Charlie O's Bar & Grill
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Live
- Best Nights: Tue, Wed
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
128 reviews
Neighborhood: Hollywood
"This place rocks!!! When I lived in LA, this was the place I brought all of my visiting friends/family. You can't find a cooler atmosphere…" read more »
14 Reviews for Charlie O's Bar & Grill
WOW! What a wonderful place to hear good jazz and loose yourself for a couple of hours! I had NO idea that I could find a place like this in "Van Nuys"!!! Very comfortable, attentive waitress, a bit over priced, but, hey, they gotta pay the people playing...I think it is worth it for an enjoyable evening out. Check it out if you care to venture to "the valley".
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Wow I was quite shocked with this place when I first came in, it kind of reminded me of Cheers the tv show. Its quite nice and the waitress is very attentive to her customers. The place is not too big or small but just the perfect atmosphere for a jazz bar. I couldn't have picked a better place to relax after work. I do have to mention that the food and drinks are overpriced, I spent close to $140 for two people including food, drinks, and tip. But thinking about it, this place is so worth it, I can't remember I had such a great experience at a jazz bar since I was in Chicago. So if you don't mind spending a little more than usual, I highly recommend coming here, every penny is worth it. Great service, good food, and awsome music.
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Take a sip of your wine, close your eyes and listen to the soothing cascade of music.
Take the time to enjoy the company and conversations... Let your eyes linger through the various bottles of liquor by the bar.
Did you see the penis shaped tequila bottle?
Say what?
Yeah, there is a penis shaped tequila bottle... I wouldn't have even noticed it until my date pointed it out. *raises eyebrow*
We were laughing about it and the bartender overhears us and says, "Yeah, that tequila bottle gets everyone talking".
Uh, yeah buddy it's in the shape of a pen 15, a dilly dong, a wiener...
After a few wines I get buzzed... So buzzed I said, " I think I am ready to dance on the bar". And then I think DANGER DANGER! I need to make sure I don't trip and land on the... bottle".
That would have been embarassing.
All of the bottles have little stickers with the prices on them... I don't know if it makes it easier for the bartender or the patron... Probably both.
*shrug*
On Friday the tables were only open for parties of 3 or more, ordering of food is a must. Most of the tables have a view of the stage. From the bar you can only stare at what is the most brazen display of manhood I have ever witnessed. It was all just hanging out there...
They have LOTS of different kinds of alcohol... Really, it's one of the most stacked bar I have seen. The music is lovely. The crowd is diverse.
So if you are into cheap thrills enjoy the music, stare at the bottle and have a few chuckles.
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one time I saw Elgin Baylor (Laker great during the 70s and 80s showtime) here. You never who pops up here. food is kinda pricey but the alcohol with live jazz in my local 'hood is something i can't beat. Thurs nights are cool and Weds as well.
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For an up close and personal jazz listening experience, not many bars can compete with Charlie O's. The quintet this night was almost bumping up against the bar in this cozy place. And none of that Kenny G faux-jazz here. These old timers were putting it down and riffing with the best of them. My date and I eventually moved to the other end of the bar for conversation's sake, but the jazz groove was an excellent soundtrack to a lovely night.
Now as mentioned, there is no cover, so it's made up on pricey food and drinks. We only had fries to munch on ($6) while we sipped our drinks. Maker's & h2o ($9), Jack & diet coke for her ($9) and Patron shots ($13). The drinks were strong and the bartender was attentive and always made sure our glasses didn't get empty.
Live music every night, a vintage well worn bar and a nice staff, I look forward to checking out Charlie's again.
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Great music, hot bartender, and over priced drinks. Hey, it's LA. Everything is expensive here. The crowd here is very mixed, all ages, races and such. It wasn't too crowded on Sunday night. But what do you expect for a jazz joint in Van Nuys?
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SO LEGIT.
There's nothing more I can say here that hasn't already been said - great jazz, good mix of people, chill ambiance, no cover. Stepping inside you can tell this place has been around for a while and has that vintage, comfortable, easy feel. Really beautiful stained wood walls and plush carpet - everything is easy on the eyes.
Everyone was really diggin the jazz - big smiles on my and the crowd's faces and enthusiastic, appreciative applause, lots of head nodding and laughter - from conversation and from the ridiculous skills the players busted out during their solos. The quartet we saw here makes it look so EASY. Like walking.
Bill between two people for two beers and two bottles of water - $37.00 (tip is already included).
Enjoy :)
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Charlie O's is the finest Jazz joint in Los Angeles, bar none. There are nicer clubs and some great "listening spaces," but if you want to go to a friendly local bar that plays straight-up swing, big-band, bop, and cool jazz, then look no further, you are home. Charlie O's is the place to go if you are really into the music--night in, night out, you will not hear better.
As for the food, it helps to pick the right items. I have always had very good luck with the baseball sirloin and the center cut pork chops--both were excellent. I would recommend steering clear of the fried stuff and sticking to what's on the grill, it costs a bit more, but I think it is a real step above some of the lower-end items.
Same goes for the drinks, if you want a top-shelf martini, you're going to pay for it, but the Miller Lite is still reasonable off the tap if you lack the means. The wine list could use some work, in my opinion, but the liquor selection is top-notch.
Now about the prices, keep in mind that the band has to get paid. Nothing's free, ladies and gentlemen, and if you want to hear top-notch music, you can either pay at the door or you can pay at the bar and through the kitchen, but either way, the band must be properly remunerated (and they should get paid, and paid well, those aren't teenage rock 'n roll bands up there, folks, but some of the finest musicians in the country, show some respect for their decades of hard work and buy another round for everyone at the table). I know, I know, I'm a working class guy myself, and I've had some tabs at Charlie's that have put the bite on my paycheck, but I can't say I've ever had a bad time, or that the money wasn't well spent.
The bar and wait-staff have always been nothing but warm, friendly and considerate, the owners are a tad reserved, but so what, they've put together 31 days of great Jazz each month. If I may offer a couple of complaints: the unsightly acoustic ceiling has to go, and the uninspired lighting needs a real makeover; lighting can make a real difference in the way a room feels, and Charlie O's could do a lot better without too much investment.
But go to hear the music, the house rhythm section of Roy McCurdy and John Heard (get well, John) is alone worth the cost of a few drinks. On a good night, you'll find out why Jazz is far from dead. See you there.
Now, when I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches,
Put on a box-back coat and a stetson hat,
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain,
So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat.
An' give me six crap shooting pall bearers,
Let a chorus girl sing me a song.
Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head
So we can raise Hallelujah as we go along.
Folks, now that you have heard my story,
Say, Matt, hand me another shot of that booze;
If anyone should ask you,
Tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues.
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5 star jazz, man this is top notch, the real deal.
The food is 1 star and way overpriced, but when you consider that there isn't a cover charge it makes since, I am guessing the overpriced food, dinky drinks, and mandatory 20% gratuity is how they pay the players - at least I hope that's what is going on.
This place is a Jazz treasure and well worth the drive and price. Order up a makers on the rocks, sit back and enjoy the jazz.
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How to review? How to review???...hmmm....???
Well, the music was fantastic!! Absolutely inspiring and wonderful and just pure Jazz. I enjoyed it sooo much that I would consider coming again. BUT, the service and the prices were crazy!!!
Half a rack of ribs and a beer for 31 plus dollars. They add gratuity to parties of 3 or more! Wow!!! My friend and I shared a full rack of ribs and they charge a 5 dollar plate sharing fee. They should have just told us and we would have ordered our own half racks for the same price. Completely disappointing. The service wasn't great either. We felt unwelcomed because we arrived 30 minutes before they closed. Wow. They told us to come back again at 8 pm next time.
Will there be a next time, maybe for an 8 dollar beer and that's it to listen to Jazz. An 8 buck fee for good music and a bevie is worth it. :)
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What a spot.
Believe it or not, shoved into the middle of Van Nuys away from most of the usual LA civilization, is the best jazz spot in the entire Los Angeles area. Period.
You have some real deal musicians coming through those portals. Fellas who've played with Dizzy. Ladies who've sang with Miles. Last time I was there, they even gave a cute up and coming vocalist the chance to sing her heart out with the trio. And sing she did, with tones close to Ella coming through. It was really sexy. The whole vibe is sexy, smooth and authentic cool.
The drinks are pricey, the food is dicey and the service is meh. But the music.
God, the music.
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if you love Jazz and you haven't been to Charlie O's, you haven't BEEN, buddy!
it's true -- nestled in the dry lands of Van Nuys is the best Jazz bar in LA. good drinks, good food, GREAT music and good service. i try to go at least once a month for stress relief, but like other people have said -- it is quite pricey.
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THE place in LA to listen to live jazz. Without question.
Better than the baked p
Better than spazio's
BTW, I'm a band director with an award winning jazz band.....perhaps that gives me clout?
enjoy-
BTW, the owners are jerks, the service is poor, and the food is over priced crap. What do you expect? Who comes here for anything BUT MUSIC! The rating given applies only for the quality of music.
No covers except $20 on mondays for big band sets (16peice)
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This is where the jazz players hang when they aren't at a gig. Charlie O's is the real deal. Talk to the house bass-man John Heard. He'll tell you "this ain't a jazz club. LA's got plenty of 'em. This is a jazz joint!" The John Heard Trio has the chops to back it up. These guys can GROOVE! They're always happy to have guest musicians drop buy, but you better be ready to PLAY. They have live jazz 8-midnight 7 nights a week. No cover and no minimum, but the drinks can be a bit pricey. Other than that, it's cool, daddy-o!
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