39 Best Bars near San Juan Capistrano

“Old watering hole from the 80's when i was in the USMC. Came to our 40th reunion and stopped in to wet our whistle and reminiscing about old times.

Beer is cold whisky is poured. What else can you say except drink up and have fun.“

“First visit, I had the “special” (see photo) smash burger. Really good deal, only $6, instead of the normal price of $17.25.
Outdoor seating on the street side, was nice, friendly server did a very good job.
Irish Nachos was good, served on a hot plate.
Double patty “smash” burger was good, my only complaint was it really wasn’t a smash burger, because it didn’t have the normally tasty crispy edges.
Plate served hot, good fries with very good ranch style dip.
The best parking is a paid lot to the rear of the restaurant. But the walk to the restaurant is difficult, especially for a mobility challenged person, due to the steepness of the alleyway.
Recommended, we will be back.“

“Our first time visiting this restaurant and overall it was great. We sat on the "patio" section and we could hear each other talk which is a plus! The only reason for 4 stars is I'm not a fan of watching wrestling while eating. They have two TVs in that section and my 13 year old niece had to watch bloody matches while trying to enjoy her food. I would suggest turning the TVs off unless there is a specific event which would warrant watching them in that section. Overall though, our food was great and our service was great. We will return.“

“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!“

“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!!!“

“Oh goodness. Why did it take us over a year to find out about this place??

First: you can either park along el Camino or parking is along Avenida De La Estrella located right above restaurant. There is a stairwell that brings you right down to it.

Be sure to go on Tuesday… taco Tuesday… where they have a phenomenal/affordable menu! Honestly the best shrimp taco I have ever had. I’m just sorry I filled up on chips.

They are only opened for lunch on the weekend.

The best part… PET FRIENDLY PATIO!!!!

Update: Doug and I have gotten to know our waitress amber. Bless her.. she waits on the whole outside and she hustles. Food and spirits all so good. Thanks Amber for always remembering 2 ice cubes and being an outstanding server.“

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

“Great experience at Dana Point Ale House! The beer selection was excellent with a wide variety of options! Service was top-notch—friendly, fast, and attentive. The atmosphere is a blast with friends after work, lively, and welcoming. Definitely a place I'd recommend and return to.“

“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 !!!“

“Food is excellent, pool games are legit. Good times by all“

“Always enjoy staying at the Waldorf Astoria. Nice escape, great location, attentive staff. Perfect getaway.“

“This small wine and deli boutique is located in a small strip just behind a gas station. Limited parking but there is handicap parking.They have metal tables outside the door for relaxing and consuming your meal.The door is covered with signage and rules but don't let that deter you from entering the establishment.The inside drink and wine area is clean and well-stocked. The organization of the products was great.  As I walked to the back, to my right was a wine tasting bar and to my left was a pretty nice deli. The young lady at the cash register greeted me upon entering.  When I walked to the back of this quaint deli/wine store I came to a cooler well stocked with local and imported drinks of all kinds. It's not just a wine bar. It's not just a deli. It's an experience.They had many sandwiches to choose from but I chose the sausage breakfast burrito. It was recommended by the clerk that I get some green sauce with it and she was right. The burrito was pretty big and crafted with care. With each bite, I had a taste of the eggs, sausage, cheese, and hashbrowns. Many burritos I encounter are just thrown together and rolled up where you get a different burrito in each bite. You could see the care even in the wrapping and cutting in half for easier consumption.The size of the burrito:The burrito is about as round as a Starbucks Venti cold cup and the length of a Venti Starbucks plastic straw. The breakfast burrito was cut in half for easier consumption.It took about five minutes for the burrito to be ready for me to take it to go. Total was $10.76 with tax as of 1/7/24 and was worth it.It was a lot of fun browsing the cold fridge drinks and entertaining myself with their clever names while I waited for my meal.I definitely recommend this secret wonder if you're ever in the Aliso Viejo, Ca area.“

“Every time we come to Laguna we stay at the Casa Del Camino. Rooftop is our first stop always 🥂“

“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.“

“This building was just your average bar, but the service and clientele were phenomenal!! I was in town visiting my son at Camp Pendleton for Thanksgiving. Jess didn't just give suggestions of a place to try and get reservations for Thanksgiving dinner, she called, got reservations set up, and made it happen for us. I instantly felt at home and made life long friends.“

“Lisa Lisa Lisa!!! She simply makes you feel like you're the only one in the bar. The ambiance is amazing while you have a beautiful breeze coming through the outdoor patio area (that's my favorite part of the bar). There's billiards and a super fun lovely community that calls this place their local bar! Lisa knows what she's doing and her customer service speaks for itself. If you're in San clemente and looking for the locals' bar, Outrigger tavern is where to go

Parking: Plenty of space to park

Wheelchair accessibility: Definitely wheel chair accessible“

“Stumbled upon 237 in #LagunaBeach after a serendipitous encounter with the owner, who recommended her newly opened restaurant.

What a find! I just had the best burger of my life! . This place, formerly known as Breeze & Brew, is a culinary gem. If you're in the #California area this #LaborDayWeekend, make sure to experience their incredible food. Highly recommended for any food enthusiast!"

Burger 10/10 would recommend! ❤️

Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating for any food issues.“

“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.“

“The turkey & Swiss sandwich and tuna salad sandwich were insanely incredible! The dressing on their salad was delicious!!! Shyla was so sweet, a true gem! We’ll be back!!!! ♥️♥️“

“I'm giving it a 5 for the staff. I briefly looked at it, thinking it was an independent rooftop bar, not realizing it was connected to the hotel.Our drinks were ok, prices were average. If you were staying at the hotel, this would be a great experience. If you were bar hoping or anything of that nature, I would go here if everything else was packed.Again, staff was incredibly nice and we stayed for them ?“

“Marine room is a staple in Laguna. It can be wonderful and also for the ladies. Sometimes the men there are VERY aggressive. Nothing Marine Room can do about that, just something to know. Most of the time they have a great band. Drinks are fairly priced“

“Stopped in on a Friday night. They had a live band, beautiful bartender that made great drinks, and a great atmosphere. My lady and I had a great time. Highly recommend you stop in and check it out for yourself. We will be back!“

“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.“

“Great place to play and party.“

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

“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.“

“My friends, Diane, Terry, Carol and myself had an amazing experience at the Montage Lobby Lounge on Saturday afternoon, 4/5. Not only did we enjoy the fabulous desserts and Champagne, the staff were also very friendly/welcoming, Keyvon and the team, took excellent care of us and the view was gorgeous. We couldn’t have asked for anything more and we all agreed that our experience was unforgettable. We also spoke with Ben Goldfarb, a manager, he was great and contributed greatly to our 5 star experience. To top off our afternoon, we strolled down to the walking path above the beach and took in more of an up close ocean view.

We will share this experience with our friends and we all plan to return, to possibly treat ourselves to high tea or just relax in the lobby, have some drinks, snacks and enjoy the view. Thank you for helping to make our day so special!“

“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!“

“This place has become a favorite bar/restaurant in Orange County. Surprisingly amazing fish quality in the sushi! Only serve handrolls but they are all amazing. I do go hungry and fill up on them. The drinks are also some of the best I’ve had in Orange County. « Kick Out The Jams » is now my favorite cocktail of all time. The staff and owner take a lot of pride in their drinks and you can taste the quality. Highly recommend this place!“

“We popped into Goody’s for a couple beers this afternoon and had such a great time! The bartender, Heather, was fabulous!!! We were visiting for the day from San Diego and because of the hospitality, we felt like locals! We got to sit at the bar with our pup too so that was a major plus! Any time we are in San Clemente, we will definitely stop back in for a couple drinks! 10/10 recommend!“

“Great location in San Clemente for delicious food and great service. I recommend the brussel sprouts! Yum.

Parking: There is a free parking lot just around the corner that had plenty of spots, but I imagine on weekends it's probably harder to find parking.“

“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“

“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!“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“Rafael the bartender was very gracious to surprise is with this delicious dessert for our anniversary. He made us a delicious liquor, coffe drink called Callejito yummy. The appetizers were tasty. We had the octopus in lentil curry sauce and the grilled artichoke. Very tasty. We will be back in 2 week.“

“We had a beautiful meal and noise level has gone way down due to new elements on ceiling. The service was impeccable. Attentive but didn't rush us. I tried the spinach salad with added shrimp for first time as wanted something lighter. It was amazing with warm vinegar dressing. The salmon special was also excellent. Without asking our waiter brought out a tiramisu to share as noticed we were celebrating a birthday. This was probably the best tiramisu I've ever had including those in Italy!“

“Matt, Michelle, and sons have been winning over the hearts of many locals and travelers like my wife and I for ten years. The ambiance and beautifully designed facilities boasts a spacious interior and exterior accommodations for cozy couples to larger groups. An amazing and diverse menu with a great wine, beer, and craft cocktails selection can exceed even the most particular palate. Personal recommendations include the prime rib or tomahawk steak champagne brunch or the terrific eggs Benedict. The chicken and waffles also became a fan favorite. The burgers are scrumptious and the fish is phenomenal. The steaks and... okay, everything is worth a try. (Don't forget to try some of their own homemade salsa with the appropriate menu items. They have many other homemade products available so give them a try). Just when you thought it couldn't get better. Matt has an outdoor extension project in progress that will accommodate additional bar, dining and music venue. This is hands down my favorite restaurant in California. Hoping that it becomes yours too! Cheers“

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

“The food was so delicious.“