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1160 Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029
323-315-1845
http://www.hollywoodhotel.net/night_bar_lounge.asp Downstairs, low ceilings, full bar. $5, no min. 9 p.m. More >>
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370 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631
This watering hole is attached to a legendary bowling spot. Home to the first bowler to role a perfect 900 game, Glen Allison, the 13th Frame hosts weekly karaoke nights accompanied by stiff drinks from the full bar or the bottled beer selection, perfect for lowering inhibitions. Named the Weekly's Best Dive Bar Attached to a Bowling Alley in 2010, this place has charm to spare, including wise bartenders and the look of an alpine ski lodge. Have a quiet drink and roll a loud rock. More >>
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120 W. Houston Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832
714-871-9665
http://www.myspace.com/houstonst Part sports bar, part lounge, 2J's refers to itself as "the swankiest dive in OC." At first blush, the crimson lighting, mini chandeliers and candlelight seem at odds with the pool tables, dartboard, and football paraphernalia. But, somehow, it all combines to make for a unique place to have a drink. Take up a post in one of the plush booths while drinking a very cold one (the bottles literally have frost on them) or grab a cocktail from the full bar. The Jukebox rocks a good mix of classic and modern rock— a good soundtrack for playing a game of pool on one of three tables. Nightly entertainment varies from DJs to rock bands and a reggae night. Partake in Sunday Funday between noon and 4 p.m.: as long as you're drinking the $2.50 domestic beers, barbecue is free. More >>
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333 Bayside Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-673-8464
http://www.3thirty3nb.com Part eclectic upscale eatery, part snazzy bar/social hot spot, this well-appointed room packs in famished foodies and prowling cougars alike. The Thai calamari served with aioli dipping sauce is a favorite, as are the stiff drinks and sinfully sweet desserts. There is also live entertainment on weekends. More >>
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321 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92802
714-783-2810
http://www.threehundred.com/anaheim.html Located in Anaheim's Garden Walk, a short jaunt from Disneyland, 300 Anaheim is "Bowling. With a twist." With modern, nightclub-style decor and an expansive food and drink menu, 300 Anaheim has combined bowling with an upscale atmosphere. The lanes feature cushioned bench seats, animated scoreboards and large four-lane wide projector screens playing music videos. Thursday night is College Night, with unlimited bowling for $15 and DJ Vid Vicious mixing music and videos played throughout the venue. 300 Anaheim also has three pool tables, and lounge-style chairs. The fully stocked bar features specialty drinks and a modest draft beer and wine offering. More >>
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616 E. 4th St. Santa Ana, CA 92701
714-836-0136
The 616 Club is bare bones, even by dive-bar standards, but it serves its purpose. Small and dimly lit with a small bar in the center of the room, the club serves a half-dozen bottled beers and even fewer types of liquor. The wood-lined walls feature few decorations save for Bud Light posters featuring scantily clad women holding soccer balls. Most of the room's illumination comes from the lights hanging over 616's two billiard tables and from the jukebox, which features mostly Spanish rock and mariachi music. More >>
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710 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109
858-274-7427
http://www.710bc.com
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296 W. Second St. Pomona, CA 91766
909-623-4333
http://www.aladdinjrrestaurant2.com
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1641 N. Placentia Ave. Fullerton, CA 92831
714-577-8627
http://www.myspace.com/alebrijeDiscotheque Not to be confused with the vibrantly pink
truck parked outside a Santa Ana supermarket, this dance and live-music club
specializes in banda and rock en español; the "grill" part of
the name refers mostly to the appetizers provided with bottle service. More >>
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4501 W. Coast Highway Newport Beach, CA 92663
949-646-9126
http://www.thealleynewportbeach.com An upscale pub with gourmet takes on traditional comfort foods such as steaks, dipped sandwiches and seafood, washed down with a very good wine list. More >>
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52 Pier Ave. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-318-0004
http://www.sharkeez.net
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7675 Crescent Ave. Buena Park, CA 90620
714-995-1111
http://www.knottshotel.com/dining/index.htm Amber Waves is located in the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel and looks like the type of bar Stuart Anderson (of Black Angus fame) might have envisioned. Featuring rich wood tables and walls emblazoned with stars and stripes, flagstone rock pillars and wonky, sculpture-esque chandeliers dangling above the taps, Amber Waves feels like a post-modern Wild West saloon. The bar serves a respectable selection of draft beers, including Stella, Pyramid Hef, Blue Moon and Shock Top in addition to a full complement of liquors and an impressive selection of wines. Conveniently located next to the park, it makes for a great spot to soothe jangled nerves following a turn on the wooden coaster Ghost Rider. More >>
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151 E. Coast Highway Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-673-3425
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3020 Coronado St. Anaheim, CA 92806
714-630-0810
Don't be scared, gents; you'll forget about the graffiti scrawled on the outer walls of this establishment once you see what's going on inside. Angel's offers a full bar and several beers on tap--perfect for quenching a fiery thirst while watching beautiful women dance and take their tops off on the large stage in the front of the room. Expect to drop a little more coin as women roam the through the sea of cocktail tables, stopping to chat with dudes and enticing them to buy shots. But these girls work hard for their money, and if you behave, they'll actually take the time to get to know you. Be sure to bring cash because credit is not accepted and the ATM charges a stratospheric service fee. If naked women aren't your thing, there are also five pool tables to get your stick moving. More >>
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4200 Campus Drive Irvine, CA 92612
949-824-3050
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anthill-Pub-Grille/8562876692 Some schools discourage drinking; others ban it. And then there's UC Irvine, whose Anthill Pub in the Student Center bans drinking crappy beer. Its no-swill policy means there is no hipster PBR or watery Bud anything. The ever-changing list of local and distant American craft beers, from Lagunitas to Dogfish Head, goes on sale every afternoon: $1 off single servings (tulip glasses or pints, depending on the beer) and $3 off pitchers. A full menu of sandwiches, including a very credible bratwurst, and fried snacks such as sweet potato fries are available at the adjacent counter. Had a place like this existed at every school, Natty Light would no longer exist. More >>
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16 E. Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91006
626-447-9349
http://www.arcadiabluesclub.com
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2512 W. Orangethorpe Fullerton, CA 92833
714-879-0108
http://www.myspace.com/arturoscantinagrill Arturo's Cantina may be a little sparse on the draft beers (they have none), but this doesn't mean they're not keen on bringing the party. Between Thursday and Sunday nights, the venue is transformed into a thriving nightclub, complete with live entertainment. The bar serves a respectable offering of cocktails and plenty of bottled beers: Labels include Negra Modelo, Miller Light Lime, and Newcastle. The large Spanish-style building is fitted with a massive dance floor accommodating plenty of pretty people. Mix in strong drinks and good times are in the cards. More >>
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1731 E. Fourth St. Long Beach, CA 90802
562-495-5700
Ashley's Bar and Grill is the type of neighborhood establishment that
attracts an amalgam of customers. The tattooed artist might share the bar with an entrepreneur while the blue-collar workers shoot a game of pool, and no one blinks an eye. The regulars and bartenders are welcoming, as are the cozy booths that line the walls. Cash is king at Ashley's, but if you forget, get a 20 from the ATM in the corner of the bar and stretch it into a meal and two drinks, or even a couple of rounds on the jukebox. More >>
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71 S. Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802
562-437-8300
http://www.aulddubliner.com From its coffee-dark depths to its thick-as-Miracle-Whip head of foam, a
glass of Guinness isn't refreshment, it's nourishment, and this a prime spot to enjoy a tasty pint. The full bar is outfitted with gorgeous wood trim, kitschy bookshelves and many of the cocktail waitresses hail from the emerald isle as evidenced by their charming brogues. The front of the room features a large opening and a smoking patio affording views of the downtown Long Beach foot traffic and convention center. Be sure to swing by on Sunday afternoons for live music featuring traditional Irish jam sessions. More >>
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1547 W. Katella Ave. Orange, CA 92867
714-633-3192
http://www.aulddubliner.com With tasty Irish cuisine and a full selection of whiskeys, the Auld Irisher
lives up to its emerald-encrusted name. Located in the shopping complex just
east of the Honda Center, the bar has large windows and doors to draw
in the breeze and lend an open-air feel to the space. The beige walls
bristle with knickknacks, including vintage cigarette and Guinness
signs, as well as instruments such as accordions and violins. The
bar features 18 beers on tap; the alcoholically adventurous can try
this location's signature drink, the Luck of the Leprechaun. A
green cauldron of booze soup consisting of gin, vodka and schnapps, it's not
for those with a low tolerance, but its sweet citrus flavors are
surprisingly restrained and strike a synergistic balance of flavor. More >>
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820 W. 19th St. Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-515-4650
http://www.myspace.com/theavalonbar A dive bar in all respects, Avalon Bar manages to fit a little classiness into its hole-in-the-wall proportions. Those of you familiar with this local dive already know at least two major details: 1. Contrary to what the kitschy, light bulb-lined arrow pointing down at the bar's entrance may lead you to believe, this place is no disco. 2. This establishment doesn't serve hard liquor, so you can leave any hope of a vodka and Red Bull at the door. That said, the less-than-dim lighting, hanging lanterns, and beautifully back-lit bar make this place awesome for intimate meetings and the occasional live show. More >>
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1735 N. Vine St. Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-462-8900
http://www.avalonhollywood.com
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4220 Scott Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-442-7600
http://www.avantgardeballroom.com Bachata, merengue, salsa, ballroom-whatever gets your feet a-tappin', Avant Garde Ballroom has got a night for it. Studio by day and dance-lovers' social by night, the friendly folk at this beloved venue make it their sole purpose to show you a good time. Got two left feet? No problem! Even if you've never attended a single lesson, the social nights are teeming with helpful (and hot) instructors whose job it is to get you feeling comfortable on the dance floor. Flying solo? Also not a problem! There are usually plenty of single students there as well, eager to find a partner to test out their new moves. More >>
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24707 Dana Drive Dana Point, CA 92629
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285 Bay St. Long Beach, CA 90802
Sometimes the mark of a top-notch swanky bar is its ability to graciously cater to the general population. At the AVIA Lounge, located in the beautifully modern luxury hotel of the same name, imbibers will get the same treatment whether they're high-rolling businessmen in bow ties, or a couple of hipsters popping in for a pint after an afternoon at the Pike. Everybody is treated equally as long as their money is green. The gorgeous marble floors of the hotel's lobby give way to the visual warmth of wood-plank floors juxtaposed with plush, blue throw rugs. Patrons belly up to the small bar top, which is illuminated underneath by deep blue lights. Squat ,white-leather couches sit next to windows draped with gauzy, 1960s-style curtains billowing languidly in the ocean breeze. The full bar is flanked by several wooden cubbies containing wines from a sizable list. Sorry, no beers on tap, but the small bottled selection features some tasty numbers, including the potent Chimay Ale as well as the delightful nuttiness of Lost Coast Brewery's Downtown Brown. More >>
