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Exterior - Sandbar Mexican Restaurant, Santa Barbara, CA

Sandbar Mexican Restaurant

4.2 (205)
$30 and under
Mexican
514 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Make a reservation

A photo of Sandbar Mexican Restaurant restaurant

Sandbar Mexican Restaurant

4.2
$30 and under
Mexican
Santa Barbara

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
We are a traditional Sonora style Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar. Guests will experience the authentic tastes and warm outdoor dining of Mexico. We use homemade sweet and sour with organic agave nectar in our world class margaritas. We also feature handmade tortilla chips and salsas, fresh Ceviche, homemade guacamole and the best fajitas around.

We feature a vibrant bar scene and a social atmosphere. We also serve our full menu nightly until 11pm. Stick around after dinner as we transform into one of Santa Barbara's best late night hot spots.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast/Brunch Sat, Sun 9:00 am–1:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 1:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Daily 9:00 pm–1:30 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Richardo Maxwell
  • Catering
    We offer on-site and off-site catering options for parties of 10-500. Please contact our Event/Promotions Department at (805) 252-5409 or email at sandbarpromo@sharkeez.net
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross street
    Between Haley and Cota on State St.
  • Parking details
    Please park in the City Lot 11, its directly behind our restaurant and offers the first 75 minutes for free. There are 2 entrances to this lot, one on Anacapa St. and one on Haley St.
  • Public transit
    Local taxis pick up and drop off at a designated area 20 yards from our front door. The State Street Shuttle runs in front of our restaurant from 9am-11pm. It costs $1.
  • Entertainment
    We feature live DJ's after 10pm every night except Wednesday when we have Live Reggae that has been a locals favorite for over 15 years.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Sandbar Mexican Restaurant.

4.2

4.2
(205)
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • California Central Coast

    Kid-friendly

  • California Central Coast

    Good for groups

  • California Central Coast

    Hot spot

  • California Central Coast

    Neighborhood gem

  • California Central Coast

    Great for outdoor dining

  • California Central Coast

    Lively

  • Santa Barbara

    Good for groups

  • Santa Barbara

    Healthy

  • Santa Barbara

    Hot spot

  • Santa Barbara

    Neighborhood gem

  • Santa Barbara

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Santa Barbara

    Romantic

  • Santa Barbara

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Sandbar Mexican Restaurant offers a vibrant atmosphere with "great service and food." Guests praise the "amazing drinks" and "delicious food" like carne asada and steak tacos. Though some found service inconsistent, the open-air ambiance and lively setting make it a popular choice for visitors seeking a fun dining experience in Santa Barbara.
205 Reviews
  1. Charles Gold

    Utah37 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sandbar is happening. Great service. Great food. The atmosphere is amazing.

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  2. Angela Gold

    Denver100 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love the new atmosphere! It's so bright and lively! This was our first time back since the reopening. We met Lexi (not sure of the spelling) at the hostess stand when we checked in for our reservation and she was an absolute delight! We had a long conversation about the updates to the location. She was helping us choose a fun table for the evening. She is a gem! Our food was excellent! We had Emily as our server and she was great! So attentive and friendly. We love the updates and we will definitely be back soon!

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  3. Suzanne Gold

    Philadelphia20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on August 22, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    I loved this place. But let me explain the moderate ratings. The food. Wonderful! The carne asada was one of the best I have ever had! Cooked to perfection.. melted in my mouth! The staff is efficient and very nice and accommodating. The restaurant is mainly open-air. The front patio is gorgeous, but, wow! We were roasting. Granted, it was a very warm day so it was hotter than normal in SB. But, other parts of the restaurant had fans, where the patio area did not. So we melted. I love music. It adds ambiance and sets a fun and inviting mood. But it was too loud. It was hard to have conversations without yelling at each other. We were seated at a wide table with built-in fire outs (which was very cool) but harder to hear and enjoy conversation.

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  4. Brandi

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined on August 20, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Interior and exterior is pretty. But the food was disappointing. There was a hair in my food. The three plates we did our were not good at all. Not authentic Mexican food. The chicken literally tasted like it came from a can! Service was poor . She never came back and refilled drinks . No water refills, no soft drink refill. This restaurant was a one and done!

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  5. Sharise

    San Diego5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 8, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the Mexican Restaurant in Santa Barbara to me. I ate there 😋 a few years ago for my bday. End up back there on the 8th of August again. They remodel the place, which is very nice. Food AND DRINKS 🍸 WAS AMAZING 🤩

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  6. Julie Gold

    Los Angeles58 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 4, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    In from out of town. Stopped in for drinks on Sunday afternoon and liked it so much we made dinner reservations for Monday! Drinks were fabulous (sat with Ashley at the bar, so fun!) and food the next night was great! Will go back if we’re in town again.

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  7. Praneal

    San Francisco11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    WOW what a find. We (family of 4) always seek out Mexican food for Taco Tuesdays. On this occasion we were on vacation in Santa Barbara. We loved the ambiance. Restaurant is set up in a really cool way were everyone is basically eating outside. Plenty of great vegetarian options for my family. I had the surf-n-turf enchilladas which were great. Out waiter was great with helping us through the menu and attending to us when we needed it (she wasn't coming by every 5 minutes asking how everything was).

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  8. Misty Gold

    Las Vegas7 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on July 27, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The most underwhelming Mexican food we’ve ever had. The food was so bland. The service sucked. Barely saw our waitress. When we did she constantly got things wrong. Not only did the food have no flavor. She brought the wrong food. Save yourself. This place is busy and I’m clueless as to why. The only good thing was the seating.

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  9. Emily

    Unspecified1 review

    4.0

    Dined on July 17, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Margaritas and fajitas were incredible. Felt crowded with two people and fajitas with the small table but otherwise an incredible experience!

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  10. Luis Gold

    Las Vegas15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It is always amazing and good time. And good drinks

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast/Brunch Sat, Sun 9:00 am–1:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Sat, Sun 1:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Bar Daily 9:00 pm–1:30 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Richardo Maxwell
  • Catering
    We offer on-site and off-site catering options for parties of 10-500. Please contact our Event/Promotions Department at (805) 252-5409 or email at sandbarpromo@sharkeez.net
  • Neighborhood
    Santa Barbara
  • Cross street
    Between Haley and Cota on State St.
  • Parking details
    Please park in the City Lot 11, its directly behind our restaurant and offers the first 75 minutes for free. There are 2 entrances to this lot, one on Anacapa St. and one on Haley St.
  • Public transit
    Local taxis pick up and drop off at a designated area 20 yards from our front door. The State Street Shuttle runs in front of our restaurant from 9am-11pm. It costs $1.
  • Entertainment
    We feature live DJ's after 10pm every night except Wednesday when we have Live Reggae that has been a locals favorite for over 15 years.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, Sandbar is family‑friendly: reviewers describe dining with small kids, enjoying the patio, and celebrating family occasions like Father’s Day.

Yes, Sandbar features warm outdoor dining and a popular patio; multiple guests praise the open-air seating and front patio for its Santa Barbara vibe.

Yes, Sandbar's cozy, patio‑forward setting and several positive couple visits make it a lovely choice for a date night.

Some plates are hearty, guests describe the El Supreme Burrito as "huge and filling, " and the churros have been called "surprisingly huge."

For a relaxed visit, Sandbar Mexican Restaurant’s weekend brunch (Sat–Sun, 9:00 am–1:00 pm) is a lovely choice; for a lively night out, Saturday dinner and late-bar hours are busiest, while some weekday evenings (e.g., Thursday around 7 pm) have felt quieter.

Sandbar serves up a lively, beachy, open‑air vibe, bright, remodeled decor with a vibrant bar scene, live music or a DJ and a back dance floor that comes alive after dinner; some guests note the music can be very loud.

Casual dress, comfortable, informal attire is appropriate; nothing formal is required.

Sandbar often fills up, guests report lines, packed visits and long waits, especially during busy times like Fiesta weekends; by contrast one reviewer found it sparsely seated on a Thursday around 7:00 PM.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Santa Barbara
  5. Santa Barbara

Make a reservation

A photo of Sandbar Mexican Restaurant restaurant

Sandbar Mexican Restaurant

4.2
$30 and under
Mexican
Santa Barbara

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
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