Had no idea this place has been open for four years, and I'd never tried it…read more Went on a Thursday night, we ended up being the only ones there. I understand weekends has live music. It's rustic and clean, it's very clean. There's a very large side room for events etc. the main bar area is small with some nice chairs to sit in and the large tv was set to a fireplace. The floors are covered in various beef/farm brands, adds to the rustic western vibe. Bartender was friendly and attentive. She kept busy cleaning and dusting bottles- like I said- it's clean. Drinks for a "speakeasy" were not special. Very typical bar drinks- no special menu etc. I visit a lot of speakeasy's- this is, speakeasy-ish. Our two drinks & a club soda were nearly $40. They were made well. Unfortunately, they didn't have the ingredients to make the drink I had asked for. Overall, I'd like to see this place on a weekend night with music. The drinks were over priced for what they were- IMO. That said, I'll likely return, at least once. Still bummed KC doesn't have a nice speakeasy.

Our favorite local spot with THE BEST ambiance. I have never had a bad experience here…read more Haley is a delight and is very knowledgeable as both a bartender and server. We love coming here just to see her. This is a great spot for a quiet date night. It can get pretty pricey, but half of what you pay for is the location and the service, which is second to none. This is a great spot to host a private party as well and does require a password to get in. A great way to ensure your party stays private!

Nobody plans to spend an evening in Bakersfield. You pass through it on the way to somewhere else…read more-- Mammoth, the Sequoias, the long flat grind up the 99 to Sacramento -- and if you stop at all, it's for gas or a bathroom or because your BMW's brakes have decided, somewhere around the Grapevine, that they'd rather not. Thank you, Weatherford BMW of Berkeley, for the near-death experience and, inadvertently, for one of the best nights out I've had in years. Stranded and waiting on repairs, we checked into The Padre, the only hotel in Bakersfield that feels like someone with a subscription to Dwell had a hand in it, and set out walking through a downtown that time has treated with more kindness than reputation suggests. There's a Woolworth's luncheonette still hanging on. There are old brick facades and wide sidewalks and the particular quiet of a Central Valley evening when the heat finally breaks. And then, on 18th Street, there is Tiki-Ko, and suddenly you are no longer in Bakersfield at all. You are, instead, inside someone's magnificent obsession. Tiki-Ko is a proper tiki bar -- not a tiki-themed cocktail lounge, not a place that bought some bamboo at a craft store and called it atmosphere, but a genuine, committed, floor-to-ceiling shrine to mid-century Polynesian fantasy. The carvings are real. The lighting is correct -- which is to say, barely there. The mugs are serious. There are pufferfish lamps and carved totems and the whole glorious taxonomy of tiki ephemera, accented here and there with a skate-culture edge that keeps it from feeling like a museum. It's reverent without being precious. The drinks are the real thing. Mai Tais built with actual orgeat. Zombies that earn the name. The bartenders make them with the kind of care and enthusiasm that tells you this isn't a gig -- it's a calling. They want you to be here. They want to talk about rum. They want you to try the Painkiller. In a city that most Angelenos regard as a punch line, somebody built a world-class cocktail bar and filled it with joy, and the regulars clearly know it. You will not plan a trip to Bakersfield. But if you find yourself there -- by mechanical failure, by accident, by the peculiar mercy of a bad brake job -- walk downtown. Find the tiki bar. Order a second round. Stay longer than you intended. Bakersfield has been underestimated, and Tiki-Ko is the proof.

Haven't been in here for probably 15 years. It's changed- a bit. I love Tiki bars and I go to every…read moreTiki bar I can find. It's tiny- like a lot of tiki spots. Decor is nice. Little hidden gems. Lighting is dark with bits color and neon popping through. The Bar Top curves around the bar- there are two booths that seat 5-6 and two short tables next to them- one seats 4- the other will comfortably seat two. There are a few bench style seating areas at the front with some short coffee tables. Think- skater tiki bar. The drinks were good- small menu if you're not sure what you want or are new to tiki. Both sides of the menu are the same menu. There are some nice mocktail options as well- you don't see that often. The service for me is mixed- it wasn't busy- steady but not busy- 1/4 full. I ordered two drinks to start for our table- (no cocktail servers here/not unusual for a small Tiki bar) I asked for a soda water- the bartender looked at me without a word- popped open a can of soda water and walked away. When he walked back by, I asked for a glass of ice- he said nothing and I got an eye-roll huff. I almost left. I don't think providing a glass with ice to pour your canned room temp soda water in, is too wacky an idea to be perturbed by the request. The female who took the order was friendly, smiled and was professional. We got a third cocktail- the Mai Tai. The grumpy bartender was friendlier this time. So, that helped. Maybe he felt overwhelmed and I threw off his groove by asking for water- then a glass... either way- being annoyed wasn't cool. The music.... Wasn't Tiki- it threw off the "Tiki Vibe" and made it feel typical small local bar that serves only Tiki drinks with some Tiki decor. It didn't take you to the land of Tiki- disappointed. Drinks were good.

The Botanist is such a vibe. From the outside, The Botanist is unassuming. But don't be fooled, a…read morehidden oasis lies just beyond the front door. The food was toptier. I was especially surprised by how great their chicken wings are! They also make a mean old fashioned. Our server was very welcoming and attentive. If you're looking for a nice, positive, and slightly secluded/intimate vibe with great drinks and food, I definitely recommend The Botanist.

The two stars are for the delicious food they provide, the great cocktail options they have, and…read morethe beautiful atmosphere inside the restaurant. The service is questionable. Last year I made a large reservation for about 10 ladies to celebrate someone and on the way to the restaurant they called to confirm the reservation (about 30 minutes before), but I did not hear my phone. When I arrived, a distraught friend told me that they did not have our reservation so I asked what the issue was. The manager told me because I did not confirm, they were not sure they were going to hold the table. I apologized that I had not recieved a call, but asked if we could still have the table (I was there on time and could see the large table with the reservation note on it). The manager begrungenly said they would allow us to still dine with them, but they said they would not seat us until more of our party arrived. I asked if we could wait for our party at the bar, but they said they would not because every seat at the bar was taken. So just a heads up, you cannot stand at the bar, you cannot stand around the restaurant, and they do not have a place to sit and wait for your table, you just have to stand outside (I'm sure it has to do with safety or firecodes, I didn't argue, we waited outside until people at the bar left). Once we were seated, the staff was not friendly. Wondering if we should leave or not, I called a friend who works near the building who frequents this place often on what I should do. He told me to go back inside and that the staff would be nice. When I returned, a new server came to our table with a tray of shots and said they would be taking care of us for the rest of the evening. I figured maybe the manager and that other server was just having a bad day, my friend must have called the restaurant and asked his most trusted server to help us, and enjoyed the rest of our evening. I didn't want to risk it another bad experience, so I haven't returned since. A few months ago during the whole Cesar Chavez news broke out, that friend who frequented the place went with another friend to the Botonist and was talking about the news while they were dining. The manager overheard. Later when my friends were getting ready to leave, the manager started becoming upset with my friends and told my guy friend, "I HOPE SOMEBODY R*PES YOU". Stunned, he asked her to repeat herself and she did. My friends left. The chefs and building are wonderful, but obviously something needs to be done about the management and staff with being professional and treating customers with respect. I've worked in the service industry and understand how stressful it can be, but I have always been able to keep my cool around people who are trying to enjoy a nice meal. Hoping they recieve the help they need as I love to see my community thrive.

Eye St. Pub is a classic and fun spot to kick back and enjoy a delicious cocktail, spend time with…read morefriends (or strangers), and chat with the amazing team of people that work here. Every time I hang out at Eye St. I feel safe and cozy, which is always a plus. Bar area and restrooms are always clean. The jukebox is available and bumpin', there are TVs for live sports and entertainment, & the crowd next door at Rooster's is dancin' away and keeping the energy high. If you haven't already, swing by Eye St. and grab a drink, chat, enjoy the tunes and the friendly faces all around. The owner and crew know exactly what they are doing here, and they never disappoint, so don't miss out!

Can already tell this pub will be in our regular rotation. They did it right! And how fun that the…read morehonky tonk bar is just down the hall. Loved the vibe, loved our drinks. I believe Manny was our bartender - he was excellent. Will be back soon!

My wife and I visited on a Saturday for our five-year wedding anniversary. I booked ahead my…read morereservation through Yelp. At the last minute, I actually had to move my reservation by 30min, so I called the restaurant and they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. Being a Bakersfield native I definitely wanted to check this place out being that I had visited Chase Bank prior to the vault taking over. I was absolutely amazed by the decorating on the interior. They literally left no stone unturned. Every single corner of the restaurant is beautifully decorated. I do love the whole vault theme. It definitely just feels like you're stepping back in time. The food was fantastic. On a Friday and Saturday night, they offer a prime rib special. The plate itself ran about $52. But it was well worth it. The prime rib absolutely melted in your mouth. It was paired with a beautifully baked potato. It was also served with a side of horseradish sauce as well as Au'ju, We also tried out the brussels sprouts appetizer. They were absolutely amazing. Flavor was spot on. And I would definitely recommend it if you're just wanting to try something a little bit different. Our meal also came with a soup or salad. My wife opted for the Caesar salad, with house made croutons which she said was great tasting. I opted for the soup of the day, which was an Italian wedding soup. Again great tasting everything tasted fresh and was piping hot.

Lovely atmosphere with amazing service! Mykayla is our favorite server. Quick, witty and…read morepersonable. They food is fantastic and the margaritas are definitely not watered down. My husband and I have been here a few times we now and bring friends and family.

I met a friend here for dinner and drinks. I've never been before and I found out It's under new…read moremanagement. I was surprised when I walked in because I thought the place was much bigger. It is a long and narrow establishment with a trendy vibe. Decorated with wine barrels and bottles which give it an industrial feel. We were greeted by a server immediately upon entering but he wasn't very friendly. I placed an order for a Tito's press for my first round and the hubs ordered a Tito's and tonic. For our next round I ordered a Tito's and tonic and was given another vodka press. After scanning the QR code and checking out the menu, we decided on the shrimp ceviche as an appetizer with the shrimp tacos and a chicken taco salad. The menu is soooo small! I came in with an appetite and there wasn't much to choose from. The hubs said the ceviche was too salty but the shrimp tacos were good. I thought the taco salad was delicious and I finished it all. My friend ordered the garlic shrimp and also said they were salty and at $24.99 for just 6 shrimp, she would not order them again. The weirdest part was there was a big labradoodle inside the restaurant! I thought it crazy at first since there is a patio that is just fine for dogs. Look, I'm a dog lover, but inside of a restaurant is crazy to me! What if people are allergic? What if the dog jumps on the table? This dog was roaming all over the place...it was under our table looking for scraps and I even seen it sniffing a patrons legs at one of the high top tables. Anyway, this place is decorated super cute, the food was okay and the dog seems to be one of the owners so it seems it's going to be there indefinitely. I don't think I'll be going back but you should give it a try.

I'm always looking for a good whiskey bar and Cask Strength fit the bill…read more All of the folks behind the bar were friendly and fun to have conversations with. My bartender, Alec, made a great Old Fashioned. I only came in for a couple drinks before a show downtown, but I was recommended their Chili Relleno. And thank goodness I was. It was delicious. They were kind enough to turn on the Dodger game when I asked and I ended up spending well over an hour watching my team secure a win before heading out. The location is awesome and pretty much anything you'd like to do downtown is walkable distance to and from the bar. The bar has changed ownership recently. But with drinks this good, yummy food, and stellar service, Cask Strength Bar and Kitchen has a bright future in Bakersfield!

Had my daughter's 26th B-day at Fredo's in Bakersfield with the family and it did not disappoint…read more Right when we walked in, the vibe felt welcoming and relaxed, perfect spot to sit down, enjoy a good meal, and just unwind. You can tell this place has a strong local following, and after eating here, it makes sense why. The food was straight up delicious. Everything came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. You can taste the quality in every bite, nothing felt rushed or thrown together. Definitely one of those spots where you leave full and already thinking about what you're ordering next time. Service was excellent. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of the whole time without being over the top. That kind of service always stands out. Overall, great food, great service, and a solid atmosphere. Me and the family will definitely be coming back soon.

Excellent food as always. Had the Italian Stallion pizza with spicy sauce and an amazing Caesar…read moresalad. Salad was fresh and very tasty, also shareable. Wine selection is below average. Tried 3 different wines before we selected. Wine tasted 2-3 days old. Could be better.

I've been here twice now. Here's things we love about it:…read morethey greet you right away when you walk in, it's clean, aesthetically pleasing, and close to the Fox Theater and The Well Comedy Club. The first time we came here, my husband and I came for dinner and drinks, both were amazing and the service was perfect. The server checked on us enough but not too much to make us feel rushed. Tonight we just went for drinks as we were in the area before the event we were going to started. My husband had an old fashioned and I had a lemon drop martini, we sat at the bar. The bar tender was friendly and her drinks satisfied the thirst.

Went here for dessert after a hearty Italian dinner on a Friday night. It looked full but we were…read moreimmediately seated. Interior is visually aesthetically pleasing - even their downstairs bathroom mirror, don't miss out! And of course their milkshake, can't really go wrong with your $10. It was filling, delicious and costs roughly same as two hot fudge sundaes! Service was likewise exceptional. Will surely be back and to try to eat something from their house specialties and of course have dessert again afterwards!