82-94 Darlinghurst Road
Potts Point, Sydney
02 9357 7882
Though Sydney might have developed a penchant for south-of-the-border, down-Mexico-way kind of flavours there’s still a whole lot be mined north of the border. Santa Barbara, from the Drink & Dine group (who’s bars The Norfolk, The Carrington and more have appeared in these pages) draws on a slightly sun-faded West Coast glamour: cue the the sixties neons, furniture that looks like it’s been nicked from a Californian bungalow, and an interior screaming out to be photographed with a vintage instagram filter.
The call of the day here is Bar-B-Q and they’re calling the cuisine ‘U.S.Asian’. You’ll see Korean beef short rib and kung pow chicken as well churros sharing the same menu.
The drinks list is brief but beautiful: we like the look of the Santa Colada (rum, coconut puree, pineapple, amaretto) because, you know, like, it’s so California.