Illusion Magic Lounge - Magic by the Sea was such a fun experience for all ages and absolutely worth the visit! The night starts in an intimate bar setting where you get to enjoy strolling magic up close, which immediately pulls you into the experience. From there, you move into a smaller room for a pre-show performance that builds anticipation before heading into the main theater area. The setup was done incredibly well. The seating in the main show area was perfectly arranged and angled so everyone had a great view no matter their height or where they were seated. There really isn't a bad seat in the house. The overall atmosphere had a very intimate, Magic Castle-style feel that made the entire experience feel special and immersive. Every part of the night felt thoughtfully designed and added to the magic of it all. We had an amazing time and are already looking forward to going again! read more

Jon Armstrong was impressive in his tricks and absolutely hilarious when engaging the crowd. The age group of the audience was quite extreme. It's really all ages type of show. The magician said he works in Disney cruises he was mostly keeping it PG. While exiting some of us were told if we wanted to see more magic to go another room. We of course were curious and went with . The room was much smaller. This time I was a bit closer to see the magic tricks that I gasp. The illusion on how we were being tricked was amusing. Not knowing what to expect my friend and I decided to stay for the evening event which was as a burlesque show. Adding the show was only 15 dollars . The ladies had an amazing performance along a live band which was quite entertaining. The hostess was extremely funny she was the best part of the burlesque show. Drinks were good only I was a little bit confused at first since the bartender showed me menu when I asked for the cocktails then when I asked for one she told me she wasn't making them but could put them in for me pointed at a guy next to her. I assumed she was putting them in since she said she could but no big deal we're waiting during intermission to add our drinks until the guy made them. One thing to add you can drink inside during both show. The difference was that during the burlesque performance there was someone inside ready to take drink orders and bring them to the seat . During the magic show you have to wait until intermission to get a drink . read more

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Children's 8 yrs old Birthday Party Disaster. It's a shame I have to write this . We had an amazing time but ended very poorly. We planned a private event with a host of, use of a lounge for food and guests and a show . We arrived and had a wonderful time at the pre show gathering and during the show . . Unfortunately after the show while the kids were playing in the lounge area the owner started yelling and scaring children. At one point he decided to yell and scream at two mothers and a grandmother and that was enough. The owner was asked to stop and remove himself from the situation and asked to communicate through his staff . His aggressive attitude sealing certainly garnered a response from one of the fathers . The owner then decided to then end the function and ordered everyone to leave. To the owner. If you don't want children at your location then don't book children's gatherings or shows. It will never be acceptable to yell at anyone read more

Great venue to have a gathering with open space in the entrance, bar area, and spacious seating in auditorium. First time here and happy with the podcasters we went to see. Would recommend getting new locks on the restroom...some doors could not lock but not too crowded that it wasn't an inconvenience. read more

Illusion Magic Lounge has a history of resilience and rebuild. The current owners took over this location that was formerly the Magicopolis. They faced setbacks in the pandemic and suffered from looters and destruction during the civil unrest in Santa Monica. The owners worked hard on renovations to restore Illusion Magic Lounge to its' former glory and was able to reopen in December 2022. I love magic so I'm really happy for them and rooting for their success. If you are not familiar with the area, the best place to park when coming here is the Santa Monica Parking Garage #5 which is a half block walking distance away from the lounge. Great location. They are also close to the 4th St Promenade if you arrive early and want to make a day's adventure out of your trip. I had purchase tickets for Magic by the Sea: Jonathan Molo and Mat O'Neil. General Admission tickets were $45/each with $2.25 booking fee and VIP tickets were $65/each with $3 booking fee, but it includes reserved seating and a glass of champagne. If you know me, you probably know I went with the VIP tickets. When purchasing the tickets, the time listed was 7:00-9:00pm but after I checked out, I received additional information to my email. 6:30-7:30pm: Preshow cocktails, food, and strolling magic. 7:30-9:00pm: Main Stage Show 9:00-10:30pm: Close-Up Mysteries & Late Night I recommend coming early cause seating in tne lounge gets limited and if you don't come by 7pm you'll probably have to stand around for a while. My boyfriend and I picked up our VIP tickets and redeemed our drinks at the bar. We hung out in the lounge by a TV where they were showing recorded tricks. It was SO exciting when Richard the Magician came by to our table and did some close up magic tricks with us. I don't want to give anything away, but Richard says I have the magic touch! Yay. And the trick he did on my boyfriend was really mind blowing too. Absolutely incredible. I feel like magic allows me to revisit my childlike wonder and not think too hard about things. Prior to the main stage show, we were able to join a small group in a hidden room to watch Richard on a small stage. As we were sitting down, he actually welcomed us up on stage to assist him. Wow! It keeps on getting better. We got to enjoy about 17 minutes of card tricks on stage with Richard. He did tricks that I had not seen anywhere else. Once again, don't want to give anything away. But it was incredible. Richard was nice enough to navigate uploading the clip to a google drive so he could share it with me after the show. What a sweet memory we were able to save thanks to Richard. As we were welcoming into the main stage area, there were seats with the reserved seating drapped over the seat. The seating was cinema style and the VIP seats were the ones towards center stage for a good view. The down side is people bumping into me going in and out of the place. My boyfriend prefers this seating over other venues we've been to cause it feels more comfortable. I also noticed there were a lot more children at this venue. It makes sense cause kids love magic, but the other magic venues I've been to were 21+. Our main show featured Jonathan Molo and Mat O'Neil. I'm going to try to explain our reactions for the performances without ruining their show. Jonathan Molo is a funny magician that works in a lot of humor into his magic. It was like enjoying a comedy show and a magic show all at once. Also he has strong family values, often making references to family members. Mat O'Neil has an insane memory and his mind magic is unbelievable and unforgettable. He's very charismatic. Both magicians on the main stage were interactive and there was a good amount of participation from the audience. Honestly we were tired after the main event and it was SO CROWDED. There are at least 2 stages at this lounge, and not to mention those who are just swinging by the lounge to hang out. It was too hard to walk around and chill so we headed out. I definitely want to look into earlier show times when they have it so we can enjoy a longer day of magic. read more

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Honestly, Nathaniel made this whole experience for us 10/10. I booked the Bruce gold magic show, and tbh I didn't really read or look too much into it which is my fault. It's really a bar/lounge, and as a couple that DOESNT drink, it was not our scene. Bruce Gold was fun, had a lot of boomer jokes which as a 24 year old I guess they were funny, and some cool magic. I think we were really expecting to see some crazy tricks as it's more advertised. Don't get me wrong- they were cool and things I def couldn't do, but it was really more of a comedy thing. We also were the youngest in the crowd besides a total of 4 children. I don't think the environment was children friendly AT ALL. There were also random women dressed up in some more provocative costumes walking around (also not kid friendly). But- after the show we went to the show afterwards with Nathaniel (which we almost skipped but glad we didn't!) and it was EXACTLY what we wanted. Nathaniel had honestly non stop cool tricks and was invested with the crowd and the kids that came in. If you're looking for genuine cool magic like we were, Nathaniel was your guy. If you want a place to get drunk, see comedy + magic and possibly be over 40 years old, the Bruce gold show is your bet. We both agreed that it was a situation you probably had to get drunk to really enjoyed, as 90% of the crowd were very obviously drunk and even the people he called on stage were stumbling ...nonetheless, we wanted some magic and we got more than that with Nathaniel! read more

Very pretty simple theater with excellent Acts So nice to go to this place in Santa Monica read more

Such a charming local LA spot! I came here for the Buffyverse Burlesque show and had a wonderful time. Jo Jo VaVoom absolutely slayed (pun intended)! The theater is small but intimate and there are genuinely no bad seats. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. They have a decent bar selection and, as with any venue, the drinks are a bit overpriced. That said, I appreciated that during intermission, the bartender came in and offered to bring people new drinks. I highly recommend checking this place out if you have an interest in the shows they are offering. read more

Amazing experience at Illusion with fantastic performers and excellent drinks! Will be retuning for the amazing service and vibe! read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This place is amazing! My wife and I came here for her Birthday and we had so much fun. The magicians are for real, I can't for the life of me figure out these magic tricks. I highly recommend this spot for date night or just to have some fun. They also have great service the bartenders and servers are very attentive and friendly. read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Champagne - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really fun time! Took my friend for her Birthday. Amazing magic!!!! Can not figure out how they do it??? Because it is MAGIC Come join the fun!!! You will have a fun time here read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - In the magic theater! - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We saw Jonathan Armstrong this past weekend & he put on a show! Fun & funny!! Venue is also cool for photo ops, etc

Definitely where THE magic happens. I live in West LA and I guess I absolutely have not explored Santa Monica all that much - because I never know such an amazing place existed on 4th street! I've always found magic to be amazing and a great escape into a wonderful world of awe and surprises. Illusion Magic Lounge is the best place to see your favorite magicians up close and personal. The theater is very cozy and truly makes the spectators feel that much closer to the performers. It's honestly one of the best magic show experience I've ever had (Magic Castle included!). read more

This was my second time here and absolutely loved it. The shows are fun and very entertaining and the magicians do such a great job of incorporating the audience - even kids. My kids also loved it and cant wait to go back. read more

It was an amazing magic show! Everything was so cool and I was so mesmerized. The magicians are so funny and do their best to include anyone who wants to come on stage. They are great at making you feel comfortable on stage. The bar had the best music and I loved it! Definitely go to illusion magic lounge if you want to have a great time! read more

I attended the Broad Humor Film Festival at Illusion Magic Lounge over the Labor Day Weekend. What a delight! I loved the intimate space -- both of the lobby and theater -- and the kind bartenders, and the well-priced and much appreciated adult beverages. Lovely place. read more

My wife attended last Fri Eve. Was great little venue. The close up magician James, before and after show was really really good. Great stores and wonderful tricks. The two guys for main performance not so great margins but were lots of fun with corny jokes and tricks. Was definitely a fun night out and we will go again. read more

Very dope place that host a bunch of different type of events. I can tell they bring community together. They crank the AC which I respect. Bunch of cool art on the walls. Fair cool prices. Very stinky bathroom, but hey... it's a bathroom. Still 5 stars. Thanks for a fun night! read more

I took my grandkids to see this performance (12 and 10 year olds) and they loved it. I was pretty amazed myself and the performers had us all laughing and waiting for the next trick. It was a great show. Loved the three performers we saw. We will definitely go again. When I looked up the website I didn't see anything about kids attending but since the show was referred to me by a friend knowing I would be taking children, I figured it was worth a shot. I am glad I took the kids. They loved it and couldn't stop talking about it. read more

I love coming here! It's a classy environment and such a fun way to spend time with friends. Every performer is unique and brings something incredible to the stage. I am super impressed with the caliber of magicians, comedians, mentalists and other artists. Everytime I go, I am astonished and amazed . Highly recommend! read more

This was a fun night and Joe Skilton the Mentalist was excellent. It's not the Magic Castle but still a fun outing that you can locally go to in Santa Monica. Drinks were very yummy especially the White Tiger. read more

I'm super late writing this review, but I was here in August for the Broad Humor film festival. They were an excellent venue with a small lounge and bar with high-tops in front, and an impressively large theatre with stadium seating and a projector w/screen for viewing, as well as an additional room for (in our case, swag/supplies storage and operations hub) whatever you need! I had been there once previously as well for a magic show, and had their delicious charcuterie board after. If you haven't yet made it to the Magic Castle, this place regularly books some of their magicians! Friendly staff, good shows, would return. read more

Oh yeah! What a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Santa Monica evening! In fact, this is not to be missed and the ambiance of the venue was dark and evocative, conjuring the mood necessary for an illusion show. The bar and food menu was excellent, the main stage was handsomely lit with elevated seating that allows for intimacy, and the magician was hilarious and produced some of the best illusions I have seen. All told the Illusion Magic Lounge is not to be missed and I assure you will love every minute of it! One bad thing worth mentioning is that one of the front end bar staff was surly and not helpful in the least. read more

A must check-out when in Santa Monica . An evening of fun , amazing entertainment and overall, great times . Family friendly , for youngs and adults alike. Highly recommended. read more

The show at Illusion Magic Lounge was amazing! The magician on stage was funny, very entertaining and included lots of audience volunteers. He also did close up magic that was projected on screen. An additional close up magician after the main show was also amazing. You could buy drinks and snacks before the show and during intermission. I will definitely go back when I can. You won't be disappointed read more

I really wanted to like this place because I am ALL-FOR entertainment in Santa Monica. Unfortunately this place fell really, really short. I wouldn't even call this "magic". Sure, there is a stage, and there are two people up there doing tricks, but I am not sure if they have any formal training in "magic". The tricks consist of (a multitude of versions) of calling a seemingly "random" person from the audience to "guess" a card. And then voila, sure-enough that is the card the magician has also conveniently guessed too. The only caveat is that they call the same group/person each time to come up on stage. I mean really??? The same girl coming on stage AGAIN?! It is obviously a "plant" in the audience to make the trick work. It's really bad. Most of the tricks consist of calling a person from the audience to verify that the magician has the right, card. There was one trick where a boy (in the same group as the girl) had to select 1-9 pins to win $500. Of course, he never selected the right pin. From the audiences perspective this is VERY boring because we have no stake in any of this. It's all just chance. It's just a guessing game. The bartender who serves the drinks is cool and friendly so that was a nice welcome entrance. However, just be warned that the beer glasses are 10oz glasses so you must drink the remaining 2oz of beer from the can. They advertise this theater as a 150 seat theater and that may be true, but in reality, on a Saturday night there must have been 25 people in the theater. Actually only 20 people if we don't count the group of 5 people who were obviously "part" of the show but in the audience. I purchased tickets for $45 but I was never asked to see my ticket. I guess with only 25 people in the theater they didn't really mind if we were just walk-ons. I feel offended that they used the word "Magic Castle" in their advertising of the close-up magic in the after show because the "magic" here was not reminiscent of what I see in the Magic Castle or in Vegas. Good story-telling.... but the magic that went with it, again was using the SAME plants from the main theater show. "Can I get a volunteer please.... oh yes.... you again... yes, you.... guess a card please" I went into this thinking the magic was going to be subpar, and to just enjoy it for what it was, but I just can't get over the use of audience plants over and over. This is a cheap tactic and I left me feeling very upset. read more

Really nice place, never been here. The drink was delicious!!! The magic show was awesome! Magicians were really good! Definitely recommend ! read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Magic Assistant - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

So so so good. The show we saw was MAGIC BY THE SEA: JON ARMSTRONG & NATHAN COE MARSH. I'm not a magic guy. I just don't consider confusing me to be such an impressive feat. But these guys were funny. They riffed with the audience and (for me) all the jokes landed. I would happily come back, but it'd probably have to be a family thing. read more

So much magic packed in one night. Don't let the location fool you, this is THE place to go for amazing drinks and unforgettable shows. The minute you step through the doors of this lounge, you will understand that magic is EVERYWHERE. The theater holds 150, but they keep the shows small to make it intimidate. It's great for families as well as date nights. Everyone has a great time and is treated with respect. The acts change every two weeks or so and they have family friendly shows for kids as young as 2 years old on certain Saturday evenings. If you're reading this because you're thinking about it, get a ticket! You'll be so glad you did! read more

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This was such a fun spot! Will definitely be back! The drinks were good and there was a main act and a following act that were both incredible entertaining and interactive. read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The Illusion Magic Lounge provides a magical experience. I've been many times and have never been disappointed. It's a must experience over and over again. read more

We had a really fun time today at the Mother's Day family friendly show. My husband loves magic and this was the first magic show we've actually attended. The couple who performed were very entertaining. When they did the mind-reading trick where the guy chose items from the audience which she guessed, they chose my husband (as well as 4 others) and correctly guessed his money-clip style Range wallet, right down to the brand. It was very impressive since a) we knew we weren't audience plants, and b) he didn't use many words that could have tipped her off to what item he was holding. The tickets were affordable and the facility seemed clean and well maintained. It was a fun activity for a Sunday afternoon (special hours for Mother's Day). read more

The magicians were so charming and really connected with the audience - especially the First Gentleman who was the emcee! And the tricks were so good! Honestly couldn't have had a better night - maybe if they stayed open later that would be great ! read more

seemed a bit too staged, but good for younger crowd/kids, host and magicians kept good attention of the crowd. all based on your perspective of magic overall ok date night! read more

A fun outing for the whole family! We brought the kids for both of their birthdays and they loved it! read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Magic - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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excellent service at the bar both before the show and at intermission. The space and restrooms were clean (you'd be surprised how happy this makes me). We we met the owner as well and he was very nice and accommodating. read more

We had a great time there, enjoy some drinks before catching a show with some fun magic and good story telling..

What a wonderful experience! We went to a Saturday evening show. Although it is geared toward adults, it was clean enough for family. We saw the Halloween special with Magnificent Mudd. The show was in a small theatre and intimate. My 12yo daughter got called up on stage for a couple card tricks with the magician and we were all impressed by the impromptu connection. He was funny and entertaining. It was such an engaging and interactive show that kept us laughing and in wondrous amazement! Afterwards you are invited to a close up magic presentation. I'm still pondering how they could possibly pull the tricks off. The theater has a nice lounge and bar out front. Truly a magical evening! This would be great for date nights as well. read more

Illusion Magic Lounge - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Went to this club for the first time and LOVED it. The comedy and "magic" of "Zepher" (??) the child of a clown and a trapeze performer was brilliant and super entertaining. The guy is sooo fast with his comedy. Well practiced. then on the way out we had close-up magic with greg a young guy who frankly blew our minds (my son and I). No idea how he was abale to recognize every single card in the audience separately but the entire experien ce was well worth the price of admission. I will be back for sure. LOVED it all. Best, Craig read more

I got a Groupon to see a show here last night, and I loved the experience. The theater is large but still feels intimate. I sat in the back row and I could still see everything. The magicians in the main show were talented, funny, and incorporated the crowd in several of their illusions. After the main show, there was a free close-up show in a side room, and that was a fun bonus to end the night. The venue is located near the 3rd Street Promenade and is right next to a parking garage. The staff is really friendly, and there's a lot of themed cocktails in addition to the standard beer and wine selection. I'll definitely be coming back in the future. read more