11 Best Cocktail Bars in Torrance

“Don't let the unassuming neon glow of the strip mall fool you. Once inside you'll be transported to a dive bar tiki paradise full of welcoming locals, cheap beer and limited distractions.
A throw back to simpler time when you were not overwhelmed with menu options or craft beer choices.
This is truly a slice of island paradise in an urban jungle“

“Small bars usually offer a casual yet friendly and relaxing atmosphere.
• Staff Attitude: Most small bar staff are warm and welcoming. Unlike fine dining restaurants, they tend to be more engaging, often chatting with guests, recommending drinks, and even remembering regular customers’ preferences.
• Serving Speed: Since the main focus of a bar is alcoholic beverages, the food may take longer to be served compared to a regular restaurant. However, most bars offer quick-prep bar snacks to complement the drinks.
• Personalized Service: Some small bars provide customized cocktails based on customers’ tastes or offer hidden menu options to enhance the experience.“

“This is a place that is pet friendly, with a balcony.
The food at Nordstroms, plural, always comes well made and much fancier than its price, though the price is not cheap. They use good ingredients in my opinion and I would highly recommend trying the Nicoise Salmon Salad“

“Very nice place! We went twice on our trip to Cali! Before and after our cruise!!!“

“Every cocktail they add to their menu is a true delicacy. I’ve been coming here since they opened in March 2024 and it’s been fascinating to watch as they evolve; from enhancing their space with more decor, to switching up their robust selection of seasonal cocktails, and building a community that values ohana. The Hula Hula Room is the perfect place for your date, meet up with friends or family. Food is not served here, but you’re welcome to bring in takeout if you like.

Drink favorites: The South Blue, Pain Killer, Zombie, the Oaxacan Grog (seasonal)“

“Muy buena comida y económica“

“A classic Japanese hostess club located in the East Torrance area. If you can get past the private exterior, the experience is really unique. Basically, you go in to have conversations with well educated and pretty women. Although the women are stunning, this experience is clean and more about having a fantasy date than anything else.

It was pricey, but not as scary as I expected. The food was not really worth talking about (some snacks from Daiso?) but there’s a full bar. Worth checking out for an authentic Japanese experience!“

“This is a nice little place clean and classy, the bartenders are excellent! The bartenders are nice and attentive, the dj is great! Plays some really good music the whole night I definitely recommend this place and I will be coming back myself.“

“It is a great place to have a few beers and sing with friends. The songs could be better but when you are with the right people you will have fun no matter what. The servers were all very nice and helpful. They have darts and a bar too if you dont want to karaoke. All in all, second time coming here and singing my lungs out. Two thumbs up!“

“I started coming to Madre when it first opened, back when the chips and salsa were complimentary. I've been a loyal customer for years because the food is consistently delicious and the service has always been excellent. Until recently, I never had a single complaint.

What concerns me is the dramatic increase in the price of the Carne Asada plate. Within what seemed like just a few weeks, it went from $34 to $45. I understand that food costs, labor, and other expenses have gone up, and I don't expect prices to stay the same forever. However, a jump of more than 30% in such a short period feels excessive.

Madre is still one of my favorite restaurants, and the quality of the food remains outstanding. I just hope management considers how these steep price increases affect longtime customers who have supported the restaurant from the beginning. While I’ll continue to visit, the new pricing makes it much harder to justify ordering some of my favorite dishes.“