36 Best Bars near Aliso Viejo

“Great selection of beers and wines, and I love that they have both wine and beer on tap. The sandwiches and breakfast burritos are really good too! The people working here are very knowledgeable about beers and wines, they always have a recommendation. I’ve been coming here for over 10 years, highly recommend.“

“Great service, great food!!👏“

“I’m giving Eureka a solid four-star review. The quality of the food and the warmth of the hospitality were truly excellent. Everything from the ingredients to the preparation of the dishes was top-notch, and I really have to commend them on that. The only reason I’m taking off one star is because of the air conditioning setup. The vents are arranged in a way that blows air directly onto guests, which can be a bit uncomfortable. I’d kindly ask the management to adjust the airflow so that it’s not blowing right onto people and making them feel uneasy. Overall, though, a fantastic experience with just that one tweak needed.“

“Each dish is spectacular. Love the calamari ….can be an appetizer to share or eat on your own with a salad. 230:Forest Avenue never disappoints!!!“

“Cooks is a staple in the biker community of So Cal. The food is awesome and beer is cold… Almost always live music too.“

“Fantastic atmosphere. Felt like sitting in the hull of a pirate ship. Best selection of rums I've ever seen (more than 100). All that and surprisingly reasonable prices on expertly crafted drinks!“

“Shannon is a sweet & smiling server who made my visit for a quick drink special.“

“Oh goodness. Why did it take us over a year to find out about this place??

First: you can either park along el Camino or parking is along Avenida De La Estrella located right above restaurant. There is a stairwell that brings you right down to it.

Be sure to go on Tuesday… taco Tuesday… where they have a phenomenal/affordable menu! Honestly the best shrimp taco I have ever had. I’m just sorry I filled up on chips.

They are only opened for lunch on the weekend.

The best part… PET FRIENDLY PATIO!!!!

Update: Doug and I have gotten to know our waitress amber. Bless her.. she waits on the whole outside and she hustles. Food and spirits all so good. Thanks Amber for always remembering 2 ice cubes and being an outstanding server.“

“Great experience at Dana Point Ale House! The beer selection was excellent with a wide variety of options! Service was top-notch—friendly, fast, and attentive. The atmosphere is a blast with friends after work, lively, and welcoming. Definitely a place I'd recommend and return to.“

“We were visiting from Scotland, having previously lived in NYC for many years, and were desperate for a nice Italian meal like we used to get when we lived in the States. We could not have been more impressed with the food and the service, and made sure we got a second visit in before we returned to Scotland - I just wish we could have gone back a third time… and fourth !!!! Highly recommend !!!“

“Stopped here before my gfs departing flight and it was an amazing experience. The atmosphere was wonderful, the drinks were stiff and reasonably priced, and our bartender (Tucker) was the kindest and most efficient bartender I’ve ever had in my life. From now on, this place will be a mandatory go-to before flying out of SNA.“

“Every time we come to Laguna we stay at the Casa Del Camino. Rooftop is our first stop always 🥂“

“Intimate 50 guest pub w exceptional appetizers and entrées at reasonable prices..“

“One of the last great dive bars in the US with a great selection of local craft beers on tap. Awesome bartenders, great live music and an amazing hidden wine store and lounge in the back.“

“Stumbled upon 237 in #LagunaBeach after a serendipitous encounter with the owner, who recommended her newly opened restaurant.

What a find! I just had the best burger of my life! . This place, formerly known as Breeze & Brew, is a culinary gem. If you're in the #California area this #LaborDayWeekend, make sure to experience their incredible food. Highly recommended for any food enthusiast!"

Burger 10/10 would recommend! ❤️

Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating for any food issues.“

“Always enjoy staying at the Waldorf Astoria. Nice escape, great location, attentive staff. Perfect getaway.“

“This place is legendary, what a vibe. This is the dive bar we all need in our lives. Bartender poured them heavy which is appreciated and great prices. We even bought some hats because they were so dope. Band was awesome and just made for a great ending to our night. Do it, go… I dare you not to have a good time! :)“

“A great place to hangout with friends or the family. Friendly, fun and professional staff. Bar, BBQ Grills, Games, Gym, Lounge, Pool and more. Play some bocce ball, bbq, a friendly game of air hockey or skee-ball. Enjoy a glass of wie, cocktail or a beer from Left Coast Brewing. Indulge in a serving of Blonde Marvel or Trestles IPA. Karaoke was just added to the first Friday of the month events. Great food trucks on the first Friday of each month too. Jog, Walk, Drive or Golf Cart over for a great relaxing and recharging experience.“

“The most incredible bar inside a grocery store I have ever been to. This place has a rotating selection of 30 beers and a spacious seating area. The service was great and all the beers were from the area/west coast, I believe. I can't wait to go back and see what they have on tap next time.“

“This is a great new place. The owner is very nice. You can reserve tables. They have live music playing on Fridays and Saturdays and videos on the screen in between. I had a great flatbread. I will be returning to check this place out again.“

“Stopped in on a Friday night. They had a live band, beautiful bartender that made great drinks, and a great atmosphere. My lady and I had a great time. Highly recommend you stop in and check it out for yourself. We will be back!“

“Place fills up quickly on a Saturday night. We were lucky to find two barstools and watched people playing pool while we waited for band to start. Band was really good, 4 out of 5. Pool players were awful. 1 out of 5. Beer was only $7 a bottle which is not bad for a bar in a tourist town. Bartender was zero personality and added nothing to the experience. 1 out of 5 for him. He didn’t even know the name of the band.“

“My friends, Diane, Terry, Carol and myself had an amazing experience at the Montage Lobby Lounge on Saturday afternoon, 4/5. Not only did we enjoy the fabulous desserts and Champagne, the staff were also very friendly/welcoming, Keyvon and the team, took excellent care of us and the view was gorgeous. We couldn’t have asked for anything more and we all agreed that our experience was unforgettable. We also spoke with Ben Goldfarb, a manager, he was great and contributed greatly to our 5 star experience. To top off our afternoon, we strolled down to the walking path above the beach and took in more of an up close ocean view.

We will share this experience with our friends and we all plan to return, to possibly treat ourselves to high tea or just relax in the lobby, have some drinks, snacks and enjoy the view. Thank you for helping to make our day so special!“

“Had a nice evening at Dominicos on the lake this evening. My wife and I had reservations and were fortunate to ask Kory for a patio table which he accommodated. Michael took us to our table and was very kind and professional. Pedro came by with our bread and water and said hello. He is one of the hardest working individuals at the restaurant. Eddie our server came by and took our orders with a bottle of Austin Hope and bread to start. My wife ordered a chicken breast salad and I had the chef's special stroganoff which was amazing. Unfortunately my wife's salad came out 30 minutes after my stroganoff which was a cardinal sin in the restaurant business and we mentioned it was not acceptable. Eddie apologized and we also had Steven, the GM, come by and also apologize and ensure the salad would be out shortly. The salad was delivered, of course after I ate my entree and Steven dropped off and apologetic gift certificate for an appetizer during our next visit. We also ordered an additional beef stroganoff plus an order of meatballs to take home for tomorrow. We undertake things happen and it's certainly nice to see the restaurants busy again but a party of two receiving their entrees 30 minutes apart is not conducive with quality service. I am guessing the chef either misplaced the order or overlooked the obvious and we hope next time we will not have such issues as the restaurant is very good and in a fantastic location. Michael also came back around and stated he was concerned about this mishap and would look into this. As a retired government administrator and former restaurant manager in my college days I expect the simple things like entrees being delivered at the same time to be in sync with quality service and dining. We will be back and see if in fact this was an isolated incident. Good food and ambiance plus. As a writer for Trip Advisor, Yelp and Google I am graceful in my comments and specific in areas needed improvement. Thanks you.“

“I'm giving it a 5 for the staff. I briefly looked at it, thinking it was an independent rooftop bar, not realizing it was connected to the hotel.Our drinks were ok, prices were average. If you were staying at the hotel, this would be a great experience. If you were bar hoping or anything of that nature, I would go here if everything else was packed.Again, staff was incredibly nice and we stayed for them ?“

“French onion soup was absolutely delicious and we also got a side of fries. We took advantage of happy hour which made it awesome and the drinks are really cheap but because of the holiday it was extremely packed and I felt so bad for the bartenders because they just could not keep upon New Year’s. They had one bartender. Be prepared though you are going to be paying $20 for a burger.“

“Great live music venue with 2 stages“

“Stopped in for lunch at the bar inside Whole Foods Market in Irvine and had a much better experience than I ever expected. This isn’t just a typical grocery store café—this is a legit spot for a quality meal and cold draft beer.

We ordered two bacon cheeseburgers and were impressed across the board. The burgers were cooked just right, with thick slices of bacon, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and perfectly melted cheese stacked inside a soft, glossy bun. The presentation was great—each burger served on a metal tray lined with custom Whole Foods wrap paper, paired with a mini fryer basket of hot, crispy fries and a stainless ramekin of ketchup. The fries were golden and fresh, with just the right amount of salt and a great texture.

There’s something satisfying about sitting at a clean, well-lit bar with natural light pouring through the windows and a long row of taps behind the counter. The beer selection here is impressive, especially for being inside a market. A wide range of local and craft brews on draft gave us plenty of choices. The pours were cold, crisp, and served in proper pint glasses with just the right head.

The bartender was courteous, quick, and knowledgeable—not just about the beer but also about the menu. Service felt personal and attentive without being overbearing. You can tell they care about maintaining quality here, and it showed in both the food and the way the staff treated us.

All around, this is a great place to sit down for a relaxing lunch or early dinner. Plenty of parking right outside, and you can grab groceries afterward if you need to. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and want something casual but done right. Would absolutely return.“

“Sean the bartender here makes this place really shine. He's super friendly and knowledgeable about the beer and wine. The selections are top notch and the food options are varied enough that you could try something new before hitting a repeat. Such a great spot to chill after work, can't wait for another visit!

Parking: No problems with parking, there is plenty.“

“Food is excellent, pool games are legit. Good times by all“

“Great place to play and party.“

“4.5 actually. Cool decor. Great concept--a speakeasy sushi bar (actually upstairs from a Goonies inspired speakeasy). Friendly staff. Very nice cocktails. And quite good food, but I wish there were larger portions offered (my only complaint). Definitely worth a visit or revisit.“

“Hi I love it miss this place so much good dancing“

“If you want a unique dining experience this is the place to go. The wait staff and servers they were all on point very attentive I never had to look around to look for anyone if I raised my head somebody was right at my table to find out what I needed or how they could serve me. Awesome awesome experience wonderful food. I will be back!“

“Came for lunch with my gran about a month after my grandfather passed. It was my gran's first outing since the funeral and i was worried but our server was this adorable silver haired woman named Rebecca. She had my Gran laughing the whole time. We ordered combos and the suggested jalapeño watermelon margaritas, which were spicy and refreshing. We needed a nap afterwards because we were too stuffed! My gran won't stop asking when we can go back. Thank you South of Nicks for lovely meal, and Thank you Rebecca, for helping a family member feel normal after tragedy. You are in our prayers“

“I visited my brother who lives locally. He took me and our other brother here because he loves this place and goes frequently. Being a wine lover, he let me pick our dinner wine. Came across an O’Shaughnessy Cabernet and had to stop right there. I know the product, had the pleasure of drinking this with Luke Russ when he did a wine dinner in northern Illinois a few years back. The owner saw the bottle on our table and introduced himself to us and we talked about Luke. Great moment. Fabulous food! Asparagus fries, halibut, deviled eggs, butter cake…. It was all fabulous! Look forward to returning!“