This place was an old favorite of mine and many friends when I actually lived in OB in the 90s. It wasn't too long after that it became seriously trendy for many years. Not sure how it is now late weekend nights. Mellow vibe as most of OB is but do remember it getting packed late nights when the barely legal crowd thinks they are in PB.. I have never had any issues here but many complain about the bartenders, and it's probably that they just get stressed from too many people for such a small place. Nothing broken here. Show some patience and be cool, I say. Display a level of quickness and confidence in what you want to order, but don't be shy to ask. My most recent visit was just a stop in for one quick well drink. I ordered a bourbon and coke and it was $4.25- if I remember right, still cheapest drink in town. At least in OB. This made me think, "wow things still are the same here", as in this drink example. I totally like it when places like this don't ever change a thing, come on now after all, why would you? Thing is, dive bars are becoming extinct overall and this I don't like at all. Alive and well here.
Sariah D.
Such a fun dive bar in OB! Love the ocean theme intimate light setting. Drinks are great, staff is awesome, fun crowd, overall a great spot to grab a drink & hang out!
Jeremiah H.
Great food, environment, and place to grab some drinks. I usually pop in when I'm in the area.
Dan
This place is divey in all the right ways.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 4
Anonymous Anonymous
The bald pink obese doorman with southern accent threatened me after spending money there for years. Avoid. No tip for you !
Thomy Co
Great Dive bar I’ll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
C Travels
Great decor, and was a great dive 5+ years ago - now unfortunately the staff and service is super rude and almost hostile. Bad vibes.
Kevin Glynn
I like this bar. Don't love it but like it. My biggest gripe would be how restrictive the jukebox is. Tried looking up the Supremes, nothing. Tried looking up the Four Tops, nothing. There are countless artists not found in the jukebox that would make sense and most bars who have AMI have those artists. The list could go on. But they have it so restricted its sad.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Danielle D.
Cheap drinks is about the only upside to this place unfortunately. I came here a few months ago to get a few drinks and hang out and was treated poorly by staff. I feel like if you aren't a regular, they really don't care about you. I felt so uncomfortable sitting at the bar and left after half a drink.
David V.
Dive bar but not necessarily in the good way. Have gone in before for a quick drink. Not the quickest service even when dead but my LAST attempt left me ignored by the two female bartenders (one looked right at me and turned back to having a loud private conversation with a female customer sitting at the bar) without as much as a "be with you in a minute". I decided to leave after a couple minutes when it was obvious that the one was deep in conversation and the other had left from behind the bar. As I left, the doorman commented on me leaving so soon, so I mentioned I was ignored and chose to go elsewhere (at the bar a few doors down the bartender greeted me immediately). As I left I heard him scoff, "Uhh, get outta here!" To be fair I don't the he thought I could here him. Plenty of other places to get a drink in O.B. I worked in the bar industry for 25 years so I expect at least a minimum of service and know when employees are the bottom of the barrel or don't care. Both on exhibit here.
Cool, little upper scale dive bar. Love the "under the sea theme" and the bartender was great. He made us a version of the Screwball peanut butter shot, like the one we usually get at OB Noodle House. And I have to say, his version was actually better! Anyway, we were happy we stumbled into this place. Check it out, it's a chill place to hang.
Pauline Clark
It is what it is...a dive bar with great blacklight decor. Just fabulous for that night
Atmosphere: 5
jarrod f.
Been drinking here a long time, gonna probably keep drinking here a long time. A true California gem. They playing "under my thumb" in here, I'm wildin off these great value well drinks, the Pacific ocean in all its majesty is a literal stones throw away. Lesss goooo
B B.
Opened on the actual Pearl Harbor day. Just a great cocktail bar. Great place to start or finish the night.
Kellie B.
I've been here a handful of times and a couple of years ago I wrote a pretty negative review because of the bartender. My experience seemed to be consistent with other yelpers. Me and some friends were heading down to SD for the day and I wanted to show them this wonderful bar. I warned everyone that the bartenders had a reputation for being surly. Our visit was the exact opposite. I should have gotten out bartenders name because she was great! Super friendly, accommodating, and mixed great cocktails! Maybe they got rid of the bad employees, or maybe they work the evening shift (we were there on a Wednesday around 1pm). Either way, everyone loved the bar and the service.
This place was an old favorite of mine and many friends when I actually lived in OB in the 90s. It wasn't too long after that it became seriously trendy for many years. Not sure how it is now late weekend nights. Mellow vibe as most of OB is but do remember it getting packed late nights when the barely legal crowd thinks they are in PB.. I have never had any issues here but many complain about the bartenders, and it's probably that they just get stressed from too many people for such a small place. Nothing broken here. Show some patience and be cool, I say. Display a level of quickness and confidence in what you want to order, but don't be shy to ask. My most recent visit was just a stop in for one quick well drink. I ordered a bourbon and coke and it was $4.25- if I remember right, still cheapest drink in town. At least in OB. This made me think, "wow things still are the same here", as in this drink example. I totally like it when places like this don't ever change a thing, come on now after all, why would you? Thing is, dive bars are becoming extinct overall and this I don't like at all. Alive and well here.
Such a fun dive bar in OB! Love the ocean theme intimate light setting. Drinks are great, staff is awesome, fun crowd, overall a great spot to grab a drink & hang out!
Great food, environment, and place to grab some drinks. I usually pop in when I'm in the area.
This place is divey in all the right ways.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 4
The bald pink obese doorman with southern accent threatened me after spending money there for years. Avoid. No tip for you !
Great Dive bar I’ll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Great decor, and was a great dive 5+ years ago - now unfortunately the staff and service is super rude and almost hostile. Bad vibes.
I like this bar. Don't love it but like it. My biggest gripe would be how restrictive the jukebox is. Tried looking up the Supremes, nothing. Tried looking up the Four Tops, nothing. There are countless artists not found in the jukebox that would make sense and most bars who have AMI have those artists. The list could go on. But they have it so restricted its sad.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Cheap drinks is about the only upside to this place unfortunately. I came here a few months ago to get a few drinks and hang out and was treated poorly by staff. I feel like if you aren't a regular, they really don't care about you. I felt so uncomfortable sitting at the bar and left after half a drink.
Dive bar but not necessarily in the good way. Have gone in before for a quick drink. Not the quickest service even when dead but my LAST attempt left me ignored by the two female bartenders (one looked right at me and turned back to having a loud private conversation with a female customer sitting at the bar) without as much as a "be with you in a minute". I decided to leave after a couple minutes when it was obvious that the one was deep in conversation and the other had left from behind the bar. As I left, the doorman commented on me leaving so soon, so I mentioned I was ignored and chose to go elsewhere (at the bar a few doors down the bartender greeted me immediately). As I left I heard him scoff, "Uhh, get outta here!" To be fair I don't the he thought I could here him. Plenty of other places to get a drink in O.B. I worked in the bar industry for 25 years so I expect at least a minimum of service and know when employees are the bottom of the barrel or don't care. Both on exhibit here.
Restaurantji Recommends
Cool, little upper scale dive bar. Love the "under the sea theme" and the bartender was great. He made us a version of the Screwball peanut butter shot, like the one we usually get at OB Noodle House. And I have to say, his version was actually better! Anyway, we were happy we stumbled into this place. Check it out, it's a chill place to hang.
It is what it is...a dive bar with great blacklight decor. Just fabulous for that night
Atmosphere: 5
Been drinking here a long time, gonna probably keep drinking here a long time. A true California gem. They playing "under my thumb" in here, I'm wildin off these great value well drinks, the Pacific ocean in all its majesty is a literal stones throw away. Lesss goooo
Opened on the actual Pearl Harbor day. Just a great cocktail bar. Great place to start or finish the night.
I've been here a handful of times and a couple of years ago I wrote a pretty negative review because of the bartender. My experience seemed to be consistent with other yelpers. Me and some friends were heading down to SD for the day and I wanted to show them this wonderful bar. I warned everyone that the bartenders had a reputation for being surly. Our visit was the exact opposite. I should have gotten out bartenders name because she was great! Super friendly, accommodating, and mixed great cocktails! Maybe they got rid of the bad employees, or maybe they work the evening shift (we were there on a Wednesday around 1pm). Either way, everyone loved the bar and the service.