Where to Happy Hour in Santa Barbara
Thankfully, happy hour season has finally arrived in Santa Barbara. Which means it’s time to put your home cocktail kits away and head out to some of Santa Barbara’s best bars to cheers to long nights, summer days and tasty cocktails. Say hello to weekday happy hour, and good-bye to living for the weekend.
Photo credit: Matt Furman
Santa Barbara got a gem when modern, elevated steakhouse Rare Society joined the culinary scene last year. With its casual glam ambiance, delightful patio and enticing u-shaped bar, Rare Society is made for Happy Hour. From 3pm-5pm Wednesday-Monday (they are closed Tuesdays) sip on $10 cocktails, including the Wood Fired Pineapple Margarita featuring blanco tequila, wood fired pineapple, lime or a classic Dirty Martini made with your choice of gin or vodka (gin!) and $10 glasses of wine and a selection of beers. For Happy Hour bites, the special menu of steakhouse favorites includes steak ‘n frites, the dry-aged burger, and oysters on the half shell. Rare Society’s Happy Hour is available in the bar, or soak up the sun on their patio and watch the happenings on State St. Seating is first-come, first-serve.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Good Lion Hospitality
Monday through Friday from 4pm - 6pm it’s easy to feel good about Happy Hour at Good Lion, Santa Barbara’s quintessential neighborhood cocktail bar. The cocktails are classic, seasonal, and influenced by the Central Coast’s incredible local produce. Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara in the historic Granada Theater building, Happy Hour at Good Lion is all about gin classics, each priced at $9. Sip on a Gin Gimlet made with London dry gin, lime, cordial, a classic Gin Dry Martini with London dry gin, french vermouth, choice of lemon twist or olive, and the refreshing and sippable Gin Negroni, featuring London dry gin, Italian vermouth, house bitters, plus a rotating selection of seasonal cocktails.
Photo Credit: Lure Digital
Lean into blended cocktails, fresh and fruity sours, and agave spirits at Shaker Mill, the al fresco Coastal California cocktail bar. Every Monday - Friday from 4pm - 6pm
a range of tasty and vacation-worthy Happy Hour cocktails are ready for you among the flamingos. Sip a Diablo made with Cimarron blanco, blackberry, ginger, lime, agave, dry vermouth, and topped with Mina real mezcal float ($9), or try the Eastside, where you can choose Cimarron blanco or Mina real mezcal, lime, cucumber mint ($ 9 / $10). Happy Hour goers can also try the Tequila Presidente featuring Cimarron blanco & reposado, apéritif bitter, vermouth, Mina real mezcal, pineapple, grapefruit bitters ($9). If a quick buzz is what you’re after, Cimarron blanco shots ($4) and Mina real mezcal shots ($5) can get the evening started.
Photo Credit: Kristin Renee
If an island escape Happy Hour sounds like the ideal break from a busy work week Test Pilot’s collection of classic exotic cocktails, made with high quality produce and ingredients, balanced for the modern palate is an ideal spot. The tropical and nautical Tiki-esque cocktail bar is located two blocks from Stearns Wharf and the beach in coastal Santa Barbara. All priced at $9 sip on Test Pilot’s Daiquiri made with Copalli light rum, lime, sugar. Rum lovers' delight can be found in their Mojito featuring Copalli light rum, lime, mint, and soda, as well as the classic Cuba Libre, mixed with Copalli reserve aged rum, Mexican Coke, and lime. Happy Hour is available Monday through Friday from 4pm - 6pm.
