By day, downtown State St. is a sunny shopping haven; at night it turns into an oasis of bars, clubs, and lounges, offering endless options for nighttime entertainment.
Conveniently located within several blocks of each other, each of these nightlife spots represent a unique experience. Downtown Santa Barbara has something for people of all ages (over 21 of course) and taste preferences. Whether you like to sit at a pub and enjoy a pint, play a friendly game of darts, have a romantic drink or dance all night long, you can find the perfect venue here.
Blue Agave, 20 E. Cota St. named after the plant “Agave Azul” from which Tequila is made, is an excellent destination for an romantic drink. An intimate restaurant/ bar with a charming ambiance, the perfect place for a finely crafted cocktail.
Dargan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 18 E. Ortega St. If you’re a fan of the Irish, head to Dargans. A great place for a tasty dinner or appetizers, you can stick around and enjoy a pint and play a game of pool.
Eos, 500 Anacapa St. Eos is perfect for those who love to dance the night away while avoiding rowdy college crowds. A sophisticated atmosphere and beautiful Greek inspired decor make this a must-visit. There is a lovely, garden-like outside area too.
Indochine, 434 State St. Very small, very hip. The perfect, ultra-trendy lounge for after dinner drinks with a date, also a great way to start the night off right with a small group of friends. The dance floor is cozy, but alive with the hottest pop and hip hop music.
Joe’s Cafe, 536 State St. A popular restaurant which is also home to some of the stiffest drinks on State St. A great place to catch up with friends, dance and enjoy reasonably-priced, strong drinks.
The James Joyce, 513 State St. A casual pub where you can eat peanuts and throw the shells on the floor, sip fine whiskey and Guinness, play darts and listen to live bands. Folk music, rock and jazz bands are featured.
Madison’s Sports Grill & Tavern, 525 State St. An American restaurant that doubles as a lively bar with a spacious dance floor. Frequented by patrons of all ages for its casual, fun atmosphere.
O’ Malley’s, 523 State St. A local favorite for years, O’ Malley’s has something for everyone. Spacious dance floors with popular music are located upstairs and downstairs and there is also a nice patio out back with a bar.
Q’s Billiards, 409 State St. A great place to spend the night. Q’s has three floors, plus a covered patio area, so you’ll never get bored. The first floor has a great dance floor with popular hip hop music, the second floor offers VIP seating and the third has several pool tables.
Sandbar, 514 State St. A Tequila bar with so much more. Sandbar is a classic local favorite. There is a spacious outside area with fireplaces and comfortable seats, inside the dance floor is usually crowded and lively.
Sharkeez, 416 State St. A popular restaurant and sports bar, Sharkeez is great downtown destination for fun and cheap drinks. The dance floor is a bit crowded, but there are seats and tables available inside and outside in the patio section.
Statemynt, 519 State St. Statemynt is a new, modern, ultra hip club that college students have come to love, especially on Thursday nights. There is a small lounge area and a medium sized dance floor.
Tonic, 634 State St. Tonic is probably the largest bar/club on State St. It has an extensive bar and dance floor inside and the outside is quite large as well, with another bar and several cozy bungalows for VIP guests.
Velvet Jones, 423 State St. Velvet is known for showcasing popular bands and music acts from the Santa Barbara area and beyond. A relaxed atmosphere that is great for enjoying live music, drinks and dancing.
Wildcat Lounge, 15 W. Ortega St. With talented DJs playing the hottest in pop, hip hop, techno and more Wildcat is all about dancing, and drinking of course. Decorated with red, glitter and vinyl, Wildcat is always wild.
Weekend nights are the most popular for downtown bars and clubs, while Thursday nights are a mainstay for the college crowd. Sunday – Wednesday can also be a great time too, if you are looking for a more low-key night.
Cheers!