With temperatures hitting triple digits on the coast two weekends ago I was planning on swimming but got lured to the Rudder Room instead. My personal trainer, that takes me drinking more than he trains me (yes I am aware this is a savvy business move on his part) had friends over at the Room and boy am I glad that they suggested we stop by. It was early afternoon so we were drinking Kettleone bloodymarys that were prepared with care and fantastic! We kicked back with our friends that touted the Rudder Room as the best bar on the planet and I have to agree with them. The sun was shining, my toes were in the sand, football was on the TVs and there was even a local playing the guitar... insert refreshing aah here. Memories from this day are sure to fill my thoughts during every miserable work moment for the rest of my life. Bottom line the ONLY place to be on a sunny Sunday, Saturday or any day is the Rudder Room! read more

I love this place! How many places in California can you sit on the beach and have a drink? I think the bar tender is cool. Bought a jacket and a tee shirt the other day and everyone was great. It's a bar people! Enjoy it! read more

Rudder Room - Dive Bars Near Me - Oxnard, California

The babette and I swung by here on X-mas day on a lark hoping to self medicate prior to attending another obligatory "family" holiday gathering. It came as no surprise to find them open, packed and populated with like minded patrons. It was like a scene out of "Bad Santa" minus Billy Bob Thorton. Got to love this place! read more

This is old school/military hangout, at the end of a residential street. Apparently you can drink outside with your feet in the sand, which is a nice and rare opportunity. Stayed only for a beer since the vibe that night just wasn't ours. Some drunk military guys having fun and making drunk asses out of themselves, which is fine and funny. Girlfriend was a little freaked out since they kept flexing their biceps in my face but what do I care. These guys are the front line and deserve every consideration. Would definitely be back, although the drive from Malibu was like 40 minutes read more

Cool bartender, great service, amazing location and beach access. Put it on your dive bar bucket list for sure.

This is a small dive bar right on the beach. It has a smoking area outside with picnic tables and they even allow dogs on the beach area. This isn't for the 20-something set, though there are a few that hang out here. Most are middle aged and retired Navy folks and their spouses/girl/boyfriends. Let me be clear though. THEY DO NOT SELL FOOD! I see a lot of people saying "great food, great prices" but it's strictly a bar without food. There is a deli just behind it that is often closed, but if you find it open you can get your food and go in there. The bar itself is often jammed elbow to elbow, especially just after normal work hours. That said, hey have a TV and a great time to go is for the early football games. My husband is a semi-regular but his close friend is a definite regular. He's there every day with his bar stool, kind of like Norm from Cheers. They're all a friendly bunch. Naturally they get even friendlier the more the night wears on. lol! There are some volleyball nets outside and they offer some great sunsets. In fact, there is a great framed set of photos by a regular who took a picture of the sunset every Friday night for a year. The walls are also plastered with a ton of other photos as well. All in all, I like it. read more

Like other reviewers have mentioned, it has potential. The Good: Great location on beautiful Hollywood Beach with chairs in the sand and volleyball nets. The Bad: It smells like piss when you first walk in, it's cash only and the younger male nighttime bartender is always angry and extremely rude. I'd spend more time there if I felt it was a friendlier and cleaner atmosphere but there are better places to spend time at in the harbor like The Lookout where the staff is amazing, food is good and they take credit cards. read more

I can't say enough good things about this hidden treasure!! The bartender is fabulous and knows how to make an excellent margarita!!

We go on bike rides sometimes and we always stop by the Rudder Room, its small, they have a jukebox we always play Sabbath on, a pool table, and lots of BEER to drink. Good times have been had at the Rudder Room. read more

I think they would rather have one star because it is such a dive! Total locals place for beach bums and tough looking guys. We were out of place for sure but it was an interesting experience for one drink. Adirondack chairs out on the beach and picnic tables on the patio, you'd think you were at someone's home but it's a bar. A few pool tables and about 99 percent regulars. Cash only. As we left, a Midwestern looking family was approaching the door. Was tempted to follow them just to see the expressions on their faces! read more

See all

Great drinks, friendly locals and a bitchen view. One of the only spots in the county where you can sit on the beach and enjoy a drink.

The Rudder Room is a pretty cool dive bar. If you haven't been, I highly suggest you check this place out. Located right on the beach near Oxnard shores, you can order your drink at the bar, and take it out onto the sand/beach with you. It's the perfect place to relax on a Saturday or Sunday, and forget all about your worries. While I've only been here once, I do plan on coming back at some point. I believe this to be a pretty fun place to day-drink, but I'm not sure how it is at night. Seems to be a very "locals" kind of place. Customers often bring their dogs, so that adds an interesting twist. Drink prices are cheapish, especially for a bar located on the beach, and even more so for one that you can actually walk on the sand and enjoy it. Cheers! read more

We were staying in Oxnard for a long weekend along Hollywood Beach... was very grateful to have a bar like this so close. See my pix and comments. read more

See all

Great little dive bar with a laid back atmosphere. Plus Mandy (the dog) is SO CUTE! Highly recommend checking this place out when you're in Oxnard! read more

Fun for locals. Booze and the Beach, simple dive bar. read more

Rudder Room - Dive Bars Near Me - Oxnard, California

Old bartender with long hair cursed at me for trying to order. We left right after he told me to "hold the fuck on" to my mother, father, and I. Worst service. What a shame for such a nice town. Won't be back until that bartender is fired. read more

I really like this spot. You can take a beer into the sand, they have 2 pool tables and like volleyball nets just outside. A juke box and what appear to be rather friendly mellow older locals. That door that says it will sound the alarm if opened is not lying. I tested it for ya But BEWARE: cash only. read more

A-1 dive bar w great food and good prices The bartenders are properly seedy, old and cranky and they will love this review of them Locals only read more

Love this place. A customer at my bar in LA told me about it so we came on our Monday Funday day off. Great bartender (thanks Frank!!!) and great regulars to talk to. Will be back! read more

Rudder Room - So quiet and relaxing! - Dive Bars Near Me - Oxnard, California

Nice for a dive. Great bartender Troy great drinks great prices do not miss the sunset!

Anyone unhappy with the Rudder Room is missing the point. If you got a problem with the Rudder Room then I got news for you, Jack. You got a problem. read more

Very good dive bar. I have been here 3 separate times when I travel in the area. Only 4 stars because it's a dive, but great sunset and I'll be back next time I am in town. read more

Rudder Room - Sunset outside - Dive Bars Near Me - Oxnard, California

We were on holiday in CA for 2 weeks, 2 nites in Oxnard. We found this cool little bar close to our Airbnb and had a fun time, friendly bartenders and people and a great outside area right on the water! Thanks guys! the Kansas sisters C&J read more

The best bar on the beach! If you want to go back in time to a less stressful and more play full time this is the place. A "Star Wars" beach dive bar which you should not miss. Bring an open mind an a open heart!!! Shelly read more

I love this fantastic dive bar directly on the beach. The people who give the bad reviews are missing the point of the DIVE bar and obviously do not have a sense of humor! This is a bar where the drinks are strong and a locals hangout whether they live in a multimillion dollar home or share a cheap apartment. Never ask for a blended drink and a bloody Mary is IFFY depending on the bartender and how busy the bar is. Stick to beer and you'll be safe. If you order a mixed drink on ice, be cautious. There is nothing better than sticking your feet in the warm sand, drinking a cold beer and watching the boats come into the harbor. You can also watch the people play volleyball and it can get quite entertaining if they quench their thirst in the bar! Lol read more

Five stars to the best bar on the sand in Southern California. Stiff drinks at low prices.... Yeah. We love the place, the owners are amazing, being able to relax with a Bloody Mary right on the sand while watching beach volley ball games and playing with your dogs is a superb experience. Highly recommended. Watch out for the grumpy bartender on Sunday mornings. Some people have a very short fuse and then you'll be waiting hours for your drink. You have been warned! read more

Just plug your nose when walking in. It smells like urine. If you make it out alive to the back patio that's where the fun starts. Bring a volleyball is you wanna play some beach volleyball. read more

Cheap drinks, fun crowd. Love sitting or walking on the sand holding a yummy drink. Love the Rud. And yes, it's a cash only bar. So?

This bar is pretty chill. My friends and I were wandering around Oxnard and found this place. Super divey which is cool. Seems like a place regulars would go to. When we got there we grabbed our beers then noticed we could go outside. There were chairs on the beach! Just hung out drinking a few rounds and watched the sunset. They also have billiards. Definitely want to come back here again. Diggin the name too. read more

Rudder Room - Beer+ocean=cool - Dive Bars Near Me - Oxnard, California

As other reviews have stated this is a total LOCALS dive bar. I have had the not so wonderful pleasure of patroning this bar two times. Pretty much if you're not a regular in there they will treat you like crap. Luckily for me I happened to be with one of their best patrons the two times I went so I actually got better treatment than most (which isn't saying much since I only placed my drink orders through my friend since I knew they would take care of him first). The owner is a complete jackoff who is more interested in over serving their local drunk girls who in turn act ridiculously obnoxious. On one occasion that I was there, one girl was so wasted she literally pissed her pants and was screaming and cursing and trying to tackle people (maybe friends? I don't know regardless she was obnoxious). She also kept trying to pick my dog up even after I told her to leave, yet they still kept serving her and let her stay. The only other time I was there (and the last), there was a girl so drunk out front crying and yelling and laying in the gutter out front. The owner was out there with her trying to get her up to throw her into the back of a cab that had pulled up. It is a shame because the location is amazing and has so much potential. But obviously they like their system of keeping everyone else out except locals and regulars. I love dive bars, but you don't need to be rude to me just because you don't see me on a daily or weekly basis. My cash isn't any less green than your regular drunks. Oh and if you think these reviews actually matter to the owner, they don't just like the rest of his establishment he doesn't care. read more

My first time here and do isn't know what to order I asked for a drink menu and he literally talked smack because of it . nasty costumer service the man at the bar is just so rude he will try to make you feel so Insignificant . Don't come here if you want good costumer service . This person is just to rude read more

Great location! It would be much more pleasant if the bartenders gave a crap about their customers. If you don't order all your drinks at once and from the "right" position at the bar, you get criticized. Very rude staff and seem to feel they are doing you a favor by serving you! read more

We are looking for Cliff Ferry. Leonie, Hillyard, Barb and hilda...circa 72-73 we lived on Santa Monica, Rossmore, Ocean Dr. We remember Igor and Don Cady. read more

I completely and utterly despise this place. Such a great location and such a waste of space. I don't understand why the bartenders thought that I was paying them to be rude. I was paying them to make drinks, not complain! Needless to say, no tip. If you don't like being a bartender, then get another job! read more

What you see is what you get. No frill, beachside bar, filled with locals. Ok beer selection, definitely nothing fancy. But it's all about location - location - location. We ordered 2 beers, walked directly onto beach. Sat on the rocks, sipped our beers and watched the seals, kayakers and sailboats. read more

Honestly, this place is a dump! I don't even know how this business survives in such a nice neighborhood. My feeling is that the crowd here comes from outside areas. Not a very safe place. read more

I came here for 4th of July and called beforehand. Guy on phone was irate. He told me wtf do you think? I asked if if we could camp out all day he said wtf do you think you derelict! The audacity of this guy and rudeness is beyond belief. I have a home 3 blocks away and this douchebag is calling names! Any ways service sucks big time, them being on the beach is awesome. I should just buy the place and fire all the negative Nancy's that work there! read more

Love the chairs in the sand, drink in hand and was able to watch a beautiful sunset! Inside is a different story, it is for sure a dive bar maybe even less. Needs a deep clean and some updating. It would be nice if they had food or even snacks or beer on tap. read more

This place is located in an excellent part of the beach. The place itself is a real dive but the patrons are an incredible mix of interesting characters. The bartender is cold and aloof and less than helpful. Believe it or not, that's part of the overall ambience of the place. If you go there be prepared. You may run into people in pajamas or bath robes in cowboy boots. If you can go with the flow, you might just love this place. If not then it might just be too much for you. read more

Rude bar tender. Waited patiently to be tended to and once I asked for a beer brand he said "we don't have that, did you see it on our beer list?" in a rude tone. Then he grabbed some list from three people over and slammed it in front of me. Needless to say I ordered no beer. read more