The Buzz Hive

The snobby attendant didn’t have time to answer my question. I was so disappointed and angry that I didn’t want to stay and try their food. This young lady made it obvious she didn’t want to talk to me. She was done helping her customer who I went to the side to ask my question, she went to the other side of the counter just so she could ignore me. When I finally had her attention (thanks to the looks of other patrons) she didn’t use words to answer my question, she just nodded her answer and went on with the «task» she was doing prior my questioning. I didn’t get her name, but she was working alone on the evening of January 3^rd 2016. Way to start off the new year. If I could, I wouldn’t even award you the one star.

I love this place!!! The best $ 10 cheese plate you’ve seen in your life. Super great quality with grocery store prices because well, you’re in a grocery store. But when it’s super hot out and you want to chill in a nice air conditioned spot without breaking the bank this is the absolute best choice around. The people that work there are totally amazing too. So glad I found this spot!

I’m a fan of the Buzz Hive. I’ve never even eaten at the standard tables at Whole Foods. Most of the hot prepared food I’d bought at WF usually came from the meat department, and most of what’s served at the Buzz Hive is from the meat department. It was a natural fit.
I only go for lunch, and have found it to be a mostly quiet respite from the busy-​ness of the grocery store. The Buzz Hive is a bar for beer and wine, overseen by the meat, deli, and cheese departments. When they first open for the day and sometimes on the weekends, there can be a little confusion about who’s running the counter because each of those departments might be thinking someone else is working the bar when nobody is actually there. But around lunchtime there’s a dedicated staff member or two and all’s good.
There is a printed menu available, and a good selection of beer (and a kombucha) on tap and wine. But you can also order something from the prepared meats department and they’ll bring it over. Do check out the specials, some of their fish tacos are pretty good.
I usually get a burger, and lately I’ve been getting the mac and cheese burger. It’s in the $ 8 – 9 range and includes a pile of french fries. My friends usually get a pint of beer, and I usually get a pint of kombucha. The meal averages out to $ 15.
A nifty thing you can do is buy a friend a drink who isn’t there. The friend’s name will get put on a chalkboard, a bit like getting a gift certificate for them. It’s a fun little thing you can do for a peep if you know they stop into the Buzz Hive.
This area is 21+ because it’s a bar, but I don’t think that’s why the Buzz Hive is rarely packed for lunch. I think people don’t really know about it, or don’t set aside time to investigate.
I’ve found that other folks having a bite or a drink there are really friendly, we often end up chatting with them and with the folks working there. Maybe that changes when the space is more busy, but so far it feels like being in a hidden gem.

Good, cheap beer. Need I say more? Service is fantastic. Sample 3 wines for $ 5 or get a pint of your choice which runs from $ 4~8. You can also order food from the whole foods kitchen. (In case you didn’t already know, this is located in whole foods). Weekly events including beer/​cheese/​wine tastings and some other kid-​friendly stuff

This little bar is hidden right in the middle of Whole Foods and it has one of the best beer selections in town. Considering this is the most serious craft beer town I’ve ever seen, that’s saying a lot.
They have a rotating selection of top notch beers and a very good selection of wines, too. There’s even a locally made kombucha on tap. There are weekly beer and wine tastings, too.
Booze isn’t the only reason to come here, though. They also offer quality food at an excellent price. The 50 – 50 Burger (half beef, half bacon), and the Bison Burger are both under 10 bucks (unheard of in Santa Barbara), while the seafood is by far the best in town and at the best price.
You can also grab something from the huge salad and hot food bar or even order a pizza. The staff is accommodating, knowledgeable, and super friendly.
I don’t shop Whole Food$ much. I find them overpriced and pretentious, but somehow the Buzz Hive is everything the store isn’t.

I love The Buzz Hive. Great little bar, located inside Whole Foods Market. 18 beers on tap and nice selection of red and white wines. Full menu of yummy hot foods or buy something in the store and bring it in. I love ordering oysters from the seafood section and bringing them in while I enjoy a glass of vino. Equally fun is grabbing a bunch of cheese from the deli (check the «leftover» basket) and bringing that in. For red wine: Try the Sexual Chocolate! Yummy, secret blend of grapes — smooth and fruit forward. Two large flat screen tvs often playing whatever sporting event is on. High top tables, bar seating. Small but welcoming. Great place to have a snack before shopping so you don’t over do it while shopping hungry. They also have a lot of tasting events, so check the calendar in the store or online!