Exploring Elsie's Tavern

By Morgan Guest

On a grey morning in Santa Barbara, Elsie’s Tavern unlocked its doors with curtains still drawn on West De la Guerra Street. Stella Benenati, a barista, casually read her book at the small, square booth posted by the bar. Comfortably reclined, one knee supported her chest, and only her eyes poked over the cover of her book.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” she said as she attended the dimly lit bar.

Elsie’s Tavern is a hybrid bar and coffee shop located in downtown Santa Barbara near State Street. Over the years, Santa Barbara has catered many of its cafes and bars to attract an upscale crowd looking for a coastal vibe. This time capsule, however, has remained rather untouched since its opening in 1993.

Inside of Elsie's tavern featuring eclectic decor and alternative lounge vibes.

Colorful couches fill every nook and corner. The faint tobacco scent creates a smoke-lined path to the outdoor patio. From 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., the one-stop shop acts as a hidden hub for Santa Barbara's alternative crowd. It's eclectic decor cultivates a vibe different to that of many other spaces in the city.

Inside, old Polaroids, street signs, disco balls hanging from chandeliers and alternative paintings fill the walls. Intimately designed, a pool table sits not far from the golden marble bar. 

“The fact that we’re cash-only, you can still smoke on the patio, and we sell cigarettes — you just don’t see that anywhere else in town,” said Benenati, a barista working at Elsie's.

After growing up in Santa Barbara, Benenati pointed out that the community at Elsie’s is what has kept her around. After many years of studying abroad in Europe, she was surprised to find her way back to the city she had grown up in after feeling so out of place there.

Ian Smith, longtime employee and Elsie’s community member, said the utopian town is “not a destination. It’s a stop along the way.” Smith acknowledged that many regulars at Elsie's are not necessarily based in Santa Barbara full-time. Many of the tavern's visitors live a mobile life and yet always find their way back to the places that make the town feel like home.

Cup of coffee served by hybrid barista-bartenders.

Elsie's unique offerings extend beyond the hybrid bartender-barista service. The arcade games and free pool never fail to bring a crowd, especially on Thursday's “college night” for local students. Early risers, students who gravitate toward an indie style, locals and night owls all come to the well-known, cash-only tavern.

Smith and Benenati both emphasized that Elsie’s is not like the rest of modern-day Santa Barbara.  The tavern is more of a cultural artifact of the town’s roots.

For a small yet tourist-filled town like Santa Barbara, loyalty to small business values preserve its unique culture. The tavern is modestly exclusive, kept by the owner’s indifference to advertising, according to employees.

Smith pointed out the owner’s designation for Elsie’s as a safe space for patrons, friends and the community. “We don’t require people to spend money to hang out,” said Smith.

From students studying over extra espresso shots to young hearts mingling over glasses of red wine, Elsie’s continues to bring together polar demographics. It mirrors the idea of “work hard, play hard,” offering a space to meet up for study sessions or pool tournaments. Places like Elsie’s are creating community for both kinds of activity, that welcome a sense of belonging within social spaces.

The hole-in-the-wall bar has a diary filled from cover to cover with messages left by patrons throughout the years consisting of nomads, college students, employees and routine regulars. On every page, a little piece from each visitor passing through is imprinted.

Messages and notes in diary left by visitors.

The cultural treasure preserves tradition and vibes with the old-fashioned cash register that sounds exactly like it does in the movies. For a small yet tourist-filled town like Santa Barbara, small business loyalties preserve its unique culture. The oasis is modestly exclusive, preserved by the owner’s indifference to advertising, according to employees.

Ian emphasized the owner’s appreciation for Elsie’s as a safe space for patrons but also friends and the community. “We don’t require people to spend money to hang out,” he said.

Outdoor patio and smoking area.

For its loyal community, Elsie’s is more than just a place to drink. “I call it the bar for people who don’t like bars,” said Ian. 

California nomad and Elsie’s regular for the last three years, who goes by the name of Dome, said, “I feel like I can come anytime and run into someone I know and shoot a game of pool. I've never had a bad experience at Elsie's.”