. the floor was sprinkled with sawdust and it was not crowded at all. Felt very local. Turns out it is a local spot. The guy next to me was my waiter at another restaurant the previous night. My sis and i each got an Irish coffee. They gave us the sugar on the side so we could sweeten it to our liking (that's pretty darn cool!) Boys went with Guinness draft. love my irish coffee (i was going to have one at the hotel for a nightacap but i'm sure this was much better). i would 100% return here! it is my favorite SB bar so far.

    Kinsella  Band  back to the Joyce  heck yes   like old times
    Nallely G.

    the James Joyce.... of course this bar is so far one of the best ...No mater what .... you meet very interesting people here, and yes we have stupid people ... and assholes too But since 2006 been here I never ever see a fight for Reals ..... good bands, good people, good Karaoke good dancing , GREAT PLACE period . like Toby Keith sing (i love this bar ) totally

    Ali B.

    The third bar stop this evening towards earning the Soused badge. By now we are feeling like a party so we stopped here because of the music coming from the live band as we approached the door. I was a little taken aback once inside this bar because it felt " old school" for lack of a better phrase. The decor looked like antiques to me, the lighting was low and the entire floor was covered with peanut shells. To my surprise this was a pretty large bar. In the front corner of the bar was a live band jamming out old school beats, as you walk through the main area it's an open space for dancing and through the next door way was a pool table and another smaller bar. The drinks here were just okay but by this time (3 bars in one night) the peanuts stole the show. This was by far the most fun bar because you could dance (old school dances), eat your peanuts and throw your shells on the floor all while listening to cool beats.

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    1 year ago

    I love this place. Their food is pretty good. Happy Hour deal is good, too. They also have live music. The staff is nice and quick service!

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    3 years ago

    Bartender was great. Bus boy actually refused to wipe my table. Bartender gave me a towel for diy.

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    The James Joyce Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The James Joyce

    Is it 18+? My friends and I would like to go to a karaoke night, but some of them are under 21.

    Yeah I know this great bar but unfortunately yes it has to be 21 after 7 pm :-(

    How late do you serve food?

    The bar itself doesn't serve food, but take-out can be reliable until 10pm.

    When does karaoke happen?

    Sunday and Wednesday from 9-1 Saturday from 10:30-1

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The James Joyce

    Erik and I were walking down State Street and the bar pulled us in by it's fun and lively atmosphere.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    The Red Piano - RP Cover

    The Red Piano

    4.5(326 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    We had a great time at the Red Piano! Jimi the fabulously…read moretalented piano player and singer was especially kind playing all our favorite tunes as we sang out of tune. Thank you for making our Birthday pal feel special!

    We walked in from the fun vibe and of course the piano music. Just had dinner and wanting a…read morenightcap. I've been to Santa Barbara loads of time and this was the first time walking into this place. They did have a security guard in front checking ID. The crowd was pretty lively for Saturday night but not too overly packed. Piano man was having his moment. Hence the reason we walked in. Tables and booths were pretty much taken but we manage to get a seat at the bar counter. Cocktail menu had all you drinks, both mixed and specialty. It's a full bar so whatever you're craving I'm sure they could create. We got a few drinks as there was a couple of us. The bartenders was really sweet and fun. She was having a good time and taking care of everyone. It was only her when we walked in but a few others showed up a couple of minutes later. One of the cocktails was a bit too sweet for me so I opted for another. Went with a beer which was ok. Drink wise, about 18-20.00 per cocktails. About average wherever you go to now. Even though we were at the bar counter, a waitress came over to take our order. Piano man was very good. When we walked in he was taking request from the audience. Afterwards, the song choices were pretty great. And the sing along with everyone was fun. Hence why people love a good piano bar. Would I come back, yes. The vibe was great. It was fun place with a good amount of seating. There's a nice big bar area as well as patio seating in front. I don't know if food is offered. Would definitely come back for a fun night.

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    The Good Lion - Passionfruit Fizz

    The Good Lion

    4.6(456 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    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.

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    Joe's Cafe - Monday's Chili Relleno

    Joe's Cafe

    3.6(1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Joe's Cafe on lower State Street in Santa Barbara, opens at 7:30 am to showcase its extensive menu…read more There are numerous attractive items and I had a tough time choosing. However, by the time I got there, it was past noon and selected their daily special which was a stuffed chicken dish. Think of something like cordon bleu, white meat stuffed with 3 different cheeses and spinach, then breaded on the outside and deep fried. The dish arrives hot and sliced in 3-4 good sized pieces. Lovely aroma and optics. The chicken meat was moist and tender, the cheeses melting in harmony and each bite delivered a piece of that crispy outside. For the sides, I chose the mashed potatoes and vegetables (zucchini and carrots), both of which complemented the main perfectly well. Service was attentive, caring and friendly. This eatery has a spacious dining area and the place can get busy. Not surprising, because there are so many options on the menu (for breakfast, lunch and dinner), that there is every reason to come back, so you could try more of the vast menu.

    Had to come to Joe's Cafe while here. Had a drink because they are legendarily large pours…read moreaccording to local lore. Umm. Can neither confirm nor deny that claim. Recommend you check it out and report back! Enjoyed the wines and service at the bar. Reasonable drink prices. Great place! An institution.

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    Joe's Cafe - Very good!

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    Very good!

    The James Joyce - irish_pubs - Updated May 2026

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