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“

“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!“

“Bring your dates and loved ones to the BEST mocktails in town! All the unique flavor creation (each drink’s appealing naming in alphabetical order, and only $9) made by the bartender/co-owner Arleo. And Chef Amber runs the all the magic in the kitchen. My favorite dish is “Bone Marrow” - fried king mushroom oyster!

We discovered this non-alcoholic bar through hosting boardgames there, so we’re inspired by the journey of this power couple putting their hearts and souls into running this business and creating their dream community.“

“Outstanding experience dining here. Our server was incredible, super knowledgeable, confident, and clearly not their first rodeo with gluten-free dining. They knew every single dish inside and out, proactively pointed out shared fryer cross-contamination details, and clearly walked us through which items were fully gluten-free outside of regular soy sauce (super helpful for anyone with different tolerance levels). Finding a spot where the front-of-house understands dietary nuances that well without making it feel like a hassle is rare. Fantastic food, top-tier service, and total peace of mind. We will definitely be back.“

“Excelente comida y atención“

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

“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.“

“I’ve been here a couple of times now and every experience has been amazing. Birds and the entire staff truly know how to make people feel welcomed and special from the moment you walk in. The cocktails are not only delicious, but I also love that each bartender has their own signature cocktail on the menu. It made the experience feel personal and gave us a chance to try something different every time.

One of my favorite parts was hearing the bartenders explain the inspiration behind their cocktail and why they chose certain ingredients. You can really tell there’s creativity, passion, and intention behind what they do. The energy, hospitality, and attention to detail keep me coming back. They are truly amazing and I can’t wait to visit again.“

“Spicy jalapeño cocktail 🍸💕“

“Breakfast burritos were amazing!“

“Great music!!!! Great hang!!!!“

“Omg I spent my birthday here, and they were so amazing, attentive, helpful with the menu. The staff were absolutely delightful, plus they gave me a birthday card signed from them. I was so impressed by the presentation of the drinks and the quality of the food. My friends and I will definitely be going back!“

“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. 🧡“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere, great staff“

“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!!!“

“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“

“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 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+“

“This is a really neat historic spot, a craftsman home bulit in the 1800's in S. Pasadena repurposed into a restaurant. The vibe is cozy and welcoming. It's like your meeting with friends at someone's home but with professional service, where everyone can just relax and enjoy each other's company. My first visit was with a few girlfriends years ago for their happy hour which runs m-f, from 4-6pm. Since then I've come back for their brunch, and recently dinner. All visits have been memorable and exceptional all around.
They are known for their craft cocktails. My friend had to drink called Latina Medicina and substituted vodka for tequila. It was a citrusy, refreshing drink, beautifuly presented with a large square ice cube, which apparently takes 3 days to make. My husband had the Alien Pool Party cocktail, also refreshing and very fun! We had a lot of laughs with that one. So if you've never been here and are looking for something different, then I recommend you give him a try.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“If you want a local feel. A dive BUT clean and functional and well run bar. Milo's is your spot. I'm new. Been here half a dozen times . Consistent. Courteous. Clean. Familiar. Friendly. Local. I'm in love. Change nothing. Please keep doing what you're doing. Thank you Milo's“

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

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

“Went for Sunday brunch had their Taqitios and margaritas delicious. Server was a little over welmed when the place started getting busy it took about 30 minutes to get our check. But excellent place will definitely be back! Want to try their Enchiladas 😁“

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

“Went on a Thursday for date night with the wife. Live music was great. The restaurant was slow but we had a reservation. The service was very slow although they were not busy. Food was tasty but pricey for what you get. We had the Caesar salad to start, Mongolian beef (good but not a large portion of beef with lots of rice for $32), shrimp tacos were on the smallest street taco tortillas I have seen. Drinks and desert were good. Cool vibe and atmosphere.“

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

“food is amazing and staff is top-notch“

“My bestfriend and I went for happy hour and had a great time! Awesome music, great service, tasty cocktails, and delicious food! We ordered mixed tempura, octopus, ceviche and yellowtail carpaccio! Lovely presentation and everything was yummy! We especially loved the tequila and mezcal options! Will definitely come back and recommend for groups and dates!“

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

“👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍“

“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.“

“★★★★★

Urban Pocha was such a great find! The food was flavorful and satisfying, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the overall experience was fantastic. I’d definitely come back again and recommend Urban Pocha to anyone looking for a fun and tasty dining experience in Pasadena!“

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

“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“

“Such a fun spot for good Korean food! We ordered the large boneless chicken wings. You get to try 2 flavors, so we got Korean spicy (mild) and soy garlic. We also got a regular order of the boneless Korean bbq wings. The Korean bbq flavor was our favorite! Definitely want to come back and try more flavors!“

“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!“

“Diners like this seafood restaurant's fresh, flavorful seafood boils, especially the house sauce, and appreciate the generous portions and reasonable prices. They also highlight the fun claw machine, where winnings can be exchanged for food prizes, and the clean, inviting atmosphere. Guests mention the staff provides helpful and attentive service.“

“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“

“Very good food, and great cocktails. Wait staff was friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed our experience.“

“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.“