- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Saloon
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
15 reviews for The Saloon
From my column, http://www.HotSpotsInL...
Granted, there are a number of great restaurant bars in Laguna Beach (i.e., Rooftop, K'ya, Lumberyard, The White House, Nick's, 230 Forest, etc.) but there are only three REAL bars in Laguna Beach, all with personalities of their own.
Together, these three long-standing Laguna Beach bars are a veritable triumvirate in our little town, having dominated and outlasted hundreds of other tries over the decades. They are, The Marine Room Tavern (Ocean Ave.), the Saloon (PCH right in the middle of town), and The Sandpiper Lounge (PCH toward the south end of Central Laguna).
Today, we discuss the Saloon, the only standup European pub in the entirety of Orange County. (To be sure you don't miss out on our other two "personalities," and insider tips and secrets to each of these renowned bars, be sure to subscribe, above).
Established in 1978, Laguna Beach's Saloon has been owned these last five years by Bobby Doerr and Mike Byrne. Step in the place and you feel you've been immediately transported to some pub in Central London or Dublin.
Aside from a couple of small benches and one teensy table in the corner, this is a stand-up bar. Don't be asking for one of those foo-foo blender drinks - they don't own a blender. DO feel free to peruse one of the finest single Scotch menus in town, and enjoy 100% juice in any mixed juice drink you try - they refuse to go the way of "juice from a gun."
While the Saloon certainly offers above-average wines by the glass, this is primarily a mixed drinks, straight shots, and mighty beer kind of bar.
The Saloon opens its doors at noon on weekends and at 2:00 on weekdays, but the real action begins after 9:00 p.m. Packed with both locals, nearby town regulars and people who come from all cities and countries to this renowned bar, just take a deep breath and worm your way through. (Come on, that's half the fun.)
Local, Insider Tips to the Saloon
The Saloon is famous for two drinks:
1. The Pine-O Cranikazi. See that big ol jug of fresh cut pineapple rings soaking in vodka there on the Saloon's back bar? That's the foundation to this drink. A pineapple-infused top-shelf vodka Cosmopolitan served up or on the rocks, it goes down extremely easy.
2. The No Name shot. Primarily a coffee liqueurs shot, this gizmo was first invented by a Filipino bartender at the Saloon years ago and was initially named after him. When he eventually retired, the shot became the "NO Name" shot. This either occurred because of some kind of strange politics OR a reverence for retiring the name, much like they do a Michael Jordan jersey number. (I prefer the latter story.) Whatever the case, this is a no-nonsense shot made up of 5 liquors (yes, I said FIVE) and mixed on a weekly basis by just one, long-time bartender at the Saloon. If you know the actual name of the shot, the Saloon treats you like a V.I.P. You'll see the clear, unnamed, unlabeled bottle there on the back bar, too.
How to Find Laguna Beach's Saloon
Remember the cobblestone path I told you about in the Gelato Paradiso article? Well the Saloon stands right on PCH at the front of that cobblestone. From Main Beach (Broadway and PCH), travel south just 3 blocks past Park Ave. About halfway up the block, you'll stumble across the Saloon. (If you hit Watermarc, you've gone too far.)
Hours of Operation for the Saloon
Weekdays, 2:00 p.m. to last call (usually around midnight on week nights)
Weekends, noon to last call (usually 1:30 a.m. All drinks are out of hands and off the bar at 2:00 here.)
Stock oranges!!!
...and then I can happily bump this review up, mayhaps all the way up to five stars; however, so long as there are no oranges... I cannot review The Saloon too well.
I love The Saloon!!! What, right in Peppertree Lane adjacent some fine establishments of food and gelato and all. It's small, stand-only environment and wonderful decor is both quirky and keen, and Erin the bartender is fantastic! It usually has a really good crowd from Wednesday on, which can actually become suffocating at times, but is alright because that's what it is.
However, this is a classic, ol' timer bar without the ability to make a legitimate Old Fashioned due to their not carrying oranges. I generally am then forced to go with a Manhattan, Rob Roy or Rusty Nail, which are delicious drinks and usually well-prepared here; however, when the mood strikes you for an Old Fashioned, nothing satisfies you short of one and a bar with this type of old time feeling should definitely be able to make an old time drink.
Please saloon, get oranges, maybe even blood oranges and I'll show you some yelping love.
Located in an area the size of Imelda Marcos' show closet, The Saloon offers a stand up bar with a couple of small tables on either end.
People come and go, as this seems to be a before or after the main show kind of a destination.
Good conversation and people watching, it is just another little spot to rest an elbow and watch the world go by.
I somewhat remember this bar this past weekend. I was with my pissy friend who pouted in the corner over some imagined slight all night. This bar made it easy to ignore her BS. Service was prompt and the patrons were cool. I think I drank some beer here. I got smashed to deal with my idiot friend.
Now if I could only remember the bar that was south and around the corner from this place because I really liked the band that played there. And I'm sure they remember me very well because I left a $45.00 tip on a $5.00 bar tab. Yes I was pretty drunk and I wanted to make it an even number. Doh!!!!
Pino! Oh wow probably the least alchoholic tasting drink with the most alcohol content i've ever had. Amazing! This place was crazy crowded on Sat night but the bartenders do their jobs very well. Highly recommend it
Pineapple infused vodka on the rocks = my alcoholic heaven.
Minus one star only because my 3 fellow hookers and I had some sore feet and there wasn't enough seating.
Hole-in-the-wall bars a mystery to me. I mean, I know they exist and all, but they're sort of like a unicorn. Or maybe a kumquat. You've heard about them, and maybe seen a picture or two of them, but never experienced them directly.
One night of bar hopping not TOO long ago, and sobriety being a near recent memory, my friends and I made our way into this place. Kick ass. It's a mans bar. They can do the foo foo drinks, but this is a place who's image exudes that sort of macho machismo, and where the bartenders look that they'll go as sweet in terms of a drink as a whiskey sour for your girlfriend.
The problem with the place, which is actually one of it's greatest benefits, is that it's small. However the ambiance of the place, plus it's location near EVERYTHING in Laguna is what makes it ganz toll.
It's the drinks. Great drinks.
Where do you get great drinks anymore? Here I guess. This little stand-up hole-in-the-wall Laguna fixture.
I enjoy their Bloody Mary but next time I will try the cran-a-kazzi.
This place is true old school! It meets all the Old School Haunt parameters:
Stiff drinks on the cheap
Salty bartender
Good crowd
Slightly intimidating to the uninitiated
Highlight of the visit was running into Mike, the bartender from Turk's, who was there for a drink. Best quote ever was when someone asked Mike if he works the night shift at Turk's anymore- "No, I don't have the time or energy to teach another generation how to drink."
Classic!
While not what I would consider a dive bar, it was a cozy spot with a good vibe. Loved that they make their own coffee liqueur, that went in a very tasty coffee drink. Did not love the lack of chairs and the somewhat exclusive attitudes of the locals.
This is Laguna old school! Make sure to have a cran-a-kazzi, pineapple vodka with cranberry, amazing!
And say hi to Colby!
pino me, please. feels a little like boston meets orange county. the place tends to get a little crowded around 11 but this just adds to the experience. love the bartender/owner - no frills kinda guy, but also makes you feel right at home.
Amazing little bar in Laguna Beach! They've got old school cash registers and other random knick knacks. It's a real cool place to drink out of and the next time in in Laguna Beach, I'll be sure to drop by the Saloon again.
Fantastic little bar. Order the cran-a-kazzi, because its fucking awesome. The drink is kinda girly (kamakazi made with their own pineapple vodka and cranberry juice) but packs just enough punch. The vibe is mellow and the location is key.
This place might have gotten a 3 or a 4 out of me if it wasn't for the prick bartender. I like the bar itself, it had a nice old timey feel to it...and the jukebox was "ok", you could manage to find something you liked.
And yes, their signature pineapple vodka shots were pretty good...however, Pissy McCranky Pants (read: bartender in his late 50's) tried his damnedest to ruin our night. I don't understand what the problem was...a huge group of girls with cash burning holes in their pockets, isn't that a bartenders dream?
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend going there if you want to celebrate a birthday or cut loose in any way, unless of course you're into your dad yelling at you every 5 minutes...even though you're tipping him generously and dropping about $150 every 15 minutes in his bar. McCranky has no time for you youngins and your antics...or your money apparently, so don't waste his time. Go somewhere else if you're looking for fun times.
