SOhO boasts some of the best live musical acts in town. What was once an unassuming Santa Barbara bar, catering to a somewhat older crowd, has developed into an impressive and eclectic venue. They host every kind of music like raucous shows with Ozomatli, mellow evenings with Donavon Frankenreiter, and fundraisers helping local up-and-comers on the long road to fame. The steep prices ensure the dinner crowd is a little older but the shows usually have a refreshingly mixed crowd from local collage students to Santa Barbara lifers — all there to have a great time.

While the ambiance aims towards New York loft chic, the menu is California faire — fresh with a flare for fusion. Pasta dishes, including chicken and Portobello mushroom raviolis, are about $15 each. The house specialties include a choice New York steak and a mouth-watering stuffed chicken breast and range from about $15-$25. SOhO also has a great happy hour beginning at 5pm with discounted beers and well drinks as well as discounted appetizers, including fried calamari and rosemary garlic steak-cut fries that fry lovers will not want to miss. SOhO is a lovely place for after-work drinks and snacks in the evening even though the view from the patio is mainly of the Victoria Court parking lot. Dinner reservations guarantee priority seating for shows and cover charges are added to your dinner and drinks tab.

The space was recently remodeled moving the large bar to the back room. The result was to keep the late night bar noise in the back and away from what is now a slightly larger dance floor and stage. They can also get away with steeper drink prices by employing some of the friendliest bar staff in town on hand. There is often local artwork on display in the main room which is just one of the ways that SOhO supports the community. SOhO boasts live music 7 nights per week and it is always worth checking the schedule. If anyone worth seeing is coming to town — chances are, they are coming to SOhO.