My new favorite cocktail scene in Santa Barbara! After having great visits to SB in the last few months, I'm only disappointed that I didn't duck into this chic little bar sooner. This is the perfect spot for drinks/apps with good friends or a date night. If you have a flare for mixology or are open to trying fun new cocktails, don't hesitate to engage the bartenders for a recommendation. The staff will not only find something fabulous to please your palate, but will hands-down make your night with their outgoing personalities and enthusiastic service.
This place also has a perfect dimly lit environment, and clearly a strong local following. Can't wait to go back! Loved the lychee martini especially!
This is a great little spot next to the Granada theater. Â Come here and get your pre-performace cocktails, or while waiting for a table at a near by restaurant. Â The selection here is really nice and the bartenders muddle up fresh drinks. Â Great wine selection and Champagne. Â Try their drinks on the menu, many of them are to my liking. Â Also a small tapas menu is available. Â The atmosphere is nice and mod with a very well dressed crowd and great place to have a conversation with friends. Â The waitstaff is always friendly. Â I would recommend this place if you like lounges that are upscale. Â Oh and check out their weekly special events and Champagne club on the first Friday where you can try great Champagnes and dance to some great music.
Review Source:This is a great place , particularly before a show at the Granada Theater
Now, one has to understand what the Marquee is and is not. Given that it plugs itself as a sophisticated, civilized cocktail bar with good martinis, one might expect jazz, Sinatra, Fitzgerald etc... The music is fine but after 8 PM on a Friday and Saturday night it turns into a place with people who do not strike one as regular imbibers of martinis
After the State Street Ballet/SB Symphony on Saturday night, I went to have a drink and it was wall-to-wall women in what I refer to as "sausage" dresses: cheap slightly slutty dresses worn by women who would do better in conservative Ann Taylor slacks and a plunging silk blouse and nice heels under 4 inches. Â There is no shortage of lecherous eager male of course, presumably the target audience of the bad dresses worn poorly.
A dear friend calls this the NFS syndrome, aka the "no f****** mirror" syndrome. I will never understand why women of a certain age think they will be more sexually appealing by donning garb they have no business wearing even young.
It is an entirely different crowd on weeknights than weekends and Saturday night only a very hungry girl with car at valet parking for Granada should venture in there. I happened to meet a professor of engineering by who trains Navy test pilots by day and plays the trumpet by night. Â Fascinating history both educationally and geographically and very nice. He was standing at the end of the bar sipping wine.
This man came to see the Firebird Suite as well and he's from Australia. I enjoyed discussing Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Jewish population there as I've been (in LA) bumping into people with roots there. You NEVER run into a professor , much less a professor and artist, around SB. It's a maddening thing to live in a town with a fine research university and never cross paths with these interesting conversationalists! Of course this person was in town just for the show and in SB which is so NOT cosmopolitan, it's rare to meet a foreigner like this. I don't know what it is about non-Americans with PhDs but they are just different from Americans.
Before the Granada , I ran into a lovely couple headed to Downey's, the first Zagat-rated restaurant in SB, pricey but lovely with original oil paintings on the wall by the chef/owner's wife. I've never ordered an entree but twice been there for a glass of wine and two appetizers in the mid-teens.
BUT the Marquee has the BEST bargain secret sandwich in town, called the "veggie panini." It is a thinnish panini with brie, basil and pear and I adored it: just 8 dollars!!
The Headliner is my favorite specialty cocktail: Belvedere vodka, fresh grapefruit juice and St. Germaine Elderberry liqueur. This is not a wimpy cocktail like most speciality cocktails high ingredients and imagination but low on booze. I loved both will return after Valentine's Day dinner with boyfriend (our third) for a chocolate peppermint martini which will function as my dessert.
The cheese plate is good but I've not tried other bar menu items.
Last night my friends and I had a drink at Marquee before heading over for dinner at Arigato. Are drinks were fabulous, size was generous and the two gentlemen behind the bar were kind and attentive. We left for arigato and I had apparently left my car keys on the bar. I couldn't believe it but the bartender had paid attention to where we were going and came over to Arigato and brought me my keys. Random acts of kindness like this are what makes or breaks an experience. Thank you again Mr. Bartender!
Review Source:So I've apparently learned that SB does not have much of a cocktail scene at all, and therefore, we were very limited when searching for "cocktail bar." We ended up at the Marquee per recommendations from our server at the restaurant we had lunch at.
A nice little bar, very mellow and chill atmosphere. Unfortunately, that's the only positive thing I can say about this place. We ordered a Gone with the Wind and a 42nd St. Their version of an Old Fashioned tasted like a slap in the face to the iconic drink, and the 42nd St tasted like nothing more than vermouth. No even close to being $12 drinks.
In addition to the sad "cocktails," our server (I believe her name was Amy) had ZERO people skills. No greeting, no eye contact, no nothing. I would like to assume that she was having a bad day, but after watching her being super chummy with the party that arrived and sat next to us, I guess not.
I'd recommend to drop in for wine or water if you really need to. Otherwise, set up a "cocktail night" at home.
I love Marquee! It's my neighborhood bar. It's a nice place, where you can have a conversation, and it's not pretentious! You can go in jeans and a t or be dressed up. Hands down I think this place has the best drinks in town. It's got a friendly, "Cheers" atmosphere as well. Wed has a cool open mic too, but it's a little bit louder than the other nights for obvious reasons.
Review Source:It looks a lot like a wine bar, but the menu is mostly cocktails with beer and some unimpressive wines. So, I started with a cocktail like the "Gone with the Wind" which was their variation of an Old Fashioned. It was too sweet so I turned conservative with an Angel's Envy Bourbon neat for my second drink.
My girlfriend has "The Muse" which had bitter Campari, but wasn't that bitter. It was another sign of not making dry drinks, but libations geared towards the sweet palate. She then had the "El Jefe" which had the lethal chili-infused Cuervo Silver tequila. It didn't matter what else was in the cocktail because that tequila burned and not from its alcohol content.
The bar food was average eats like stuffed figs with bleu cheese, balsamic, and wrapped in prosciutto or hummus with pita and cucumber.
The place attracted more than its fair share of upscale pretty people (although I wasn't one of them). Our server was more of a lounge hostess who was concerned with all aspects of our visit rather than a bar server who is just trying to keep up with the drink orders.
Really cool, trendy bar. Loved the atmosphere, very cozy, good service, the bartender was great. So cute with his fidroa hat. Tried a new Coppola wine, added to the favorites list....Pinot Noir Votre Sante. Located on State Street. Very clean bar, restrooms were spotless. We will definitely visit this place again.
Review Source:My husband and I always go to the Marquee either before or after the ballets at the Granada. Â However, after last night, I think we're done with that.
The service was slow. Â Our waitress forgot parts of our order. Â And the drinks are rather small, but still $12 a piece. Â
The worst part was the shrimp cocktail. Â It was so fishy. Â I was skeptical of it, even when I ordered. Â But we had an early dinner and the ballet got out so late. Â I was starving. Â What a mistake! Â I was kind of afraid it was going to make me sick.
I think we'll forego the convenience of the Marquee in the future and get our pre- and post-ballet drinks elsewhere.
I happened on this place when I was killing some time one evening with some friends. We walked in and were greeted with low lights, candles, and a menu full of fun drinks and apps. The service was pleasant and the drinks injected sweet happiness into our evening. We ended up staying a while, losing track of time, and let the conversation flow with a barrage of refreshments until we finally realized we were expected somewhere else. Cheers to that!
Enjoy!
Will NEVER go back
We usually go to The Marquee for a drink while waiting for a table at Arigato. This system has worked well in the past ... cross the street, grab a table, get a cocktail or two, and enjoy the wait. Well, we tried that yesterday.
We walked in and grabbed an empty table. we sat there for about 10 minutes before a waitress came by with drink menus--I had already gotten up to get some but they were nowhere to be found.
We ordered two of the same martini because neither my wife nor i can resist a cucumber vodka martini. I ordered mine on the rocks. When the drinks came I literally couldn't drink mine at all. It was terrible. I am NOT a super-picky guy when it comes to cocktails ... I like them on the stronger side but I also like for them to taste like a cocktail. If i want straight vodka I'll order a good vodka. If i want a watered-down mess, I'll order water. I would have asked for another drink, a different cocktail, or a glass of wine or something but our waitress had a friend show up so she was nowhere to be found. I mean nowhere. She didn't come around once and every attempt at eye contact was rebuffed. I felt like I was in a touristy Parisian restaurant in the heat of August.
When Arigato called to let me know our table was ready I had to get up to hand my credit card to the bartender (who was also conspicuously absent or busy socializing) and she had no idea what to do with it. It took us 20 minutes to get the check ($23 for two crap martinis) paid and get out. The entire time, the waitress was busy attending to her friend and the bartender was making them free drinks to taste.
Like i said, I'm not too picky and, living in Santa Barbara for the past 20-some years, I'm used to expecting piss-poor service. But The Marquee set an all-time low. This was the worst service I have experienced in Santa Barbara EVER.
A bad cocktail can be corrected by a bartender who's available or a cocktail waitress who bothers to come around and see how her customers are doing. we were sitting there for an hour and I couldn't take more than two sips from the cocktail and no waitress or bar staff came by, noticed, or was available when I got up to ask for help.
I will NEVER go back ... I'll go around the corner to Milk & Honey or up to SOHO, or maybe I'll bring a split of bubbly and drink it in the car with the wife.
The Marquee has set the standard for the WORST cocktails and the WORST service in Santa Barbara. Go anywhere but here. Awful.
I love the Marquee! Great atmosphere and good crowd. The owners are wonderful and service is consistently good.
One of the things that I enjoy most about the Marquee are the fantastic martinis! My favorite is called "The Understudy" which is a play on a lychee martini.
They also serve great tapas such as bacon wrapped figs and panini. I would highly recommend both.
Weds nights are open mic nights and I've seen some amazing talent perform there...and some not so amazing but they're enjoying themselves so you have to appreciate the effort (as long as they keep it to one song ;) But seriously, the majority of the talent is awesome and there is one girl who I would purchase an album from immediately if she had them there to sell. Her voice is reminiscent of Regina Spector with hints of Adele, incredible!
The Marquee is definitely worth the visit if you're looking for a slightly more mature crowd than the early 20 somethings that you'll find packing the bars on lower State St in an elegant yet relaxed setting.
Go check it out and enjoy!
Cheers!
We were walking by this place and it looked cozy that we decided to drop in. Thy have a great drink list and they have dessert. I ordered a bubbly beverage and my BFF got his drink. We ordered truffles which were really good too. The bartender was friendly and made us feel at home.
I'm glad we dropped in.
A friend had a Groupon that was about to expire, and graciously offered to share it with myself and my husband. We live walking distance away, so off we trooped.
Hubby got The Marquee (which he said was a little too spicy), myself and our friend got the Encore. We liked it, it tasted like lime cheesecake! We also got The Understudy as well, which my friend described as "strong enough that it will get you going, but not make you wince!" Haha.
We also ordered three appetizers - the Charcuterie Board, the Artisan Cheese Plate and the Caprese Salad. The Prosciutto was delish, the cheese selection was interesting, and I liked the inclusion of pears on the cheese plate. The cheese plate also had some nuts on it. Tasty combination of textures and flavours. The Charcuterie Board was a little plain, I would have liked to see a little better meat selection.
We were there around 4.30, there were only a few people in there, but there was only one guy in the place, handling food and the bar. Poor guy. He did a great job for being by himself.
It was not too noisy, which I give them a tick for. But, a little dark.
Not sure if I will be back, since it is a little pricey, but it would be good for a date or to go to if you wanted to feel classy ;) Since we just moved to SB, it was nice to try another new place.
Stopped in for a glass of wine before the SB Christmas parade. There were a nice selection of wines and great service, despite being quite busy.
The atmosphere is quite inviting and cozy. We were able to enjoy a very nice glass of wine, and recuperate before the parade. I was ready to forget about the parade!
I will return here.
Excellent, inviting atmosphere with a chic, hip style.
It was a battle getting into the place because a show at the Grenada had just finished; however it was well worth it! I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere (minus the overly entangled PDA display of a couple next to the bar) and I loved the clever drink menu and decent selection of wines. The noise level was perfect; I could have a conversation without shouting and straining to hear.
I will definitely be back! Especially knowing there is a monthly champagne club event. :)
I hate that my first review on yelp is a bad one...but here it goes. I went to Marquee with a group of friends for my sister and brother's birthday. We had a rather large group (15) and we didn't call to make a reservation as it is a bar and it was a Tuesday night so we thought it wouldn't be busy. It wasn't, there was plenty of room, but the service was HORRIBLE. The waitress later said that she had been there only 3 weeks so she was still "figuring out the menu of drinks" but how long should it take to get a glass of wine? The party got there in waves of people so that should have helped...it didn't, I saw another party who got there about 20 minutes after I did get their drink order before me. I waited a total of 30 minutes to get my glass of wine and I had to ask for it twice. Every time she acted surprised and confused at my order...like I had not ordered it 5 minutes before. Our waitress had to come up to our table 3 times to ask...again...what two of the people in our party wanted because she kept forgetting. Horrible service, horribly slow, and not very friendly. Not a place to celebrate a birthday that is for sure. Also these rumored jelly beans were no where in sight, and as I was closing my bill I asked the bar tender and he went and got me some...which was nice...but we had been there for almost 2 hours.
I will say that the waitress was kind enough to split our bill a billion different ways, and allowed couples to walk up and pay her as they were leaving which helped keep the confusion down and with the rate we had gotten our drinks who knows how long we would have been there.
Overall not a place I would bring a large group, not a place to celebrate anything, or to get a "quick drink" before a show. I will say all of their drinks were DELICIOUS. Very well made, perfectly mixed, and worth the 15 dollar a piece average price tag. Maybe a good place for a first date?
As nice as a NYC style bar in good old SB.
The drinks are great, I dig the signature cocktail "The Marquee", its a bit of spice, some sweet and its strong as hell. Me likey.
I've had 2 parties here and the staff was great and personable each time. There's new parties being had here I believe every first friday Champagne evenings or something of the sort. Mega fun!!
Listed as a wine bar but they got liquor. Not "high end" in the pretentious sense but they know how to make cocktails and have the ingredients to make a proper one. Down to earth and comfortable so the next time I'm in town I'll be there when I'm looking for more than a beer and shot moment.
Review Source:Super tiny, but cute for a quick drink! Â Although the waitress was manning all the tables in the bar and definitely cursed at the bartender about how crazy it was. Â Honestly, all the table were full, but you could walk around easily in there and it wasn't packed. Â SO, I'm not sure what she does on a night when you can't walk in there. Â It's not bad to lounge and have a drink at, but nothing super special. Â Apparently we were all too sober and maybe bored, hence we noticed the paintings are rather falic. I didn't have food, only had a dirty martini and got outta there.
Review Source:One should be warned, that by entering a cocktail bar, in which no patron is drinking a cocktail.
The drinks were mediocre, the mojito was made with sugar syrup, one would expect real sugar  and the mint  muddled, the El Jefe was super spicy, I wish it would have been mentioned on the drinks menu. The drinks menu does not list any classic drinks or what kind of gin or tequila for example they have.
The waitress, that night ( July 2nd), needs more training in customer service. She ignored us, we saw her pour left over wine from the guests old glasses into their new glasses....and she couldn't wait for us to leave, she pushed more tables against our table, while we were about to sign the bill. So we had to slide along the length of the wall to get out .
One person belonging to the kitchen , or back room stumbled around drunk.... the two bar tenders seemed uninterested and bored.
In short I won't be returning there, too many things are wrong.
I moved from DC and I liked the place because it was a grownup place. Not divey with sticky floors and drunk college kids. People actually looked nice.
The drink prices were typical SB. I thought the cocktails were fun.
Music was house/trance/etc. I still haven't learned to decipher all the different genres. Not the biggest fan of that type of music but *shrug, that's the time we're living in.
The seats were comfy and decor was nice too.
I'll be back.
The atmosphere isn't totally my style, but props for having some nice cocktails within the city. The stemware is lovely, with sensual curves.
I've had a few drinks here, and a signature cocktail I rather liked was called the Intermission. Gin, malibu rum, aloe vera juice and a basil leaf. Smells floral, like St. Germain. Elegant, not girlie. It was on the happy hour menu the times I've been, although I've heard since that it is off the menu. Â
My preferred classic cocktail is the Manhattan, stirred, with a twist. They are one of the few places that use real marasca cherries. They've even taken the Luxardo cherries, remove some of the syrup, and replace it with brandy. My first Manhattan there, I sipped the cocktail, and when I bit into the cherry, I got the taste of brandy within. It was like finding an easter egg.
The appetizer options are very limited, but consider it a portion controller for consuming alcohol. And take your time with them, these cocktails are too nice to race towards the finish line of getting boozied up.
ps. jelly beans.
pps. I hear the Sunday happy hours are done with. Business must be good.
This place is only okay for me. Â There are many good things about it: it's a beautiful bar in a good location, mellow atmosphere and great, friendly service, and I like the jelly beans. Â But I'd say the drinks themselves and the overall atmosphere are only okay. Â
Their menu specializes in vodka martinis served in a cocktail glass, I'm more of a gin in a lowball glass kinda girl. Â Sure, I've had the bartender make me a gin greyhound and it was delicious. Â Still, something about the Marquee seems stiff and kinda boring to me. Â Something's missing. Â What is it? Â Is the music bad? Â Is the clientele lame/old/unhip? Â Is it just that it's on State Street? Â Am I a snob?
I recommend heading here for a cocktail at the most, perhaps while you're waiting for a table at Arigato. Â If you want another drink, walk on over to Milk and Honey, The Hungry Cat or Hob Nob.
fantastic! GREAT happy hour til 7pm! No "college" kids, great music, mellow lighting with candles on the bar, cool vibe, yummy drinks, the bartender gave us little tasters as she made them...all of them wonderful and unique. We sat at the bar, but the tables looked like a great spots to sit if you have more then 2 in your group. everyone around us was all smiles and having a  wonderful time.
Grab a happy hour drink pre dinner (Olio e Limon just around the corner, great dinner spot)...Oh and the Figs wrapped in prosciutto stuffed with blue cheese...served hot...WOW!
A decent bar with some interesting concoctions. Â It's next to the Granada which is nice if you're catching a show b/c you can get a drink before hand or after, or heck, being the lush that I am, I opt for both! Â lol.
the drinks are slightly higher priced and and the ambiance is definitely understated "chic", I'm not even sure there is a sign outside... maybe there is...
I didn't find the food menu especially exciting but my friends did order the cheese plate and it was nicely presented. Â
overall, not bad! Â :)
Not so loud that you have to shout. That's clutch in my book. I HATE when I lose my voice trying to talk to my friend...and it's even worse when I am judging people's attire and I have to shout it to my friend...more chances to be caught in the act.
Nice bartender that was happy to let me spear a lychee so my fiance could taste one. The drinks were good, the vibe was mellow but filled with enough people to keep you busy people watching. Nice decor...good spot for a drink after dinner. We were there on a Friday night, so I have no clue what it's like the rest of the week...but I would go back anytime I am in the area.
With an extended Happy Hour, elegant decor, good wine selection and beautiful people, The Marquee at The Granada is a must for a pre or post dinner drink.
The Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday, 4-7 and all day Sundays with:
$7 martinis
$6 well
$6 glass of house wine
Various food specials, cheese plates, munchies
We've been in twice. The first was after dinner for a night cap and the joint was jam packed with Thirty-somethings. Standing room only actually but the service was prompt. The second visit was to prefunk before dinner with friends. 6:30 and the lights were on but none home. No one other than a table of 6 and a pair at the bar. Not a bad thing as it gave a chance to absorb. The music was Jazzy, the Santa Barbara Pinot Noir and a Prosecco filled our glasses. 4 drinks for 24 bucks? Not bad.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
