The Creekside Bar

So much fun!!! Awesome atmosphere and outside scenery. Cool locals who dance their pants off, moderately cheap drinks, and killer bonfire pits. I’m here visiting from Michigan, and was so glad I stopped in this bar.

Great location, friendly staff, worst drinks I’ve ever had. I ordered a vodka cranberry and got cup of vodka with a splash our cranberry. I continued to order a screwdriver (can’t mess that up) and got a cup of vodka with a splash of orange juice (it was cloudy) and on a separate occasion the first (and only) drink I ordered was made wrong while my husband’s Jack and coke was all Jack with a splash of coke. Once I got my Bacardi mango (made correctly) it was alright, however the staff could use a lot more training.

I came here for a beer with my dad and brother on a Tuesday night and quite enjoyed myself. It’s fairly typical for a dive as far as atmosphere, amenities (yay pool table!), and drink selection goes, but it also seems to have a lot going on depending on the night you come. The bartender was a cool and helpful guy who didn’t make me feel like a failure for my inexperience with beer. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in the area!

Creekside is SUCH a fun bar! Everything from the country line dancing to karaōke make this place a fun bar no matter what day of the week it is.

The definition of a Dive Bar… It’s a great location, with plenty of outside space, but it needs work. Place looks run down, 80’s vibe to it. It’s more a place for white folks, but that doesn’t mean it’s hostile towards others… it’s a honky tonk joint. Much older crowd. If you’re 35+…this is the spot for you. Best part of this club was the band that was playing, «20 Ft. Faces». Hint to managers: Bring back 20 ft. Faces, and I’ll be back.

Call me a buzz-​kill, but unless you get lucky and there is a live band playing or your plan involves Wednesday Country night — Yes, indeed the Creekside is for sure happening on Wednesday’s. But on any other day or night, it’s a real disappointment. The place has potential in spades. A large woodsy outdoor area, a sizable (for Santa Barbara) indoor area with a pool table. Though It’s a bit tired all around. That’s a charm easily to be interpreted as helping cement a dive status. However, a laughable boom box above the bar plays the bartender favorites — because I assume management wants patrons to pay for anything coming out of the jukebox or sit in silence. I get it, I just don’t agree. The outdoor patio has a TV, which would be great if it worked. It’s no smoking obviously, but the entire place smells like an ashtray. All of that and a super nasty bathroom gives this place a gong.

Cool divey bar. I liked it because it wasn’t like most upscale bars in Santa Barbara like what you will find on State St. We came because our family friend’s band was playing. I love how big the place is! There is a great outdoor area with a huge firepit that many people can sit around but you are still close enough to see the band play. I would definitely come back.

Santa Barbara has certain places that should go down as historic landmark businesses! Not because their food is the best or because they are the most romantic… but because generations of local residents have enjoyed them. Places like Joe’s and Harry’s! And the Creekside!
Over the years I have had so many fun times at the Creekside, a New Year’s Eve or a Halloween Party! Fundraisers, bands and special events… The drinks are honest, the crowd is anything but pretentious and the service is friendly. It is kind of an «anything goes» kind of place!
Several years ago I went there for lunch with a co-​worker. The kitchen was open back then but they didn’t have a bartender for the lunch shift. We wanted something to drink and the server suggested that we go behind the bar and make it ourselves! What other place would DO that?
Saturday evening I was there to listen to King Bee. A medium crowd, mostly older. It was a fun time! It occured to me that I hadn’t ever Unilocaled the place so I checked in. I also visited the extremely wonderful Bourbon Room which is attatched. A completely different vibe. I will be reviewing them seperately.

Line dancing on Wednesday. Thats all I have to say. Its awesome and fun and really engaging. Wear clothes that you can get sweaty in and be prepared for a great workout! $ 5 cover to get in which is well worth it!

Good times at the Creekside! Cheap drinks. STIFF drinks! (I’m not kidding on this one) Make an effort to say hi to Jules the bartender! She’s really sweet and made my experience a great one!

Once you start, you can’t stop. Creekside is a gem of a dive.
Where do I start?
Extremely friendly bartenders will chat you up before it gets busy and busy it will.
Strong pours and brews accepting credit cards but Dino’s pizza fro the Mesa and a hand full of other food is cash only. Plan ahead or use the ATM up front.
If you get board drinking alone, try the horseshoe pit or pool table. TVs at the bar and a big screen rolled out for games.
The fire pit on the patio and heaters will warm your cockles as the music which ranges depending on the night will rock your world.
Although from Texas, I’m not a huge Country fan but sure don’t tell anyone that on Thursday nights when the Creekside turns into a good ol roadhouse complete with line dancing classes for $ 5.
To the unaware, this place my seem daunting but give it a try and you will be hooked. It’s a great place to kick back with a beer and relax and have a good time. Oh, did I mention the stripper pole?

Best country bar in town!!! Hot bartenders and cheap drinks… come on in:)

I only come here on Wednesdays for country night, and it is always a good time! Priced well ($ 5 cover and well priced beers), but I almost wish they raised the price on the cover though, as it is waaaaay too crowded. The staff seems overworked, but they are still very friendly.
The dance floor is small and the music is DJ’ed, but that is expected for any southern California country music night. They play an awful lot of club hits for being a «country night».
Tailgate Taylor is a great host, and the people are really fun– if only it wasn’t so damn crowded!

I frequent KRA-​Z Creekside Wednesdays. It’s $ 5 to enter, and $ 5 for line dancing lessons from 7 – 8 pm. Then it’s just great country music, and even better people watching.
Old and young cowboys will attend and be more than delighted to twirl girls around the dance floor. The cowboys are harmless, and will actually help teach you how to dance. (A dream come true for most!)
The bouncer has been there for YEARS! He’s friendly, and will always engage you in coversation, especially if you go there as often as I do.
Country music stops around 11:30 pm, and usually people start to clear out around 11.
Definitely a great way to spend a Wednesday night!

I used to live down the street from this place!
this venue has live music, beer, and pool tables. Aside from looking like a dive, feeling like a dive, and having all the requirements to be a dive, this isn’t that much of a dive.
It has a locals only feel, and there’s the occasional bar fly, but the live music changes things.
If you’re sick of the tiny, tiny downtown plastic «dives» come here, this place is spacious, and not crowded with the typical downtown crowd. it’s a closer drive than downtown if you’re out in Goleta.

Creekside often hosts obscure bands or those trying to make a name for themselves, and so far I have always been pleasantly surprised. This is a great place to go as a couple, with a group, or even by yourself. The people are friendly and of widely varying age ranges and ethnicities.
This is my favorite «dive bar» in Santa Barbara, although most people would probably say it’s classier than that (they accept credit cards, so perhaps that disqualifies them from dive status). They have a great vibe, friendly staff, and cheap delicious drinks. There are several outdoor seating areas as well, and different parts of the bar have different acoustic levels so you can converse if you want to, or move if you don’t.
The bar has different theme nights, so check the website to see what you’re walking into or you could find yourself square-​dancing.