I give this place 3 stars for one reason and one reason only - GINORMOUS SHOTS. Seriously, they are like 3 gulpers! And I think they're only like $6. Good deal. I don't think this place is really a dance club. It kind of looks like club (or a Virgin America cabin) on the inside but not a single person was dancing on Friday night. I'm not sure where you would dance, since the place is so long and narrow. I guess, back your stuff up against the wall? read more

Ok, what the HELL happened here? No more bacon-wrapped hot dog goodness when I'm drunk and hungry on the patio? I walked straight back there after entering and there was NOTHING and nearly NO ONE out there! I used to be able to mingle with friends and strangers alike back there while zoning out, contemplating whether I really wanted that $4 dirty dog, but alas--no more. All gone. Proof, you will live to regret that decision. That's what made me miss you when I was starving in the back of any other bar. But it doesn't stop there. I love Asian people. I am half Asian myself, but what happened to the diversity?! There used to be a good mix and it wasn't America's Best Dance Crew reject's night hogging the dance floor. Not that all asians dance, or hog dance floors, but this group was INSISTANT. I went on a Thursday night and it was really crowded and not as fun as I remembered. I used to frequent this location with a group of friends and hadn't been there since it reopened. I talk a group of friends into heading over there after a birthday dinner since they were in the area and didn't want to end the night just then. I regretted bringing them because it just wasn't the same. Why hadn't I yelped the Crosby or decided to dip into Memphis?, and why hadn't anyone else shed such insights upon this yelp page until now? Woe-was-me. Never. Again. AND the mixed drinks were shitty. WTF, Proof, WTF. read more

I've been coming here on Thursdays nights for a couple of months now, and it's all good. It's got a beautiful interior. There are art pieces hung up on the walls, and they have projectors out that usually show some sort of random movie, which I think is kinda cool and visually entertaining (especially if you're buzzin'). Although it's not the biggest bar/club, it's not densely packed or anything. There's definitely enough space to get down. Also, on Thursdays, the drink specials are cheap, the crowd is mixed, and the dance floor and outdoor areas are usually pretty crackin.' Coming here on a Saturday night was a somewhat different experience. it was a bit too crowded for my liking. Also, the drinks were a lot more expensive. I bought an 8 dollar vodka redbull, which I must admit, was pretty stiff, yet still out of my price range. I think I'll stick to Thursday nights. I run into more people I know, and get cheaper drinks. read more

I went on a Friday night and it was awesome! Dope crowd, dope drinks and dope music! Music = Hip-Hop (from old school to new school) and Top 40 radio. People = Mix crowd...mid 20s to 30s...all races, and walks of life. Drinks = kinda pricey...but well worth it. The bartenders kept them strong and the wait wasn't to bad. They also do a great job of keeping up with customers and their tabs. read more

Great stiff drinks!! Plenty of sweet eye candy friendly staff and not to mention old school cartoons being played on the wall. Local art is displayed on the walls. Get there early if you want to have a seat or table other wise be prepaired to be ran into ( if ur a shorty like me and my bestie) The DJ is cool mixing the popular music along with some old stuff.... read more

Reminds me of SF bars in the Mission - small, casual and intimate. Snazzy decor, strong drinks, and cool bouncers. Drinks are on higher side for so cal , but they pour w/out discretion - I haven't been to the happy hour as of yet. The music was the best part of the night - on "hard days night" (Wednesday nights) - mix of 70s - 90s hip hop and rock. Good stuff. read more

Place is located in the Artist's District in Santa Ana. Pros: Love the decor, drinks are decently priced, diverse crowd, great music (my friends DJ here sometimes and they play electronic, house and unce unce unce type music). Drinks are decently priced. There are seats to lounge around when your feet get tired...my girls and I were taking all sorts of silly pictures on the seats. AND there's lots of hiding places for the ladies belongings. I do however, still keep a close eye on belongings. Cons: The venue is narrow and long...got creepers dancing with the girls and i in all directions. The smoking patio can get pretty crowded and it's REALLY crowded when it rains. i would recommend this place for anyone who hasn't gone and wants to chill at a local bar. The crows is pretty diverse and they also do charity events!!! :) read more

Ahh Proof. I love Proof. Good tunes, good drinks and chic interior. Kind of reminds me of a NYC bar....which is a good thing. People actually dance on the dancefloor and its usually a pretty good vibe. Its also a great place for parties with friends! I love the little patio out back and the kitschy bathrooms too! Proof brings a different kind of vibe to OC, which is refreshing. This is not a Sutra kind of crowd-thank GOD! No pretention here...yay! PS- Joey rocks! read more

Amazing little bar in downtown Santa Ana. I must admit, before this place, I had no idea Santa Ana even had a good night scene. Apparently I was severely mistaken! I've been a couple of times on a thursday night, and boy does it get PACKED in here! But no one likes an awkward empty bar, so this was definitely not a bad thing. The best part is that the drinks were pretty cheap too (though I'm used to LA prices, so maybe it's average for OC?) We got 2 long islands (classy, I know) for about $16. The music they played was great. Inside was more of a techno/electro feel, and outside was the more top 40/hip hop stuff. A nice variety. The best surprise was the BACON WRAPPED hot dogs they cook on the patio. Oh how I love those hot dogs. And for only $3 each, a great option if you haven't eaten dinner yet. All in all a fun place to have fun with no pretenses. Definitely going here more often! read more

If you are looking for an awesome night of rock and roll, garage, or psych wed. Nights are where its at! Tired of all that 80s crap every club seems to be playing? Who isn't! . Anywho if you like your music fast, driknks stiff, and Djs spinning pure vinyl this is the place. I like the Mod feel they have on wed. Night. Bartenders are nice and the live bands are always a good time. read more

DJ pleeaasse stop repeating your songs. I've been here several times on Fridays and Saturdays and music here was never that great. A lot of radio songs, repeats or house/trance. But hey if you go with a fun group of people you'd have fun no matter where it is. * The artwork and pictures on the walls are nice and sexy. * Drinks vary on the pourer. * I'd come back to party with friends read more

First time going out in Santa Ana so I can't compare it to other places around town. My friend recently moved to Irvine so we decided to explore and landed here. Nice decor and comfy areas to get cozy. Best part was of course, the bar! The bartender was pretty entertaining the way he made drinks for us. Also, the drinks he concocted were delish. Strawberry lemondrop shots were my fav for the night. And he gave us double the shots for the price of one. I don't usually order girly drinks, but we asked for recommendations and he made a bluegasm which is a must try. As far as the scene, it was Latin music/techno which was not my usual music scene but it was enjoyable for lounging. They even had live music performers to accompany the turntable music. People were dancing salsa-ish, which was pretty sexy... i just have to learn how to or drink more to partake in the dancing. Not too crowded on a Sunday night and i'm sure we will be back again to hang out and enjoy a drink or five :) read more

I really like Proof during happy hour and before the late night crowd rolls in. I prefer a classy bar over a nightclub anytime. Proof sort of blends the best of both--classy, minimalisitic decor--a definite "lounge" feel--with a loud, pumping, sweaty dance floor night club. The drinks are stiff and the bartenders are attentive. They have a great selection of liquors, even some good sipping rums which are hard to find. They carry some pretty obscure beers along with the standards. They serve a small menu of appetizers that are prepared in neighboring Pangea's kitchen and walked over. I haven't been disappointed with the ones I've tried. UPDATE 8/14/07: My new favorite night at Proof is Singalong with Steeve......not too serious karaoke and drink specials all night long. On their first outing had so many lined up to sing that when the lights came on and the music was turned off there were still people waiting. A fun time and you don't have to be intimidated because there is always going to be somebody that is worse at carrying a tune than you. read more

Stopped by this spot with a group of friends one night in October a couple years ago. It was pretty packed. You do get the usual Mexicano and Asian Persuasion crowd up in this biatch, so if you like that kinda crowd this is the place you can party it up at. I'm giving them 3 stars basically for only one reason, the hot bartender was extremely friendly with me and I loved her huge fake ta-ta's. We exchanged names and also got to feel each other up. Just comparing our implants of course ;) Really strong drinks and I don't think we had to pay a cover to get in. If it wasn't for the bond I made with the hottie with a body behind the bar, then I probably would've given this place 1 star, cuz its located in ghetto ass downtown Santa Ana. read more

no cover. that's always a plus in my book. strong dranks! my jack and coke was pretty much a jack on the rocks. not complaining though! ;) a couple of those had my buzz going on pretty strong all night long. they played top 40 splashed with some house and electro music. good stuff, got me going through the night. i went on a friday night, so i don't know if electro music is the staple for friday nights only??? as for parking, there's a parking structure not too far from this place. i believe it costs 2-3 bucks to park. OH! and watch out for the po-pos. they infest the street! if you are reading this far, kudos to you. you have a better attention span than i do. but that's not saying much since i usually get distracted by shiny objects and the buzzing of the mosquito. read more

My first time to Proof was also my first OC yelp event as well and I had a great time. I am really glad I got to meet a great group of yelpers. I was one of the first to arrive for the oc uye som event and instead of leaving right away because no one was there yet, i decided to wait and have a beer until people showed up. The bartender quickly asked me what I wanted and then served me my miller lite. $4 was a little more than i would like to pay for a miller lite but thats okay. After a few yelpers showed up we moved to the nice leather couches and hung out discussing the prom event and played the game "whats yours like?" (which is a really good group game and a good way to break the ice). Proof bar has a cool vibe to it. I love all the photography hung up around the place especially the pictures of men's packages in the ladies bathroom. I can't wait for my next trip to proof. read more

Thursday night was not that poppin' and the music was...eh :/ The bartender surprised us with a fruity drink, tasty but I have no idea what it was...vodka for sure. The vibe was weird...is it a gay bar? Usually the atmosphere is obvious but I was confused. I can roll with any crowd but I was just wondering what type of place I stepped into. I was disappointed to find out they no longer sell the bacon wrapped hot dogs in the patio :( Overall, the place has some interesting art on the wall, it's a small bar, bartenders are cool but I wasn't diggin' the house music. I need some variety in my life. One same beat gets old after a few minutes. read more

Came here to see LA Riots do their thing and would have probably enjoyed myself more if I wasn't about to pass out due to lack of sleep. I'm not sure what the normal group of patrons for Proof is, but LA Riots brought in a somewhat mix of people, which is always nice to see. The place looks great. The dance floor isn't ginormous but a good size for the building. Had no idea a bar like this would be hidden in Santa Ana. Old school glamour girls like Bettie Page were being projected onto the screens with their super sweet dance moves and sex appeal. That kept me thoroughly entertained for the majority of the night. I think I need to come back to see what a normal night at this place looks like and check out those bathrooms. read more

Orange County night life isn't such a drag. You want proof? Well, you've got Proof. Located in the heart of Santa Ana's Artists' Village, Proof is a hip neon-colored bar/lounge catering to a young, diverse crowd of people. And by young, I don't mean the obnoxious under 21 crowd. Music is decent, and so are the drink prices. Great for a casual night out with friends without having to drive too far to LA. read more

Norma (aka dj skeptix) and Brian present the most glorious experience in the downstairs area at proof bar. Go down the stairs on the left if you want a fucking adventure read more

Who would have ever thought to have found a bar like this in Santa Ana?? Proof has a good mix of people. So if you are in to mingling and networking its a good place to be. I've only been here on Thursday nights and the music is up beat and very lively. If you are a drinker, than Proof caters to you as well. The bartenders here make some STIFF drinks and for a great price. If you are worried about spending too much money come for the new happy hour. I don't think I have anything bad to say about this place. I'll definitely be going back :] read more

As a karaoke addict and a lover of vodka this place has a very nice Monday night karaoke - in my humble-already-tipsy-when-I-got-there opinion. The host is nice but not nearly as knowledgeable as some other karaoke hosts out there (the boy at Boardwalk 11...Lester Trombone at Detroit). But the selection of songs is huge, the music isn't TOO loud, and there is plenty of alcohol. All in all, this is another karaoke place that I have fallen in love with. read more

An ok spot for drinks with a small group of friends. The dance floor get really crowded and making your way to the bathroom can be a hassle. Bartenders are good at what they do. I am a little scared to order cocktails sometimes when I don't know how good the bartender is. I had my honey order a simple drinks Jack and Coke, just to see how her pour was... it was not bad. How do you mess up Jack and Coke? Believe there are people that do. So I got brave and ordered my Lemon Drop- She squeezed the lemon and nothing came out of it, so I asked for more. In the end, it was good I ordered 2 more after that. (Kind of small for $11) read more

I love this place! There is often a large line outside, but it's because the place is legitimately crowded and worth waiting to get into. They don't do what some clubs do, make people wait in line so it looks like an appealing place. It's a small venue, and it gets full fast. The drinks are reasonably priced. My favorite bartender is Petey, the big bald white guy. He'll give you a great deal and make the drinks strong. The music is good. They mix it up, so they'll play hiphop, EDM, old school gangsta rap, and the occasional completely random song that at least someone will get all excited about. There is a back patio, so you can always go out there if you need some fresh air. The only downside is that you can't take your drink outside. The crowd is chill. There isn't really a dress code, so there are always girls wearing tiny club dresses, guys in hipster-looking suits, and then people in shorts, tshirts, and flip flops. The crowd is a good mix of ages and ethnicities. When 2:00 rolls around and it's sadly time to go, there are always cool food trucks and taco stands by the exit. Definitely one of my favorite places to go out! read more

Came here with some friends before dinner on a Saturday night and I thought this place was pretty nifty. There were a few tables set up along the side, some couches for lounging, and a lot of open space. (The place opens at 8pm). After a couple of drinks, people started to filter in. The place is totally casual, so you can wear flip flops and t-shirts, but at the same time there were some girls who were totally dressed up, and in stilettos. Ummm it's Santa Ana, but I guess it never hurts to look your best, right? The bartenders were super friendly, with a heavy hand (my favorite). Drinks were reasonably priced, and the crowd is mostly hipster (which I totally try to be, but totally am not). Would come again. read more

A-okay. We got in on a Saturday night around 10pm with no problems... just a hand stamp. The bar was a little crowded but I wormed my way up to order a drink for myself and a friend. Their drinks were decently priced and were actually pretty tasty... the alcohol was definitely present. They don't skimp on that. We hung out by the DJ table area by the dance floor. It was pretty slow at first, but a few people started to dance and others joined in. Some random girls in the corner taking countless pictures of themselves doing "sexy poses" was a little annoying, but I'm sure that's not something that normally happens. Bathrooms are located in the back. They keep the back door open... and it was pretty cold that night. So ladies, if you don't wanna freeze your booty off, stay in the middle of the bar. They do have seats/tables up against the sides for those who get there a little earlier. By the time we showed up, they were all gone. But the DJ stand had some room so we just shoved our purses there and had a good time on the dance floor. This place was a nice change from the basic DTF experience... lots of ghetto people in a crowded space. The crowd here was so diverse and it was nice to see. People watching would be fun in a place like this, if that's your thing. Definitely a place to start your night... then head somewhere else. :) read more

Pretty cool spot. It's big enough to dance and theres enough room at the bar that you dont feel crowded. Theres also a second smaller bar downstairs which mainly serves liquor, but it's a nice escape if things get too crowded back upstairs. read more

I love this place!! Decor and ambiance are amazing, the owners are awesome, and the music is never disappointing. You can always count on the fact you will have a good time here!! Thank you Proof Bar for being in existence! read more

My friend Christine and I hit Proof to drink for the homeless. :) I mean to partake in Heartini Happy Hour. First Monday of the month from 5-8 at Proof, 25% of the bar proceeds benefit Mercy House, a non profit providing homeless prevention, emergency services, transitional housing and permanent housing with supportive services to families and individuals. Anyways... the place was pretty cool... the drinks were poured with a heavy hand and very friendly bartenders. There was a live band for the event, which was pretty cool to watch with the mix of couch, ottoman, high tops and bar seating available. We left when the event was over and headed over to Lola's for some dinner. We rolled back over to Proof when we spotted some friends (still) at the bar, and even at night, although it was dark, still pretty cool. Great place to hang and drink with good conversation. The music wasn't deafening, nor were you treated to big booty ho's shaking it on the TVs, so that was a plus. We're down to come back and drink for the homeless and for everything else in between! :) *** BONUS: The bathrooms were clean! (I tend to judge bars by the bathrooms). read more

Parking was relatively easy to find, there's a parking structure on 3rd that was free.. don't pay those shady guys across the street! But I got there kinda early... around 10:30-ish on a Thursday night. Anyway, the atmosphere is really chill.. blue/purple/red neon lights that aren't too bright and give a good club feel. Sexy pictures across the walls and in the bathrooms.. A few tables to sit at near the front/side and some couches in the back. Didn't see the back patio(?) area, but as it wasn't that packed, there was decent room to move around... except by the bar area, where you need to weave through people to get past. Also, LOVED that ins/outs were OK! So feel free to get some fresh air or take a smoke out front! The drinks were a little pricey.. about $5-7 for a 9oz. glass. But you don't have to wait long to get a drink, and the female bartenders were friendly enough. I'm a little iffy on the music.. they played mostly house that night, and while house is okay with me, I was hoping for a more diverse mix, something more danceable, you know? Overall, a place I'd come back to again for a night off with friends, or definitely as a place to hang after dinner or something. Will probably review again after trying the happy hour. Cheers! read more

I use to love coming here a few years ago but as of lately it seems like their customer service has gone sour. My friend and I went there on a Friday night about 10pm. It was early enough to where there were people there but not overly crowded. We decided to get a drink and stood at the bar for 20 minutes waiting to get service. There were two bartenders working the bar and were helping people they knew "friends" rather than us. We tried getting their attention a few times and just kept getting ignored. We finally gave up and decided to just leave and never come back. The place is nice and has good music but what's the point if we cant even get something to drink. read more

More of a 3.5 for me. It's a good spot to go dance at and it gets pretty busy at times, but it's not my favorite spot in DTSA. I do like some of the throwback music they play on Thursday nights. For some reason I've encountered more sleazy douche-y type guys (and some gals) at this place more than any other places in DTSA. The drinks are comfortably strong and reasonably priced although not consistently good. I've had warm Monster with my Jager a few times here. read more

Walked in at 4:07, to be greeted with a loud, "we're not open yet!" as a man drags 2 trash cans into the room.....lol okay

Good drinks and great music! The drinks aren't expensive and service was quick! Which is hard to come by at a bar that's over crowded. Check this place out! read more

First things first -- drinks here will FCK you up. They are cheap and f'ing lethal. I know Santa Ana isn't exactly your ideal night out, but try it. I've only been here Thursday nights. House/electro, dancing, bacon wrapped hotdogs grilling in the back, and some badass people. Come here to mingle, dance, and drunkenly stumble to Norms. Only grievance is that the dance floor is so damn small because I want to throw my bows and then some when I'm grooving to them beats. read more

With the anime looking paintings on one wall, some retro art on another wall, and some dark leather couches, Proof Bar has a somewhat futuristic look that yeah, I'd could see this being a bar for Asians. It's a little more forward and fashionable than the Crosby, and that suits my taste a little better. It's a comfortable scene with friendly (and pretty) bartenders and is a chill place to talk early in the week for happy hour. The music is per the bartender's taste, so that can always be a talking point. (hear "All you need is Love") "Oh, you like the Beatles? Paul or John?" etc etc.... read more

After about a year long hiatus from Proof I finally came back here this past weekend. I admit, I kind of stopped coming here because at one point I felt like perhaps this place had become too main stream for me. Especially considering I started coming here a long time ago when the Artist District of Santa Ana was relatively unknown to the folks in Irvine. So like a snob I shunned this place for a while - like a die hard fan of some underground band who finally gets signed to a label, I felt like I was no longer appreciated. Well, I'm here to say that I'm sorry. This place is still a great time and still attracts a large and diverse crowd of people, which I love. It's not your usual Newport Beach crowd and a definite nice change of pace. Also, the bartenders are great at getting your drink orders even when it is packed. Ah Proof Bar, I'm sorry I've neglected you for so long. I will definitely come back again sooner. read more

I would give this bar 3.5 stars but it's not an option. There's a small parking garage nearby so parking isn't a big deal. This was my first time there tonight, but I thought it was okay. When I got there, the place was EXTREMELY packed (mostly Asians) which was a bit much because the place itself is pretty small and it made it get stuffy pretty fast. My friends told me that it usually isn't that crowded though. I only stayed in the bar area but apparently there's another part of the place that serves as a small dance floor with a pretty good DJ. Appearance wise, the bar is small but it has cute lighting and a clubbish feel. It was tough to get the bartender's attention because there were so many people. Always be aggressive and make sure you know what you want. I was able to get a Adios drink, shot of patron, Jäger bomb, and a buttery nipple. 3 of those were mixed drinks and they were made well. Prices are average ($7-$10). Bartenders are pretty nice. I would go here with a small group of friends. I liked it enough to go there again, but I wouldn't want it to be as crowded as it was that night. read more

I like Proof alot! Pros - ** Great mixed drinks - MY Washington Apple shots baby! Crown Royal, Apple Pucker, and Cranberry Juice. ** Nice, cute bartendar(s) [thurs] ** Pole for pole dancing ** Music was pretty good. Played some old school. ** Bouncer dude was really nice. ** They played adult movies on the overhead projector screen. ** Comfy leather seats. Cons- ** I found it difficult to find! ** Got humid and stuffy inside due to all the madness (dancing/drinking/sweating) ** Music selection could have been better at times. ** Parking. Try to find street parking. ** Not large enough to handle MANY ppl. Was better when not has many ppl were inside. BIGGEST AND BEST PRO - Crazy, dancing, drunk, and fun as heck Yelpers tearing up the dance floor! read more

What a Saturday night adventure that was! Rolled out here with some peeps for a friends birthday and continued to be pleasantly surprised. My Pleasant Surprises 1 - We're in Santa Ana? 2 - Was that $11 for two drinks? Awesome! 3 - Whoah there, how about some Coke with this Rum? 4 - Wow, I actually like the music. 5 - Mmm, comfy couch! 6 - Mullets, Mexicans, and Music make excellent combinations. We're def going back. read more