Santa Barbara's Signature Cocktail & Happy Hour History Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Enrich yourself while you let your hair down in Santa Barbara! On this three-hour walking tour, you'll learn the history, architecture and pop-culture facts of the area, all while enjoying unique local watering holes for libations and a few happy hour nibbles at your discretion. This fun tour includes two cocktail tastings and one brewery stop. Each establishment offers mouth-watering snacks to please your palette, and our guides will be happy to recommend their favorites! All of the special cocktails and beer are included in the tour are pre-selected, historically significant and perfectly complement the tour. You'll love what the brewers and mixologists have in store for you! It's a celebratory way to get the lay of the land, learn about Santa Barbara's rich history, and start the evening off right. Tour is approximately three hours give or take. Three different, pre-selected cocktails and one light bite are included in the tour unless you choose the A la Carte option.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour not available for those under 21 years of age, as the primary stops on the tour are bars. It is advised that you were comfortable, weather appropriate clothing and shoes, and a light outer layer for evening temperature drops. The walking portion of the tour may cover approximately a mile of distance, so is advised for guests who can handle leisurely walking in a city environment.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Totally Cali Tours
A 3 hour walking tour past historic sights throughout downtown Santa Barbara, with cocktails and small bites along the way. A knowledgeable local guide will show you the authentic side of Santa Barbara as you learn history, as well as sip and eat along the way. Visit our best watering holes and restaurants, and peek deep into history as you explore architectural highlights throughout the city.
What‘s Included
Includes a fully guided historical tour with a fun and professional local guide, who can recommend excellent food and drink options throughout the tour.
"All Inclusive" booking option includes price of pre-selected food and drinks. "Ala Carte" booking option does not include any food and drink in price of tour, and is up to guests to pay themselves.
"All Inclusive" booking option includes price of pre-selected food and drinks. "Ala Carte" booking option does not include any food and drink in price of tour, and is up to guests to pay themselves.
Options
Ala carte "no food or drink"
"no food or drink included"
All Inclusive
Meal and drinks are included
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Happy Hour cocktail and eating tour.
Lori T,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Melissa from Cali Tours was excellent. We learned alot about Santa Barbata history. The food and drink stops were friendly and interesring.
History & Cocktails
Adriana O,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This Happy Hour History Tour was an absolute delight—fun, informative, and full of charm. Emily guided us with such warmth and effortless charisma, pairing her kindness with an impressive depth of knowledge that brought Santa Barbara’s stories to life. Every stop along the way was thoughtfully chosen, showcasing idyllic locations that perfectly capture the city’s must‑visit gems. The combination of great company, rich history, and exceptional selections made this experience unforgettable. Truly a must‑do!
Amazing experience!
Sandra W,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Melissa was very personable, knowledgeable and a joy to be with as we learned about the history of Santa Barbara! We highly recommend visitors to the area take this tour and with the Totally Cali Tour group! 10+ rating!
3 Hour Cocktail and History Wine Tasting Tour
staceyrC9180XN,Jul 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friend and I went on the 3 hour Cocktail and History walking tour of Santa Barbara. We lucked out and got our guide, Melissa, all to ourselves. We had a wonderful time and the history of the city that Melissa shared was truly inspiring. She has an extensive knowledge of the city and is a delightful person to experience this tour with. The cocktail stops were tasty and a nice reprieve from the walking. I would highly recommend this tour to learn about Santa Barbara.
Education with libation
Tanya M,Apr 20, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Melissa was so friendly and fun. I especially appreciate that even though my party of 2 was the only group to sign up, she still conducted the tour and didn’t cancel. Made it a lovely private tour where we were able to ask lots of questions and really enjoy our time together. The stops were great picks and I really appreciated the special attention the owner of Night Lizard Brewery (our first stop) gave us, including a backroom tour of the distillery.
ABSOLUTELY TAKE THIS TOUR!!
sandrakK7428FP,Oct 2, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of spending the afternoon with Melissa on a history and cocktails tour. She has incredible knowledge of the fascinating history of Santa Barabara as well as the thriving food and beverage industry there. We enjoyed a walking tour of the city and I am confident that many of the most interesting locations we would have never found on our own. We enjoyed wonderful craft cocktails, fantastic local beers, and the absolute BEST empanadas we've ever tasted. It felt like an afternoon with a best friend. Not only do we HIGHLY recommend ANY of their tours but we can't wait to come back and schedule more tours for our family!!
Santa Barbara History and Happy Hour tour.
mdvm,Aug 29, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Melissa was a great guide. Lots of history facts on Santa Barbara. She took us to 4 great drinking and eating spots. So much fun. Recommend this tour and Melissa! Top notch!!!!
Melissa gives a great tour with a fun twist!
Barbara G,May 1, 2023
- Review from Viator
4.00Melissa was a wonderful and informative host and tour guide. The cocktails were great, and the selection was very good. There was a group of us from the Houston area traveling together, so we enjoyed doing the tour as a small group together. There wasn't a lot in the way of food, but the drinks were fabulous and the tour was so well done we felt that the price was more than reasonable.
Very Knowledgeable guide
Sandra L,Dec 23, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00The whole trip was very interesting. My husband and I do not drink alcohol but wanted to go along for the history tour. We were the only ones on this tour, so our guide changed the drinking part to olive oil tasting. It was great. The food was fabulous.
Melissa and this tour -- OUTSTANDING
Peggy J,Sep 21, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a fabulous experience. We were very lucky - we were the only guests on this particular tour and our leader was Melissa, owner of this tour company. You couldn't get a better guide that Melissa! She is knowledgeable, personable, friendly, informative, we could go on and on about Melissa. And yes, the tour itself was excellent. The locations we stopped for drinks and food were great choices. We really liked the empanadas (as we were on the ala carte tour because we didn't want to eat too much, we were only going to order 2 to share. Melissa highly recommended we get at least 4 for the 2 of us -- we are glad we took her advice). We even got a "bonus" stop at an olive oil shop and were treated to another terrific experience. We give a 2-thumbs up on this tour.
From US$90.00
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Operated by Totally Cali Tours of Santa Barbara LLC