We had a very strange and hostile interaction with a bartender there. I'm not sure what was going…read moreon with him but I wouldn't recommend this place.

Not quite the same vibe as the old Surf n Saddle Bar but still a decent watering hole / dive bar…read more. they have all the popular beers in draft. Usually there's some good music playing, sometimes live...

One of our long-time local favorites. In warm weather, we enjoy the patio and watching the…read moreever-changing array of characters ambling along South Cedros, some destined for shows at The Belly Up. The inside dining room and bar is cozy and decorated with posters from musical acts. Tavern is popular before shows and we go early on weeknights to beat the crowds and enjoy the food. The menu is reasonably priced. The tasty pan seared lemon and butter scallops on linguine was $29. The lobster tacos are $28, with the lobster chunks in a bowl with a subtle tomato sauce, and choice of torillas, with Spanish rice and black beans. Tavern has a full bar and a short but excellent wine list, reasonably priced, and mostly from California. Wines by the glass start at $11 and go to $14. A bottle of William Hill, Central Coast, Chardonnay, wsa $42 and the Rombauer Carneos, $65. Corkage is $25. Most cocktails are $15. It has local beers on draft and in the cans. Service is always fast and friendly. They check regularly for water refills, and any thoughts on the meal. We enjoy the casual, neighborly feel to the Tavern. A California beach town classic.

Best place to eat before a show at the Belly Up!…read more My go-to has been the filet medallions. Always great! Perfectly cooked each time. Cocktails are on point. Old fashioned was excellent. Wine list is what you need. Not huge, but full of solid wines. Review for the attached restaurant: Kind and efficient service. Joy was stellar!!! Nice welcome upon coming in. Server had it all nailed down. Look forward to coming again! 5/20/26 visit

The Kraken is easily one of my new favorite dive bars. It's been around since the '70s, and it…read morestill has that wonderfully unapologetic coastal biker-bar personality. It's exactly the kind of place that looks like it has some stories to tell, and probably shouldn't tell half of them. The vintage décor, random ornamentation, pool tables in the back, and laid-back crowd give the place an incredible amount of character. Everyone was having a good time, the bartender was quick, professional, and genuinely fun, and the drinks were surprisingly well-priced for being this close to the coast. We happened to come in while The Kaotics were playing, and these guys absolutely crushed it. Classic rock covers, great energy, and a packed bar enjoying every minute of it. Huge shoutout to the band! Cold drinks, pool tables, classic rock, good people, and decades of coastal character. The Kraken isn't trying to be anything other than The Kraken, and that's exactly why it's so damn fun.

Good: It's a decent bar during the day time: You can actually talk to people and easily get a…read moredrink. You can see the ocean and the vibe is chill. Bad: It's a terrible bar on the weekends. Sure, sometimes there is good live music, but it's hard to get a drink, it's packed full of a-holes, the staff is also overwhelmed a-holes, and there's no view. But it's sometimes full of cougars though for the Marines, good luck boys.

Sprigs and Spirits Craft Cocktail Bar is immediately to the left right when you walk into the fair…read more It's located in the garden section and is a place where one can enjoy beverages created by mixologists using ingredients right from the garden. There is a seating area with high top communal tables where you can enjoy the surrounding gardens. They serve the best drinks in the fair. My margarita was perfect with all fresh ingredients and Don Julio tequila. My husband had a mule and said it was one of the best he has ever had. There are no prices listed on their board so be prepared to pay a WHOPPING $17.25 per drink. I about fell over. Why 4 stars when the prices are that flipping high you ask? Because the drinks are quality, atmosphere is beautiful and fits with the theme of the bar and it's the fair and I should have expected it. I mean the crappy mix margaritas are $14.25 that come in a shaker. I would rather pay the $3.00 more for the incredible margarita that I had. Even if the drink is smaller. Quality over quantity. Name of the game.

The BEST part of the Fair! They will make you any cocktail you like, all with fresh fruit,…read moreberries, and herbs. Perfect! Such a delight to find something so quality amidst all the crap at the fair.

I finally went to the Cardiff Office with a friend during the 4th of July. We loved the dive vibe…read moreeven if we were around 4 pm only. Nice sports decor and artsy stuff like the nicely painted surf board. Very interesting folks and I am sure this will be a super fun bar for those summer nights ahead. We didn't have issue with parking nearby.

I love a good dive bar. The Cardiff Office was a sad, dark dive bar…read more Four of us wandered in for an afternoon drink. There were two dudes sitting at the end of the bar. There were three empty barstools in front of us when we entered. A woman was sitting next to them, and her backpack was occupying another one. On the other side of her were two more empty seats. She clearly had no intention of moving so the four of us could sit together. I still haven't figured out why her backpack required its own seat. There was also a bartender. We received no greeting, no welcome, just silence. The two guys at the end glanced our way briefly. The woman stared into her drink. The bartender just stood there looking at us. TVs were showing World Cup games with no sound. There was no music. Only silence. Clearly not welcome, we left. My friend described it as "murky". He was spot on. Sad and murky.

OMG! Delightful cocktails. Awesome approachable super friendly bartenders…read more And the view - what a fantastic view!! It's a little of a scavenger hunt finding the place ;) but that is the part of the fun! Once you you have been carded, gotten your wristband, located THE last leg to the bar you've got 30 mins to either order another drink or find your way out again. $16 for a cocktail. Good luck!

Many of nights lost in this room.. core memories here with PLG! Locsl vibe but like not at the same…read moretime it's a look inside the cool kids hangout spot and when your there your one of them!

Stopped in the Daley Double on a Saturday afternoon. Totally cool little dive bar. First off Tab…read moreour bartender was one cool cat. Funny dude too! Oh, and don't waste your time with any "bar tab" jokes with Tab. Trust me, he's heard them all. No tap beer here, only bottles. No problem, Becky and I don't mind cracking a Pacifico on occasion ($4). Pretty big bar with comfortable stools and some booths along the wall. The Jack Daniels logo on the felt on the pool table was cool. The bathroom was horrible. I really don't expect much out of bathrooms in my dive bars. It was relatively empty of day drinkers so we were able to chit-chat and joke around with Tab. Just a fun, old-school dive bar.

Great place had so much fun. Crowd and staff super friendly…read moreand gracious. Strong drinks at a very good price. Awesome classic dive bar. No food when we were there but said food trucks are there on the weekends.

The Shanty is an iconic dive bar in Cardiff by the Sea. I had never been, but my companions all had…read moreon multiple occasions. They have a very large detached outdoor patio that was really cool, but we were all about the dive bar vibe inside. Upon walking in I immediately loved it. Dark, but not dank. More like a neighborhood hangout for locals but welcomes visitors. We sat at the bar where we were warmly greeted by our friendly bartender. We were just in for a couple. Beers for the guys, White Claw seltzers for the wives. Prices were reasonable, lots of TVs, surprisingly clean bathroom, pool tables, just a really cool spot. Totally a 5-star experience EXCEPT. When the girls each asked for a pint glass of ice to pour their seltzers into, I'd swear that I saw the bartender scoop the ice directly with the glasses, rather than using a scoop to pour ice into them. A huge no-no. Never risk a chip of glass into the ice well. Always use a metal scoop. Our friends went the next day and said it wasn't the case with them, so I hope I'm wrong. If not, perhaps an OSHA refresher training course is needed.