Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Bootlegger Bar

    4.1 (96 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:30 pm

    The Bootlegger Bar Photos

    THE BOOTLEGGER BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like The Bootlegger Bar

    Recommended Reviews - The Bootlegger Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    YUMMY. YES. LOVE. Great vibes and good people. What a beautiful location as well. The drinks were 100/10 and I have not stopped thinking about the watermelon mojito since I was there last week. The apps were very good as well!! I loved the meatballs and the skewers. The staff was nice overall and I liked their outfits:)

    Watermelon Mojito
    Chrissy L.

    Nice bar with a great view. The Korean Steak Skewers were so good. The Kung Pao Calamari was just okay. The Watermelon Mojito was one of the best cocktails I've had. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. The drinks and view made it a spot worth coming back to.

    Seating
    Claire J.

    A cool spot in Crystal Cove below the iconic Shake shack. If you know the area you know that parking is a hard task & a 15-min walk to get from the parking lot to the restaurant/bar. While the food was good - We ordered the clam chowder and really just wish there was more of it, portion sizes are pretty small & although they are just an appetizer/drink spot, $14 for a bowl of clam chowder could've warranted a larger portion. I get you are paying for the location, but still! The drinks were yummy, I got the blackberry tea in the large jar and it was even bigger than expected. It was Thursday eve and they had live music, which was an awesome contribution to the overall vibe.

    Michele C.

    Absolutely perfect! It was wonderful. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. Drinks were amazing and view was spectacular

    Skinny Mule
    Amy N.

    This was a small cute bar located on the edge of Crystal Cove state park, right by the shorelines. It's a nice place to grab refreshments if you want to take a break from the beach. Vibes were good and the waitress was friendly. Seating was self-serve and not hard to find on a Saturday afternoon (9/14). My friend and I ordered a Skinny Mule. It was my first time having a Moscow Mule, so I don't think I'm qualified to critique but overall I thought it was a decent drink. A lot of other people around us were ordering Blood Mary's; those looked really big.

    Sunset at Crystal Cove.
    Malissa B.

    Fun outside bar with an amazing ocean view. Appetizers, soup, & salad are on the menu. We shared their chicken rolls, which were a perfect accompaniment to our drinks. It was the end of the night, and the bar tender seemed a bit tired. Not as friendly as they usually are.

    Appetizer
    Connie P.

    This what seems like a hidden gem is a whole vibe on the beach. -you can pay for parking, take a shuttle down ($2 per person) and get your ticket validated or you can take a nice walk down. Best to make reservations but since we just showed up to check it out, we sat at the bar, ordered some appetizers with drinks and enjoyed the live music and the beautiful sunset. The appetizers were delicious and my mojito was a lot bigger than I expected (came in a large mason jar). They also have cute little cottages you can rent out for the night. Highly recommend this place.

    Drink menu
    Jennifer D.

    Fun little bar to have a few drinks. Menu is just drinks and appetizers. The calamari, steak skewers and ahi tacos were good. Service was good. Seating is first come first serve

    The Beachcomber cocktail; good, but a little sweet for me.
    Amber E.

    What a cool little hidden gem of a beach bar. Stopped in around sunset, and it was a great visit. There was some cool jazz playing; and bartender was very friendly. I ordered the baked tomato soup topped with a puff pastry crown, served piping hot, which was perfect on a chilly beach evening. Plenty for 2 as an appetizer. Then I ordered the signature Beachcomber cocktail, which was good, but a little sweet for me. Next time I might try a mai tai if they can make it less sweet, and the chargrilled artichokes. But looking forward to next time at this unique retro beach hangout.

    Michelada
    Sayuri B.

    I've been coming here for over 10 years now with my family and sometimes I come alone during lunch. The service is definitely good especially the bartenders (they don't skimp out on the drinks). I've had the crab cakes, ahi tacos, lobster sandwich, micheladas, mai tai and today I tried the dragon fruit tinga tostadas. They were very tasty with a hint of spice. I stood at the end of the bar seats closest to the bungalow till about half way through my meal until someone near me left, I was able to grab a stool. About 2min after I had grabbed my own stool the manager came out and told me to keep my dog under my legs so that he didn't block the passage way, which I understand. I just don't understand why if I was at his eyes view he couldn't bring me a stool when there was one open seat in a three group table. Overall like I said before I've been coming here alone or with family and friends I will continue to come and enjoy the pretty view, ambience and food/drinks. Definitely would advice all my friends and followers to come and enjoy this enchanting spot. My Latino/ Asian and Black community especially! A more diverse crowd would be perfect.

    Roger H.

    Great place to drink and get a bite to eat! Alex (bar tender ) is rock star brought his full energy and made us feel at home at the bar and made us fill at home

    Bloody Mary with crab claw, shrimp, pickled veggies & olives $21., gotta try it.
    Sharon Y.

    Great bartender, Alex! Was helpful & accommodating when ordering Big Bloody Mary's, calamari, & artichoke appetizers! Weather was great & sunny the 2 days we went. Had to return for another round of the marvelous Bloody Mary's $21. Hey, if you're on vacation, you deserve to try it! Sooooo yummy & ambiance was perfect for a fun time near the beach!

    Sheila H.

    What a refreshing and pleasant experience. Whatever restaurant or bar you want to open, please send your future employees to shadow the servers and bartenders at Bootlegger Bar. The staff at Bootlegger surpass any expectations and bar that is set. We were greeted right away, treated with the utmost respect and hospitality. Man, what joyful time we were able to share with family, and can't wait to return. Shame on me for forgetting the name of our server. However, she happily fulfilled any request we had and all of our food items arrived right away. Even the food runner was so Nice! He reminded us to validate our parking and gave us wet wipes (obviously for our dirty kids faces ). Food: we came for dessert and drinks. 3 of us got hot chocolates, but I got a Mango Margarita (superb!). The drink wasn't washed down with nasty sweet and sour, but it was made with fresh ingredients, you could taste! The beignets were HEAVEN. Oh man. I woofed 3 of them and asked myself how it happened so fast. Overall it was a fantastic experience and we will be returning for date night!!!

    Korean skewers

    See all

    15 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ula P.
    339
    151
    752

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lorissa S.
    223
    43
    15

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Linda P.
    0
    186
    21

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian H.
    115
    153
    496

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Margaret W.
    81
    681
    3836

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Love it here I order spring rolls and a mango smoothie and beignets. Always delicious

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike L.
    81
    14
    4

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark J.
    25
    37
    4

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jaylyn K.
    309
    24
    10

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adriana M.
    285
    136
    685

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mc P.
    101
    16
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim L.
    3525
    722
    30914

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Don M.
    32
    98
    54

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex S.
    876
    106
    120

    7 years ago

    If you Mexican non come here .............????~~~###^^]^.!{*[£[=\+£||€{€ they Even tho there nothing my musician. They don't

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ginny G.
    26
    12
    18

    8 years ago

    The bartender Brandon G is fast friendly and serves amazing drinks...easy on the eyes

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lorma P.
    25
    13
    745

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tiger C.
    182
    278
    372

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Bootlegger Bar

    How far is the walk from the parking lot. And is it wheelchair assessable?

    Yes, wheelchair's can be dropped at the shuttle loading area, parking is maybe. 1/4 mile away or less. It's a paved path from the parking lot across PCH.

    View All 2 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for American 35,812 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Crystal Cove Shake Shack

    Crystal Cove Shake Shack

    4.2
    (1.7k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    No tea, no shade, the chain with the same name has nothing on Crystal Cove Shake Shack…read more The food was INCREDIBLE. They have the best fries I've ever had. Perfect crisp to them. We got a chocolate chip cookie dough and Oreo shakes. Super thick and super yummy. The burgers were flavorful. They give a vibe of backyard BBQ burger. Service was super quick. We came about an hour or so before sunset, so it wasn't terribly busy. We loved the views! The only thing I wish they had was a designated queue for ordering. We had some issues with a man cutting the line. Parking sucks so come with plenty of time!

    4.5 stars for service 3 stars for food…read more First time visiting, tagged along with my brother who comes here a lot with his family. Parking takes a while, another line for food. If you have people with you, have them get off and order. Food will be ready once you park. Staff are really nice and accommodating. They're mostly younger kids but very polite. Food comes out fast. Food was pretty good, definitely can get better elsewhere but what people come here for are the views. We for burgers, turkey burger, chili cheese fries and sweet potato fries. Oh and a choc/vanilla and banana shake- these were really good. It's nice grabbing a burger by the water, esp at sunset. The epitome of OC. The area and views make you thankful to live here.

    Photos
    Chicken Sandwich, Oreo shake, Impossible Burger
    Chicken Sandwich, Oreo shake, Impossible Burger
    Crystal Cove Deluxe
    Crystal Cove Deluxe
    Banana shake

    See all

    Banana shake
    Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens

    Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens

    4.1
    (2.4k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Spontaneous lunches are the best. Provided it's not too busy at the farmhouse…read more. The timing was perfect, it was a little after the lunchtime crowd, but still very busy. We had a wonderful waitress named Kaitlyn. She helped seal the deal on the mocktail selection. They roasted tomato and asparagus. Fresh purée soup is delicious especially with the warm country bread. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful time to dine at the farmhouse. The flowers are gorgeous. There's butterflies hummingbirds, and of course warm sunshine.

    Mean server!! Felt racist, honestly. We are the only brown people at the entire restaurant that…read moreday. The server got extra short and demanding with us when we didn't order cocktails since we don't drink alcohol. He got a little nicer after we ordered expensive mains, after-meal drinks and desserts. He never looked directly at one of us who's North African even when he ordered and paid for the entire meal. He was smiling, patient, and nice to everyone else around us. It was so obvious. I thought I had given this place 5 stars in the past because that's how I've always felt about this place. Beautiful, good organic food, casual/classy, outdoors.... A little expensive but the service was always EXTRA attentive so you pay for the experience.. But I realized I've always gone with white friends in the past.

    Photos
    Beautiful flower arrangements.
    Beautiful flower arrangements.
    Shrimp citrus salad with avocado
    Shrimp citrus salad with avocado
    Lemon Tart

    See all

    Lemon Tart
    Great Maple

    Great Maple

    4.3
    (3.6k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Great Maple absolutely lived up to the hype. We ordered the French toast and the spicy shrimp…read morepasta, and both were outstanding. The French toast was cooked perfectly. It wasn't overly sweet like a lot of brunch spots tend to do. The balance was just right, letting the flavors shine without feeling like dessert for breakfast. The blueberries, maple syrup, and cream brought everything together perfectly. The spicy shrimp pasta was equally impressive. It had a great kick to it, but the spice didn't overpower the dish. You could still taste all the flavors of the pasta, shrimp, and sauce. That's a rare thing because too many places mistake heat for flavor. Great Maple got it right. The restaurant was very busy, which is usually a good sign, but despite the crowd, the service never slipped. Our servers were attentive, friendly, and kept everything moving smoothly. If I had one minor complaint, it's that the popularity means you should expect a wait during peak hours. But after eating here, it's easy to understand why it's packed. Excellent food, attentive service, and a brunch experience that's worth coming back for. Human beings may disagree on politics, sports, and whether pineapple belongs on pizza, but Great Maple serving great food feels like one of the easier things to agree on.

    The outdoor patio was nice and the service was great. The seasonal drink which was a bourbon peach…read moreiced tea was very tasty and flavorful without being too sweet. The It's a Date salad was fine but had some large pieces and some very spiced bites if not mixed well enough. The salmon on top was delicious and a great compliment. The CAL salad unfortunately seemed to lack toppings and was underwhelming. The Ribeye Melt was good but probably not top of our list to order again. Would love to comeback and try their brunch items as they seem to excel at those!

    Photos
    Inside; few to no customers
    Inside; few to no customers
    Fried Chicken and Doughnut, Bloody Mary
    Fried Chicken and Doughnut, Bloody Mary
    Relax with a Pacific Ocean Breeze after a great meal!

    See all

    Relax with a Pacific Ocean Breeze after a great meal!
    Nick's Laguna Beach

    Nick's Laguna Beach

    4.5
    (4.3k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$$

    We came just to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and everything about this place was amazing!…read moreThe atmosphere was beautiful, the staff was incredibly friendly, and the margaritas were absolutely delicious. We shared the cheeseburger and the shrimp tacos, and both were outstanding. No complaints about the food at all it was fresh, flavorful, and definitely worth it. I would absolutely recommend this place and will definitely be coming back. Thank you for making our weekend so enjoyable!

    We stopped into Nick's in Laguna Beach specifically for their legendary butter cake, and let me…read moretell you. if you haven't tried this dessert yet, your life is tragically incomplete. You're basically just going through the motions, my friend. We paired it with their ice cream fudge sundae, and we could not have been happier with our decision. The moment that warm butter cake hits the table, pure joy consumes your soul. Anticipation builds like you're about to open the best gift ever. The only logical response is to grab a spoon (yes, a spoon because a for would be a travesty of a mistake) because you need the perfect ratio of buttery cake, berry compote, and ice cream in every single bite. You carve that first perfect scoop, lift it toward your mouth, and suddenly your taste buds are doing an Olympic-level gymnastics routine--sticking the landing with a gold medal performance. It's a holy, almost spiritual experience you desperately hope never ends. By the final bite, you're slumped back in your seat, practically begging for a belly rub like a satisfied golden retriever, whispering a quiet prayer that this isn't the last time you'll experience this life-changing dessert. Ps. The service is amazing and the vibe is perfect for a date, a night with friends, or a celebration.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chicken piccata
    Chicken piccata
    Boulevardier, top shelf

    See all

    Boulevardier, top shelf
    The Jetty

    The Jetty

    4.5
    (70 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Outdoor seating

    Such a cute little snack bar right by the beach! The food was absolutely perfect after a long day…read moreof running, swimming, and playing in the sand. The portions were so generous that one meal easily fed two people, which was a pleasant surprise after working up an appetite all day. The staff was kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. If you stop by, be sure to leave a tip--supporting hardworking staff and helping them pursue further college education is always worth it because education opens so many doors. Signed,An exhausted and very tired teacher

    Nice to be able to have a place at the beach as a one stop shop when in the area. We had visited…read morethe Sherman gardens nearby and I yelped a place for lunch and by happenstance saw lobster rolls are a fan favorite here which my man absolutely loves, as he is from Maine. Parking was actually a breeze for us in the neighborhood nearby and we walked right down to the place where there were tables and the line wasn't long. Should've gone with the lobster roll but I opted for my usual clam chowder which came out smaller than I thought. When the order came out we also saw they didn't include the seasoned fries I ordered, which is fine because it wasn't on the receipt either. I told my man we don't need to order anymore because we had plenty. Just make sure when ordering you have them read it back not to miss anything. The clam chowder was good, could've had more clam but came out piping hot, which I know is an issue sometimes at places like this. My son got the tuna melt and couldn't finish his potato chips. Wish they had coke on the menu instead of Pepsi, that's my only qualm but other than that next time I'd definitely order the lobster roll.

    Photos
    California Sunset November 2022
    California Sunset November 2022
    Fries
    Fries
    Loaded Nachos, seasoned angus ground beef, black beans, nacho + shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, cilantro.

    See all

    Loaded Nachos, seasoned angus ground beef, black beans, nacho + shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños, cilantro.
    Kitchen in the Canyon

    Kitchen in the Canyon

    4.5
    (624 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Kitchen in the Canyon is a hidden gem tucked away in a little business pocket in Laguna. We shared…read morethe breakfast burrito with sausage and a side of hash browns, the burrito was so good, with red potatoes inside that gave it the perfect amount of yum. It's definitely big enough to share. The hash browns were... hash browns, solid but nothing fancy. I also had the oatmilk rose latte, which was perfect. It's a walk up and order type of place, the cashier was not the friendliest but I also think it had been a bit busy just before we got there. The space has ample indoor and outdoor seating, and since we don't get to enjoy outdoor dining much during the summer back home, it was a nice treat. The menu had so many great-sounding options that we already want to go back and try more. We'd definitely stop here again next time we're in Laguna.

    Not if you are on any sort of special diet…read more.. I've been coming to this restaurant every summer for the last eight years. I am an artist and I come up from San Diego for my summer art show. Late last year I began to have issues with my digestive system, and unfortunately, my diet had to change dramatically. We had the opportunity to have lunch at Kitchen today, and I specifically asked for the shrimp on my salad to be cooked ONLY with salt and pepper because I cannot eat the garlic and onion salt that they normally put on the shrimp. When I eat garlic and onion, my body does not digest these foods properly, and I become ill and bloated. Unfortunately, I didn't confirm my order with the server when he delivered the food and I ate half of the shrimp. That was about 12:30 PM. It's 5:30 PM now and I have been in bed for the last three hours in pain and feeling pretty miserable. I AM NOT HAPPY. And neither is my husband, because he's not getting the steak, Caesar salad and baked potato that I promised him for dinner. Before I started having issues with my gut, I never gave it much thought. Now it's an issue; and people who are serving and making food for others and the people who manage those people should take more care on what they're feeding their customers with special requests.

    Photos
    Inside view
    Inside view
    Breakfast burrito and fresh apple juice
    Breakfast burrito and fresh apple juice
    Inside

    See all

    Inside

    The Bootlegger Bar - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...