Mercury

Very much a dive bar, we ended here on recommendation of the bartender at Imperial since they have the same owner, difference is, here they sell cocktails at the Imperial I believe only beer.
Service was fine, but pretty slow and tended more to the bar then the people at the tables.
The space is a bit strange, was not really feeling the vibe and left after one drink.
Good menu, fair prices and good options, just felt a bit out of place.
Seeing as there are not many options to go out in the area this was ok, just not worth returning.

I’m going to date myself here, but I remember frequenting the Mercury on X-​Files Sunday Nights. Yes, kids, before X-​Files was available on-​demand, a bunch of us used to gather in front of an actual television at the Merc every Sunday night to watch the show.
Years (decades?!) later and for my money, the Merc is still the coolest bar in the Santa Barbara area. It’s a beer-​and-​wine bar with an easy-​going, relaxed vibe and friendly, knowledgeable bartenders who seem to always play the perfect drinking music.
Even though it’s frequented by hipsters, graduate students, and hipster graduate students, the Merc has always been welcoming and comfortable. You can drink at the bar or find friends and share a couch or go outside to the tiki-​bar-​like hut. The Mercury fits whatever mood you’re in, whether you want to have a few beers with your buddies or de-​stress at the end of the week with a glass of wine.
Highly recommended.
Note: be sure to say hi to my buddy Kyle the bartender.

Mercury is the perfect dive bar. They no longer have happy hour but they have some great beer and $ 0.50 pool table. It is a perfect after work hang out spot.

They have pool, and the outside patio is really nice! Also, they give out bowls of popcorn !!! If that doesn’t say best place ever, I don’t know what does. Also, they have beer on tap :).

Our favorite Lounge to go to when we are in town visiting. The drinks are a bit pricey but worth it just to sit and enjoy the surroundings. We haven’t been there when they have live entertainment, so that will be something to look forward to.

I love this place and their popcorn, but what I really love is that they have a really good selection of beers.
Awesome place to spend a night with friend.

Cozy, friendly, and relaxing Friday night bar. Lots of happy and smiling faces with a good beer collection. A must visit if you are bidding ucsb.

I need to get into the mix here and let people know that this place is awesome!
I’ve had this place bookmarked for quite some time and I finally got to check it out last night with my fellow Unilocalers. It’s true what they say as soon as you walk in the door you feel like you walked through a time machine thrown into the 70’s disco era! All I needed was a fog machine to go with the groovy music they were playing. Even the bartender fit the look! He had blonde dreads and some kind of accent going on lol but he was super cool.
The best part is they make popcorn for you in the microwave for FREE! I swear it was the best popcorn I’ve had in a long time. It’s served in a big bowl to share with your friends.
I didn’t get to check out the back patio area but from what I hear it’s pretty cool too. I can’t wait to come back here again!

I had seen the entrance door to the Mercury many times before but never caught my attention because you can’t even see inside from the street. However, once you go in you are transported to another world. The music is psychedelic and groovy. It is decorated with a vintage look and they have a wide selection of wines and beers. They even have seating in a small patio in the back. The comfortable seating makes it perfect for intimate and relax conversations. I would have never guessed it was really nice in there if it wasn’t for peer pressure. I want to go back and spend a little more time when I feel I need to hide from the crowds in Downtown Santa Barbara.
I highly recommend the Happy Canyon Piocho ’10 red wine. It’s a blend, but it is heavenly!

Love this place. Bear in mind if you are a student looking to get smashed and/​or dance to awful music with your peers, the Merc (as locals fondly call it) is not for you. If, however, you have a penchant for trying new beers in a relaxed atmosphere, you’ll love it here. The bartenders are friendly, though they do seem to favor the older clientele compared to a younger looking type like me. AND THEY HAVE POPCORN, so you can ask for some while you sip on your beer.

Great place for happy hour, friendly bartenders, good selection of local beers (I think it is a rotating selection), nice patio outside. If you want to sit outside then Get there early. By 6:30 the patio will be full.
Free popcorn is a nice touch.

Looks like a dump from the outside, but is a treasure on the inside! Definitely a happening and hip place. Great atmosphere, dim but not too dark that I’ll fall asleep. Decorative, music is not too loud that I can’t talk or think. If you are in the mood for only wine or beer (no hard liquor), with a chill vibe, this is the place to go! They also have board games and popcorn. A little on the $$ side, but it’s a fun time!

This is really an amazing place and I’m sad to see so many negative reviews here. I realize that most of the people who are docking stars (with the exception of the flat, room-​temp beer guy) just really don’t understand the ambiance of the place.
First of all, this is not a rowdy bar to take all of your bro college buddies to get wild. This is a quiet, relaxing bar where more refined types come to enjoy a craft beer. It’s definitely not a loud place and I really appreciate that.
This is really my favorite bar to enjoy. The beer selection is amazing and they always have something new and fun on tap that you won’t find elsewhere. The bartenders are all very nice and will pay attention to you if you get to know them. If you’re not willing to put any effort into this and just want someone to fill your glass with some booze so you can get plastered, this isn’t the bar for you.
With all of these caveats, The Merc is really the best place to come! I love kicking back with small groups and just enjoying a nice, quiet evening. The patio, when it’s not dominated by smokers, is a very nice place, and you can always find a way to avoid being downwind.
Seriously, come check it out if you’d like a mellow, relaxing night.

Such a cool hidden bar/​pub. I loved this place. It has a cool little patio out back that feels like 2 living room areas. Nicely done.
THANK YOU UnilocalERS!!! I never would have found this spot without your help.
Sometimes I stay at the Hilton down the street when working in Goleta and there is nothing near the hotel… except this cool little spot.
It is almost impossible to find (in a good way), and feels like a speakeasy when you finally locate it. It’s on a main street (Hollister) so you just have to look for the address (or one close by). Park on the street and you will find it (big stone wall with a sign you might miss while driving by and a little door)…lwalk in.
Warm staff, great beers and wine and cozy feel.
I went on a week night and it was empty but the staff were warm and friendly. I also went on a weekend and it was crowded so the locals enjoy this spot. Hipster crowd but I even felt comfortable as just a «normal» person.
Go there for sure if you are staying in the area, it is walking distance from the Hilton on Hollister.