By Hudson Lindenberger
Very rarely will you find yourself in a living part of California’s history with a cold beer in one hand, the sounds of live, classic surf rock surrounding you and some delicious food on the way. If you are making the trip over the Santa Ynez mountains on Highway 154 from Santa Barbara to Los Olivos, make sure you take the first left after the summit of San Marcos Pass onto Stage Coach Road and travel the 1.5 miles to the Cold Spring Tavern. Nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest you feel like you have been transported back in time.
As my wife and I pulled up we had to navigate around the numerous vehicle’s parked in every open area along the road – a diverse mix if I have ever seen one. BMW’s, VW Vans, Jeep’s, a Ferrari and numerous motorcycles all share the parking in seeming harmony. As we rounded the bend in the road, after walking in from our parking spot, I was welcomed by the sight of an old log roadhouse packed with people who were all hanging out listening to the band of five old timers tearing it up. As the vehicles suggested this was a diverse group of travelers who were sitting at the picnic tables outside enjoying the weather and each other’s company. Cold Spring Tavern attracts them all I have been told, from Hollywood stars to traveling Deadheads, they all search this place out.
The rustic and cozy dining room at Cold Spring Tavern. Photos courtesy of Cold Spring Tavern.
Walking in you are immediately hit with the vibe of California’s past. The classic old bar is right next to the stage where the band was cranking out a Neil Young song. The bartender had a nice glass of Pinot Noir for my wife and a cold Firestone beer for me as we squeezed in to enjoy the band. The bar has a well thought out wine list, quite a few craft beers on tap and a great selection of alcohol. Looking around you see that you are surrounded by mementos from generations past and many a fun evening. The classic fireplace at one end of the bar makes you want to come back for a visit when the temps have dropped and winter is in the air. A rotating slate of bands play every Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 until the evening and the place can get quite crowded.
Cold Spring Tavern was built in 1886 as a stagecoach stop and has been lovingly maintained by the Ovington family since 1941. They pride themselves on their award-winning menu that is served all day in the bar and the adjacent restaurant. The lunch menu is heavy on sandwiches and burgers while the dinner menu has a classic steakhouse feel with many ingredients locally sourced. We did not have time to do dinner but I did poke my head into the dinning room – quite nice, white tablecloths with a comfortable feel. The man at the bar told me we must come back for the tri-tip sandwich they make all day Saturday and Sunday on the grill out front. Oh well, next time.
After a couple of beers, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, we decided it was time to head back to Santa Barbara, but we both agreed that we would be back to Cold Spring Tavern again, soon. So the next time you find yourself on Highway 154 stop into The Cold Spring Tavern to decompress before you continue your journey. Don’t forget to ask them about the time Jeff Bridges played there with his band, they might shrug and walk away, but you will still feel welcome.
Cold Spring Tavern is located at 5995 Stagecoach Rd., Santa Barbara. For complete information visit www.coldspringtavern.com