50 Best Bars near Benicia

“Had not tried this place due to a bad taste left in our mouths from prior owner. But we've been reading wonderful reviews and decided to give it a try. Bar service with Tanner and Delion was fantastic. Cocktails came quickly and with a smile. We didn't realize that our reservation wasn't for the Speak Easy (hidden only by a heavy curtain) so we absolutely were happy to wait for a table when it became available. Michelle served us expertly and always with a smile. Food was really good. We shared a Caesar salad and strangely, we both ordered the scallops which we never do! We loved them! Bread pudding for dessert with ice cream didn't disappoint! Can't wait to go back!“

“Food and service was great! Loved the bar service and our drinks were so good. However, we overheard the long haired male employee, I think his name was West, speaking negatively about a group of people sitting on the couch throughout the night. He seemed to be upset about where they were sitting. Kinda ruined our vibe but we had a good time and we'll be back.“

“Loved the atmosphere, friendly staff and tasty brunch!“

“We had the most pleasant experience celebrating our anniversary at Baxters! From the moment we walked in, the ambience was absolutely perfect — warm, and beautifully set for a special evening. The owner and servers were incredibly kind and friendly, making us feel genuinely welcomed and cared for throughout our visit. The food was delicious — every dish was flavorful, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. To top it all off, they surprised us with a celebratory toast and a song for our anniversary, which made the night even more memorable and special. That personal touch meant so much to us. We will definitely be back and highly recommend Baxters to anyone looking for great food, amazing service, and a truly special experience!“

“Goo place to hang out and connect with other Vets.“

“Matt was great with service -👍🏼“

“Great bands, friendly staff, excellent vibes“

“Delicious food. Great to find lovely outdoor seating.“

“Totally worth the drive to fish and see Barbara when they open for lunch.. Barbara is totally awesome. Cash only don't worry. There is ATM in the back. Large food and alcohol selection. We had no problems finding a seat on a Saturday afternoon. Plenty of amazing outside seating looking at the lake. Side note my friend comes here occasionally and fishes on the straight. He took me here today and we almost caught a Sturgeon together.“

“great people. amazing beer.“

“I didn't have any food, so I went here on a Friday night to meet a friend. I had never been to cricket before and now I wanna go back. This bar Toots is a big part of why I wanna go back, it's an amazingly cool dive bar with a back room stage for live music. Last night when I went it was a punk rock band and they were really good. The crowd as you might imagine was colorful and surprisingly diverse. The bar keep was friendly and on it so my drink was never empty, they had a really good porter on tap and it was always filled completely to the rim where you have to sip the top down just to pick it up. I wish I had stayed longer to see how the scene goes, my feeling is it's a great place to hangout on a Friday night, and if you happen to get bored there's like another bar a block or so away you can go between. I saw several small groups of peeps just hanging out together up n down the main drag. Parking might be an issue so either go early or Uber. I loved it!“

“Never found a place with better people running it“

“Nu-Rays is a town icon with history. It's the kind of bar locals visit frequently and share stories at great prices on beverages! If you're looking for low lights, friendly bar tenders, and great prices this is your kind of bar. 🥃🍺🍸🍹

Parking: First come first served metered street parking and a few lots with meters.“

“It was a great positive experience and true local hidden gem! Come say hi to the owner Ann, tell her I sent you.“

“First time going in and the place is bigger than it looks outside. The bartenders are super nice and welcoming. Mostly locals that frequents the place. Seems everyone know each other. Very laid back with outdoor area for pingpong or card games to dominoes and 5 dice, wow! Inside is a jukebox, a dart board game. Over by the corner they have video games. 1 pinball and 1 bowling game. If your not interested with the games they provide, I can almost garantee that someone there will find you and engage in a long but good conversation. The walls and ceiling is draped with one dollar bills all over inside. Interesting to see and count. I'd say there's about 2356 dollars in one dollar bills but not up for the taking.“

“Hi from Kristiansand,Norway. My sister Elynn took me there a few years ago and every time I come to visit it's a must to go see Moe and some of the friends there that I have gotten to know. Was there February 2025. Greets from Norway.“

“Great sitting and nice clean movie theatre 🎥🎥🎥“

“I don't really like bars for the most part, but this place has a great music scene!

I came to support a friend at the jam, Ceasar Myles and the Dreaded Truth reggae band came from the SF peninsula, and the next thing you know we had a Saturday night gig.

Now they want us back...

So much for staying out of bars.

The family atmosphere on the Tuesday night jams is amazing, I really can't say anything bad about the place.

As a musician, getting a consistent warm welcome and a plate of food is over the top for me.

I have never been treated so well at a club gig, it's like being the headliner at a festival, such nice people there!“

“One of my all time favorite spots to play pool, bartenders are great, they don’t gouge you for the drinks while having a nice selection of beer and whiskey. Security does a phenomenal job especially when the place is busy and they’re super friendly. With a pinball machine, shuffleboard, and darts it’s tough not have fun while you’re there.“

“This is my favorite bar in the Bay Area. Love the chill vibes, and love the drinks even more. Lightweights beware, some of the cocktails are sneaky strong...

My only nitpick is that good parking options are limited- there are metered street spaces across the street, otherwise the nearest Walnut Creek garage is a five minute walk away. Avoid the neighboring garages as those cost an arm and a leg.“

“great place to hang out and play pool.“

“What is there to say? This place is the best: drink quality, the fun atmosphere, pricing, the variety, and awesome bartending!We've had every type of drink and it's always been knocked out of the park!"A must try" if you're in the area.Tip your bartenders! ?“

“Comfortable seating, great service and food.“

“Some of the best food in the area organically sourced, absolutely amazing chef, and service is friendly and out of this world. The food and drinks are just suburb. Flavors are extremely well balanced and flavors just pop. Each dish, wether the steak which was perfect seasoned and match with the potatoes agraten, the Cesar and salmon salad with its perfect Cesar dressing or the loaded turkey on facasia everything was just perfect! The drinks just out of this world! As always you should taste the flavors of the alcohol and not the alcohol... and the bartender got it perfect and just right!
Definately and is our regular go to diner restaurant!
And if you can stay for the music... always a special treat!“

“Reading these reviews, the good ones, bring back wonderful memories of the past. I was there most Friday afternoon/evenings from 90 to 93 when stationed at CSTSC Mare Island as an instructor. Great to see this place still in business. Great people then and apparently now.“

“Very beautiful atmosphere lovely people! Pool table for tournaments and fun, cards as well. Serves wine and beer, smoking outside with seating, also bar cat comes around here and there and I think it's the best. Will most definitely come more often! I give this place five stars.“

“Nice place to hang out and watch some live music. Was there to play the club with my band Midnight Sinfini. The sound system wasn't high tech so the sound could have been better but was a really fun place to play a show. I would consider playing here again.“

“Had a great time. Other bars were closing at 9pm on a Sunday and these guys were open until 2. I've been going here for years and have never had a bad experience. Tucked away in a parking lot off of the main street. Turn down sos drive and left into the parking lot halfway down the hill, and you'll find it.“

“Wonderful and friendly staff, great food!“

“of course its excellant.. it belongs to my #6 son.......“

“Experience exceptional dining at Jack restaurant, where the waitstaff and bartender provide top-notch service with a smile. They take the time to ask about your meal and ensure that every detail meets your satisfaction.“

“Fun place Ces ces is dope“

“Good food & friendly staff!👍🏽“

“Had our Saturday Thanksgiving with the family here and not only did they accommodate for about 30 people, but the service was excellent! Everyone who helped us was obviously a team player because everything came out seamlessly!

Some family we hadn't seen in years and I'm happy we all had an amazing experience!

Thank you soooo much!!!

Ps. The Lobster noodles were incredible!!!!!! I've been craving it since!.“

“Hops & Scotch is a great spot with a relaxed, welcoming vibe. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, which makes it perfect for any weather. Drinks are well-made, with a solid selection of cocktails and beers. Service can be a bit slow when busy, but the staff is friendly.

Plenty of parking and conveniently located just off the freeway. Perfect for a casual night out with friends or a relaxed date. 🍹✨“

“I live in the area and usually come out on average once a month. There are lots of different types of shows, my favorite being the disco, 80s, and classic rock nights. There is a great taco truck that sells the most delicious steak and birria tacos ever. As a woman I always feel safe and comfortable here knowing there are plenty of security and workers always around to help if ever needed. I'll be celebrating my Birthday here in March and cannot wait! If you like live music, or live near by, definitely check it out!“

“We had a great evening with friends. Great food great service!“

“Delicious pizza, great salad, and outdoor seating. Our favorite pizza place!“

“It was my first time at the Beverly Elks Lodge. The have a full bar and kitchen if you're hungry. I was there because on Wednesday nights, for a nominal charge of $10, they teach Chicago Style Steppin' . I has a great time and met some new friends. I can't wait to go back next week.“

“Saved the night on a last minute reservation for homecoming. I called and they were super friendly and quickly set up for the group. Everything went so smoothly, the kids loved the food and environment! Waitress was the best. thank you!!!!“

“I never found the Golf Course meeting people is different since I forgot half of the amount of difference Vallejo Development has been since I never made it“

“Excellent place to meet up with friends and family to have a great time with yummy food“

“Six Eleven is an American bistro in Martinez, housed in what looks like a former mansion. The lemon chicken piccata was vibrant with lemon tartness, and the grilled, tender chicken breast cutlet satisfied with bursts of salt and sweetness from the capers and diced tomatoes. The linguine had a perfect al dente bite.

Fontina and parmesan are packed into the arancini rice balls, their boldness oozing out with each bite. Does creamy chipotle dip make sense to serve with them? Not authentically, but who cares when you’re eating arancini as light and fluffy as these?

The braised short rib pappardelle is served with a marinara sauce, Grana Padano cheese, and parsley. The pasta and sauce were beautifully flavored and prepared. Marinara and short rib can sometimes be too rich in combination for me, but I wanted more of this dish.

Six Eleven has had two “award-winning” cocktails on their specialty list when I’ve visited, though I’m unsure what award they’ve won. The Plant Mom is one, made with vodka, lemon juice, limoncello, cherry bitters, fresh mint, egg whites, and a rosemary-rose-lavender syrup. That’s a lot to pack into one drink!
And the Plant Mom does so masterfully. I’d give it an award of my own for each sip of its smooth, elegant blend that hinted of herbaceous and floral flavors.

On my second visit, the Pecan Sandra was an unusual choice for me to start a meal with, as it’s solidly on the dessert side of cocktails. But I wanted just one drink, and the ingredient list assured me this was one I couldn’t miss: brown butter fat-washed bourbon, lemon juice, pecan syrup, black walnut bitters, chocolate bitters, and candied pecans. It was as rich and luscious as you’d expect from those ingredients. And filling!“

“Bartenders are great and very friendly! They are on it to serve more drinks and very attentive! Been coming every evening. Highly recommend ! Police station near by but never any problems there ! Patrons friendly as well make you feel at home! Not to mention the drinks have better prices than any bar in town

Parking: There’s always parking and if there’s not can always park in the street !“

“Amazing place. Amazing people. I was staying in the area and wanted to go to a good local bar. Everyone I met there were friendly and chatty. The bartenders were awesome to. I had a really great time here and I hope to stay in the area again soon to go back, if you’re in a motel close. Check this place out!“

“While I hate to cheat on Martinez, CJ's is a larger, more sophisticated but not too, version of our once Ferry Street and a far less dysfunctional version of Whiskey Lane, the latter of which I frequented to write until I found CJs where you can meet new great people, or sit in your corner and write. All folks are good folks at CJs. And that's my run on sentence on that matter.“

“I stopped by during a transfer at Martinez Station. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the restaurant and the friendly service. The BBQ pork fried noodles and wonton soup were also delicious, and I'll definitely visit again if I have the chance.“

“We come here frequently. Service tonight was excellent, our server Josh (whose section we are often in) was attentive and friendly. The food was great: yellowtail nigiri, john roll, Telegraph roll, and S.P. rainbow roll; we were hungry but still didn't finish it all“

“it's always pretty good here. The prices are fair and I'm always up for a repeat“