The Story of The Cantina

A little about Colley Cantina. We are where the locals play.

Originally opening in 1991 Colley Cantina quickly became a staple of local culture; a great place to grab a beer, a shot, take a date and catch a live music show. But, as they say “all good things must end” and the infamous Colley Cantina was threatened with closing its doors. Long time patrons and fans of ‘the Cantina’ decided to keep the good times rolling, and in September 2014 Richard Katz and David Filipowski re-opened THE Colley Cantina. Soon after, in November of 2017, Kim Keen and Bridget Varney bought the Cantina. Kim and Bridget also own the Starving Artist Cafe in North Colley and were looking to expand their interests when the Colley Cantina opportunity arose. They love the tradition of The Cantina, so keeping the name and Mexican Baja-style menu plus adding their own personal touch made sense. On August 31, 2018, Bridget became the sole owner of the Colley Cantina.

Today Colley Cantina boasts a bright and cheery interior with homage to our coastal surfing region. Upon entering you’ll notice a custom surfboard housing our 21 beer and wine taps, as well as a friendly bartender prepared to make a classic margarita or your favorite drink. As you sit at the surfboard inspired bar, looking into our open kitchen you can watch our talented kitchen staff prepare your meal. All ingredients are always fresh and local, and meals are prepared daily from scratch and with love. Menu favorites include Beer Battered Rock Fish Tacos, Mexican Street Corn (on or off the cobb), and Loaded Nachos smothered in queso.

The exterior of the Cantina hosts our award winning patio. Yes, we have awards for this incredible patio! With seating for over 30, this is the best people watching, sun catching, outdoor patio on all of Colley Ave. Please don’t just take our word for it, come on out and enjoy the Cantina for yourself.