Your hao peng you (good friend) on Yelp is sending you a sign to check this hidden gem out! ;)…read more As someone of Taiwanese descent, I always get SO excited discovering Taiwanese restaurants and bars, which are admittedly a bit hard to find if you're not in East LA. We stopped by late Saturday night and were able to snag an immediate walk-in at the bar at Hao Peng You, which is the intimate speakeasy portion of Midnight Oil. The decor definitely reminded me of my grandparents' house in Taiwan, with vintage, ornate wooden chairs, dragon/lion statue carvings, and even a historic century old marital bed that had been repurposed into a booth. The drinks were also VERY unique, with my favorite being Hua sheng (literally meaning peanut), which was crafted from a nostalgic childhood peanut milk drink. All our cocktails were crafted very well, to the point where I thought they were a bit on the lighter side since I couldn't really taste the alcohol. This section does get really busy though and only had one bartender who is making/serving drinks and taking orders, so do expect a bit of a wait. Overall, highly recommend checking out this vibey vintage Taiwanese-inspired speakeasy (that my inner history nerd was so excited about), and I'll definitely be back to try their food items as well as their two other bar/restaurant concepts!

The atmosphere is cute and definitely a vibe, but it's pretty pricey…read more The drinks weren't bad, some were good, while others had a stronger alcohol taste than I personally prefer. As for the food, it was pretty mid and took a long time to come out. The popcorn chicken especially disappointed me since it didn't taste like Taiwanese popcorn chicken at all. It was more like chicken nuggets?? Overall, I wouldn't recommend coming here for the food. The bathroom was also a bit dirty. Drinks: * Hua Sheng (3/5): Nutty aftertaste, but the alcohol flavor was pretty strong. * Salty Plums (4/5): My favorite out of everything we ordered, super refreshing. * Jasmine Milk Tea Coma (3/5): My second favorite, but I wish the strawberry flavor came through more.

Always good vibes at this place, it doesn't feel like a typical hotel bar, the drinks were…read moreexcellent and the music was good too.

Super cute lounge with a cool jazz band. Enjoyed the snacks along with my old fashioned. The drinks…read morewere great and loved the decor. I didn't wanna leave, but my hubby wasn't feeling good. So we had to leave early. Definitely will come back again especially since we were provided with good service.

This has become my home bar. It's a great spot for locals to hang and make friends, but also I've…read moremet lots of people who drove from LA to have a Long Beach day, which is fun. Definitely worth it! The vibes are unmatched. It's a unique blend of "top notch cocktail crafting" and "beer and a hot pretzel after work." You can dress up, you can dress down, it's very 'just be yourself' which I love. I've literally had caviar AND hot dogs there in the same night at an event. They know how to blend high/low. Incredible knowledge and ingredients but not snooty patootie. Super inclusive and fun, with cool popups and events happening all the time. It's a full bar so you can get any cocktail you would normally order if you're keeping it simple, or beer, wine, boilermakers, etc. There's a span of offerings and price points, so something for everyone. (Also really good N/A cocktails!) The menu is super inventive and creative! And the cocktail menu changes out every so often so there are new things to try. This area is vintage vibes and Baby Gee speaks it fluently. Really cool decor, curated by the owners who design everything from the playlist to the cocktails to the invention of never-before-seen flavors and shapes of jello shots. Try the Baby Gee appletini while you're there. Mezcal, tequila, sake appletini you ask?? Yes. Trust. And get a hot dog. Do it.

I really wanted to love this place. The vibe was fantastic...great music, a stylish ambiance, and…read morean impressive selection of specialty craft cocktails. It's clear the owners put a lot of thought and creativity into making their cocktails the centerpiece of the experience. That said, the execution didn't live up to the concept. The menu appears to rotate regularly, and while the drinks were certainly unique, most of the cocktails we tried were hit or miss. At roughly $22 per drink, I expected more balance and refinement. One cocktail started with flavors reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, but after the initial sip, the combination of bitters and fruit syrups created an unpleasant cough syrup like finish. We tried a mocktail as well, and it was mostly ice and soda water, with what seemed like a collection of syrups doing most of the heavy lifting. The drinks were creative, but many of the flavor profiles felt disjointed rather than intentional. The biggest issue, however, was the bar service and sanitation practices. I watched a bartender place a cucumber garnish into a glass using his bare hands, touching the entire garnish in the process. He then continued to take credit cards, cash, and other items before stuffing ice into additional drinks with his bare hands. Whether or not this technically violates health code standards, it certainly wasn't appetizing to watch and left a poor impression. Parking is another challenge. There is no dedicated parking, and unless you get lucky, expect to park several blocks away and walk. Overall, the atmosphere is a lot of fun and the cocktail menu is ambitious, but the drinks didn't justify the price point, and the sanitation concerns were hard to overlook. I wouldn't rush back, especially given the cost and parking difficulties.

Very cool hidden tiki bar! The decor is great, really sets the vibe. Not too busy on Thursday…read morenight, but not dead either. Sat at the bar for drinks and appetizers. Not super attentive service considering there were only a few parties at the bar, but our bartender (woman with long wavy hair) was kind and made delish drinks. The coconut shrimp was great too. Karaoke started a little after 8:00pm. Not sure if that's a regular thing, but it was fun to watch! Happy Hour is only one hour a day on weekdays (5-6pm) which was a bit of a bummer because we arrived at 6:30 and thought it went until 7 or 8, but now we know. Would be awesome if it was still 5-8pm like it seems it used to be. Overall a fun time and we'll likely be back!

We recently visited Secret Island Tiki which has been on our list for a while. It is located on the…read morecorner of Broadway and Pine under Shannon's. We parked in the multi-story parking garage behind Hamburger Mary's. Secret Island is a little over a block away. You can make reservations on OpenTable. It has a bit of a speakeasy entrance, as it is not plainly marked. Look for the staircase going down with greenery around it and the Secret Island sign downstairs. Go right at the bottom of the stairs and there is a little walkway where you see a very cool tiki display. It you stay there long enough, the lights will flash and you will hear thunder. Walk a little further and go through the door to enter. I was blown away by the atmosphere and build. Kudos to Bamboo Ben! It is dimly lit with a ton of cave wall, bamboo, thatch, netting, tiki lights, floats, skulls, tikis, and other décor. The bar is loaded with bottles and looks great with dark blue and green backlighting. The bar top is wood with deep cutouts that are filled with clear epoxy. The booths in the main dining area are little tiki huts and even have clouds overhead. There was great tiki music playing the whole time. A few times an hour a thunderstorm hits. The lights dim, lightning flashes with thunder sound effects, and red lights illuminate cracks in the floor that looks like lava veins. There is also a photo-op "Pele's Throne" which is a big lava rock surrounded chair. We sat at the bar and had the coconut shrimp appetizer ($12). The shrimp were breaded and cooked well, and had a coconut sprinkle on top. The spicy dipping sauce complemented the shrimp well. I started out with the Drunken Monkey (Makers Mark 46, Jamaican rum, banana liqueur, cinnamon, allspice, Angostura bitters, normally $19, $17 during happy hour). It was somewhat bourbon forward with a little funk from the Jamaican rum. I definitely got the cinnamon notes with a little banana and allspice in the background. She started out with the El Capitan Hook (Del Maguey mezcal, pineapple, banana liqueur, Luxardo cherry liqueur, lime, $17, $15 during happy hour). This was smoke forward with light pineapple and banana flavor. I had the Hula burger ($18) which was very good with a lot of different flavors from the various toppings. It came with a decent amount of fries, and was a filling plate. She had the pineapple bowl fried rice and added with BBQ pork ($17 + $5 for pork add-on). It is served in half of a scooped out pineapple and had a good amount of rice with pork and green onions on top. It had a good mix of teriyaki sauce on the rice and BBQ sauce on the pork. Next, I had the Rum Runner (coconut and blended dark rums, banana liqueur, raspberry, grenadine, pineapple, orange, lime, $18, $15 during happy hour). It was very pineapple and coconut forward which overpowered all of the other ingredients. She also had the Let That ManGo (white rhum agricole, coconut, mango, lemon, $18, $16 during happy hour). The primary flavors here were mango with some grassiness from the agricole. We were here from about 6pm to 8pm on a Wednesday night and it was pretty dead with only a few other people in the place the whole time. They do have a stage in the back with live music acts, so it is probably busier when there is entertainment and on weekends. Our first bartender was Alex who was nice but we barely talked with him. Manager Pedro took over the bartender duties later on and we had a great time chatting with him. Service was great from both of them. The drinks are a few dollars above average, but if you come during happy hour, the drinks are several dollars off. Happy hour is currently all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 8pm. The food was good, the drinks were ok to good, and the atmosphere was great. Normally, this would probably be a one and done, but I really liked the build and would like to come back when it is busier, maybe on a weekend.

It's a IYKYK kind of place here. We didn't know about it as we were here meeting some friends for…read moredrinks. They made all the reservations. Honestly thought it was the bar that we came inside. First impression, why did we need reservations.... Since we didn't know the hidden entrance. Well, it's a cool concept once we entered. There's a dress code so be advised. What I found out was the entrance of the speakeasy was through a phone booth that next to the pool table of Roxanne's bar. Once reservations is made, you'll received an email with a password to enter. Enter phone booth and to connect to the inside and they'll open the door for you. We had the first reservations I believe they opened at 7pm. We were the first group to arrive. As it was my first time, we had ordered bar food and were waiting for it inside the main bar. So half an hour was used from our time limit. The speakeasy, dark and moody but perfect for the place. Special crafted cocktails by the bartenders which were great. They also have food as well, found out later. We did try the meat pie, which it was just ok. Basically an empanadas, the pickle veggies accompanied it was my favorite. It was good but nothing major to rave about. The drinks were quite nice and tasty. What they offered on the menu did have a load of good choices. Tables scattered throughout as well as bar seating. There's a piano which maybe used for live music. Overall, the moody speakeasy vibe was great. Friendly staff and bartender made some great drinks. What we had to snack on, the meat pie was just ok. They're very strict with the time limits. Once it's reached they'll let you know.

This place is beautiful! Such a contrast with the front bar (not talking bad about Roxanne's just a…read moredifferent vibe). Had the steak and frites and the charcuterie board. Great selection and was very good. Drinks were unique and interesting. They had a great live band playing and I had such a great night. There is a time limit but they were very courteous about letting us know when we reached the limit.

Port City Tavern in Long Beach is one of those spots that always has something going on. There's…read morealmost always an event or gathering happening out in their parking area, which gives it a really fun, lively vibe. What I really appreciate is that sometimes it's even kid-friendly, which makes it a great option if you're not just going out solo or with friends. I've been coming around since back when it was Iguana Kelly's, and it's been cool to see how the place has evolved while still keeping that local, neighborhood feel. The location is super easy to find, right next to a donut shop and a mechanic, and across the street you've got a 7-Eleven, Subway, and a few other small spots. Plus, Tommy's Burgers and an Arco are right nearby, so everything you might need is within reach. I tried both the cucumber mixed drink and the mango mixed drink, both were really good, but I personally preferred the cucumber one. It's less sweet and way more refreshing, especially if you're not into overly sugary drinks. We also had a BBQ chicken pizza that they cook in a fire oven (I think it's called a wood-fired pizza), and it was really good, definitely worth trying if you go. Service was good During the outdoor event, they had things set up really well, including a sign that read "21 and over beyond this point only," which helped keep things organized. They also had jumpers outside for the little ones to enjoy, along with tables and chairs so everyone could hang out comfortably. Parking can be a bit tight in their lot, but there's always street parking if you take a minute to read the signs. Overall, it's a great hangout spot with a welcoming atmosphere and something happening more often than not. Definitely worth checking out.

Really wonderful spot to hang and watch the game. Few beers on tap but good selection of…read morebottled/canned beers, wine, and cocktails/mixed drinks. And fantastic happy hour service! Unfortunately we found a fruit fly frozen into our ice, which I figure can happen at busy places like this. Many indoor spots to chill bar-side, seated at a table, or lounging on a couch as well as a nice shaded outdoor space. Enough screens for everyone at any angle to enjoy the game. Though we had to re-locate from the side room due to maintenance services going on that were a bit dusty and loud. All things considered, I'd come back to give it another try because it seems like a really solid spot otherwise, and we may have caught it on an off day.

If you're looking for a fun tiki escape, this place is a must-visit! The atmosphere is…read moreincredible--every detail of the décor transports you to a tropical paradise, and the whole place has an amazing island vibe. I tried the Zombie and the Mai Tai, and both were absolutely delicious. They were expertly made, packed with flavor, and definitely potent, so they deliver exactly what you'd expect from classic tiki cocktails! The service was outstanding from start to finish. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable with their great recommendations and attention to detail. Between the amazing drinks, exceptional service, fun energy, and immersive décor, this tiki bar is the complete package. Whether you're out with friends or just looking for a unique night out, this spot is a total vibe. I'll definitely be back!

Tiki bar are always a fun place to hang out! How can you go wrong with quirky drinks with flowers,…read moreumbrellas and more. The bamboo club offers many of the standard tiki drinks and some specials unique ones for this establishments. Plus the menu offers some tiki like food items. As for seating: the bar offers booths that can be reserved for four to six people. In the bar area there are seats at the bar and high tables. Plus there is a covered area. During peak times best to make a reservation online. The bar does offer a small parking lot along the side of the bar. There is also plenty of street parking. We look forward to our next visit.

So this is a review mainly of the price that their drinks are between the hours of 7-8 (they open…read moreat 7 - the store is open earlier, but not the functional mocktail bar part.) I've been trying hard to catch up on the myriad things I've been putting off for ages, among them very much writing reviews of places. This one is particularly silly, as I've been here a *bunch* since they opened it. Not as often as I would be if they were open just a little bit earlier, and moved their happy happy commensurately, granted - the rest of the time, at least as of the last time I was there, when it was not happy hour, "potion"-based mocktails were $15, but were $8 from 7-8, which obviously a much bigger draw. I've been saying DTLB needs a good kava bar for aeons, and while admittedly I was imagining something just a little bit more traditional in terms of having drinks just made from unprocessed, just kava, served in a coconut shell, that sort of thing, I will admit that this also serves all the same purposes: providing a place for people who want a third space in the evening that doesn't involve alcohol (whether they aren't drinking in general, or just not *right then*, that latter category being me often enough), while also providing drinks that, while they won't get you drunk, *will* get you more *relaxed*, which is kind of what we all need these days, with the world just completely falling apart (also why I've been so behind on everything...). The bartender's super cool, and while I will admit, I've never had a nonalcohol "spirit" replacement that tasted quite right... well, they have a version of a lychee-tini. A "real" lychee-tini is just lychee juice and vodka, which traditionally, tastes like nothing. So really it's just lychee juice. Lychee is the most seriously underrated fruit on the planet, so anyway - it's mostly lychee juice, it has kava and kanna in it, and it's $8 from 7-8 (last I checked). You can also modify it in a few different ways, too, with other modifiers they have, like adding citrus, making it spicy, or for a couple extra dollars, making it stronger with a different extra-potent kava/kanna blend, haha. Great. They also stock a couple great canned/bottled items I like grabbing occasionally (occasionally cause they also aren't cheap) for other, earlier in the day occasions, due to their caffeinated-ness. First, they make their own functional mushroom infused cold brew. The mushrooms are supposed to be healthy, but don't necessarily add specific flavors to the cold brew. It is very good cold brew though, plus, healthier. During the day you can drink it on draft, but they also bottle it. They also now help rep a great brand of functional/craft energy drinks called "Melting Forest" (some are caffeinated, some are the opposite) by using them in a couple drinks, but also sell their cans to-go there (though you can also add an extra dropper-ful of the kava culture tincture if you drink it here.) I mainly like them because they're one of only *two* brands I can name that use fake sugars (like monkfruit or erythritol) that I actually still think tastes good. I just wish they were a bit less expensive - I liked them more when they were on mega-sale at the event I first discovered them (also here) a couple years ago, but I drank all of those a long time ago, obviously. Anyway, great vibes, too. I just wish they were running it on *Sunday* evening, because boy could I use some kava/kanna drinks right now, Sunday evening, going back into another bloody work week while the world falls apart some more...

This is a great place for calming drinks like Kava and mushroom based products like cofees, juices…read moreand sodas. I was introduced to mushroom coffee by some great TikTok videos. Mushroom coffee is great because it it helps with mood, emergy and focus. Culture Nights is one of the few places in the area that sell it. Im blessed to have found them