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  • 0

    Tonic is great bc everyone that works there has so much personality. Will the GM is great and always greets you. Mallory, Todey, Bonnie and Mike are some of the best in the business! They are always so accommodating and are the main reasons for stopping in to say hi. Huge space to dance with great DJs like Matty Matt, Madness, and Curly plus they have an outdoor patio with an island bar. Tons of cute cabanas to grab bottle service at. Def one of my go to clubs!

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  • 0

    This was our first stop on a Saturday night. At about 11pm, we didn't have to wait in much of a line and we didn't have to pay cover. There's a long bar by the entry way that gets pretty crowded into the night. There's also a pretty good sized dance floor complete with a DJ and a guy playing his guitar (not sure why though...). It's a mixed crowd inside. Lots of young 20-something year olds and a few older folks getting their dance on.

    We saw three other bride-to-be's and a wedding after party during our visit. It seems to be the only actual club on State Street (vs. bar with a dance floor). We headed out around 12:30am to grab more comfy shoes from the house and were denied return entry. Once we exited there was a GIANT line outside! Oh well, and we were off to the next!

    Come here if you're looking for a wannabe Vegas substitute in the middle of Santa Barbara.

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  • 0

    Disappointing customer service from the start.

    Out of my group of 16 that arrived together (more came later) the bouncer in the VIP line chose to deny entrance to our group because the guy who happened to have the deepest pockets was wearing a button-up that was "too long." We were all extremely polite with the understanding that they want to keep up their clientele. But even after tucking-in his shirt and also wearing a belt, the bouncer RUDELY continued to say that he won't let us in because it will come "undone" inside! (Thought the shirt was too long?) Basically telling him to go somewhere else. WOW. [It wasn't my party, but I did suggest that our group spend our $$ on a place with better customer service.]

    Eventually the rest of the group was allowed it. And upon entrance why is it that a guy with an over sized TRACK-JACKET and another with an over sized WOTANG TSHIRT were allowed in without a hassle!?! My guy friend eventually made it in with a tucked shirt thru the general line paying $10 cover (whatever), but without the hassle....

    For the size of this place and the amount of people they allow in at a time, the two bathrooms are smaller than most closets, including my own. The only difference is I don't mind touching the walls in my closet or have an aggressive lady manning the door. Eeek!

    I liked the outside patio area because it was spacious. However the bar service that night..... The bartender were certainly not keeping up with all the glasses that started to return. Or even bothered to wipe the bar off. Literally making me feel as though I was against the edge of a swimming pool. But he did have time to flirt with the ladies next to me..... I get you need to take a breather, but that was a HOT mess.  

    It's terrible that my group of 20 gave this place business. I think the saving grace for Tonic is their bartender Mallory. My friends that use to frequent Tonic insist that she makes the best drinks. And I didn't have a prob with my SoCo-Lime +star.

    Hey, I was only visiting for the weekend, but the next day's discussion concluded with the group of friends deciding to start frequenting other places instead.

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  • 0

    will and todey

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  • 0

    Two stars because there are too many college students. Yes, I was a college student not too long ago, and I still hated it here. I am just not a fan of party girls and creepy guys who don't take no for an answer. However, depending on the DJ, the music is a lot of fun because it's typically Top 40 remixes that you can sing along to.

    Here are some tips for when you go here:

    1) Lounge outside before dancing, the patio is beautiful.
    2) Avoid the spots right next to the DJ unless you don't mind eardrum damage the next day and creepers standing there and staring you down.
    3) If you are a college student, go Thursday night for College Night.
    4) If you are not a college student, avoid College Night, unless you're into that scene.
    5) Let the photographer take at least one photo of you (it's free!) and your friends and check it out on Tonic's website.

    If you are into clubbing and dancing the night away, this is the place for you. Tonic is the best nightclub Santa Barbara has to offer. If you prefer a more relaxed, lounge-type atmosphere and a different crowd, try Soho.

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  • 0

    First and foremost, I am not one to usually write reviews on anything, but I am so impressed with the experience I had here that I really felt like I should give this place the props its deserves.

    Some friends and I from L.A. spent this past weekend in S.B. for my friend's birthday. I have to admit that I haven't been to S.B. in such a long time. I used to come up in my college days and party in I.V. or barhop on State Street so I was kind of skeptical when my friend told me we were going to an actual club since I've never really been clubbing in S.B.

    The night we went to the club was pretty hectic for my group. There were about 20 of us who met up at the house we were staying at and the cab reservations we made ended up screwing us over by saying they had no idea what reservation we were talking about and blah blah blah so they only sent one cab that had to make 3 trips to get my group to the club. Most clubs would have waited until all of us were there to be seated to our Cabana/Bottle Service table, but the employees at Tonic were extremely accomodating and let our group in as each one got there.

    I was in the last group that arrived and we were welcomed immediately and let in a.s.a.p. Will is the VIP Host who set up my party with our Cabana and he was pro-active on checking up on us throughout the night. He was concerned with how crappy our service was with the cabs that he told us about Tonic's cab service and ensured he would get us home as soon as we wanted to leave the club. They even escorted us through the back to avoid the usual after club crowd who like to hang out outside the club for no reason and act a fool.

    Our Bottle Service Waitress Chelsea was awesome. Such a friendly and genuine demeanor unlike other clubs who have other attractive servers that think they are God's gift to everyone. Chelsea took the time to talk to whoever she could in my group and was very welcoming.

    My group was dressed up as characters from the TV Show "Mad Men" and Chelsea, Will and others from the staff kept giving us props on how awesome it was that we were in costume. They were really genuine and tried to ensure we were comfortable which really impressed me. Other clubs make you feel like you're so lucky that they are serving you even though you're the ones dropping the big bucks for bottle service. The people at Tonic were the completed opposite.

    The crowd was great. The music was good. My only complaint is the DJ would play a minute of each song and jump to the next. I did walk over to the bar a few times and the bartenders were just as accomodating and friendly as everyone else who served us.

    Thanks for the awesome time Tonic. I'll definitely be hanging out there again soon!

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  • 0

    Decent size, with a great patio area.

    My main complaint was the crowd. Many people seemed underage and the bar wasn't too easily accessible.

    Definitely worth stopping by, and for Santa Barbara it's a pretty decent venue.

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  • 0

    This is a good club in a city between two California Metropolises (SF & LA).

    The outdoor aesthetic - Same as any other lounge/club in any other city

    Cover - Minimal to None (Awesome)

    People - Pretty chill - No shortage of creepers and stuck-up women who dominate the dance floor. I on the other hand dance hyphy with friends on the side, because frankly I was here for one night, so I did not intend to G.A.F.

    Outdoor Bar/Table setup - Really good setup with very accommodating bartenders who don't rush you and serve you ice cold amazingness with a smile.

    Dance Floor - Decent

    Music - Whatever's trendy so roll with it.

    It's a good club, only because I woke up with missing credit cards. That usually means I had a good night. Yeah, I base a club's worth in how stupid it can make me. What's your measure?

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  • 0

    For Santa Barbara, I would say that this is perhaps the cream of the crop. Why?

    -Large Dance Floor? Check
    -People Actually Dancing? Check
    -Decent Music? Check
    -Decent Looking People? Check
    -Minimal Amount of Creepers? Check
    -Nice Bartenders? Check (although there is this one girl who is on my shit-list)

    Basically if you want to dance and have a good time this is the place to go. Although I'm serious when I say this: they need to play more black music (house/techno/electro has been heard ad-nauseum, we need a healthy mix/balance). Also, I love Wildcats for their music, but DAYUM do they have a disproportionately high creep-a-creepin population who are very persistent.

    Aside from the dancing, I love this place because of the bartenders. Normally I go to my boy Jeremie, who to be honest, I'm not sure if he knows me. Regardless he always treats me right and that's why I'm a fan. He serves me whether I am only ordering water for the night or ordering drinks and he doesn't even give me a lip when I only order water. But all the other bartenders have been really nice to me too, except for this one girl, but we ended up going to another bartender who made it right. If you're wondering who Jeremie is, he's about 5'5, blond, with spiky hair, and always has a great demeanor.

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  • 0

    If you are ever in Santa Barbara looking for a place to chill and party, then this is the place!

    + Conveniently located on State Street
    + Bottle service tables under cabanas!
    + Service is great
    + Music from live DJ's!
    + Great for Monday Night Football gatherings!
    + Cover charge is minimal

    This place is very clean, fun, and inviting.

    The owners take extreme pride in their business and will openly listen to your compliments and complaints alike.

    This is the "premier" hot spot in Santa Barbara, so drop in if you are a local or are ever in the area enjoying the fine Central Cali weather :)

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  • 0

    Super packed on Thursday (no cover) and less packed with a slightly older crowd on Saturdays. A group of well-dressed women can get in for free on Saturdays though.
    This is one of the "classier" clubs in SB, but don't be fooled, grinding isn't foreign to this venue ;)
    Music: Top 40 and some hip/hop and House

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  • 0

    I went tonight dressed super cute, and got turned away based on "dress code." I saw SUPER trashy looking females walking in, and feel like I was discriminated against because I'm gay. Not only were the bouncers incredibly rude, but they were insulting. Also noteworthy: THE DANCEFLOOR LOOKED COMPLETELY EMPTY. ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. I do not recommend this place. There are plenty of better places in Santa Barbara. Tonic is a cesspool of douchebaggery and outright bigotry.

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  • 0

    Venue? Pretty nice and modern. People? No. Thank. You.

    3 stars for the venue. 2 stars for the crowd.

    This is definitely more of a clubby venue out of the rest of the bars along the area. My friends and I last minute tried to get into this place even though we were clearly underdressed. But being a girl has it's benefits and my friend was able to get in with just a top, shorts, and flats and I was wearing a sundress. Whatever, as long as I get in right?

    Friday night was PACKED. Lots and lots of people with a DJ at the front. At first I was totally enjoying the music because the DJ was blasting some quality EDM tunes. But then as the night progressed the DJ played purely hip hop. Okay, so I'm not hating on DJs that like to mix hip hop with their EDM songs because if done right, it can sound great. But this DJ was NOT doing the music right.

    Anyway, I could swear that people were trying to do the dirty on the dance floor. I was standing in the middle of the floor just trying to enjoy a good time and I couldn't even stay long because everybody around me looked like they could use some quality alone time in their own hotel room. Gross.

    Honestly, I can't even describe the people here. One word: gross gross gross.

    Anyway, won't be coming back here. Weird crowd. Weird music.

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  • 0

    Let me preface this review by starting off by saying that I am an LA club rat. That being said, this place is ALRIGHT. It's small but I think what makes this place fun are the people that come here. People here REALLY love to party and they get down on the dance floor, but it's just all girls dancing by themselves. Maybe it's because I arrived early but all they play is 90's hip hop, which I do enjoy, just not continuously for more than 1 hour.

    This is a chill place to come to, but definitely does not compare to places in LA.

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  • 0

    Looked like a nice club, not so much

    I decided to stroll in here cause the place was droppin the 808 on state street, but with all that ruckess the crowd didnt really add up. I figured since it was kinda early that that might be the problem so i bounced and went to another establishment. I walked by a couple hours later to check up on the "Ghost Club" and no-sir-e-bob no ppl.

    I did have 2 drinks here while i was inside and usually when the staff out weigh the costumers, service should be pretty quick. Ha not in this case. Female bartender seemed pretty content with chatting away with a group of "21 yr old" chicks. I obviously didnt need anything. And now i never will :o) see you later "Tonic"

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  • 0

    I've actually been to this place a few times during my trips in SB.  

    The first time was a scam because they made up pay cover. I also did not like the music and I was ready to go home by 12am!

    I went back last weekend and the DJ rocked my world. It was the first time in a while that I didn't leave the dance floor. Ok, maybe once or twice to get a drink or fresh air. The majority of the night was spent dancing the night away!
    I have to give it up to the DJ, I haven't heard such a great mix in a really long time. Usually they switch it up and play pure house music, so my night usually is over by 1am! We danced until the DJ stopped playing music and told all of us to get out!!!

    Only sad part.. I didn't get to experience the other bars in SB!

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  • 0

    Tonic is aight. I think it has it's ups where they play really good music and downs where they play whack music over the 5 years of my UCSB undergrad.

    Pros:
    + Conveniently located on State Street
    + Bottle service tables are really nicely decorated and service is awesome
    + Music can be really good depending on the DJs
    + Port-a-potties placed at the outdoor patio

    Cons:
    - Cover charge usually
    - Claustrophobic line to get in
    - Club gets really crowded
    - Some of my homosexual friends had bad anti-gay experiences there

    Not really a place of preference but like I said, it's aight.

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  • 0

    Well looky what we have here! This is a pretty decent club.

    Likes:
    Nice interior with a good club vibe (versus lounge that plays music)
    Cheap cover
    Good music
    Bartender could sling some cocktails!

    Dislikes:
    Not enough single ladies (sad sad frowny face)
    Staff was overly friendly.

    So really it shaped up a lot like most clubs. Someone told me this was the best club in town. That is a little sad with the size of town SB is, but it is a college spot so maybe the bars scene is more fun.

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  • 0

    Not bad = finding parking, wait in line (before 10:30 mind you), $5 cover charge, layout that includes lots of open space & plenty of bars in both the inside & large outdoor patio, 2 different women's bathrooms (Thank the lord!) located in different areas of the club.

    DJ was a bit much at times but had a lot of fun props (glowsticks at the dj booth and even the wait staff did bottle service with glowsticks, glowing bottles, and even sparkler fireworks) and the music got a whole helluv alot better once 11:30 hit.

    Ran randomly into some girlfriends and they mentioned that this was the only joint popping on State Street.

    Tonic Nightclub was a fun place to go dancing post-wedding (not mine mind you!) and pretty easy to get to and get in despite it being Kardashian wedding weekend.  Congrats to friends M + N on your gorgeous wedding.

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  • 0

    Got here at 11 on a Saturday night with a group of 20+.  No lines and no cover.. It started getting crowded 30 minutes after..
    They played good music, we were dancing the night away.  Drinks are pretty costly.  4 shots and a drink $59 (ouch).  There's an outside area that is pretty big with a good size bar for you to hang out at.. Which is where we went a lot because it got too hot in there.

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  • 0

    The first time I went was a Saturday and I had a great time.  No cover, no drama, though the guys in front of me had to pay something.  The place was bumpin', packed, loud, and super crowded.  People were more dressed up than at the other bars.  What's surprising is they have a huge outdoor area in the back, complete with some sort of projection screen too and a big square bar!  It wasn't as loud or crowded outside so it was a cool hang out place.

    Everyone was so friendly.  I met all these random people and this one girl came up to us and was like, "you guys want a shot?"  And then we all took shots with a whole group of people we didn't know.  I went there alone not knowing anyone as a last minute thing and had a blast.

    The second time I went here was a Friday and they said they don't accept international IDs (my friend was visiting and had a Canadian license).  You have to bring a passport, which no one does so foreigners, not welcome!

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  • 0

    Tonic actually has a lot of potential of being a hit club, except it's just in the wrong city.  The dance space is actually pretty average, and don't get me wrong but the outdoor area is spacious as well, but it's just not in a place where it promises to have a lot of people in the city.  

    We went in on a Thursday night at 11:30 p.m. and were the first people to start dancing on the floor.  I have no idea when they opened, but for the time that they were opened before--I feel pretty bad for them.  The music honestly is super catchy and the DJ's knew what we wanted to hear on the dance floor.  On top of that, the bartenders are really fun and makes you want to wish you could have a really good time.  

    Maybe my review could have reflected a different tone if we went in on a Friday or Saturday night in the summer, but as of now Tonic just lacks in good/fun-loving customers.

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  • 0

    My friends in Santa Barbara wanted to show the party girl from LA what a good time you could have up there, so they took me to Tonic.  Let's cut to the chase - I was really sad when the music ended at 1:30!

    We waited in a short line to get in.  I'm not sure if there's a cover - I think definitely for guys, but I just walked straight in (and pulled all the girls in my party in)... girls don't pay cover in LA and they shouldn't in SB, either!  There was a good-sized bar and a small dance floor inside and a similar-sized patio in the back.  I have no idea how much the drinks were.  :)  Music was actually really good - a nice mix of Top 40 and old school stuff.  There were not too many drunk girls spilling their drinks on the dance floor and lots of cute local boys.  The patio had a more relaxed vibe (except when the server had to take away the chair I was sitting on - come on, guys! it's 1am, the girls are in high heels, and we're all pretty buzzed - I need to sit down!!!) and I guess being a small town everyone seemed to know everyone else.

    Really really fun night - I would definitely come back when I'm in SB.

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  • 0

    Apparently Tonic is the place to be on State Street.

    At least, that's what many Yelpers have said.  It's also what Randy, the bartender said.  We wandered in here around 9:30 and there was no one here.

    We must admit that the place did look good, with a nice dance floor, the private booths and the really cool patio.

    Randy also said that they have a live band who plays along with the DJ.  Frankly, that seems odd, but Randy says it's AWESOME.

    Anyhow, Randy put Evil on the VIP guest list and suggested we come back around 10:30 or 11:00 when it gets going.

    We came back at a little before 11 and were unimpressed by the crowd.  Maybe it was a bad night, but it was a little small.

    Also, this place seems to cater to the Douche/Hoochie crowd...a crowd Evil lost interest in about 10 years ago...

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  • 0

    Alright, I admit - I'm like a magnet when it comes to hip-hop music. I don't care who the artist is (OK, except for the grapedrank-guzzling, crack-smoking idiot Lil Wayne), as long as I can shake my booty, I'll be set all night.
    Tonic has the type of music that helps satisfy my dancing needs, and it's so big that when I have to run and hide from creepers I can do so quickly.

    The crowd is varied, usually both young and old(ish), but most seem to be piss drunk by the last call at 1:30am and are making out or falling on top of one another.

    It's a beautiful club with both indoor and outdoor bars and a big dance floor. Also, Tonic has cabanas in the outdoor area - however, the VIP area on the inside is small, right near the entrance, and is usually completely empty.

    On Sundays they hold a daytime parties... so if you didn't get enough on Saturday night (or simply want to stay for twelve hours all day Sunday), you're set.

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  • 0

    A bunch of us L.A. gals were spending a weekend in SB this past Summer, and were in search of a bar or a club to go to on a Saturday night. After searching everything yelp had to offer (which wasn't much other than restaurants and sports bars), we came across Tonic.

    Tonic was actually a lot of fun, despite a few "is he really playing that?" moments from the dj. It only cost 5 bucks to get in, and despite us being dressed up they really didn't stress a dress code. Drinks were good/pretty affordable and the overall ambiance was really cool.  I especially liked the lighting, the bottle service area, and the outside patio. Also, SB people are really laid back and friendly. We made a few friends from a bachelorette party, as well as some other locals.

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  • 0

    Fun spot? If you like a TON of -IC (like ick?). Idk. Okay. Drinks kept coming like a big piss, the patio in the back was outdoorzy, and some wimmenz were lookin... um yeah. But somehow I wasn't really feelin this spot, maybe because of the bright pink ceiling made me hallucinate because by this point coming here I was really buzzed and the combination of shadow and bright pinky colors swirling made me feel like I tripping inside a female which was not cool because it gave me a pain in the ass headache. And being on State St. too much was going on and I was pretty much effed like the economy.

    BTW DJ, TOO MUCH ELECTRONICA/HOUSE MUSIC PLEASE SWITCH IT UP HUMANS ARE NOT ROBOTS. kthnxbai

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  • 0

    The people that are leaving bad reviews for tonic are the people who can't get in without waiting in line, have to pay covers and feel their insecurities rise once they see the, usually,  very good looking crowd inside.

    I do admit that tonic might be more fun if you are a local, cuz if they recognize you, you generally get the vip treatment, and if they dont you're waiting in line and paying a cover.

    They have good music the the largest dance floor of the bars in sb. The only better looking crowd you could find is at EOS. drinks arent cheep but their not expensive either and they make them pretty strong.

    good music - lots of fun and sunday fundays in the summer are a sb staple.

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  • 0

    I can't really comment on what goes on regularly during the week since I went when there was a private event, but I can comment on the lounge itself and the drinks.

    The lounge itself is pretty nice. There are two bars, one in the front and one out the back outdoor area. It's kind of a hassle to go in and out if you decide to open up a tab. (Which is how I left and lost my CC here). The island bar outside kind of blows. The wait to get a bartender's attention takes forever, since they have to serve 4 different sides. They don't stock up on everything the inside bar has either.

    The drinks were alright, they were on the stronger side so that was worth it. The dance floor was fun and they played really good music. I've heard a lot of good things about this place so I would definitely check it out during a regular weekday/weekend.

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  • 0

    Sweaty, smushed, and so-so.

    Alliteration aside, Tonic was the nightclub that seemingly everyone from the invitational basketball tourney at the Thunderdome when I was here in SB came to. It's not a spectacular club by any means but it's okay. In the spirit of reviewing a club for the first time, I'll try and be hip.

    The $5 cover was about how much I'd want to pay to get into this place. There wasn't a long line when we went but once we got inside this placed was pretty packed. When you're pressed against the wall trying to buy drinks, it's no fun at all. Especially when the staff keeps telling you to move off the walls to let people walk.

    "Ain't nobody going nowhere, my man," is what my drunk self told the dudes working there. Then, like a magician, I'd did a broad sweeping motion with my arm to reveal that lo and behold, the club was filled with people!

    Doesn't help either with the dancing that the club feels so cramped. People have said it's actually bigger than it looks inside but with a bar that runs through the middle of the room, a slender walkway, and one lounge area...it's really not that spacious.
    I suppose the outdoor area would help with its own bar but even that space was packed. This forced our group to dance near the entrance which was about the only place with room to really get down. I guess it worked because the SB Night Life crew with their cameras came to record us gettin' jiggy (yeah, this a hip term right?).

    I did like some of the music selection. They had a lot of 80s hits mixed to techno beats which is right up my alley. I was grooving and vibing especially when the DJ threw on "Livin' on a Prayer." When that bass intro came in I was jammin' !
    I guess no one has ever seen an Asian guy jam to Bon Jovi but I was rocking the shizz out of my air guitar and wailing on the air drums while belting out the tunes. I wasn't "halfway there" I went the distance.
    It was awesome.
    If they had played some better dance songs instead of Top 40 songs I think it would've been much better. I mean 80s songs are cool but I wanted to jerk (the dance move, to clarify).

    But the night wasn't all that bad. When I could order drinks, the bartender was especially friendly and also cute to boot.

    One thing you might not know about me from my tough and manly exterior is that I like so-called "frouffy" drinks like apple and peach martinis.
    Don't judge me.
    Okay, go ahead but don't even act like they aren't da bomb. (another hip term, no?)

    That's why I like going out to the clubs with girls because I can ask them to order the drinks and save me the awkward looks.
    Unfortunately, we rolled to Tonic with a meat train and I was forced with the dilemma of either taking the scorn and ridicule from people judging my choice of beverage or sipping on a delicious fruity concoction. I moved for the latter choice.
    When I asked for two Shirley Temples, one for my non-drinking buddy, the bartender gave me an inquisitive look.

    "You want it with vodka or virgin?"
    "Virgin is fine...THANKS!'" I quickly replied.

    3 bucks a pop for sweet cherry goodness...which I am now being informed is the mocktail of choice for little girls everywhere. Thanks a lot, internet.

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  • 0

    It felt like TJ or Rosarito.  A rave in the back and hip hop and pop in the front.  They also threw some Simian Mobile Disco in there which was a nice surprise.  

    The place is large with a number of long bars inside and out, no dress code and the most ethnically diverse crowd I saw in Santa Barbara.  That's not really saying much though.  The age range was about 21 to 40, I would say.  If you've already a few drinks beforehand and feel like dancing, this would be a decent stop.

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  • 0

    Last Saturday night, some of my girlfriends and I headed over to Tonic to shake some booty on the dance floor. We were pretty happy about the $5 cover charge because such a low cover cost in unheard of in LA or SD.

    The dance floor was pretty small compared to some of the usual clubs I hit up in So-Cal, and it was pretty packed around 11 PM. The bartender that mixed our drinks was pretty hot, so 1 star for that. I got a red-headed slut which was "ok" and my other friend ordered a Midori Sour which she said was pretty stiff. Nice.

    So we hit up the dance floor with drinks in our hands, dance dance dance until I realize this place does not play any hip-hop music. The music was okay, pretty fun, but when I go clubbin, I enjoy dancing to hip-hop the most. The crowd was totally not diverse and not a lot of people were actually dancing. Another bummer.

    An hour later, I felt a little sick so headed to their bathroom..which was ridiculously small and nasty. How can there be only 2 damn stalls in a club? Are you kidding me? For the women's bathroom? FOR REALZ?! There were about 6 girls ahead of me and we were all stuffed and crowded in a dingy little bathroom. Someone pissed all over the toilet seat on one of the stalls, so there was only 1 good stall left. Nasty.

    I walked out to the outside patio to get some fresh air and there were a lot of people standing around, chatting and drinking. I stayed outside for 30 minutes, waited to see if the music would get any better-but sadly, it did not.

    Besides the free parking we managed to score because of our good looks and the $5 cover charge, there wasn't anything else that was good about this place. I would not come here again to get my boogie on.

    In a nutshell:
    -1 star for the sucky music
    -1 star for the tiny, nasty women's restroom
    -1 star for no place to sit, drink and relax (reserved only)

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  • 0

    As a San Francisco-area resident visiting Santa Barbara, it is fair to say that my bar was set pretty high. However, seeing that I was in Santa Barbara and on State Street, I felt as though I might be finding a decent spot for some drinks and a dance or two after dinner.

    The line was short and the bar service as efficient, so two stars. But, the DJ never kept a decent song on long enough to get going, the place was small, the crowd was young and snotty, and the drinks weren't very strong. Maybe the reviews are right, and this IS the best night-life spot in Santa Barbara...but that still doesn't make it any good.

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  • 0

    O
    M
    G
    BECKY!! LIKE OMG?!?!!11!!
    did you remember to put tan-in-a-bottle on your giant fake boobs?
    O
    M
    G
    my daddy said i could pay for school "necessities" on his credit card?!?!?
    i guess we should like TOTALLY get another shot of like grey goose?!?!?!?!?!!!!! ITS ONLY $$$$$!!!!!!
    O
    M
    G
    TIFFANY!!!!! I LOVE BEING IN A SORORITY!!!!!!!!!
    is this the radio they are playing over the speakers?!?!?!?!?!?!1!!!!!!!!!!
    i think that guy over there with the upturned collar and the waxed chest is so hot!!!!1!11!!!!!!
    i am sooo drunk

    i think i just broke a nail

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Tonic, Tonic, Tonic... Tonic is like Danny Devito competing in an NBA Slam Dunk competition. Funny to watch for a while, but ultimately just sad and embarrassing.

    Its not so much the long entry line, the cover charge, the terribly predictable music or talentless DJ, the bartenders moving at Special Olympic speeds, the bland and pathetic decor, or even questionable name, Tonic... its just all of those thing put together!

    I'd dive further into this review, but thats all the time I can dedicate to giving this place 2 thumbs down.

    Word!

    Review Source:
  • 0

    If you are a huge D-Bag or a drunk (but attractive) bar skank, you are going to love this place.  
    Things that make this place great:
    Long line with a cover....Check
    Insecure meat heads at the door....Check
    Lame DJ's.... you better believe it
    Bartenders that just started in the biz... Gots that too
    Sweaty Ginds sessions on the dance floor....You know I'm down

    Review Source:
  • 0

    If you're inside, and its not crazy packed, Tonic is a solid 5 star bar.  However, the line is too long too often, and sometimes it can get just too crowded.  The vibe is more "LA" than most bars in SB, usually you won't get in with shorts or sandals.  But it's still a solid bar with a nice outdoor area.

    The best thing Tonic has to offer is Sunday sessions.  On a sunny Sunday afternoon, you can't ask for much more than a cabana at Tonic, with some pitchers of watermelon mojito..... except maybe help from your buddies when you happen to run up a four digit bar tab....

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Ugh.  Came here on a Saturday night.  Crappy music -it seemed like they were just playing a radio station over the speakers - the DJ was not doing ANY mixing and it was all top 40 stuff.  Definitely that skeevy meat market vibe.  The place was filled with drunk middle aged men trying to pick up on the barely clad just turned 21 year old girls.  

    I just about vomited when a Kelly Clarkson song came on and all the girls on the dance floor started SCREAMING along with it. *shudder*  I downed my drink and left as soon as I could, once I could peel my arm off the sticky bar.  Gross.

    Review Source:
  • 0

    Can't speak for the dance club.   We came in here on an early Sunday afternoon and the place was dead.   They had a bunch of NFL games going, so we asked the bartender to hook us up with some 49ers.   We watched the first quarter and then we left.

    The bartender mixed a good drink, and the Hefeweizen I got on tap was served with a slice of lemon and hit the spot just so.   Still, one big issue is that, as stated, the place was dead.  So why's he got to blast the techno music when we're trying to watch the game.   It's not like anyone was dancing or anything.   That, my friends, cost 'em a couple of stars.

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  • 0

    Clean and fun, but major loss of points when they stopped letting you bring drinks onto the dance floor. Some of us need a little liquid rhythm.

    I like the new outdoor patio-- its a little better for conversation than inside.

    Review Source:
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