50 Best Bars near Aliso Viejo

“OC Wine Mart & Deli is truly a special place! Laura, Pablo, Fernando and John go above and beyond to make every guest feel welcome. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like family, and their hospitality goes far beyond just great food and drinks.
What really stands out is the personal touch and genuine kindness they show to everyone who comes through the door. They remember you, take the time to make you feel comfortable, and create an experience that feels warm, welcoming, and authentic.
The food is wonderful, but it’s the people that make OC Wine Mart & Deli such a memorable place. Laura, Pablo, Fernando and John have created an atmosphere where hospitality truly means something. You leave feeling like you’ve spent time with good friends and family.
Thank you all for making every visit so enjoyable and for sharing not only your food, but your kindness and warmth with your guests. ❤
Highly recommend OC Wine Mart & Deli—you’ll come for the food and stay for the wonderful people!“

“Great service, great food!!👏“

“Love this place! Great burgers and fantastic cocktails. The best part about Eureka is the staff!!!“

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

“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!!!“

“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 !!!“

“Fun place, great beer, killer music, and friendly owner. Christian, the owner, is always friendly, plays great music, and will always remember they type of beer you like. Also they have a great selection. By selection, I don't mean only a variety of IPAs. They stock Belgian whits, triples, stouts, porters, lagers, and of course, the obligatory IPAs. Also have a bevy of games as well. If you see me there, open invitation to anyone who is up for a game of chess“

“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!“

“Great cocktails both traditional and new twists. I really enjoyed the margarita because it was more traditional with almost no syrups. Beef dip was amazing. Mac and cheese was delicious and well seasoned.

We’ll be back the next time we’re in town.“

“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 have been coming here for over 4 years and Annalee’s margaritas are hands down. She brings her own squeezed lime juice and there is another ingredient she won’t tell us. She is always polite and friendly. She knows when it’s time for another drink. She pays attention to all of her patrons and ones coming in.“

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

“Amazing stay, gorgeous views and incredible hospitality! Loved it all and highly recommend!“

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

“My wife and I love this place! It's tucked into a corner of the strip mall and attached to a number of food options. It's windows are usually open so it's a great stop on a nice afternoon. Omar is an upbeat, fun bartender with creative drink ideas and a joy to hang with. Good music, nice vibes and a cherished secret in a sea of corporate offices.“

“Hi from down under (Sydney Australia). We visited Laguna beach in January and loved your town and this venue, plus the brewery down the road. Will definitely be back. Please come and visit us on the northern beaches of Sydney - very similar vibe to LB 🙏“

“Absolutely wonderful food and service. Never fails!“

“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.“

“Great location! The restaurant was a bit small but they had a nice patio set up. Plenty of umbrellas and heaters. We had a party of nine, but since they weren’t busy when we got there, they were able to accommodate us easily. I think if we were to come at a little bit busier of a time it would be harder for them to accommodate just because of the amount of tables that they have. I would suggest calling ahead if you have a group larger than six.
The menu was good, small, but a variety of options. Their margaritas were good, nothing special.
Service was great, and we didn’t have much wait time on anything. Drinks were refilled quickly and the server offered modifications that made ordering for kids easier. She also quietly and discreetly asked if we wanted dessert. We ended up ordering it, but it was nice that she said it quietly that way my boys didn’t here. It’s tough going out and not getting dessert but when my boys hear the server offering it that’s all they want. It was very kind of her.“

“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!“

“Now El Matatan.

Elevated south of the border food and perhaps Laguna Beach's best burger - thick 8 oz patty with cheese, grilled onions, arugula and bone marrow mayonnaise. now available with a fried egg and bacon on top too.

I ordered it with a second patty for $15 extra and the dark purple Okinawa fries, which were next level - cooked crunchy for the most part, like chips! we ended up sharing the second patty... 12 oz of beef for both of us for less $$ than the 12 oz steak!

After we came the first time, I was CRAVING the Okinawa fries and I told several people about this place. Other friends have tried it and told me how good it was!

insane gluten free churro! wow. dreamy.

convenient location with street and several parking lots right nearby.

their menu is 95% gluten free without any substitutions! they make nearly everything in house. no generic sysco food here!

I am so glad this place opened. back a second time today to have the burger again!

the drinks are great and the prices are amazing! top shelf liquor at well liquor prices!“

“I can’t believe I have never reviewed this place before. They always have fun bands, great food, drinks and service! Probably the most fun spot to hang out on Del Mar 🌊
TRY THESE:
ASIAN LETTUCE WRAPS
SALMON SALAD
POKE BOWL
BEET SALAD“

“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.“

“pasta , lasagna very friendly polite and helpful waiter“

“Great place to play and party.“

“Un bout de France à Newport. Merci encore pour votre passion et dedication!“

“I sometimes stop by this bar after work — either to grab a drink or have dinner after picking up groceries. Great atmosphere, wide selection of drinks, and it’s very convenient being right inside the same building. Always a nice spot to relax for a bit.“

“It’s great. A nice change of pace for the area. Everything I see in poor reviews was explained before entering (party size, keeping phones put away and potential time limitations). That said, we had a couple great drinks, some good insights from the bartender about the drinks. Looking forward to going back.“

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

“Great live music venue with 2 stages“

“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.“

“A uniquely delicious experience:
Actually ended up here by accident trying to find dinner at the downstairs tiki pub. Were swept off our feet by an intimate and well tailored japanese fishing/90’s citypop culture vibe, insanely good cocktails and the best sushi I’ve ever had. A bit more expensive, but I’d recommend this over its downstairs neighbor.“

“Excellent experience! Excellent food! Excellent service! Fantastic little owner owned/operated Northern Italian cuisine restaurant. We will return!“

“Great atmosphere and great service and good value.“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“What a fabulous place. Went there to celebrate mutual birthdays with my BFF. I loved everything about this restaurant. Our bartender was fabulous, our meal, Branzino.. delicious, eye appealing, beautiful presentation and enough to split We met the owner who spent ample time with us as we asked questions about his journey opening the location, his background and the concept/vision for the restaurant and we met the GM. I loved the ambiance, open and welcoming and they have a mercado with authentic product. Next time I'm going to the pizza bar with some more birthday girls!“

“We ate Sombra Cantina a few times while we were at the Waldorf Astoria. It is an excellent poolside bar and restaurant. I really enjoyed being able to order food and drinks while hanging out at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria pool! The service was great and so was the food! We ordered the Chicken Flautas and the Sombra Nachos. The nacho plate was huge! I highly recommend eating at Sombra Cantina if you are staying at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach!“

“We came for lunch right after visiting the mission. It was right across the street and we wanted to try a different lunch spot. The food was great. We ordered steak and shrimp and a Shepards pie and calamari as an appetizer. The drinks were great and we enjoyed some music from the patio. Overall a great experience and we will definitely be back. The only odd thing was when our waitress came to take our order, I asked about the drink menu and was asking for recommendations and she seemed confused about my questions. She didn’t offer any suggestions and when I asked about a drink on the menu, she asked if I wanted a shot of grapefruit juice.“

“Been coming to Rush for years! I love it here and it feels like family. The wings are amazing and I’ve brought my son in here a couple times for lunch and he loved it. The karaoke on Tuesdays and Wednesday is awesome 😎“

“restaurant worth together🥰🥰“

“The best restaurant with mussels in South Cali. Highly recommend!“

“Nice view and not crowded on normal days. Nice for locals wanting a view without the crowds or parking hassles in Dana Point.

Food: Decent variety of standard bar food

Drinks: Beer and wine offered are mainly mass available - disappointed since there are good local options they could offer; but there's a full bar

Service: My wife and I had outstanding service from Randi; it wasn't busy but she knew the menu well and was friendly & accommodating

Interior: Full bar with sitting area facing away from the ocean; many tables and some front rail seats; view of the ocean is compact due to Doheny trees but still nice; furniture is lower end and dated

Exterior (Location): Great for walking access from Doheny and the harbor

Parking: On site valet is complimentary with purchase, very prompt“

“My friends and I are staying here, and this evening we stepped out for a stroll by the ocean. We were feeling a bit peckish and wanted to make sure we had an interesting evening. We popped into our hotel lobby—and, as it turns out, there was live music playing! That’s right, folks: apparently, they have music here every single day. The atmosphere is actually very pleasant, and the music itself is excellent. We had a truly wonderful time. We weren't hungry, so we didn't order any food; they simply brought us some water while we sat back and enjoyed the music, along with the magnificent view of the ocean from the hotel balcony. I took a video and attached a photo so you could take a look.“

“Amazing venue, Great beers and pizza! A must do if you are in the area!“

“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.“

“This spot is a hidden gem inside Whole Foods. As a carnivore, I highly recommend their steak and eggs for when they offer breakfast, and the steak and frites for lunch. You really can’t go wrong with any of their food though. They have lots of good beer choices, and it’s a nice and clean ambiance inside.“

“Love this place after a paddle around Dana harbor. The Doheny omelet is my go to, and they make great Bloody Mary’s.“

“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.“