50 Best Cocktail Bars near El Monte

“Best food I've had around the area. workers super friendly. Highly recommend 💖“

“Good ambiance and good food.“

“Endroit hyper typique ! Bonne musique, cocktails d’un excellent niveau et à un prix tout à fait honnête, tous les classiques sont dispo et le barman tient la corde niveau cordes vocales !! Excellente carte de dîner ! Nous n’avons pas testé le grill … seul regret de la soirée. Il faut qu’on y retourne, absolument“

“Absolutely loved this place. We will definitely be coming back. We got Citrus Salad, Carne en su Jugo & Carnitas Wow, just Wow!!!!!“

“My friends and I had a wonderful experience at Cannonball. First of all, the biscuits are to die for. We ordered the prawns and they were extremely tasty. We shared the sea bream and that was a very tasty and interesting dish. The presentation was beautiful especially with all the colorful ingredients.“

“Free Spirited Bar is an absolute gem. It is incredibly refreshing to walk into a restaurant where the entire menu is vegan by default (they do offer an option to add halal chicken if desired), a total 180 from the usual experience of hunting for that one token plant-based option.
As a group with diverse dietary needs, we were blown away by how seamlessly accommodating they were. We ordered the Alfredo pasta with mushrooms, the marinara pasta, and the buttered scallops, finishing off with the Dirt Coupe mousse for dessert. Every single dish was amazing. The pasta is made in house, and most menu items are made from scratch. A special shout out goes to the gluten-free bread, it was so outstanding we completely forgot it was gluten-free.
It is a sober bar, they don't even have alcohol in their vanilla extract. However, their non-alcoholic cocktail list is extensive. We tried about eight different drinks among us, and each one featured incredibly unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentation.
The owners are so sweet and clearly understand dietary restrictions on a personal level. They took the time to patiently explain everything and made us feel completely at home. I don't live locally, but you can bet Free Spirited Bar will be my go-to spot anytime I’m in town!

Forgot to add they are dogs friendly and will even bring you out a water bowl for them.“

“Breakfast burritos were amazing!“

“Love this place, such a wonderful neighborhood gem. I'm so glad they're still here. Love the daily pop ups, especially my Triple Beam pizza! Cocktails are fantastic and love the wine selection. This place is on repeat for a reason. 🧡“

“Great music!!!! Great hang!!!!“

“Fun bar. Great drinks and great prices. I read comments that some people think it’s a racist bar, believe me, it isn’t. All are welcome. No predujices here.“

“Spicy jalapeño cocktail 🍸💕“

“Nice romantic atmosphere which you can actually hear others talk to you. Deep fried whole catfish is a spectacular dish! Great attentive service by staff.“

“Free chips! And ask for Reese and Ronan. Best hospitality, hands down, great recommendations for drinks. We had the Cheerios drink, the day and night, and the matcha lychee drink. You won’t go wrong with any of the craft cocktails here, they’re all good. Some of them have a “presentation” aspect that you should ask about with the waiters - it’s a pretty cool feature of this speakeasy.“

“We spent a few hours here on New Year's Eve. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. The owner greeted us and offered us snacks.
They have a live DJ spinning turntables, bumping music from the past to present. There's an outdoor patio in the back.
The drinks were tasty and affordable. Try the Adios MthrFckr. Bomb!“

“We drive 35 miles at least three times a month to eat here. We love Home State and as a Native Texan, I can attest that their queso is the real deal!!! I just wish they'd open one in Claremont, CA!!! The Don't Mess With Texas is my favorite taco and my husband loves the brisket taco. Everything is amazing though!!!“

“JayDees is a dive bar that has good food & great drink prices! There's no need for happy hour, when your there prices are always low! It's one reason you'll see alot of old timers there having a blast. It's affordable. Good vibes/Good atmosphere“

“amazing food, service and ambiance!“

“Great atmosphere, great staff“

“i Love my beautiful bartender Brittneey. 🤩 excellent service and drinks“

“Probably my favorite bar in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley. I'm here right now abd there's about 15-20 seats directly at the bar and exactly 5 tall cocktsil tables with high stools directly across from the bar . It's dark inside and narrow, 6 flat screen tvs for watchibg the games, one pool table , a small outside patio near the entrance....lots of California Lotto and Lottery options. Impressive selection of spirits from cheap to high end. It's definitely an OG vzr but contemporary. Me likes the Cove.“

“I have been frequenting hotel Le’Meridian that has Longitude 118 bar lately. I specifically want to give a shout out to Erik who works the [early] a.m. shift at Longitude 118. He is always accommodating and VERY customer-friendly! I enjoy our conversations when I’m sitting at the bar. He always has a smile on his face and he’s very down to earth. I feel like he is a great asset to the company! There are others in separate reviews that I would name specifically as well, but in this one I want to especially highlight Erik! He truly goes above and beyond! @Longitude118 #Logitude118Ar Asia“

“I love the food here. Everything was delicious. We ordered the bread and butter, the kale salad, the clams and mussels, and spaghetti. The spaghetti noodles are made in-house. The butter is made in-house. The kale salad was soo good. The clams and mussels were in a very delicious sauce. We will be back!“

“This is the spot if you need a good, cold drink & a chill, old school vibe. I don’t like bars that have windows & Poor Denny’s is old school in that regard. Ever since Ember’s Lounge closed down, this has been my spot. It’s cash only, but there’s a ATM machine there. I love the digital jukebox that allows you to play all kinds of music. The bartenders are always nice & they have wonderful hands on the pours. ? Good vibes & mellow times here.“

“The asparagus fries. Crispy & not greasy. You can appreciate the asparagus flavor. We split the Thai spicy salad. It was spicy, but the Thai basil & the peanut dressing were the stars. It didn't need the chicken. The best was the ribeye melt. The meat was cooked perfectly.The sourdough was crusted with parmesan. With a side of horseradish that was perfectly paired for this sandwich.“

“Excelente comida y atención“

“This was our first visit to El Metate. I was impressed with all the menu options. The service was excellent , and the food was delicious.“

“Had a great experience at The Blind Donkey. The burger was juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly, and the fries were crispy, well-seasoned, and some of the best I’ve had. The atmosphere was lively, the drinks were good, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Definitely a great spot for a casual night out.“

“The lounge is conveniently located within Hilton San Gabriel. It was spacious and comfortable. The staff were inviting, friendly and extremely efficient. They took wonderful care of us. For lunch we ordered: clam chowder, Caesar salad, beef taquitos with guacamole dip and Parma ham and mozzarella flat bread. All the dishes were perfectly seasoned and delicious. My only two suggestions would be to serve crackers with the soup and maybe change the flatbread sauce to a marinara. I had an old fashioned with my meal which I really enjoyed. The drink was well balanced.The lounge is a non tipping restaurant. It’s odd I know, at least for me it is. The tip was already added to the final bill and we paid approximately 65+“

“Our waitress Genevieve was extremely nice and knowledgeable!! Great ambiance! Food n drinks! Definitely coming back !“

“Great food and service. Loved the the rooftop dining!“

“no food just regular little snacks. If you wanna eat something eat something before you go, but Roberta is an absolute Saint. She may seem kind of direct to you, but she’s very kind and a very wonderful person and a great bar Owner. It’s a really nice cool chill atmosphere to be out. There is one of my favorite places to be at without stupid people being around. Roberta makes it happen.“

“The food is amazing. I highly recommend this bistro.“

“Chose to come here very last minute after learning a different Whittier favorite restaurant had closed. We were unaware of required reservations but the owner was extremely accommodating for us to which I was truly grateful. It was an extremely busy Friday as there was a large party. The cleanliness and vibe of the establishment was amazing. There was a live band playing which added more to the first experience. Drinks and presentation were great and then the food arrived and everything was chefs kiss!! Mole chips are great but the mole negro was some of the best I have ever had. Portions are enough to share if needed. To the owner - thank you for being so accommodating. Parking here is extremely limited in the back. Street parking is the best bet.“

“I’ve been 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Service and food is fantastic! Highly recommend Smitty’s Grill.“

“Located in a vibrant neighborhood, Oyster Dive Bar offers a delightful dining experience with a unique twist on seafood classics. The crispy Cajun fries with cheese are a standout appetizer, perfectly seasoned and crunchy, making them an irresistible starter. The lobster pasta features fresh lobster, expertly prepared and bursting with flavor, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, ideal for both casual outings and intimate dinners. The service is attentive and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable atmosphere. Prices are reasonable given the quality and portion sizes. However, it's worth noting that the restroom could use more attention; cleanliness was a bit lacking during my visit. Despite this minor drawback, the delicious food and pleasant surroundings make Oyster Dive Bar a recommended choice for seafood enthusiasts looking to enjoy a satisfying meal in a relaxed setting. Overall, Oyster Dive Bar earns four stars for its tasty dishes, friendly service, and comfortable ambiance. With a few improvements in cleanliness, it could easily become a five-star dining destination.“

“A bartender who play pool with you and has great hospitality skills . This young lady was professional in my entire time at so there nothing but good things to say . Great music selection and also show all your favorite sports games. This is the spot for me now !“

“Me encanto este lugar todo muy rico y muy atentos buen servicio“

“We came during Valentine’s Day and was pleasantly surprised with the experience - from delicious and quite good portion of food to attentiveness in service. Patricio was our server and he was very attentive, checking in on us right after the food were delivered.“

“Good enough for Richard Pryor, good enough for me!“

“Wow… I have been wanting to bring home dinner from Steve’s after work, and I was finally able to time it right. The food was unbelievable!
The flavor of the brisket was perfect and so tender. The twice baked potato was the best that I have ever had. They were very kind when I picked up my food, and the restaurant looked so beautiful inside. I will be back hands down!“

“Really nice environment… staff is really respectful and always on top of things… food is really good.. I’ve never had a bad experience here.. I highly recommend“

“Asked and paid for deveined shrimp and got the opposite. Told manager on duty, she didn't seem to care and said she would talk to the vendors about it. Smh. We needed refills and we had to get up for someone to come by out table. This place was great when it first opened and now service seems to decline expectations. . It's unacceptable to spend over $200 and not get what is expected.“

“If you crave Italian food with a slight California twist, look no further. The carrots were our favorite appetizer, slightly spicy and extremely flavorful with the tahini, tajin and pine nuts. The pistachio pesto rigatoni was also a standout. If you are comfortable paying slighly more for higher quality food you wont be disappointed. My wife and I will certainly be visiting again.“

“Cool spot to have beer and soju and Korean bar food. Inside is decorated with lots of kpop posters. It's a large space with plenty of seating. There's low tables in the middle and tables and booths on the side. Plenty of TVs on the wall to watch a game or playing kpop music videos. It's a good place for groups. It does get pretty loud in there though. The food is good bar food. I like the fried rice and wings.

Service was good. Friendly staff. You order on the tablets but you ask the server for the bill. There's street meters or a parking structure a few blocks away on Delacey.“

“I got the Mongolian beef, extra spicy. It was tasty, but 85% rice, and was actually a little sweet not spicy. They merely threw more whole red chili's but nobody actually eats whole Chinese red chili's.

My friend got the swordfish, and opted out of the rice and upgraded to double string beans, didn't look like they doubled it.She said there's no hint of flavor on the beans, like they were simply boiled. She did like the caper sauce on the fish but had to ask for more.

Both dishes were lunch sized portions with dinner pricing, but there's live music (Friday 7pm), so just realize that it's less of a restaurant than a fine whiskey bar with food.“

“This is an incredible place to grab tacos! We went here on taco Tuesday night and sampled a lot of different tacos throughout the evening. Great drinks and food! But what really stood out was the awesome service. There weren’t a lot of people working there, but all of them were hustling and making sure you are well taken care of. This is a great place to grab delicious tacos and drinks!“

“food is amazing and staff is top-notch“

“Stopped by after the farmers market, had their honey something wings and a beer. Wings were crispy and tasteful, however I prefer american style wings over this Korean version. Ambience is balance with good lighting and some k-pop music. Overall its a good spot to hangout after after the farmers market.“

“Bartenders are super cool. Karaoke is the best. I just watch but its enjoyable and the D.J. is the coolest. The vibe reflects everything beautiful about Los Angeles, cool people from all backgrounds enjoying themselves and being chill. <3“

“I’ve been going to Towhey’s for over 20 years. I love their breakfast. I love their cheeseburgers. My daughter Micaela used to be a hostess in Alhambra. It’s one of my favorite go to restaurants. I love sitting at the bar. Also when they’re busy it’s a fun place to have dinner.“