Restaurant
Unclaimed profileOpal restaurant and bar
Santa Barbara, CA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Opal restaurant and bar pairs a creative cocktail list and a full bar with a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list revised in June 2026. A dedicated martini menu lists ten specialty cocktails priced $15 to $20, spanning vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, mezcal, and whiskey. The wine list runs from sparkling through port, with a Rare & Unusual section for last-bottle finds and a private-label syrah made by Jaffurs Winery.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Opal Martini…A Perfect "10" (Tito's vodka, Tanqueray "10" gin, gorgonzola olive, $20) or the Yellow Jacket (Vida mezcal, reposado tequila, agave honey, lemon, jalapeno, $17). For wine, the private-label Jaffurs syrah ($57) or the Ojai Riesling Ice Wine by the glass ($14.95) are distinctive picks.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who want a full bar and a serious, award-winning wine list under one roof. The martini menu's breadth across vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, mezcal, and whiskey gives cocktail-focused guests plenty to work through, while the Rare & Unusual wine section rewards bottle-list browsers.
- When should I go?
- Evening service, when the full bar and martini menu are in play. Seasonal cocktails appear on the daily specials page, so a visit timed to the current specials list is worthwhile.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails run $15 to $20, with the Opal Martini at $20. Wine by the glass starts at $9.95 for the La Vie Late Harvest Chardonnay and $14.95 for the Ojai Riesling Ice Wine. Bottles range from $39.00 to $480.00, and a 187ml Moet Chandon Brut Imperial is $19.95.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A Wine Spectator award-winning list revised June 2026, a Rare & Unusual section for last-bottle and hard-to-find wines, a wine pairing guide, port and late harvest by the glass, and a private-label syrah made by Jaffurs Winery specifically for the restaurant.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A dedicated martini menu with ten named specialty cocktails priced $15 to $20, spanning vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, mezcal, and whiskey. Seasonal cocktails appear on the daily specials page, and the full bar supports the list.
Menu strengths
- — Ten named specialty martinis on a dedicated menu, priced $15 to $20
- — Cocktail bases span vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, mezcal, and whiskey
- — Seasonal cocktails referenced on the daily specials page
Standout selections
- — Opal Martini…A Perfect "10" — Tito's vodka, Tanqueray "10" gin, gorgonzola olive, $20
- — Yellow Jacket — Vida mezcal, reposado tequila, agave honey, lemon juice, jalapeno, $17
- — Mandarin Ginger Cosmo — Hanger One mandarin vodka, ginger, triple sec, cranberry, lime juice, $16
Pricing: $15–$20
Wine
A Wine Spectator award-winning list revised June 2026, spanning sparkling, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, cabernet, syrah, rhone blends, zinfandel, Italian reds, Bordeaux, late harvest, and port. A Rare & Unusual section covers last-bottle finds, and a pairing guide matches dishes to varietals.
Menu strengths
- — Wine Spectator award-winning list revised June 2026 with broad varietal and regional coverage
- — Rare & Unusual section for last-bottle and hard-to-find wines
- — Port and late harvest wines offered by the glass, plus a pairing suggestions page
Standout selections
- — Opal restaurant and bar Syrah by Jaffurs Winery 2024 — County private-label syrah, $57
- — Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon "Hillside Select" 2010 — Napa, rare and unusual section, $360
- — Ojai Riesling Ice Wine (Kick On Ranch) 2021 — County, by the glass, $14.95
Pricing: $39–$480 bottles; $9.95–$14.95 by the glass
Spirits
A wide selection of spirits backed by a full bar. The spirits range supports the cocktail program, though specific bottles are not enumerated.
Menu strengths
- — It has a wide selection of spirits.; It has a full bar.
Standout selections
- — Description of a wide spirits selection and full bar.
How it sits with the food
The wine list includes a pairing suggestions page matching dishes to varietals, and the restaurant offers a private-label syrah made by Jaffurs Winery. The martini menu's savory touches, like the gorgonzola olive in the Opal Martini, sit alongside the bar program.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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