On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I know my previous review for Tempest gave this place 2 measly stars and basically insinuated that it's a dump...well, it kind of is a dump…" read more »
Poor Deuce. It gets a pretty bad rap here. I know that the Bay area has a plethora of delightful venues where you can meet-and-greet, and be entertained and delighted in various ways, but that doesn't mean that the Duece doesn't serve its purpose. This is definitely a bar, a opposed to an amusement park or a social club. Call me old school, but I tend to judge a bar on the level of safety, the prices, and the drink options, and in all categories, this place delivers. No one tried to rob me or feel me up, and that's pretty much all I look for in a bar crowd. As an added bonus, they have televisions, pool tables and a juke box, and are open late. Go there, take your friends, watch some sports; it'll be fun.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This place sucks. I'm a Mill Valley native and my friends and I go here more often than I would like to admit. Its a weird crowd, and only fun if you drink. It is a dive bar with not much to do. Go with a ton of friends because you will not really want to meet people here, its just not that type of place.
I could only imagine what it must be like to be a dive bar in Me-Valley. Kudos to the 2am Club and keep fighting the good fight!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
The Deuce as it can be affectionately called, is one of ONLY a few bars you should try and visit in Marin County. And the only one you should visit in Mill Valley. While there is nothing special about this bar, it is like most. Serves booze, has limited snack options, working pool table, and tunes. What else do you NEED!
Escapes the elitist, Marin charm by not being located downtown. It is located of Miller Avenue, kind of a secondary more local area of Mill valley. After a few drinks you can stumble right over to Joe's Tacos. Great Snapper tacos if you feel the hunger FITS coming on.
On a trip to Stinson Beach a great requisite spot to admire your sun burn and down a few shots of Jager while shooting pool. Heck. You might even see someone famous!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
It's either chodes, mill valley bums, or douchebags.
But cheap pitchers, and the bartenders are pretty nice.
The bathroom has no lock- but it's totally the kind of bathroom that should have a lock. It was nice to walk in on a dude taking a dump (ballsy or gnarly- you make the call), and have him wave to me. Always fun to chalk that off the list of first experiences.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (5)
Cool (2)
The 2am Club's clientele really sucks. I mean, by and large they are really horrible, loathsome people... And I can say that because I am a smug snob that grew up in Marin.
All of that aside, the Bar really isn't that bad. Drinks aren't overpriced, they have some good beer on tap, and the bartenders are generally friendly and polite. Good central location in Mill Valley.
I probably won't find myself here ever again, considering I don't live in Marin, nor do would I intentionally go here when there are better options elsewhere. It's a dive, try it out if you find yourself needing a drink in Mill Valley, but don't expect more than that.
If your 'peak' was when you went to high school in Marin and never escaped that same high school mindset or moved on, you'll probably love your like minded company at the 2am Club.
Good beer on tap. Better to go earlier in the evening so you avoid most of the idiots that drink there. Drinks are reasonably priced. Good beer on tap.
Go elsewhere in Mill Valley to be seen, come to the Deuce to get drunk and play pool. The only dive bar in Mill Valley is the most fun to hang out because they have seen it all and so has my cat.
Yes my cat has been inside the bar, twice (what can I say he followed me and they did not card him either.)
They had a makeover about a year ago due to the floods and it was about time, the carpets were really bad, but now it is nice and a bit sporty with a few TVs and sports always on. They have Karaoke occasionally which can be a blast and once a year they have a pig roast and live music.
Drinks are good, beer selection is good and no attitude. It is right on the main street of town, so take a cab or walk here. Look for my cat!
The deuce.
sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...
and if that's the case (and you went to Tam), head here, STAT.
Otherwise it can be awkward seeing all those home-for-thanksgiving-never-wanted-to-see-you-agai n kids from high school.
Its always interesting to see who is hanging out.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I used to think that Mill Valley was entirely populated by the newly wed or nearly dead, but a recent trip to the 2AM club showed me that I was mistaken.
Evidently there is a significant population of Frat boys and the women who associate with them in MV.
Yes, college party culture seems to be flourishing at the 2AM club, they even serve all of the drinks in a plastic cups just like you would get at a kegger - oh, not all the drinks, thats right, they serve shots in paper dixie cups.
No, I am not kidding. They serve shots in paper dixie cups.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (12)
Cool (3)
Huey Lewis used to hang out here
I gave a bunch of firefighters and nannies my fake phone number that night. It was absurd!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (4)
Cool (2)
Say you're stuck in Marin and there is a televised sporting event you absolutely need to watch. To be more specific, say your significant other and crew are camping in Marin the night before the World Cup final, and they tell you a couple hours before game time to come to Mill Valley to watch the game there. An odd request, it strikes you, esp as you drive through the Inner Richmond and think of all the places there one could enjoyably watch a soccer match.
So you rendezvous in MV's ever so quaint town square, where you might reasonably expect that there would be a bar with some TVs on. But the only option you would find there is a much too fancy italian restaurant which is SRO, with the kind of people you expect to be hanging out around Mill Valley's town square.
After 15 minutes of standing near the entrance to the kitchen, although the food does look good, the crew decides that this is not going to work for viewing the most important soccer match. Somehow information filters through that there is real bar down the road a mile or two--2AM Club to the rescue. Many televisions, many bar stools and table, many Budweisers and Bloodys...
In sum: I wouldn't go there for a night out on the town, but if you do find yourself in such a situation...
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (1)
I just returned from my first weekend in Mill Valley, land of wonder and amazement.
My first trip 'out' in Mill Valley was to 'the duce'. I was warned that this was one of the dive bars in town and not to expect much... Well, I got what I expected.
Let's see, first off, the coolest part of the bar is that this is where the photo on the cover of the Huey Lewis record 'sports' was taken... If that is the coolest part you can imagine what must have not met the paltry 'cool' expression.
First off the lights were very bright. It was night outside and felt like I could get a sunburn in this place. The drinks were over priced for the atmosphere, I guess in Main county I can expect this. The drunks and locals were ok and the bartender left us alone. My only other gripe would be the taste in music that the other patrons had, pretty terrible.
Would I come back?
Sure.
Am I aching to come back?
No.
Let's face it...it's Mill Valley! The sun goes down and this town turns into an old western movie set...nothing but tumble weeds and cops....but at least we have the good old duce! It's the Cheers of Mill Valley! Maybe that means I go way to often, but I love that I walk in, and know who is behind the bar, and who is around the bar and pool tables. Put in $5.00 into the juke box, go with at least one good friend, grab a beer and a shot, and enjoy the people watching! More often than not, there are more men than women...ladies...this doesn't mean this is the place to look for prince charming! But it's the kind of place that if you go semi often, you will get to know the people there (at least 75% of the time anyway). Don't go on black wed. and expect that is what's it's like. It's a dive bar! A smart person knows that you go to a dive bar to kick it with friends and have a good time! This is one place I can go to by myself, and still have a great time! There arn't too many places I can say that about. The bartenders (90%) pour a good drink and there are plenty of beer options, and unlike the peso, when your choosing songs on the juke box, you can down load songs and it only takes two credits. I love that! Don't skip out on a planned night in the city of dinner and dancing, but if you and your friends(s) are around with little to nothing to do...check it out. I will be the loud one having a great time and walking around chatting with those I know, and getting to know those I don't. If for some reason you are from out of town and find yourself at the duce....don't get hammered and try to drive! While I don't think it's quite as much of a risk as say Larkspur...the cops arn't playing. They don't have anything to do...especially at closing time (most teenagers are at home and not smoking reefer on the streets at 1:30a.m., thus leaving our police force with complete attention given to drunk drivers. Not worth it...if you plan on getting wasted...or if it just turns out to be the case at the end of the night....get a cab!! Much cheaper than a DUI!!!)
If you find yourself in Mill Valley itching for a game of pool or just a cold beer, head to "the deuce" as my wife, who was raised there (in Mill Valley, not the bar), informs me it is called by locals. The 2 AM is a classic divey roadhouse bar with a couple of nice pool tables, a dartboard, and a few TVs playing sports. It's an island of Old Mill Valley (which my wife informs me was "funky") afloat in a swelling sea of New Mill Valley (boutiques selling designer candles and soap). Patrons are a mix of young, Marin outdoorsy types and old-timers clutching their drinks at the bar.
You know the cover of that Huey Lewis and the News record with the band hanging out in a bar? The album with " I want a new Drug" on it? That bar is the 2 AM Club! If there is classic rock on the jukebox, Liz behind the bar, who accepts joints as tips (wink wink), will do shots with you.
Only been there once and the crowd was older.... I am willing to give it one more try.
ohhh the deuce, the deuce. what can you say about the deuce. it's just one of those places you go because it's there and because it'd been there forever. it's a reunion spot for tam high grads and a good place to find a game of pool or late night drink. (beware the cops outside - it is mill valley after all)
You're going to be hard-pressed to find a decent bar in Mill Valley. I live here and it's beautiful, but the city probably sells more lowfat, decaf lattes than shots of Makers Mark. The basic style of living here tends to revolve around boutique shopping, pushing strollers and riding your bike dressed like a circus clown. Those are the bad aspects (at least for me). The great things include lush trees, Mount Tamalpais, insane hiking trails, Sweetwater, and the 2 AM Club. This is a classic sports bar where you know the bartenders and owners by name. If nothing else you get to know them because they're always there even on their days off. A great sign that these kids just love what they are doing. I would prefer it if there were fewer TVs, but that's the nature of a sports bar. They even opened early for the world cup (7am). Pool tables, and a great "online" jukebox complete the bar feel. You probably remember how Archie Bunker always went to Kelseys, I get the feeling he felt the same warm love for that bar as I do for this one.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
246 reviews
278 reviews
247 reviews
37 reviews
118 reviews