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

    6 years ago

    Right on the water, great drinks and food. Loved the grilled artichoke! Service was great and very clean.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gabe P.
    462
    1305
    2070

    10 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 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 John D.
    436
    53
    74

    16 years ago

    Lotta fun w good food and tropical drinks. Excellent location right on beach.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Craig B.
    33
    104
    171

    13 years ago

    Amazing that this still exists in the OC! Most people have to get in an airplane to experience this kind of bar on a beautiful beach.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 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

    13 years ago

    Nice place to visit if you are a tourist but the I was very disappointed today with my experience. Especially with Brian. Never coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Good food perfect ocean view, very nuce anf professional staff, had my sisters birthday, everyone were happy!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rich N.
    14
    19
    0

    15 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

    Page 3 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

    Flower Child

    Flower Child

    4.3
    (747 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Gluten-free friendly

    I've only been a few times, but Flower Child has quickly become a go-to. The vibe is elevated fast…read morecasual, a notch above Sweetgreen, with a semi-sit-down format. Think Urban Plates, but with a sharper focus on lighter eating. The avocado caesar salad with grilled tofu is amazing. The avocado adds a different kind of creaminess to the dressing than a traditional caesar, and the tofu is firm and substantial. The produce quality is noticeably good across the board. My boyfriend had the Thai Wrap and enjoyed it. The vegan options here are solid and varied. Service is reasonable, slower than fast food, but nothing that tests you. The price is on the higher end for quick healthy eats, but the quality backs it up. If you're in the area and want a lunch that actually feels light, Flower Child is worth the stop.

    This place is so good. We went there yesterday and were so…read moreimpressed. Located off Bison near UCI in a shopping center that has a lot of good food. It is a large restaurant that is beautifully decorated. You order at the front counter, and they bring you your food. We all ordered bowls. I had the Yaki Soba bowl with chicken. It was a delicious combination of so many flavors and textures. It was very tasty. My party ordered the Mother Earth bowl and the chicken enchilada bowl. Everyone ate every bite of their food. My only complaint is the portions are a bit on the tiny side. We want more food, please! The taste and freshness were excellent.

    Photos
    Flower Child
    Flower Child
    Flower Child

    See all

    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
    Lemon & Thyme

    Lemon & Thyme

    4.8
    (310 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    One of the best hidden gems I've discovered. If you didn't know exactly what you were looking for,…read moreyou'd probably walk right past it. It's a little tricky to find, but once you do, it's absolutely worth the effort. We started with the grilled peach and burrata salad, followed by the shrimp saganaki and the short rib ravioli. Every dish was exceptional--thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. It was truly one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.

    Made a reservation for two last night at Lemon & Thyme for my friend to take me out for an early…read morebirthday celebration! For everyone who had to do multiple laps around the plaza's parking lot to find this place, you're not alone. We were struggling, but eventually found the restaurant tucked away on the outskirts next to a private training gym (the one with the super tinted windows). Upon arriving, the restaurant was very gracious to bestow upon us a pair of complimentary lemon and thyme dinner rolls. They were warm, fluffy, and everything a carb should be. Honestly wish we had more of them, to be honest! The menu was short, which was helpful in its own way. I have such chronic decision paralysis, meaning the more options I have, the more ordering conflicts I'll have, lol. Forever petitioning for every establishment to have tasting flights!!!! We ordered the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor and Ora King Salmon entrees. The octopus was a unique take on the dish, but I don't think I would order it again. I was hoping for more sauce and flavor, but it was more of a dry dish. Still something everyone should try at least once -- especially because feedback is subjective and my experience may not be yours! My friend enjoyed the salmon dish, but it looked pretty standard to me. They also brought out a complimentary Epresso Creme Brulee for my birthday, which was both figuratively and literally sweet. Very decadent and kinda had a nice tiramisu taste to it -- order this! The service was excellent and very attentive. Was very hydrated during this meal because my water cup was never empty! I would come back to try the other dishes with a larger group so I can pick at everyone else's plates, hehehe.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Peaches and burrata salad (seasonal)
    Peaches and burrata salad (seasonal)
    Peaches and burrata (seasonal)

    See all

    Peaches and burrata (seasonal)

    The Bootlegger Bar - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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