Mexican Food, Santa Barbara Style

A Santa Barbara Institution since 1978.

Delicious Mexican Food, Friendly Service

Sunny Patio & Award-Winning Margaritas

Carlitos Café y Cantina

A Santa Barbara tradition since 1978.

For nearly five decades, Carlitos has been a gathering place for delicious food, great margaritas, and easygoing Santa Barbara afternoons and evenings.

Located in the Arlington Plaza on State Street, across from the historic Arlington Theatre in the Arts District, Carlitos brings together the flavors and traditions of Mexico with fresh ingredients and the relaxed spirit of Santa Barbara.

People having dinner, margaritas and cocktails on the front patio under the twinkling lights of Arlington plaza

Fresh Ingredients. Classic Mexican Flavors.

Our menu celebrates the bold, vibrant flavors of Mexico while taking inspiration from the bounty of the California coast and nearby farms.

Fresh seafood, grilled meats, handmade tortillas, roasted chiles, house-made salsas, and traditional specialties come together in dishes that are familiar, generous, and distinctly Carlitos.

From our chips and guacamole prepared fresh daily to our Alaskan halibut ceviche, tacos al carbón, enchiladas, Oaxacan mole, and sizzling fajitas, there is something for every kind of appetite.

Mexican Food & Margaritas Menu | Carlitos Santa Barbara
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Three cocktails on a table in an outdoor setting with umbrellas in the background. One cocktail has a lemon wedge, another has a pineapple slice, and a third topped with chili powder or spice.

Margaritas, Cocktails, Beer & Wine

Carlitos is known for its margaritas — and for good reason.

Our original Carlitos Margarita has been a favorite for decades, alongside a selection of creative variations featuring fresh citrus, seasonal fruit, jalapeño, blood orange, mango, pomegranate, and more.

Our cantina also features a curated collection of 100% agave tequilas and mezcals, plus cocktails, Mexican beer, and wine.

A glass of ice with a white beverage, a small shot glass of spicy red sauce, a large bottle of Modelo Especial beer, and a salt and pepper shaker on a kitchen countertop with colorful butterfly and floral tile backsplash.
Guacamole, Pomegranate Margarita, Chips & Salsa on a table on the front patio next to the fountain

Sun-Filled Patio

Step off State Street and settle into our colorful, sun-filled patio, where umbrellas, a bubbling fountain, and the energy of downtown Santa Barbara create the perfect backdrop for lunch, dinner, drinks, or a long afternoon with friends. Across the street from the historic Arlington Theatre, Carlitos is right in the middle of the Arts District, one of Santa Barbara's most vibrant downtown neighborhoods.

Outdoor patio scene with tables, chairs, and umbrellas, surrounded by palm trees and tropical plants. String lights are hanging above, and a historic building with a church steeple is visible in the background during sunset.

A Santa Barbara Original

Independently & Locally owned. Locally loved.

Carlitos has been part of the Santa Barbara community for generations.

What the Lopez-Hollis family began in 1978 continues today with the same spirit: welcoming people around the table, serving food with character, and creating a place where friends and families can come together.

Nearly five decades later, Carlitos remains proudly independent and proudly local Santa Barbara.