B I G shoutout to Melissa L. for putting The Local on my radar. This bar is tucked away in an unassuming shopping plaza in a quiet neighborhood, but once you walk in, you know you're in for a good time. I've always been a fan of dive bars and have been to quite a few, but this bar stands out in so many great ways. Right after walking in, you can see that The Local has so many locals -- everyone knows everyone and is having a great time. The atmosphere is lively, fun, and welcoming to anyone new. Not only does The Local have great beer on tap, they also specialize in craft cocktails! There's a variety to choose from, they all look beautiful, and I'd say they'd rival high-end bars. I've tried a few, and as a non Whiskey drinker, I was surprised to say Honey 4 my Honey is my favorite so far. All of the bartenders I've met so far are awesome, especially Victor and Jen. They are great at what they do and they have fun banter with the locals. Even the owner, Mikey, takes time to chat and is so passionate about his bar. The last thing that makes The Local my go-to bar now is that it is c l e a n! I love that I can walk around without having my shoes stick to the floor and that I can actually use the restroom when I need to. If you've ever been to even one dive bar, you'd know what I mean. Besides the above, they have a must-have pool table and a few other table games. While the actual bar isn't too big, I can see it getting packed, so if you're planning a visit with a larger group, plan ahead to snag a table and I'll see ya there! *Hot tip: while there isn't food served here, you can order food delivered to The Local and enjoy it there!
Stacie D.
Little hole in the wall bar that was so cool. Really enjoyed the fun drinks and friendly service. Cool local place - thus the name!
D. Scott D.
Interesting place with a lot of contradictions. Found them online - their social media presence is top notch, as they showcase their amazing mixology. I didn't need to read reviews: I was hooked by their craft.After seeing their online pizzazz I went to their website to view their food menu. It says "check out our Instagram for more information about food," yet I found nothing there. But on their website they call themselves a wine and beer bar. Same here on their Yelp description. So now I'm thinking they're duplicating cocktails using various wines, similar to a place in Ojai. Yet I did see liquor bottles in their social media. I was ready to solve the mystery. On arrival I was first surprised by the exterior, which is very non-descript in an older strip mall of sorts. Entering, it struck me as a dive bar: small, dated, with a pool table to the left. A couple monitors over the bar with 4 more monitors coming together as a large, single one on the wall opposite. Not what I expected based on the Instagram posts. But I also saw literally more bottles of liquor than at any other bar. Walls were filled with shelves of perfectly organized alcohol - seemed to be mostly whiskey, as they do advertise over 500 kinds. But nothing was overlooked. They could obviously create most anything you wanted.I found a spot at the bar, asked the gentleman behind it about the creations I saw online, and he gave me a special drink menu saying he was just the bar back. He did refer to a lady at the other end of the bar saying she was the bartender and could answer my questions. After waiting a little bit it seemed she wasn't available so I chose something from the menu that had an interesting description ("Honey 4 My Honey"), and the bar back passed the word on to her.They don't have food there, yet you can order from a little place a few doors down, when it's open, from a limited menu with 4 selections. Or you can have food delivered from wherever you'd like - they're very good in that regard. I opted for the nearby place.I really wanted to get some guidance for my second drink. I've dealt with mixologists who want to dazzle you. They love talking to you about what you like or don't, and then creating something special. This wasn't the place for that. So I asked the gentleman to please let the bartender know that I'd like to speak with her when she has a moment. After some time she came over and gave me a few suggestions based on their most popular drink and her favorite.I made my second choice ("Grapefruit Dead") and that was that.The drinks were beautiful and delicious. They were also meticulously prepared, as I watched from the opposite end of the bar. They didn't seem potent, but this was a Wednesday, and apparently all cocktails are $10 - can't beat that deal. It's also about the mix - not just feeling the effects.As the name states, The Local really is a local's bar. Everyone seems to know everyone. A patron near me pointed out the owner, who was sitting mid-bar. And yes, the artist who created their menu cover nailed the rendition of him. I didn't get warm and friendly vibes from anyone other than the bar back - I was definitely odd-man-out. But perhaps if I show up enough I can become a "local."
Maureen G.
Great vibe! Delicious drinks. Support this local family owned small business. Catch sports and grab a drink.
Sharon C.
Great spot if you like a nice variety of draft beers or a craft cocktail. I like both! Mikey the owner is a gentleman and will take great care of you as well as all of the other staff members. They really know what they're doing. This place has a great atmosphere, great music, great people, great decor, and it's always clean (and I can't say the same for every other bar I've been to!) Try the insomniac and thank me later!!
Jara S.
Local pub in Camarillo, Irish owned and just felt appropo to visit for St Paddy's.The cocktails are great, well crafted and very now. The bartenders are inviting and nice and really knows the menu well.They also make creative cocktails for festive seasons like Halloween and the Holidays. They have some of THEE best whiskey array in town and offer some flights on special days. No food service but they have pop ups on some days and they allow you to BYOMeal
Eugene B.
A small neighborly pub. Warm and inviting, with Irish decor.Ordered a pint of Guinness and the bartender made the first pull setting glass down to let a Blacken Liquid Gold to settle. After the appropiate time she finished the second pull, without the push back. Not much of a problem. The taste was fine but slightly flat, good enough to order a second pint. The owner, originally from Timahoe in County Laois, took over the establishment in 2018 and turned it into an Irish Pub. Worth a visit and good for many more. Scale 1 to 10 - 6 to a high 7.
robert Levine
Friendly! Good vibe. Good hops.Busy! Had a tart cider. Nice.With son.
Brighette R.
SUCH FUN COCKTAILS! The bar has an old school vibe with new age drinks. It is a small bar but they have bar seating and tables. I went with my family on a Friday night there was a chill vibe. They have playing cards and poker chips on the tables for you to use if you'd like. It made for a nice place to grab drinks with your family and play some card games. They bartender was super helpful in helping us choose a drink! They have beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beer. The prices are great for the quality of drinks you get.
Simon Kiddle
Mikey the owner has turned this place into gem.Friendly atmosphere & handy resurant next door.
Hands down best bar in Ventura county! Love the staff and drinks. Worth the stop
Lori Hornback
Great place! Huge selection, great atmosphere. Very nice people! Had a great time!
Kali Y.
Love their espresso martini! Small dive bar with loud music & a handful of tv screens.
James S.
As far east as you can get in Camarillo but this is what a local bar should be like. Cozy, nice crowd and not super pricey! Wish it was more localized in Camarillo.
D J
Fantastic 'Local' Bar. Good beer, great people, and always good vibes.
B I G shoutout to Melissa L. for putting The Local on my radar. This bar is tucked away in an unassuming shopping plaza in a quiet neighborhood, but once you walk in, you know you're in for a good time. I've always been a fan of dive bars and have been to quite a few, but this bar stands out in so many great ways. Right after walking in, you can see that The Local has so many locals -- everyone knows everyone and is having a great time. The atmosphere is lively, fun, and welcoming to anyone new. Not only does The Local have great beer on tap, they also specialize in craft cocktails! There's a variety to choose from, they all look beautiful, and I'd say they'd rival high-end bars. I've tried a few, and as a non Whiskey drinker, I was surprised to say Honey 4 my Honey is my favorite so far. All of the bartenders I've met so far are awesome, especially Victor and Jen. They are great at what they do and they have fun banter with the locals. Even the owner, Mikey, takes time to chat and is so passionate about his bar. The last thing that makes The Local my go-to bar now is that it is c l e a n! I love that I can walk around without having my shoes stick to the floor and that I can actually use the restroom when I need to. If you've ever been to even one dive bar, you'd know what I mean. Besides the above, they have a must-have pool table and a few other table games. While the actual bar isn't too big, I can see it getting packed, so if you're planning a visit with a larger group, plan ahead to snag a table and I'll see ya there! *Hot tip: while there isn't food served here, you can order food delivered to The Local and enjoy it there!
Little hole in the wall bar that was so cool. Really enjoyed the fun drinks and friendly service. Cool local place - thus the name!
Interesting place with a lot of contradictions. Found them online - their social media presence is top notch, as they showcase their amazing mixology. I didn't need to read reviews: I was hooked by their craft.After seeing their online pizzazz I went to their website to view their food menu. It says "check out our Instagram for more information about food," yet I found nothing there. But on their website they call themselves a wine and beer bar. Same here on their Yelp description. So now I'm thinking they're duplicating cocktails using various wines, similar to a place in Ojai. Yet I did see liquor bottles in their social media. I was ready to solve the mystery. On arrival I was first surprised by the exterior, which is very non-descript in an older strip mall of sorts. Entering, it struck me as a dive bar: small, dated, with a pool table to the left. A couple monitors over the bar with 4 more monitors coming together as a large, single one on the wall opposite. Not what I expected based on the Instagram posts. But I also saw literally more bottles of liquor than at any other bar. Walls were filled with shelves of perfectly organized alcohol - seemed to be mostly whiskey, as they do advertise over 500 kinds. But nothing was overlooked. They could obviously create most anything you wanted.I found a spot at the bar, asked the gentleman behind it about the creations I saw online, and he gave me a special drink menu saying he was just the bar back. He did refer to a lady at the other end of the bar saying she was the bartender and could answer my questions. After waiting a little bit it seemed she wasn't available so I chose something from the menu that had an interesting description ("Honey 4 My Honey"), and the bar back passed the word on to her.They don't have food there, yet you can order from a little place a few doors down, when it's open, from a limited menu with 4 selections. Or you can have food delivered from wherever you'd like - they're very good in that regard. I opted for the nearby place.I really wanted to get some guidance for my second drink. I've dealt with mixologists who want to dazzle you. They love talking to you about what you like or don't, and then creating something special. This wasn't the place for that. So I asked the gentleman to please let the bartender know that I'd like to speak with her when she has a moment. After some time she came over and gave me a few suggestions based on their most popular drink and her favorite.I made my second choice ("Grapefruit Dead") and that was that.The drinks were beautiful and delicious. They were also meticulously prepared, as I watched from the opposite end of the bar. They didn't seem potent, but this was a Wednesday, and apparently all cocktails are $10 - can't beat that deal. It's also about the mix - not just feeling the effects.As the name states, The Local really is a local's bar. Everyone seems to know everyone. A patron near me pointed out the owner, who was sitting mid-bar. And yes, the artist who created their menu cover nailed the rendition of him. I didn't get warm and friendly vibes from anyone other than the bar back - I was definitely odd-man-out. But perhaps if I show up enough I can become a "local."
Great vibe! Delicious drinks. Support this local family owned small business. Catch sports and grab a drink.
Great spot if you like a nice variety of draft beers or a craft cocktail. I like both! Mikey the owner is a gentleman and will take great care of you as well as all of the other staff members. They really know what they're doing. This place has a great atmosphere, great music, great people, great decor, and it's always clean (and I can't say the same for every other bar I've been to!) Try the insomniac and thank me later!!
Local pub in Camarillo, Irish owned and just felt appropo to visit for St Paddy's.The cocktails are great, well crafted and very now. The bartenders are inviting and nice and really knows the menu well.They also make creative cocktails for festive seasons like Halloween and the Holidays. They have some of THEE best whiskey array in town and offer some flights on special days. No food service but they have pop ups on some days and they allow you to BYOMeal
A small neighborly pub. Warm and inviting, with Irish decor.Ordered a pint of Guinness and the bartender made the first pull setting glass down to let a Blacken Liquid Gold to settle. After the appropiate time she finished the second pull, without the push back. Not much of a problem. The taste was fine but slightly flat, good enough to order a second pint. The owner, originally from Timahoe in County Laois, took over the establishment in 2018 and turned it into an Irish Pub. Worth a visit and good for many more. Scale 1 to 10 - 6 to a high 7.
Friendly! Good vibe. Good hops.Busy! Had a tart cider. Nice.With son.
SUCH FUN COCKTAILS! The bar has an old school vibe with new age drinks. It is a small bar but they have bar seating and tables. I went with my family on a Friday night there was a chill vibe. They have playing cards and poker chips on the tables for you to use if you'd like. It made for a nice place to grab drinks with your family and play some card games. They bartender was super helpful in helping us choose a drink! They have beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beer. The prices are great for the quality of drinks you get.
Mikey the owner has turned this place into gem.Friendly atmosphere & handy resurant next door.
Restaurantji Recommends
Hands down best bar in Ventura county! Love the staff and drinks. Worth the stop
Great place! Huge selection, great atmosphere. Very nice people! Had a great time!
Love their espresso martini! Small dive bar with loud music & a handful of tv screens.
As far east as you can get in Camarillo but this is what a local bar should be like. Cozy, nice crowd and not super pricey! Wish it was more localized in Camarillo.
Fantastic 'Local' Bar. Good beer, great people, and always good vibes.