The only reason I hesitate to write a good review is I don't want more people to discover this gem. I've been to most bars in Santa Barbara and Goleta and this is hands down, no question, the best. The atmosphere is cool, dark and hip. The drinks are expensive (but you sure do get what you pay for). The bartenders will make you anything you want with supreme skill and intuition and the liquor selection is unparalleled.

Very calming and cool atmosphere. Multiple options for seating in and outside. The dim lighting keeps the volume control at a minimum and the bar calm and collected. The bartenders are friendly and professional. Definitely recommended

This bar is quite frankly the coolest place in Goleta and maybe even Santa Barbara in terms of vibes and uniqueness. It's heavily cocktail focused but they do offer beer... I'd go elsewhere for beer though. Kind of hope that it stays somewhat under the radar although I was last there on a Wednesday evening and it was truly bustling. Not so busy though that we didn't easily get a seat outside in the sheltered Tiki style patio... Where they even allow smoking/vaping. Not exactly cheap but the bartenders make a mean drink, customized as you want it and with a decent pour. Highly recommend. Jealous of those that live within walking distance.

Love this place. Excellent drinks, service, and atmosphere. The bar tenders are incredibly friendly and took good care of us, so much so we came back the next night. Tiki vibes all the way. Dont come on an empty stomach, drinks are strong and the free chips won't be enough lol. Cheers!

If I died and the gateway to heaven opened to this bar, on a slight off night with Cuban music playing at the perfect level and everyone I ever loved waiting to share a drink with me, I wouldn't be disappointed. Its everything I love about the ethic of what is "now" and what I'll say I miss if I should live 20 years into the future. Yeah it's just this little dressed up dive in the back of a strip mall adjacent to a freeway but just like some of the most beautiful places on earth I've seen, it is how it grabs the senses that makes it outstanding. Nature does this but so too does the design of a perfect moment. With the right mind in the right crowd, this place does that in spades. It's best delivered to an unsuspecting companion as a surprise on a slight off night.

Another hidden back door gem! Best Sazerac I've ever had! Only wish this establishment was closer to home. It was a quiet evening we dropped in, but sure enjoyed having it that way. You know that wasn't normal for the quality drinks this place has.

Talk about a throwback to Tiki times... owner Donald took over the bar from Dawn. Her knack for decor created a dark, intimate space with a great patio for outdoor enjoyment. Same ambiance as before - recommend this place highly!

Good luck party on the porch of the Imperial. We brought in food snacks and Clair helped us get set up and organized. Great job and great time. Great place for a party. Thank you.

Great place to chill with friends and family or a nice spot for a date night. Great cocktails and good vibes to match.

Really cool spot that used to be a run down hole in the wall bar. When I'm in the mood to have good drinks and a mellow spot to kick it for the night - Imperial doesn't disappoint. The barkeeps are friendly and drinks are usually spot on. Really stoked this place opened up!

One of my very favorite cocktail bars. Wonderful drinks, nice people, excellent service. Great atmosphere, too.

This is a hidden gem! It's dark, cozy, and they spin jazz on real vinyl! The drinks are a little pricey, but also generous in size. Our new favorite!

Don Draper endorsed. Great bar. Superbly crafted cocktails and a great mid mod vibe. My favorite bar.

I love the Imperial's touch on bringing back a classic cocktail lounge atmosphere with fantastic hand crafted drinks. My favourite drink there is the marmalade sour, which is a bourbon sour with their own house marmalade and a bourbon cherries added to it.

Best lounge around. Never disappoints. Donald keeps this place special. The tiki decorations are amazing. It’s incredible how they can transform this place. Must visit when in town.

Warm, inviting interior with a tasteful tiki twist and plenty of room on the outdoor patio; friendly, welcoming staff Had a Mezcal Old Fashioned and their Imperial Mai Tai, both of which were very solid. Was actually more surprised and impressed with the quality of their mocktails! Excellent depth and complexity for a N/A drink A note for first-timers using Google Maps (like myself) -- directions will seem to take you to outside a bicycle shop, but it is a lie! Drive around to the right of the building amd you'll see a red neon "Cocktails" sign illuminating the entrance in the back -- *that's* what you're looking for 🍸

My favorite bar in the area! The cocktails and drinks are made with care, and bartenders are very kind. The mocktails are super delicious and very fancy. Even of you are the dd, you will feel like you are having a drink! The warm nuts they have on the menu are addictive and recommended!

Great vibes here, so much good energy! Ask if they're making anything special. You're going for the cocktails and the aesthetic so don't be in a huge rush when you get there, be chill. It's a boutique bar with fairly large capacity so good things take a little time.

Love this hidden gem. It’s a true speakeasy as it’s hard to find and in a surprising location. The tiki inspired drinks are delicious and fun. The setting is great for both an intimate date or a larger party. They have a great outdoor patio with comfy couches and delightful decor. The service is just right as they’re there when you need them, but never rush you.

Shout out to Hugh for having wonderful taste in not only flowers, but also friends, and ESPECIALLY drinks! If you’re looking for unparalleled company, cocktails, or corsages… please visit Donald or Scott at the Imperial for an unforgettable evening!

This place is amazing. Our bartender Steve, who is amazing how is a tentative, and made some of the best drinks ever had. I was stopping by on a work trip and so glad my friend Caesar found this place. speakeasy vibes for sure.

This bar is a hidden gem! Such a cool vibe and the owner and bartenders (Ime and Don) are AMAZING. Since the first time I went they’ve been so kind and welcoming! The cocktails are delicious, a great variety and really tasty! They have an indoor area and the outside patio is really cute!

A Speak Easy atmoshere. Inside I feel like I've been transported back in time. The Patio is a nice vibe to enjoy a cool evening breeze. Drink syrups are made with "craft" and care. Bartenders are friendly and fun!

Antonio

Best lounge around. Never disappoints. Donald keeps this place special. The tiki decorations are amazing. It’s incredible how they can transform this place. Must visit when in town.

David Christison

Warm, inviting interior with a tasteful tiki twist and plenty of room on the outdoor patio; friendly, welcoming staff Had a Mezcal Old Fashioned and their Imperial Mai Tai, both of which were very solid. Was actually more surprised and impressed with the quality of their mocktails! Excellent depth and complexity for a N/A drink A note for first-timers using Google Maps (like myself) -- directions will seem to take you to outside a bicycle shop, but it is a lie! Drive around to the right of the building amd you'll see a red neon "Cocktails" sign illuminating the entrance in the back -- *that's* what you're looking for 🍸

Sara Kaiden

My favorite bar in the area! The cocktails and drinks are made with care, and bartenders are very kind. The mocktails are super delicious and very fancy. Even of you are the dd, you will feel like you are having a drink! The warm nuts they have on the menu are addictive and recommended!

Sarah Malone (Star Heart)

Great vibes here, so much good energy! Ask if they're making anything special. You're going for the cocktails and the aesthetic so don't be in a huge rush when you get there, be chill. It's a boutique bar with fairly large capacity so good things take a little time.

Kirsten Baillie

Love this hidden gem. It’s a true speakeasy as it’s hard to find and in a surprising location. The tiki inspired drinks are delicious and fun. The setting is great for both an intimate date or a larger party. They have a great outdoor patio with comfy couches and delightful decor. The service is just right as they’re there when you need them, but never rush you.

Jennifer Mitzel

Shout out to Hugh for having wonderful taste in not only flowers, but also friends, and ESPECIALLY drinks! If you’re looking for unparalleled company, cocktails, or corsages… please visit Donald or Scott at the Imperial for an unforgettable evening!

Rod Chavez

This place is amazing. Our bartender Steve, who is amazing how is a tentative, and made some of the best drinks ever had. I was stopping by on a work trip and so glad my friend Caesar found this place. speakeasy vibes for sure.

Ocil Herrejon

This bar is a hidden gem! Such a cool vibe and the owner and bartenders (Ime and Don) are AMAZING. Since the first time I went they’ve been so kind and welcoming! The cocktails are delicious, a great variety and really tasty! They have an indoor area and the outside patio is really cute!

Allyson Edwards

A Speak Easy atmoshere. Inside I feel like I've been transported back in time. The Patio is a nice vibe to enjoy a cool evening breeze. Drink syrups are made with "craft" and care. Bartenders are friendly and fun!

Eric Arneson

Such a gem of a spot, everything from the service, drinks and atmosphere bring you to another time and place all together. Love it!

Whoops! We got a Uber from the hotel and wanted to check this place out. Super, super friendly staff. Beautiful and tasty drinks. Great atmosphere. Well we drank too much, but it was worth it. Great place to hang out, relax, and socialize. Good luck to the gentleman moving to Italy. Enjoy retirement!

I went here with a large group (over 10) The organizer of our group phoned ahead and the staff had a corner area set up for us! Waitstaff is very professional, atmosphere is wonderful, drinks unique and good! The "bar snacks" were these amazing potato chips! Only recommendation is some kind of easy to do food is missing. Otherwise a surprising find / a total Gem discovery! Highly recommend this place!

Step into a time warp of the quintessential 50s cocktail bar. Think Don Draper, low key lighting and vintage digs. Superior service and strong, hand crafted drinks with (often times) period correct music in the background. Not a place for beer but they do have one on tap.

A classic bar. No food (ok chips and mixed nuts). But excellent cocktails with nice service. Sit at the bar (dark and quiet) or outside. Oh. And it’s all the way in the back so you need to LOOK for it.

This is the the type of place you look forward to stumbling across. Great music. Great ambience. And Great drinks. The atmosphere of this location is relaxing, smooth, and warm. With dim lights and comfortable chairs plus great drinks it makes for without a doubt a place to have a great time. However, The exceptional personal service is what tops the place. The fact that the bartender takes the time to personally change and accommodate the menu to the personal individual orderings preference is one of the best aspects of this place

Great drinks and comfortable seating. Gets quite cold in there when they leave the patio door open though!

Old school vibes Love it! Great outdoor area also. No food but you can bring it in

Wonderful Atmosphere, locals appreciate their 'Imperial' gathering place. Uniquely warm decor, Speciality drinks, background music, Excellent service with adjoining private courtyard, sets this Gathering Place among the Best of California...

Easily the best cocktails around. Good ambiance too.

The staffs are very welcoming. I wasn’t very familiar with alcohol drink and they ask for what flavors I like and recommended to me. Also they can make mocktails.

Sasha Ablitt

Old school vibes Love it! Great outdoor area also. No food but you can bring it in

Nathan C

Great drinks and comfortable seating. Gets quite cold in there when they leave the patio door open though!

SpenceCo

Wonderful Atmosphere, locals appreciate their 'Imperial' gathering place. Uniquely warm decor, Speciality drinks, background music, Excellent service with adjoining private courtyard, sets this Gathering Place among the Best of California...

Alan

A classic bar. No food (ok chips and mixed nuts). But excellent cocktails with nice service. Sit at the bar (dark and quiet) or outside. Oh. And it’s all the way in the back so you need to LOOK for it.

Jeremiah Johnson

Step into a time warp of the quintessential 50s cocktail bar. Think Don Draper, low key lighting and vintage digs. Superior service and strong, hand crafted drinks with (often times) period correct music in the background. Not a place for beer but they do have one on tap.

Nathan Buddrius

Whoops! We got a Uber from the hotel and wanted to check this place out. Super, super friendly staff. Beautiful and tasty drinks. Great atmosphere. Well we drank too much, but it was worth it. Great place to hang out, relax, and socialize. Good luck to the gentleman moving to Italy. Enjoy retirement!

Rosabeth Dorfhuber

I went here with a large group (over 10) The organizer of our group phoned ahead and the staff had a corner area set up for us! Waitstaff is very professional, atmosphere is wonderful, drinks unique and good! The "bar snacks" were these amazing potato chips! Only recommendation is some kind of easy to do food is missing. Otherwise a surprising find / a total Gem discovery! Highly recommend this place!

Steve Schoenstein

The coolest local bar. Traditional drinks are made perfectly but there are also imaginative variations that are well balenced and very tasty. The staff are great - very friendly. The decor is retro and fun. Not to be missed!

mario flores

This is the the type of place you look forward to stumbling across. Great music. Great ambience. And Great drinks. The atmosphere of this location is relaxing, smooth, and warm. With dim lights and comfortable chairs plus great drinks it makes for without a doubt a place to have a great time. However, The exceptional personal service is what tops the place. The fact that the bartender takes the time to personally change and accommodate the menu to the personal individual orderings preference is one of the best aspects of this place

A group of us visited this place when looking for a place to drink around the area. Good looking place and nice vibes. Have your choice of lounging inside or outside the patio, decor is outstanding and entrance had a feeling of a speakeasy.

The atmosphere and ambiance is fun in a Plenisian Mobster kind of way. But the back patio is the best. It's a blast from the past with social but private design for groups to hang out and not be all up in the company of the table right next to you...they have that too though. My favorite part were the details. The old school Ash trays you'd see at your grandparents ...(if you're 30 and up). The decore and interior flavor was one I love. The bartenders were not who should be working that place....they didn't know or didn't have the first 3 drinks I requested and then gave me the wrong drink anyway so that was a waste of money for me. When leaving they were especially rude to us so that's not a good deal to be disappointed first and last thing but I wasn't there for the drink I was there to hang out with friends do it served it's purpose. The other thing I personally didn't love was the old school jazz ....all night, but that's a personal choice.

Great ambiance, disappointing cocktails. Went here based on reviews and I’m not sure I would return. I tried the paper plane and sazerac - paper plane tasted like pure lemon and sazerac was bland, expected more for $16 $17 cocktails and the rave reviews :(

I'm sure the drinks are wonderful. The interior was really cool. We would have liked to try the drinks but the bar tender took our order and then proceeded to make drinks for all his friends at the bar. When we came up to ask a question he rudely responded that he had more drinks to make and brushed us off. Hope we can return when there's a bartender who's a decent human being.

***PATRONS BEWARE*** I checked out The Imperial last night for the 1st time and was shocked by how awful the bartender treats people. As I walked up to the nearly empty bar to order, the bartender (a bearded guy with tattoos all over his arms) was not friendly and immediately gave attitude as if our presence was an inconvenience to him. Never being there before, I shared that my date and I were there for the 1st time and were curious if any of the drinks on the menu were more popular. The bartender dismissively told that he doesn't know what I like and to just look at the menu myself, then proceeded to completely change his demeanor and hit on my date! Shortly later, being that there's no cell service in the bar, I kindly asked the bartender if there was wifi. He responded saying that they have wifi, but when I asked for the credentials he rudely told me he doesn't know the password?! He made no effort to find it and just dismissed my request again. 0 for 2. My date and I were so uncomfortable by his negative energy we went outside away from him. When were were outside, were were served by another bartender name Claire who was great. Being a former bartender at a top ten world class resort in Montecito, I know the value a good bartended brings to a business dynamic. You'd think paying $16 - $18 a cocktail the ownerships would hire a bartender that doesn't treats their patrons terribly. Other than the horrible bartender, the ambiance and drinks were good. However, due to the bartender, my friends and I will not visit again.

NOT VET FRIENDLY I was seriously looking forward to the jungle bird. I am a disabled vet psychiatric service animal. Two time combat and Purple Heart recipient. The host was really rude and turned us away. Under the ADA and California law, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. Please change your policy. There are people have fought for this country and our way of life. They deserve to be treated with dignity.

The interior design is the only good thing about this place. A friend and I were recommended to go by our families. As we came in we were immediately ID checked - which is fine, this is normal procedure for most places. The blonde server and bald bartender working clearly have never seen anyone younger than the age of 25 here (my friend and I are 22). Gave us our IDs back and continually talked crap behind the bar to the bartender saying how we “must have really good fakes” and “clearly were not of age”, cutting looks at us the entire night. Excuse me? First of all we have real IDs, if they needed further proof I would’ve been more than happy to provide other forms of identification. Secondly, WE CAN HEAR YOU!! Extremely rude and unprofessional. We drank our drinks and left immediately after because of how uncomfortable we were. Will never be going back. Lost us and our families as customers. Will also be telling friends to avoid this place.

Bebe Fam

The interior design is the only good thing about this place. A friend and I were recommended to go by our families. As we came in we were immediately ID checked - which is fine, this is normal procedure for most places. The blonde server and bald bartender working clearly have never seen anyone younger than the age of 25 here (my friend and I are 22). Gave us our IDs back and continually talked crap behind the bar to the bartender saying how we “must have really good fakes” and “clearly were not of age”, cutting looks at us the entire night. Excuse me? First of all we have real IDs, if they needed further proof I would’ve been more than happy to provide other forms of identification. Secondly, WE CAN HEAR YOU!! Extremely rude and unprofessional. We drank our drinks and left immediately after because of how uncomfortable we were. Will never be going back. Lost us and our families as customers. Will also be telling friends to avoid this place.