I arrived at the Maverick around 10:30pm on a Saturday night and heard country music. I was unimpressed until I went inside and saw a good number of people line dancing and having a good time. Around 11 or so is when hip-hop started and the DJ wasn't that great but it was the people I went with made the Maverick a good time. :) Â the atmosphere is fun, but there are some creepy men that hang out in there. I guess that's what happens at a dive bar.
Review Source:So when I read a three star review on the Maverick I was so amused. Â At least they gave it three stars. Â Â This is what prompted me to offer up my review of the Maverick. Â
What I found so funny was their pros and cons.  Basically they gave the place three stars because  of thier "only port in a storm" attitude.  If everything else is closed and you have a need for a night life... there is the Maverick!   Honestly, that is a good thing about the Maverick, it is a fun little place in town that offers little if any other nightlife. Â
But all of the things I like the best about the Maverick showed up as Cons in someone else's review.   The dollar bills and other things hanging from the ceiling are a  lot of fun.  Just imagine the story behind each one!   The rustic look of the place.  (I have never felt it was dirty, just has the patina of age).  Honest drinks, honest prices, lots of live music.   A nice mix of locals and out of towners.  Country folk or not I feel that most people have a great time.  Â
We have enjoyed bringing friends from Sweden and other countries to experience the cowboy bar! Â
So if sterile white marble is your thing (and your ONLY thing) and you don't mind paying $18 bucks for an apple-tini in a frosted glass. Â Maybe you should just skip the Maverick. Â But I believe most of us like to go outside the box from time to time, let our hair down and hit the occasional "dive" bar as it was called by someone else-- I won't go there but I have been in dive-bars, and this place hardly qualifies. Â
Oh and BTW if you live in Santa Barbara, you might want to check out Jump on the Schoolbus. Â They make good, safe trips to the Maverick on a frequent basis. Â Why risk drinking and driving?
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Sunday night in Solvang is not the best night to try to find music and beer. Â Â My son was out with a bunch of other teens to see a movie, so I talked my hubby into going out on the town. Â Â This is not the area to be attempting to go out on the town on a Sunday night apparently.
Hitching Post closed at 9:30 p.m. Â Are they serious? Â Those guys from Sideways had to be out later than that. Â What a buzz kill. Â Next, we decided to go to Solvang Brewing Company. Â That just sounds like it has potential. Â Wrong!!! Â Full of town folk just having dinner. Â No music, no ambiance, no hipness at all whatsover. Â Out of there.
Next stop was Maverick Saloon. Â That's another one that sounds like it has potential. Â The reviews were above average, however the reviewers must have been drunk from wine tasting before they wrote their reviews. Â Alexa B., who wrote a 5 Star review dated 6/25/12, lucked out and was there for a live band. Â That would definitely help this place. Â
PROS:
Great Service. The bartender was really cool on this particular Sunday night.
Prices were cheap and beer was cold.
Open on a Sunday night.
CONS:
This place needs a serious deep cleaning. Â If I had my way the whole place would be gutted and renovated. Â We should have walked out, but I was determined to stay out past 10:00 p.m..
Dollar bills and other tacky unmentionables cover the ceiling. Â See my photo. Â I don't know why the Treasury Dept. doesn't have a problem with this.
This bar is seriously a DIVE BAR with a capital "D".
SUMMARY:
In conclusion, Maverick Saloon will do in a pinch on a Sunday night, but don't get your hopes too high.
The Maverick Saloon is a little divey fun saloon in the middle of nowhere. Well, I suppose it's not in the middle of nowhere, just nowhere I'm familiar with.
My friends and I came here on a Saturday night to grab a drink and hang out while we were spending the weekend wine tasting in the area. If you are a fan of people watching, feast your eyes! Here is where you should be. A very, and I want to emphasize, very diverse crowd.
Overall, great time! Cheap drinks, which you can never go wrong with, a decent DJ and with enough room for you to get your groove on. When coming, please lower your standards some. You're not going to find a hot stud to dance with but you and your friends can get drunk enough that it won't matter. You guys can sure as hell dance on your own and enjoy yourself while singing to whatever random song they happen to be playing. From Snoop Dogg to Journey, they got it all baby! And for cheap!
When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
And from the looks of things, the Maverick Saloon is where the locals come for cheap beer, music, dancing, and downright fun! My friends and I came here for drinks during our winetasting trip and absolutely loved it! There were all sorts of characters here: geezers, cougars, hotties, bros, hoes, wedding party, a bride, and us (the Asians!). The venue, the dollar bills, the friendly bartenders, the local band: they all scream small town charm!
I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a fun bar scene in the small town! Yay for the Maverick!!
Had an absolute blast there Friday night, July 15th when the "Merchants of Moonshine" were playing. Â What an amazing band!!! Â So much fun!!! Â Had the best time, with the loveliest young couple from Huntington Beach, Sam & Ali. They are the greatest!!! Â Sam & Ali, I hope that you have the most amazing life together!!! Â What a positive example you are, of how life should be!!!
Since we were up there for the weekend, we went back on Saturday night...not good... Â It completely depends on who is playing there. Â Saturday night was a wash!!! Â The band wasn't good at all, and there were a lot of wedding parties there...well, bachelorette, and wedding parties. Â We didn't stay very long.
I would definitely check out who is playing there, before showing up.
Heard allllllll kinds of stories about this place, some good but most bad.  While in Santa B drinking at the Creekside, we asked the bartender what she thought of the Maverick.  "Don't go there, it's a local's bar and they don't take highly to strangers."  Oh really?  Well that was enough for us.  We walk in and order a beer, ice cold too by the way.  Chug, chug, chug, BURP!  "One more please"  I start talking to the locals about the stories we heard and what not and they seemed rather surprised.  Turns out that the guy I was speaking with was Travis the owner, real nice guy.  I ask him if there's a cheap place to stay near town since we plan on returning that evening for some Boot Scootin.  He tells me about the Cota Sonja.  We book a room for $80.00 bucks, take a short nap and cab it on over to the bar.  Drinks were priced neat and stiff.  Jack n Cokes all night.  The band was kickin, the people were friendly as hell, we met bunch of nice folks.  The Door Guys had their mean mugs on but hell, that's their job.  I've worked many doors in my life and that's standard Door Guy Procedure.  My overall experience was great, nobody f***ed with us, and we didn't f**k with nobody.  If anything, one of the locals by the name of Richard, bought us a round and we bull s***ed for a while.  To be honest, I was expecting Dueling Banjos when we walked in and thought since I was Mexican and married to a white girl, it was something that was going to be brought to my attention.  Then I met Locals Jimmy and his Mexican wife who were supper damn cool.  PHEW, what a relief right?  But I mean, these were all things we were told to be aware of if we decided to grace the Mav with our presence.  I'm sure there's a good amount of bull shit that happens, but then again that's common with any bar.  Good Times were had.  Going back soon and staying at the Cota Sonja, cabing it to the bar, and then I'm calling Local Jimmy over and buying him a beer since I still owe him ten bucks for the cab ride.  My only gripe was when they switched from Country to a DJ playing all the club hits, other than that, me and the wife had a gay ol' time.  Oh yeah, and a special Hip-Hip Hooray to Ronny and the other two Bar Keeps on  Saturday night who kept on pouring em stiff and in a timely manner.  See you all soon.
Review Source:The radiator hose blew just outside of Santa Ynez right about the time that the Kragen Auto Parts usually closes. Â Like something out of a Mountain Dew commercial, I put the hood up, stretched my blue jeans tight as I peered into the Oldsmobile's engine compartment and watched the sun set behind the craggy mountains of Santa Barbara. Â I decided I need a drink.
Given that my legs were out of shape and I failed to pack a mini-skirt, no passing motorist would give me a ride so by the time I got to the Maverick in the dusty town of Santa Ynez I was parched. Â I didn't expect much other than a cold beer and a place to lay my urine down and it did not disappoint. Â As an added bonus, they have Chili!
Known as "The Mav" by locals, this place is so much fun! We especially love to come here for a drink (or two...) after eating dinner next door at Grappolo's. Great place to let loose and have a good time with friends in a country western saloon theme. Lots of celebs like to come here too...I have personally seen Rob Kardashian and John Corbett (aka Aiden from Sex and the City) the last time I was there!
Review Source:You could say this review is 30 years in the making...
Having been a grown up a valley kid back when the
Maverick was where the local ranchers met up in
the afternoon to chill off with a Coors light in the
warm summer days, what you see now days is a
complete 180 of a crowd from the old days.
Back then the kids looked for lose nickles n dimes
under the scruffy old would and got free donut bites
from the Longhorn. Every few hours some ones papa
would bring them out a sherry temple and make sure
there not causin some trouble somewhere.
Then here and there we would be working cattle near
by and just ride down to the Mav and tie off
There were "NO" biker weekends, if there was it was a
bare nuckle fight to the finish.
If you didn't make your living on a horse and have respect
of the local cowboy you just didn't make this a stop
on your way.
I'll still stop off in here every great while when in the valley,
I can still see some of the old past on the cieling and wood floors.
They may have line dancers and weekend Harleys but there
is always a cowboy somewhere to drop a mean left hook.
In the middle of wine country it is nice to find something a bit different. This is a local place where you can order a beer and sit back and enjoy. It is the closest thing to a sports bar in the area. Everyone was nice, good selection of beer and a great bartender (Jordan) who is just laid back and helpful about things to do in the area. Did not eat here but did play some darts with the locals, will go back and play ping pong very soon.
Review Source:This is a great place. Â Great combination of music, drinks, and a great crowd. Â I never thought I'd make it to the end of the night with our bachelorette party after a full day of wine tasting and dinner. Â But with a little help from my friends and a lot of great music, we danced the night away! I would highly recommend a visit if you...
a)like country music/dancing
b)like club type music/dancing
c)enjoy a great scene/crowd
We might make a visit to the Maverick an annual girls weekend event!
Don't overdress. Â I think we looked too much like LA and it took some time at the bar to get some drinks. Â That would be my only complaint.
Oh, the old guy everyone mentions... he's cute and just wants to dance with a girl or two...who can blame him for that???
Best bloody Mary's within hundreds of miles! If you like em spicy, tell your bartender. SO YUM!
stopped in for one on a Wednesday early afternoon and couldn't help but mark up a dollar bill and have it pinned up on the ceiling above the bar. I loved the old school charm of the place and it's authentic "saloon" style. I wanted to play ping pong but the employees couldn't locate the balls/paddles so I opted for a shoot out deer hunt game. I found out I am not a good shot!
Many local good ol' boys were belly up to the bar and I would love to go back sometime to feel like a local and for some live band action.
Bloody Mary= $5
Defacing Federal Property for a chance to be a part of the saloon= $1
Watching a 4foot cowboy who looked like Freddy Krugar challenge my solider-boy friend to a game of hunt, lose severely and blame the fact he had too much respect for a veteran to win... priceless
Cowboy up? I've attended session at the Maverick twice and both times were memorable. In a good way.
This roadhouse in Santa Ynez is a locals kind a place but that should not discourage you from bellying up to the bar for bottle of suds along side colorful and delightful people. It's always an adventure.
The first visit was on Halloween weekend and the place was packed. Not all in dress but it was a dark and foggy night. Woooo ooooo ooooo. Despite a full house, $10 cover and lines for the bathroom that seemed to last longer than a Taylor Swift song, the bartenders did a great job. No wait there.
My second visit was Valentines weekend and the place was dead. No band, not cover and no lines. All of that said, we had a blast with the other 12 patrons. We visited with most of the bar flies and had a great time playing whiskey pong.
Packed or dead, the Maverick is a fun place to waste the night away.
Caught an awesome show there last night with Ryan Bingham. Place is good as always, got great seats at the bar and the music was awesome.
1 star off because the bartender was intentionally giving me slower service, but just one star because I guess if you dress ilke you would to go out in LA in this bar you deserve the treatment you get. Haha.
The Maverick is a dive...and it was fantastic. If you're a cry baby or looking for something classy don't bother. Met some locals having beers in Solvang and asked if there was anything we could do. We got "Weeeeellll, there's the Maverick" after a bit explanation, I was sold. They actually ended up catching a cab and going with us.
It was the strangest group of people I've ever seen at a bar! Cowboys, tourists, thugs, college kids, older locals....weird, but it worked. Everyone was friendly, especially the bartenders. Guess they have country earlier in the night (which we missed) and then a DJ in the evening. The music was mixed top 40 type stuff, but the DJs transitions were SO bad. Lol. You'd have to stop dancing and wait for the next song. Too funny. All in all, a great experience. If I find myself up that way again, I will definately stop in!
There was in fact this really old creepy guy when I went. Some girls danced with him anyway just for fun, I guess. I was scared he would fall to the floor at any minute.
Price... a glass of Fat Tire was $5.50
Girls... they vary in range and looks, but there were definitely some head turners and cougars.
Music: I got there around 10 and the live band was playing country music for about 30 minutes and then for the rest of the night the DJ played your average club music.
Atmosphere: this place has soul. Â I wouldn't change a thing. 'love those hanging dollars.
Bottomline: If you're in the area, you should definitely check this place out. What else are you going to do? Gamble at Chumash
Oh Mavie Poo, I love you.
Country Western is not my fave music, but anywhere I can find cheap drinks (do locals get the hook-up or what?), bras on ceilings, a good porch for smoking, and the creepy OLD dude that will try to dance with you and your girls - is the place for me. Â
I think out-of-towners might be caught a bit off guard here, but just say hi to a local, and you'll have a friend for the night...maybe longer. Â Everyone is usually in a chipper mood and eager to be friendly. Â I love a place where everyone knows your name.
Good times...now if I can just remember the name of that cowboy....
Went here because of the Yelp reviews to end our night in Santa Ynez and boy oh boy are we glad we did. . . .Lots of fun things I won't mention on here but we had an amazing time. Cab fare from our hotel was expensive but everything about this dive bar was AWESOME. . . It created drunk fun bachlorette memories. . . everything a bachlorette party should be. Keep in mind when you go it's a hole in the wall, dirty local bar but worth the cab fare!
Review Source:This is definite the kind of place that you have to go when you're in Santa Ynez. Â I had the best Bloody mary ever! Â Although, our little group stood out like a sore thumb (5 asian girls)...it was an interesting experience. Â When you drive up to the saloon, it's like you're in the middle of a country western movie. Â The only reason we even went to this place, or heard of it was because we knew the bartender there and she told us to swing by. Â Fun, nonetheless!
Review Source:"The Mav" really is a hole. Â A large one at that but still - a LARGE HOLE. Â The only reason it gets two stars is because I found the place amusing. Â From the disgusting panties on the ceiling, to the terrible "cover" band rocking out tunes that made my ears bleed, the "cougars" in this place really have to take the cake. Â The $10 cover is ridiculous, the drinks are watered down, the only redeeming quality about this place was that on a Friday night, it wasn't jam packed. Â I have no clue what these other people have in mind when they go out for a good time but from the 5-star reviews I've read here, I'm guessing they don't get out much. Â I was taken here by a good buddy of mine (who teaches at a nearby school) who told me, quite vibrantly, "We're definitely taking you to The Mav!" Â So he did. Â Wow. Â What a scene. Â From the middle-aged lead singer barely keeping his tie-dye shirt over his belly, to the hordes of "cougars" and "bobcats" prowling the area - this place is bad. Â "Bad," bad; not "bad," good. Â If I never step foot in this dump again it'll be too soon.
Review Source:The quintessential establishment that represents all that my home town is... and more.
The Maverick Saloon is kind of a legend in Santa Ynez. There have been countless bar fights, shootings(!), and more wasted characters than I care to recall found stumbling around the parking lot- who would startle my at one time ten year old self, when walking to my parents station wagon after chowing down on a tri-tip pizza at Roman Kitchen (now Grappolo's). Ahh yes, the Mav. I dreamed of the day I would turn 21 and I too could enter the saloon doors and look up at that rumored ceiling made up of tacked dollar bills.
And then I did turn 21 and trip after trip returning to my folks house for a visit, I would search high and low for a friend to venture into the Maverick with. Sadly, my friends similar return visits kept missing mine, and there was no way you'd catch me shuffling into the Mav by my lonesome.
FINALLY, paired with my elementary school bestie and her husband, donning my favorite cowboy shirt & vintage boots, last weekend I made my highly anticipated and over due initial entrance.
And I was not let down. I had hoped I would run into at least one person I went to school with. To my delight, I ran into over a dozen. It was a vodka & cranberry fueled walk down memory lane and I loved every second of it. My friend from high school's country band was playing and it was all I could do to keep myself from a one woman ho-down. After a couple of hours, my bestie's husband finally dragged us out but had I had it my way, I would've been happy to stay till close.
The Maverick is the real deal. Don't let anyone tell you differently. It's a cowboy/cowgirl extravaganza and if you went to SY High and missed your reunion (as I did), here's your second chance of reuniting with your past. I can't wait to return!
In what alternate universe did I land that an old man harasses me for no reason and a country and western band plays Sweet Child O Mine? Â The Maverick, that's where. Â The only bar in Santa Ynez, apparently because the place was jam packed and we also saw our waitress from the Red Barn. Â Also, an entire wedding guest list was there after a wedding at Gainey.
I only give it three stars because the place is kind of grimy. Â I guess if you ask some of the locals, that just adds to it's charm. Â They do have a great selection of beers on tap, I'll give them that.
But, oy, that country band. Â And the dancing around and around in a circle, I still dont' get it.
My dear friends own "The Mav," but I promise I am not biased. People roll up on Harley or Horseback; and you may be a "real" cowboy or just a bunch of girls trying to get away from LA LA Land (moi) -- once you walk up to the mav, everyone is your best friend. Such great energy! You may learn to line dance. You may feel the need to get up on stage and sing with the band. Drinks are fairly decent, and cheap. Stick a dollar in the ceiling for good luck, and to remember that you were there when you stumble back again. And don't forget to try their popcorn!
Review Source:I am soooo grateful to the local who told me about Maverick's when I was getting my nails done in Solvang on a lil weekend getaway. I absolutely ADORE this place. I have lived in Southern Cali my whole life and coming here feels like you are in middle America surrounded by people you have known forever. It is a MUST STOP even if you're not a huge fan of country music. If you are, it's even better. Sugarland performed here in 2005 - it's just that amazing!
Review Source:Go here only if you're ready to hang out at the local watering hole. Â Seemed like most of the folks here were locals who were looking to have a drink and enjoy the live band/DJ. Â This isn't a hangout that caters to visiting Angelenos, so it's an ideal place to people watch and knock back a few Bud Lights (when in Rome).
Review Source:I am not a cowboy type and grew up locally hating this place. Â I pretty much thought that I would never set foot through the 'ladies welcome' doorway. Â But I LOVE to come here when I am home visiting the parents for the holiday. Â Not only is it the last place that anyone who knows me would expect me to be but EVERYONE is there. Â It is pretty much the only bar in the valley. Â Was just there last month when home for T-Day and had a great time watching the regular couples two-stepping as well as some of the hipsters who were in mocking it but loving it at the same time. Â They even indulged me and made me their own Vodka collins.
Review Source:Ahh, the Maverick! Scene of lots of cowboying up and barroom brawls! Seriously, I was going to go with three stars, but the fact that someone got shot in there (by a jealous husband - thought she was cozying up to some other guy) when I was in highschool gives it the realistic western outlaw touch needed for the fourth. When they say saloon, they mean it. It's wooden and "rustic", lots of crap tacked to the rafters and the ceiling, and lots of space to lay some varmint out. They also have a decent size concert space (please remember it's the Valley) where I hear some pretty big names in country music have been known to show up and do a show. I hear.
Review Source:
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