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Hip Kitty Jazz & Fondue
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Restaurants Fondue Jazz & Blues, Fondue [Edit]
502 W 1st StClaremont, CA 91711
(909) 447-6700
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 6:30 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
162 reviews for Hip Kitty Jazz & Fondue
Review Highlights
"Live music makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside."
(in 22 reviews)
"We tried the dessert fondue with the milk chocolate."
(in 10 reviews)
"It has a couple of gazebos and a fire pit in the center."
(in 11 reviews)
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162 reviews in English
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Review from Vincent T.
Eastvale, CA
1/25/2012
The music is always good and the fondue is alright. It's a bit dark inside, which depending on mood or occasion, is quite nice.
The cheeses, wine, and bread all mix together just fine. There's apples, grapes, and carrots as well so people feel like they're eating healthy. It's never been too crowded on the nights I have visited.
Will be back some day. -
Review from Liz P.
1/15/2012
Jazz + Chocolate.... men looking for different date ideas, this is it!
Your choice in each category: Cheese Fondue (swiss, cheddar, etc), Meat Fondue (steak, chicken, scallops, etc), and Chocolate Fondue (dark, milk, white) to satisfy your taste buds while enjoying some wine and the melodies of a pretty impressive band (especially the vocalist - she sounded like a smooth recording!). As luck would have it, I came at the right time of the year and was fortunate enough to hear the Christmas tunes... pure joy.
Make a reservation, expect to pay about $150 for the above, and more if you can get through a bottle of wine early enough to want a second.
So what could be different? Well, there are just a few things - and they are minor, hence the 4 star review:
- The club allows for a 6:00 reservation, yet the doors were locked and a sign says the place opens at 6:30. It was a COLD night! Standing outside, even though not for very long, was uncomfortable.
- The server we had was friendly, but lacked personality
- The meat fondue, since unseasoned, could have been more flavorful
Having the perfect atmosphere though, you could easily dismiss the above. And so I did. -
Review from Roy C.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The fact that this place is the only decent place with a full bar past midnight on a Tuesday in a 15-mile radius is reason enough to give it extra stars. I always hate coming back to Upland/Claremont to visit, because there are never any bars open that late. Hip Kitty has changed all that for me, and now I definitely know where to go to get a late-night drink with some buddies (if I don't want to venture beyond the borders of the Upland/Claremont area).
1 star for being open so late. 1 star for generous servings of Glenlivet. 1 star for a chill patio area outside.
The patio area, however, is pathetically heated with a bonfire in the middle that only keeps the 8-10 people who are directly along its perimeter warm. All the other areas of the patio are left to freeze without any heaters, whatsoever. If you have a patio area, you need to keep heaters running on winter days. It's just how it should be. -
Review from Josh H.
San Dimas, CA
1/30/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Fun place to enjoy some jazz and fondue with friends. I wouldn't go here if you are a fondue connoisseur, as I felt the quality of their ingredients and the flavor of their food was lacking. If you go for the fun times with friends and the Jazz and keep your expectations low on the food/drinks you will most likely love this place.
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Review from Ruhie M.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
12/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Once upon a time, I was 21. So you could assume that for about 12 months, you probably could have found me shitfaced and grinding up on some douchebag at the club hoping that someone wouldn't post pictures up on Facebook the next day.
But im 22 now. Older (biologically). Wiser (put my pictures on the private setting). And little more keen on maintaining what is left of modesty (sweaters ftw!)
so i come here now.
when im not sippin on their cleverly named kitty inspired drinks, or saving my eyebrows from getting burned by the tableside cooking shows, i am happy to sit back and relax with my fav felines to some amazing live jazz.
call ahead for reservations. You could def bring a date here if u don't enjoy talking to her. The ambiance is romantic and artsy. The booths are nice and intimate. But the music is super loud, ur gonna be yelling the whole night .
Actually edit* this may just be ur excuse to sit closer to her and reeeally make that personal connection ;) -
Review from Diane V.
Long Beach, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you're like me and you need some jazz music in your system every now and again, definitely come check this place out. I took my bf and a few of our good friends to check this place out for the first time and the place was definitely all that I expected a jazz spot to have: a great band (Phat Cat Swingers) playing, people dancing, a fully stocked bar, and a laid back crowd.
Reservations for seating is a must for the Hip Kitty if you want to be seated and have dinner here. They get packed fast and the place isn't that big to begin with. It's a perfect spot for dates or even double dates but any more than that (which is what we had) and its standing room only should to shoulder with strangers.
There's a $5 cover on Fridays and Saturdays but the music makes it worth it. We'll definitely come again, I want to check out the dessert fondue they serve here! -
Review from A B.
Upland, CA
2/2/2012
I was hesitant to try this place, because I kept hearing bad things about this type of trendy fondue place, but I'm glad that I did. I think what puts this place above the other fondue restaurants is that fact that they have live entertainment. My husband and I ordered the packaged meal that included the cheese, meat, dessert, and a bottle of wine for about $100 bucks. The cheese and sauces for the meat were very tasty. The entertainment was exceptional that night! Will definately be back for a night of fun!
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Review from Mimi L.
11/26/2011 4 photos
Great live jazz place for late night and drinks! They play modern jazz, the music is great!
Very small restaurant and lounge, only one area with dining tables, bar and lounge. Live band plays on the stage all night long. The decor is very cute, all kitty themed, even the stamp is a black kitty cat. :)
We found seats at the bar, cause it was too loud sitting next to the stage in the front. They have cocktail, finger food and desert menu at the bar. Drinks are from $12-14, which is a bit expensive for downtown claremont. But the drinks were strong, 3 drinks got me kinda wasted. ;p
This place was packed! The crowed was so much fun, everybody was talking to everybody, super friendly, I met some new friends and had a great time there!
A very casual place for a fun night, great music, great drinks and great crowd.
But I wouldn't want to eat there cause the music is too loud, and the dining area is not separated, too many people around, hard to enjoy a meal. -
Review from Chuck A.
Long Beach, CA
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
.., Jump & jive into this hip little kitty! I was snapping my fingers the moment we walked into this place.
My gf Diane surprised me during our date this past Friday by popping my cherry here. Along w/ our friends Adam, Mia, Jessica, & Frank we had a blast!
Came here on a Friday night, $5 entry I believe. The place was hoppin, Phat Cat Swinger was on the stage & they did an awesome set. I highly recommend getting your tails in here early. This place gets packed! The herd of people inside ended up pushing us outside into their patio area. It was elbows to elbows in there if you were standing which can get annoying.
Other than that I love place, we will definately come back for some of their X-mas shows! Check it out! -
Review from Jessie S.
Updated - 12/1/2011
Oh Hip Kitty, you combined two loves of mine: gin mojitos and live jazz.
I have to say that I love The Edison's Southside Collins, a delicious and perfect twist on the mojito but the Hip Kitty's gin mojito is hands down the best mojito that has ever graced my lips.
The only reason why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because when my friend tasted my mojito then went to order one for herself, she overheard the bartender complaining about how time consuming the mojito is to make. So after finishing my first mojito, I went back to order another one and the bartender said, "We're out of mint, I have to check out back to see if there's more." I waited at the bar, he never left any where and then five minutes later walked back to me and told me they were out of mint leaves. LIES!!!
Seriously, you can't make such a delicious drink then be too lazy to make another one.
Seriously man.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/23/2010
Three course fondue dinner... AMAZING! Their house wine was delicious as well! I LOVE jazz and the… Read more »
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Review from courtney j.
Walnut, CA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the live Jazz music.
Friendly people who worked here are really nice. -
Review from Jaison S.
Glendale, CA
10/4/2011
Perfect date spot in Claremont.
I usually go to Hip Kitty on Tuesday nights to catch Beat Cinema presented by Smash Cartel. I suggest you do the same if you want to enjoy some good music, drinks, and fondue.
I'm actually not a big fan of fondue, but I really enjoy it here simply because of the atmosphere. The lights are dim, during normal dinner hours soft jazz music plays, and the booths create a very intimate setting. There's also an awesome fire pit in the back if you want to grab some drinks and have a little 1on1 next to the flaaames (ooooooooh romantic).
-- There's PLENTY of parking available in the structure.
-- Staff is absolutely delightful, except for ONE douche bag that is known to ruin everyone's fun. He's the big doorman with a long ponytail that works during events..steer clear of his path, he's not very jolly :( -
Review from Marie H.
Riverside, CA
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
All I can say is how have I not been here before???
From what I understand they recently expanded the dining room so there are tons of booths and the sound is a lot better than it was. With live jazz (the night I was there the band had a tap dancer with them and it was awesome!), eclectic moody decor and fondue, it is this cat's dream bar! Our server was very sweet, funny and helped make our third stop of a bachelorette bar-hopping adventure light-hearted and fun.
Let's talk fondue. Gooey, delicious chocolately heaven in my mouth. Possibly better than sex. Seriously, this stuff was good. While it is pricey ($18 for chocolate fondue for two) it was SO EFFING WORTH IT. My bestie got the milk chocolate with peanut butter (tasted like melted Reese's peanut butter cups) and I got the dark chocolate with caramel to share. OMG, people!
Let me wipe the drool as I recall the deliciousness...
Anyway, I'm already planning a date night with my husband there. This may seriously be my new favorite place on earth! -
Review from Karol P.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just go for the live music. The variety of entertainment here is phenomenal and goes beyond jazz (Beat Cinema Tuesday nights). That said, the service is slow and the crowd can be obnoxious, depending on the night/band. Skip the fondue, if anything, try the grilled cheese instead. + Ditto MoMo Y.'s review.
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Review from Naomi V.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
11/30/2011
Took my hermanita and a group if close friends.... had a great time. Great live jazz, great choc fondue and sting ass drink! Can't beat that! Loved it! I will def be back!
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Review from Sophia L.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
A good group of ladies went here a couple Fridays ago and it was pretty amazing. Mostly because I was with an awesome bunch of friends, but this place totally hooked it up! It was my bday & a friend's bday celebration. 8 ladies total. When we first got their the chef made us some complimentary asparagus cheese puffs ( that's so NOT the name) & they were good. Everyone liked the food, but not everyone was fond of the cheese fondue on our table, including me. There are so many choices, that I'm sure there's something for everyone. The shrimp was big & juicy. I ordered this bowl with Chicken, asparagus & peppers over a biscuit in a sherry cream sauce. DELICIOUS & cooked right in front of me by our very attentive waiter. I would order that again & again. Another girl had this cheese/crab dip with all these fried little dippers. Sooo amazing! & of course the dessert fondue was fantastic. Can't go wrong there. THE DRiNKS were strong & priced decently. The other bday girl & I were given two complimentary shots. One with a hint of lemonade & great vodka and the other was a red headed sl*t.
This place definitely knows how to make an experience memorable from the decor, the live jazz band, & the awesome service. Can't wait to go back, but with my husband. He'll love it!! -
Review from Erica B.
Live music, chocolate fondue, strong martinis and a jazz club atmosphere. What's there NOT to like?
We came in on a Wednesday night to have some martinis and fondue. We were able to enjoy The Claremont Voodoo Society, a local Folk/Blues band who hosts the open jam sessions the first Wed of every month.
Now that I've been in mid-week, I can compare the vibe of mid-week vs the weekend.
- Wednesdays are low key, not crowded at all. In fact, there was only a handful of people in the dining area till about 9pm. But, you'll enjoy front and center seating and the service is crazy fast.
- However, if you're looking for a true jazz club vibe, I'd recommend a Friday night. It gets pretty crowded though and might be nearly impossible to snag a table without a reservation. I believe they only give reservations up until 8pm, which is an hour before the music starts on a Friday night. The service isn't AS attentive, but it doesn't matter. The jazz makes up for it!
Like most reviews pointed out, you can only enjoy the fondue from one of the many booths INSIDE the dining area. But do what we did...we enjoyed the band and fondue for a bit, then later moved out to the patio to get some fresh air. The patio is really beautiful, with a couple of gazebos and cute twinkle lights. If you can sacrifice the fondue, it's a PERFECT place for a small party...and you can hear the music from outside!
We loved: the milk chocolate fondue, the amazing service, the dirty martinis, the decor on the stage, the artwork, the patio, and the old school red vinyl booths =) -
Review from Marco S.
Claremont, CA
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had an awesome experience at this place. Jules Day performed a holiday concert with a great band. We had drinks and their chocolate turtle fondue which was fantastic. Very eclectic 70's decor with colored blown glass lamps and funky city scape art on cork walls. Chic and artsy. Great service too. So proud that the Village scene is happening!
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Review from Shari M.
Updated - 6/24/2011 1 photo
I came here back in April for one of my girl's birthday and completely forgot about it :/ I had such a cool time with the chill vibe in this place that I had to bump it up a star. They checked our IDs and escorted us to a half circle booth placed stage left, front and center. Apparently they had expanded this area from the last time I was there.
I'm not really into jazz much but I did my fair share of finger snapping along with the music because I got sucked into the vibe. I had been running around for weeks prior to have a blue fedora for this night but no such luck (got it now though!). I really don't think I can stress the vibe enough to you folks. It's nice to go somewhere and relax with a bunch of different people and everyone is comfortable.
I ordered the pepperoni pizza and chicken empenadas. The food was pretty decent but my heart was set on what we had planned for dinner a bit earlier. I would've ordered a fondue dinner if I knew earlier but was tight on cash. Our waitress was super cool. She kept coming back to check on us, never rushing us to order and/or leave because a few people came late.
Our group of 7 pretty much closed this place down. We arrived around 8pm and was almost the last folks out. Hip Kitty is definitely a place I'd frequent often. Whether it be a birthday gathering, girls night out, or an intimate date.Listed in: OoOo Girls Just Wanna Have…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2010
Im usually not a Jazz person and I've never had fondue but the birthday girl wanted to migrate here… Read more »
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Review from Lauren A.
Claremont, CA
9/2/2011
I go here to hang out and have a glass. I like that I can sit outside and smoke and still hear the music/live band. The prices are normal, like $8-$12 a drink, and the fondue/chocolate and white chocolate are delicious!
It's not a place for the kids so leave them at home, but it's a wonderful date night spot or bff oasis... -
Review from Lauren R.
Diamond Bar, CA
6/6/2011
I absolutely love this place. I have only been here a handful of times but every visit was a treat. It's a great environment for a night out with friends or family. Although be warned that it does get pretty noisy in there considering they have live music and a busy bar.
Be sure to make reservations ahead of time if you want a prime spot to watch the given live bands playing that night. Also, I would like to point out that they are widely known for their fondue, not the other dishes offered. I tried the grilled cheese and it was alright..not worth the price though. However, we got the milk chocolate dessert fondue and it was delicious. I would highly recommend it.
Be sure to check out the calender on their website to see who is playing each night/ to see if they are charging an entrance fee. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not.
The whole place has a fantastic ambiance about it, and it even has a back patio area which is lit up at night. This is definitely a must visit place if you are ever in Downtown Claremont!Listed in: Lounge Bars
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Review from Gaby N.
San Bernardino, CA
12/27/2011
I love this place! yes i am a jazz head and love anything that is unusual, vintage and fun! So this place is a wonderful lil place for you to relax have a good drink, and i mean good, no cheap well stuff here for 2 bucks (hey i like that too but sumtimes you need a nice fancy drink). The place has a nice happy hour we were there on Thursday and got a few drinks for a reasonable price and had sum delicious grilled cheese sandwiches for half off, not bad for a happy hour. But in all honesty i wasn't here for the food i was here for the drinks and the music, and those two did not disappoint a bit! Me and my hunny love ended our nite with fancy cocktails, i had a martini that had tanquaray, champagne and chamboard, it was great!!! He had a yummy old skool absinthe, and loved it! Ohh and the staff is great, the lady that helped us was a peach!! Just wonderful!! thanks for a good time, will be coming back!
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Review from Sappho C.
Gilroy, CA
Went on a date at Hip Kitty and it was my first time. My overall experience? It was HIP! I went on a saturday night, and for some reason, Claremont was very quiet! We did not have a reservation but we got a table right away. At first, they didn't want to give us the table, but she guessed no one was coming, so who cares?
This time we had to pay a cover charge. I think it's because we got in late and had a good band playing. The ambiance is awesome! Lots of nice art hanging around the place and the band was fantastic! The little 2 seaters are very romantic. It forces you and your date to be super close, which was a plus! So if you really like this person, you should definitely take her to hip kitty and get one of the small booths! ;)
The food was decent. I mean, it was fondue, nothing much to it. But it was the experience that probably cost the most. We got the dinner for 2. It costs $100 but they give you a cheese, main course, and desert fondue along with a bottle of wine. You get to sit for an hour or two enjoying the food and music and company!
Overall, definitely would recommend to those that was to impress someone. If you dont have money, then you might just want to come for a dessert fondue for 2. -
Review from Linda L.
North Hollywood, CA
6/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Love the live music and Jazzy Club feel. The bouncer is very nice and its like a homage to downtown Santa Cruz so it definitely pulls a heart string. Also, there are always couples dancing on the floor, so bring your dancing shoes! :)
Food: Chocolate and cheese fondue is wonderful. Don't do the broth with meat fondue...might as well as make some soup at home. Really pricey but worth trying or if you're having a fondue craving. -
Review from Janki P.
Chino, CA
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place! Come here for live jazz and a drink. The environment is fun, loud and up beat. The decor is wonderful with various pieces of paintings on the wall. And as busy as it gets and there's no seating, there won't be any issues standing up since the music keeps you entertained. I've never eaten here, thus the 4 stars. But it's a fun night to either sit at the bar and listen to the music or sit outside in the romantically lighted patio and have conversations with whomever your with.
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Review from Jilly B.
Diamond Bar, CA
7/28/2011 Seated via OpenTable 21 Check-ins Here
This is an amazing place to truly relax and enjoy good music and good company.
A few weeks ago I visited here with a few friends and sat out in the patio in the cabana and it was the perfect way to distress from a horrific week. The wine is decently priced and the fondue or bar food item selection is great.
The downfall is being outside and not being able to enjoy the fondue outside.... I know this is a running issue in most of the reviews, so you would think they would try to fix it right??? But that is the only reason why Hip Kitty didn't get a full 5-Star review. -
Review from Miss G.
Arcadia, CA
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like to swing by this place after having dinner on first street (wherever it happens to be that I have dinner depending on the night) and have a few drinks and listen to some good jazz music.
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Review from Jaimie W.
San Dimas, CA
4/3/2011
This review is for the bar only. I WOULD give this place 5 stars, but I didn't even get to try the fondue! I pretty much just drank all night with my girl friends. So, I wouldn't feel comfortable just giving it to the Hip Kitty without trying their fondue...SORRY HIP KITTY!
I really did like this place! When someone mentioned it was a jazz bar, I felt a little uneasy...I'm not a jazz person. But when I walked in I was very impressed. It was dimly lit, there was a mixture of a younger crowd and older crowd, you could dress up or dress down and nobody would notice or care, and the service was great. I tried a ton of new drinks and every one of them was just as good as the last. Everybody at the Hip Kitty was super nice; bartenders, hostess, patrons, band members...Yes, it is very loud, but that's because they have live music ALL THE TIME. But I didn't mind because the music was great! Big band and swing music all night long. Very impressive!
I am definitely going again, but next time, I'm trying their fondue. -
Review from Kristen J.
Glendora, CA
3/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming to Hip Kitty on a fairly regular basis for about a year and a half now. Since my first visit it has been on my list of options for a great night out.
Hip Kitty provides a great up-beat atmosphere, a really pleasant vibe from the time you walk in the door. Good food, well-made drinks, and very friendly service. Even when things get busy, the employees keep their cool. Customer service may not be so important to some but to me it really makes all the difference. They're gaining in popularity, I've noticed, so i recommend making a reservation through OpenTable on their website.
The prices on fondue are a little steep. But they have plenty of lower cost, DELICIOUS "lounge-food" options. Yum! I usually start with one their lounge-food items and split chocolate fondue for dessert with the table. Its surprisingly cost effective. The live music can be a little hit-or-miss sometimes but I've discovered a few great groups through them.
I can't say enough good things about Hip Kitty. I really enjoy myself every time I go. Its a great place to go for a good time! -
Review from Jasmin M.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was kind of on the fence about this place and every other fondue place. I mean, there is no real reason why you should have to spend at least $50 bucks to dip small pieces of meat into some cheese, right?!
Well I have been to Hip Kitty a handful of times, and after spending a few hundred dollars on cheese dipped meat, I figured out the trick. I came here last month with a girlfriend, and we ordered the combo: Beef, Sausage, Shrimp & Scallop, $30. They let us share. IDK if this is normally allowed, even though it was a perfect amount for the both of us. It would have been way too much food for one person. We also came mid-week and the drinks were 5 bucks, all night. So, all in all we each spent about $25 bucks, got full AND got our buzz on!
Pretty awesome, right?! I will come back and order this way every time from now on. Any other way is just too expensive.... :) -
Review from Nydia A.
I dig this place. It's dark, romantic & has cool live music. usually jazz, but went last night & they had 3 rockish bands (my brothers band rocked the house!) Good place for a date, the security was strict- but nice. If your coming to eat, it can be expensive so save this place for only your hottest dates! :)
it can also get a little crowded so come early or during the week -
Review from Iris B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is such a great place to hang out with some friends. They offer live entertainment and delicious fondue. Great idea for a first date, but be ready to spend a lot.
Their milk chocolate fondue is pretty good. Ive also had the cheese fondue (Can't remember which kind of cheese though). You can easily spend up to $100 at this place. Arrive early to get a good seat. It is pretty small, but that's why I love this place so much. It makes it that much more intimate.
Keep it Hip and enjoy the music! -
Review from Catalina H.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3/21/2011
My Best Friend introduced me to the Hip Kitty. I Love it, great Vibe! Thanks
Rick'ster ! :) -
Review from Thomas C.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3/8/2011
I've been here for my own birthday and to just hang out, drink, and enjoy the music.
Yes:
- Live Jazz: they have some great jazz performers that come through. The local regulars are pretty good too.
- Friendly staff and bar keep(s): The doorman went out of his way to tell me the best place to order drinks from at the bar...it worked.
- Open seating: the whole restaurant was like bar seating (Disclaimer: We were there on a weekday).
- Great vibe
- Older crowd is usually a more mellow one...mellow is good for me.
- Watching older crowd having fun after a couple too many.
- Convenient parking situation
No:
- Prices (both food and drinks can get up there)
- $5 per person Cake-Cutting Fee! (We did the bday cake in the parking lot in protest to this outrageous cost).
- Restroom situation is kinda weird...maybe it's just me.
- Fondue (Disclaimer: I think Fondue at restaurants is all hype so I'm biased with this).
Things to know:
- Usually a cover on the weekends, esp when someone remotely famous is performing. I've never paid more than $5 though...so far.
- Park in the adjacent structure...it's very convenient.
Go Dodgers. -
Review from Jia B.
Claremont, CA
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Hip Kitty is really starting to grow on me... I've been there 3 times now, and last night was the first time I tried their fondue (I'd always just go for a few drinks with friends).
The fondue was pretty good (I had the cheese fondue) but nothing spectacular. The cheese was a bit too thick and for $22 you'd think you'd get more than 3 tiny bowls (1 with veggies, 1 with bread,1 with fruit) to dip in. Either way... looks like I'm gonna have to buy my own fondue set. but at least I tried it!
Fondue set aside, it is a very chill place to hang out, and it's always very fun getting a table or booth and just hanging out with friends for a low key night with live music. The music is always booming loud, so a lot of times it's very hard to hear your conversations. But 2 out of 3 times the music was good.
The decor and the ambiance is great! very laid back and cool... "hip" if you will. But this brings the other problem in... the place is filled with "hipsters" who honestly I don't have much against them (other than I think they dress really odd... i mean honestly...) but you always feel like you don't belong somewhere when hipsters are around... because they stare at you and judge you from across the room. Seemingly saying: "What are THEY doing here... they obviously don't appreciate good music and good taste" which is funny... because they themselves are wearing 40's-50's style clothes with suspenders and funny hats and expensive "aged" leather shoes...
Anyway. Enough of that and back to hip kitty. The back patio is really nice with small cabanas (that have non-working heaters in them) and a very cool, very "hip" (sorry) fire pit in the middle... with an eerie glow to it. Very cool place to hang out.
The bartenders and even the bouncers are super nice and (other than the hipsters) the crowd is very cool. As a local this is a nice place to go when you want a relaxing night of hanging out at a bar/lounge, or if other plans fall through it's a nice back-up. -
Review from Rox T.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
11/29/2010
I go to this place for the ambiance, live jazz (and now venturing into blues and rockabilly bands), cocktails and socializing on the patio.
Drinks and food:
1. They have a variety of cocktails for the frequent drinker and tasty fondue treats for the foodie.
~ The fondue is a bit over priced for what you get, but most fondue places are IMO. It's all in the experience I suppose.
Ambiance (my favorite part of this place) and Live Ent.:
1. Live jazz/ blues/ rockabilly music (check their calendar), outdoor patio with seating and a fireplace that's cozy for friendly and flirty conversation.
2. For the social smoker, they actually sell cigarettes inside out of a machine. Kind of old school, but it's cool and convenient. And as of October 15, 2011, I hear they have hired a new cigar/ cigarette girl. Very vintage and a plus.
Suggestions:
1. Always check the calendar to make sure they have a live band and are not hosting a private party, especially around the holidays.
2. If you do come for the fondue experience with a decent size group, make a reservation and try to get a booth. Seating on the sides near the band are somewhat awkward and I believe they have high bar tables and chairs. Not a real cozy feeling while sharing a meal with friends.
3. Bring a few friends to chill with or book for a private party. You can also come solo, if you just want to escape the realities of your own world and listen to some good music.
4. I suggest going here for cocktails, the music and maybe a desert fondue. Dinner fondue if you feel like splurging.
Enjoy. -
Review from Kymmie S.
Pasadena, CA
9/22/2011
Hip Kitty is a awesome spot! The atmosphere is great. Wonderful artwork, decor and style. The sound is pretty good also. The last I went was on a Tuesday for the Beat Cinema, I had a great time. Excellent music and very good vibe. I will definitely return and will tell a friend!!!
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Review from mimi p.
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for drinks on a Friday night.. Good spot for drinks and if you want to listen to a live jazz band.. Only downer is that there are no seats inside if you get there late.. some of the booths are only available if you order food.. but they have an outside area with a fire pit and 3 cabana where you can enjoy a bottle of wine with friends..
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Review from Desiree M.
Austin, TX
7/21/2010
I know I'm probably three degrees of separation from the owner since Claremont is a small town and I know she's a local. In the interest of giving another townie the benefit of the doubt, I've refrained from reviewing the Hip Kitty or being critical of the venue in general. But my last visit to Claremont included a trip to the Hip Kitty that was so unpleasant I feel compelled to bring it up: We paid $12 (including tip) for two cokes--no refills, no table service even. I had to go up to the bar and order them. $12. Two sodas. We got two cocktails at a bar four blocks away for less than that.
There are some things that the Hip Kitty got right: The decor playfully straddles the line between kitsch and class, and the back patio has a gorgeous, unique fire pit/glass sculpture.
On several occasions I've walked into the Hip Kitty only to be inundated by a smell that resembles overcooked fried fish. I have no idea what this is about--do they have fish fondue? Should fondue ever smell like that? I've never eaten there because the smell hit me before I ever looked at a menu.
Which is a problem, because all of the tables are reserved for people eating fondue. If you came to see a band and drink some cocktails, you have to sit at the small bar (good luck finding space) or hang out on the patio. Where you can't hear jazz, so that plan is out.
Even if you did sit inside, I wonder how frequently you're likely to hear jazz. Every time I've been there the featured band was playing music that could be like a cousin of jazz, but it's never jazz--folksy blues, bluesy rock, one time there were some teenage musicians playing jazz-like music while one of them rapped over it. Huh?
I'm friends with the bartender who served me the sodas we eventually paid so much for, so I seethed quietly, knowing that she had no control over the pricing. Which is also why I tipped her. But that made me really angry.
I don't feel like this venue is conducive to any of the things it purports to be all about: The fondue leaves a heavy, repellant stench in the air, the bar-seating is restrictive, and the music isn't really jazz. And you're designated driver is going to pitch a fit when (s)he realizes that a night of not drinking costs so much. -
Review from Lauren L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/22/2010 1 photo
I love going to unconventional places for a good time. This was the last stop on the unofficial Claremont tour on a Saturday evening. There was a $5 cover for whatever reason I don't know. This place is known apparently for the fondue but my friend and I sat at the bar and ordered the brownie dessert that they make in house. It was served with ice cream and was super rich. Good...but only can eat a few bites. I found the customer service and bartenders to be friendly and upbeat. As my Yelp friend mentioned, $10 min. for credit @ the bar.
They had a band playing and then a trio of ladies came up dressed in 40's attire. So festive and cute with old school microphones to boot. They had quite the following and the place was packed and not much breathing or walking room. Live music makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Would return with a larger group in the future.
