As a place where people come to get away from the city, Santa Barbara is home to plenty of great restaurants and bars. While State Street in downtown Santa Barbara gets its fair share of love, there’s a small pocket of establishments that sit between Highway 101 and the shore (bordered by State and Santa Barbara Street) which is known as the Funkzone. This fun and trendy part of town is loaded with different options when it comes to eating and drinking, and worth visiting while you’re in Santa Barbara.
The Biergarten: A Funkzone Fixture
As the biggest bar in the city, The Biergarten is a Funkzone fixture. Here, you’ll find a welcoming and expansive outdoor space with different seating options and creative decor. Palm trees and picnic tables dot the outdoor patio, while old barrels that have been converted into firepits are peppered throughout the space for when the nights cool down.
True to its Germanic theme, The Biergarten serves up classic dishes like schnitzel and sausage, as well as soft Bavarian pretzels. Their wood-fired, hand-tossed sourdough pizzas are a must-try and are big enough to share. Ash, the Assistant General Manager, loves the smash burgers they serve up, saying they’re some of her favorite burgers in town. Ash sat down with us to talk a bit about the space, and what she appreciates most about The Biergarten.
“The mix of people that come through here is all across the board,” says Ash. From families to groups of college students, there’s always a different crowd on hand at The Biergarten. The weekends draw a mixed crowd, with Sundays being especially popular for watching sports like soccer and football. Thursdays in particular are popular amongst college students.
Popular amongst all crowds are the 64-ounce boots of beer, and their rotating selection of hard kombuchas and seltzers. “This is people’s pre-game spot,” says Ash. “Since we close at 11, we find that people like to start their nights here. And since we get off early, usually we’re not far behind them.”
Ash added that while the bar doesn’t stay open as late as others, it does get crowded. “Some nights you can’t even find somewhere to stand,” she says. The outdoor space is ideal for the warm days and cool nights, with heat lamps sprinkled about and plenty of space to roam around. For both groups and solo travelers, it’s the kind of place where you can socialize without feeling tied to one seating area.
Stay and Play
Speaking of travelers, we’ve got an offer for you! While you’re staying at our ITH Santa Barbara Hostel, The Biergarten is offering an industry discount on all your food and beverages. Inquire with our staff on how to receive this special offer during your stay at ITH in Santa Barbara.
With a great central location that’s off the beaten path but also in the heart of an up-and-coming district, The Biergarten should be on your list of places to hit the next time you’re in Santa Barbara. Whether you’re starting your night, or making it one of your stops through the Funkzone, make sure to swing by The Biergarten for a bite and some local beer.
Interested to see more of The Funkzone? Catch this video!
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