Maui Sugar Mill is exactly what I think of when someone says 'local watering hole' or 'dive bar'. Lanny and the crew are amazing, great bartenders and conversation starters. This used to be my spot! If you like live music, be sure to check out their blues night. Get there EARLY! Camp out at the bar and save your seat because it's about to be standing room only. You can reserve a table in advance. If you miss a live music night, just purchase some points for the jukebox. Smoking section outside, no food, but feel free to bring your own. There's pizza, sushi, and sandwiches in the same plaza, so you're set! A staple of the valley! If you go, order a Dark and Stormy for me! read more

See all

Spent Super Bowl Sunday at Sugar Mill, and it was the very best decision I've made in a long time. This place is most definitely "the little bar that could," with a great staff, fun and funny patrons, and an atmosphere that allows for both staunch fans and casual observers. Most people contribute to a pot luck feast that spans the wide world of food, from hot dogs and chili to baked ziti, tacos, meatballs, fried chicken, Chinese food, and on and on -- including some amazing homemade clam chowder from Mike The Mailman. Bartender Natalie did an amazing job of handling the busy crowd with speed and smiles. There were a couple of other staffers on site to watch the game, and they jumped in when she needed a hand with this or that, but for the most part Natalie captained the bar single-handedly for the duration. Kudos to her. It's true, Super Bowl only comes once a year, so other game days don't have the pot luck feast -- Sugar Mill doesn't have a kitchen, though they're happy to have you bring in whatever food you like and eat it there. Food aside, the crowd and the service are always just what you want, making it the perfect place to relax into at game time as Basketball enters the home stretch and baseball steps up to bat. read more

See all

They have open mic nights on tuesday night which is cool. The bartender was chill. The drinks were good. Interesting crowd. Good vibes tho! read more

Maui Sugar Mill Saloon - Dive Bars Near Me - Tarzana, California

See all

Amazing, went on a Monday Blues night, Lots of energy, very crowded. Would totally recommend, nice friendly crowd. read more

Love the service! We always get a great greeting. We enjoy the live music too! Not many places have that anymore. Loved seeing Bernie Barlow there. read more

Buncha old farts reliving the good ole days. Lol i came for the live music but the band took forever to set up. I had to leave before the smell of the depression and poor life decision set in. I had two cocktails and left the bartender seem cool. read more

See all

Great bartenders! Strong drinks! Great musical acts! Nice retro vibe. Had a friendly crowd that night. New people and regulars. read more

Maui Sugar Mill Saloon - 2nd of 3 bands that performed. Big fan! - Dive Bars Near Me - Tarzana, California

Monday nights are live blues and top notch! Get your tickets in advance from Cadillac Zack to score a seat. Food is available from next door. And the Sugar Mill's Mai Tai is the best! Must be a recipe directly from Maui! read more

See all

Great Bands! Had an awesome experience! Will definitely attend future events. Great place to have a drink after a long work day. Friendly people great overall vibe. Amazing bands. read more

An interesting spot with live music in a small space. Overall the vibe is very worn and divey. Older crowd when I was there with ages 30-70 years old. Great engagement from the staff and the show was dynamic and quality music. Parking lot is free in a strip mall. read more

Good energy and music. Friendly staff but their menu has no food. Free parking. Eat before arrival.

This is a great place to see live bands. The atmosphere is ambient and friendly, and the drinks are very good too. It even has a pool table. It's also a nice place to celebrate a birthday party. The stage is a little small, but the bands make it work out well. I have seen a few really good bands there. I recommend it. read more

Really great love music, fun vibe, great crowd, good drinks, amazing bartenders. Such a hidden gem! You should definitely go check it out.

Music's great atmosphere is great. Need to get out and have fun. It's an adult hang out without the riffraff and youngsters BS

The best local bar ever, old school, real, chill, music, such a good vibe! You can't go wrong coming in here...no attitude. Been coming here for many years off and on, always remains! Bartender such a great guy. read more

Drinks aren't cheap, and only about 3/4 of the room is comfortable for seeing a gig, but the standard of music performed is generally very high. Don't ask for a terribly fancy drink and get there early for maximum satisfaction. If you're late and order a drink with more than three ingredients, you're going to be disappointed, and the overworked bartenders will walk by you to serve a beer. read more

I hate to review this bar because I'm afraid people will start going there. The Sugar Mill is just a place to feel like you fit in, with just the right amount of regulars, the right bartenders, and a decor that rivals your grandparents paneled basement--complete with dusty Reader's Digest novels on the shelves and music memorabilia on the walls, a tiny stage that EVERYONE has played on (from Dave Grohl to Joe Bonamassa to a million others), a small pool table that's seen better days, a solid jukebox where anything is possible, live music most nights (that always brings a different crowd), ceiling fans that haven't fanned anything since the 80's, and a loving neon sign at the back of the house that tells us what we already knew-- "Motherf*ckers Never Loved Us." I take everyone that visits me to the Mill, and I've never had anyone feel anything but belonging. Special shout out to Monday nights--if you like blues music, it doesn't get better than the artists that show up every week. If you're looking for a dive bar, look no more. Highly recommended. read more

Awesome live bands on Monday nights! No food served but there's a bar and it's a fun packed place.

Is a wonderful place . Fun to be at and fora Monday great atmosphere!!Love the drink like touching heaven. read more

Maui Sugar Mill Saloon - I love the place and the service . Drinks are like touching heaven . I give you a 10. - Dive Bars Near Me - Tarzana, California

I come here every day good customer since 2012 I work across the street at Mr scissors barbershop so when ever I get the chance to unwind a little after work i choose this place for sure the ambience is really friendly and I love Leah and Nataly are my favorites and they have a lot of good bands that play here read more

Best music venue left in SoCal on Sunday afternoons, when Cadillac Zack stages blues bands that otherwise play festivals and stadiums throughout the country. Lucky us!!! read more

Went to go check out some live music on a Saturday night recently. Drinks were good, music was excellent, the place was hopping! Nice crowd. Music started at 9 PM. Bathrooms need to be cleaned. read more

One of my favorites. Talented bands, perfect drinks, amazing service at Maui Sugar Mill. Down to earth vibes. Eclectic crowds of interesting fun people. Indie vibes. Extremely easy to park, huge lot. Always fun. My highest recommendation. read more

For what Maui Sugar Mill Saloon is, a dive bar, it's really fun and cool and they do it well. The bartender has game. Nice guy. There's a stage for music. SO FUN! We saw 2 local bands that were really good. I have no idea if they serve food. I didn't see anyone eating. BUt the vibe inside was really great! I'll have to go again. They seem to pick really talented players/bands. read more

Honestly some of the best blues you will ever hear. No joke. Great atmosphere with seriously good music. Awesome staff.

Love the music and staff here. Great place to see local bands. Everyone who works here is great... The patio gets little smoky but inside it it's all good. read more

Very rude bartender that works Saturday... Used f*** words to customers..Not dog friendly I have a service animal. with me at all times..She would not service outside, or inside. read more

Nice little spot to enjoy some drinks, play some pool and enjoy some live music (depending on what time u go). bartender was funny. a lot of middle aged/ older caucasian people during that time which is a little discomforting when you're a minority. initially did feel out of place because there seemed to be lots of regulars who knew eachother and stuff so me and my boyfriend just went to play pool. when we first got there, i accidentally sat in some guys chair when he went to go to the bathroom and assumed no one was sitting there, and he kinda talked to me like I was dumb. like "you don't see my stuff?" and whatnot. anyways, he made up for it a bit because there's a restaurant next door and a worker there comes into the bar once and a while and takes orders and bring them over to the bar which is cool. the guy told us about it and introduced us to the worker. we got some fries from next door which were really good. played some pool $1 per game and paid and left. we didn't stay for the live music but I would have definitely wanted to see it next time I would definitely go back, and hopefully don't feel out of place next time. read more

Maui Sugar Mill Saloon - pool table near bathroom - Dive Bars Near Me - Tarzana, California

See all

Nice club , easy parking , nice music , Food and drinks are good , thank you , the fans are good people , they come out to have fun . read more

Good live rock n roll music, fast bar service, friendly patrons. Fun place. Recommend. read more

Fun atmosphere. Hip, upscale almost dive bar. Great ambiance. The staff are friendly.

Always enjoy the Sugar Mill, great atmosphere, bartenders. Love when there is live music, can order food from surrounding restaurants and have brought in. read more

We went for the live music Friday night and didn't know what to expect. We were very surprised with the band we saw, how good they were and how much fun. I'm sure every band and every night is different. But the one we saw we really enjoyed. We will definitely go back and bring friends with us next time! We've lived in the area for so long, we can't believe it took us this long to find this hidden gem. read more

These people really love live music, one of the few venues that care and support bands with passion love and a super friendly attitude.. I remember all the smiles first time I walked in to the place , have made many friends, fans and beautiful stories thank you gents read more

See all

Love the Saturday bartenders but I don't like patrons who sneak their non service dogs into loud bars. Then act like a victim. Shame dogwoman. read more

This spot has such a feel good! I stop by the sugar mill whenever I'm near. The music is always on point, they have a great mix of everything but it's great! The staff is very down to earth. You can order in food from next door. 10/10 read more

A fun local neighborhood bar. Many first time bands are allowed to play here so there is always entertainment of different sorts and skill levels. Very good prices for drinks to be had by a friendly clientele. The pool table is the worst I've seen anywhere in the United States, so bad they allow you to play for free and guess what... It is the most fun on a pool table you will ever have. Laughs galore at the unexpected at every corner of the table. An absolute blast. read more

Arial and Leah pouring the drinks on Monday nights. Both are really cool . Friendly crowds and great blues music on Monday nights.

Honky Tonk night was a blast! The staff is friendly and the musicians are great #FeathersandArrows #Bigfoot read more

See all

i am writing as a follow-up to my review based on my experience on friday evening, august 29, 2025. tim c. provided a response to my review based on false information that was provided to him since he was not present. i offered the band $100 to tone it down a bit, but i never threw my drink at anyone. i left my drink at the bar. i am not able to hold my wallet, a drink, and a $100 bill with two hands. as stated in my previous response the band was playing so loud on equipment with limited acoustic range that the result was distortion and noise...not music. also, the maui sugar mill saloon is a very small venue with a small stage and poor/limited acoustics. i was a licensed architect for many years, so i have a bit of knowledge regarding acoustics. i tried to be polite by offering a $100 bill and a request to tone it down a bit. my request was met with rage and hostility, and none of the males and females that confronted me ever indicated that they were employees of the maui sugar mill saloon. my understanding was that they were members and friends of the band. the previous owners dating back to the mid 1980's understood the limited acoustics and kept the volume of the music at a place where there was little or no distortion... read more