Had a great time! From the greeter at the door to the bartender, we had an awesome time. Didn't get any food - we were stuffed - but the food sounded inviting. Nice atmosphere for talking and enjoying drinks. read more

The Vandalist - Master at work! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

I'm new to Whittier and still getting a feel for the area, and wow... I'm so glad my friends put me on to The Vandalist. This place instantly became one of my favorites after just one visit. From the moment you walk in, the whole vibe hits you--the moody, neon-lit ambiance sets the tone perfectly. It feels elevated, a little edgy, and honestly just the kind of spot you want to spend your night at. The music is curated so well. Not too loud, not too mellow--just the right balance where you can vibe, have a conversation, and still feel the energy of the room. You can tell they actually care about the experience, not just throwing a playlist together. Now let's talk about the drinks... because that's really where they shine. Every cocktail feels intentional and crafted with care. You can taste the quality immediately--nothing watered down, nothing basic. They have a really cool mix of classic cocktails and modern twists, and even the familiar drinks feel elevated. It's the kind of place where you want to try something new every round because you trust the bartenders know exactly what they're doing. Service was on point too. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. They took the time to explain drinks and made great recommendations, which made the whole experience even better. I came in not knowing what to expect, and left already planning my next visit. If you're in Uptown Whittier and looking for a spot with great energy, amazing cocktails, and a full vibe--The Vandalist is it. Thank me later read more

The place was great , had a downtown LA vibe , service was great , cocktails great Only issue is it was super dark but I guess that's the vibe Highly recommend it read more

Kicked me out because I'm black and I can I ask for the LeBron James Hennessey cognac and they kick me out because I asked for that. Not fair at all. read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

Fantastic craft cocktail bar in downtown Whittier, who knew??? There was a Yelp event down the street on Thursday night and apparently we were still thirsty so we stopped in here for a nightcap. The bartender Alex M. was fantastic and expertly guided us toward the Death by Daiquiri for the wife (Aged white rum, suze gentium whatever that is!, mango distillate, passionfruit & lime) and the Foxy Lady for me because apparently I was feeling foxy and I was with my lady? This one had Rye, Amaretto, Salted Plum, Lemon, and Egg White. The drinks were $17/each and I'd say worth the high-ish price point even in Whittier because they are expertly created and complex. I felt like a real grown-up...lol. You might have grimaced when you heard about that drink with the GOUDA cheese in it but Alex M. assured me that it was his favorite on the menu and for good reason. It was truly fantastic and the Gouda was very, very subtle and interesting. The decor is swanky and sexy and the lighting is appropriately low. I was really torn because I wanted to try another grown-up drink but we had a 47 minute drive ahead of us and well, I had to step up like a grown-up and drive our asses home. The Vandalist is a fantastic spot if you're in the neighborhood. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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Very cozy bar. Gave me those MXCD dimmed lights bar vibes . The drinks here are amazing and well crafted. The service was good, the bar tenders were easy to talk to. Recommend this place for anyone willing to enjoy good drinks with a laid back vibe. read more

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The vibe of this small spot in uptown is as sultry as it gets. I half expect first dates that meet here leave pregnant because of how sexy it is. Lots of tequila forward cocktails that are balanced and unique. I sat at the bar and enjoyed the sliders (AMAZING) and an old fashioned expertly made by bartender Ryan. Cute spot for a nightcap or pre-dinner cocktail. read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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I came here recently and loved the ambiance low lighting, cool neon details, and just the right energy for a relaxed night. Drinks were good and the setting makes it easy to sit and talk for hours. Definitely one of those places you'd come back to! read more

The Vandalist - Chips & Salsa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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Drinks are AMAZING. Mixologist there know how to make them very well. It's a bit dark and red lighting in there, so prepare yourselves for that kind of environment. read more

The Vandalist - Appleton and Smoke Signal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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Here's a clearer, more stern version that still sounds professional and justified: I came here last week to celebrate a coworker's birthday. The place itself is very small and honestly can barely accommodate larger groups comfortably. The drinks were okay, and our server was actually great, although I unfortunately can't remember his name. What completely ruined the experience for me was the customer service from another employee named Nick (half bleached, half black hair). While I was in the restroom, the staff cleared our table and threw away my drink even though it was still halfway full. They did remake it, which I appreciated, and our server personally handed the new drink to my coworker and me. However, Nick immediately assumed we had taken the drink ourselves from the service area and rudely asked his coworker, "Did they just take that drink from here?" He then told us, in a very disrespectful tone, something along the lines of, "You guys cannot take drinks from here." First of all, had Nick been paying attention, he would have clearly seen his own coworker hand us the drink directly. Instead of apologizing after realizing he was wrong, he continued making excuses for the way he spoke to us. There was absolutely no reason to be rude or accusatory toward paying customers, especially over a situation caused by the staff clearing my drink too early in the first place. Because of that interaction alone, I will not be returning. Customer service and accountability matter, and unfortunately Nick completely ruined what was supposed to be a fun celebration. read more

Hidden Gem! This is one of the places that you wanna keep to yourself to put people on. Especially if you wanna impress a girl. Its ambiance inside is perfect if you wanna have an intimate conversation and dinner. The place offers great cocktails and food menu is full of great delicious plates. The only thing i think this place can use some improvement is offering bigger portions on food and expanding the menu a bit. I could see my date being picky and not being open to the menu options this place has to offer. So maybe eating somewhere else and saving this spot for a cocktail only place, until they expand their menu. But overall i think this place is still. a hidden gem as it's the only place in whittier that offers this type of experience. Highly recommend checking it out! read more

This place has a nice speakeasy feel inside. It's a shame I won't be coming here again. First off, their drinks are $17+ each but their cups are tiny. They put a huge ice cube in it so it takes up more than half the cup. One drink is literally 4 sips. Not just that, but when we got our check, we wanted to leave cash tip so we selected no tip on their charge tablet. After going through the promps, it showed grand total charge added another $1 we didn't agree to. Even if there was a hidden service fee, we weren't told that, and it didn't say on the receipt or menu. If they charge people extra without them knowing, they can be scamming a bunch of people charging more than they should without knowing or paying attention closely. Sadly, I won't be back. read more

Cannot say enough great things about this place! Came by for happy hour on a weekday after work. Was pretty quiet around 5:30pm but got busy around 7pm. Love the vibes, very intimate environment with low lighting but upbeat music. Great staff, very considerate and constantly checked in on us. Cocktails were delish, great selection of drinks. Tacos and dumplings came out quickly, were super fresh and tasty! Pork belly was more on the sweet side with the yummy sauce they drizzled and shrimp taco was tangy and fresh. Dumplings were good, but nothing too crazy in terms of flavor and texture. They have free street parking or a parking structure behind the building. In a great neighborhood with other businesses and restaurants. Definitely a great spot to come with friends or for a date night! read more

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This is a fun spot to grab a craft cocktail. It is a small, dark bar with a speak easy feel. The bartenders are very friendly. There is a small food menu, but we had already eaten. I really enjoyed the vibes of this bar and will be back. read more

The Vandalist - Craft gin cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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Beautiful place to hang out with friends or go on a date, gorgeous decorations, and very friendly

Not a great experience. It's a smaller venue, but they were able to seat us immediately. The menu was a single page of cocktails, with more options for shots. The lighting was strange, red lights and loud club music. I have no idea what population they're aiming for. The drinks were okay, not cheap but average taste. Our server was prompt for our first round and then ignored us for so long there wasn't a second. And there were plenty of servers for a smaller establishment so it wasn't an issue of being overworked. Not impressed, hope they do better. Red lighting is super off-putting read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

This is one of my Wife and my favorite places. This is a review from a few weeks ago. It was a Monday night (12/8/2025) and my Wife's birthday, unfortunately it was also the day her family decided to have her grandfather's funeral. Sat at the bar and were both dressed up, bartenders were very kind from the jump and asked "why we looked so nice?", we informed them why, and that it was my Wife's birthday. These guys took their job to an entirely different level and really delivered an incredible experience of kindness, understanding, and lifted my Wife's spirtits with their warmth. I couldn't be more appreciative of them for going out of their way to be amazing humans and making a brutal day, a fun night. Thank you both for being complete class acts. Simple acts of kindness can mean the world to some people, and it meant the world to us. Thank you so much, for everything read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

I've gone to this location through the years since it was the Commoner. Typically I'm not disappointed but I went twice in the last two months and I was disappointed by the service. The staff is nice enough but not efficient. The first time I went during a weekday and it was a slow night. About 4 staff members that were in the bar and on the floor. It started off ok, but the server maybe only checked on us a couple of times like 3 max. He got our orders served our food and drinks and then talked with the bar staff the rest of the time. After 3 appetizers and 2 drinks we were thirsty and the table next to us with a different server kept getting water and had several visits. We finally got the attention of another person to get the check because he could tell we were looking over at the bar. The second time it was a Friday night and busy. We were seated fairly quickly which was nice. There were maybe at least 8 staff members at the bar talking and hanging out. We took our time to pick our drink and waited for someone to come and we looked towards the bar, literally all of them just talking in two groups on each side of the bar. That was disappointing especially for the more expensive prices on the food. After sitting there for 15 minutes with zero attention we left. I've gotten better service with a full house and 2 servers at a different locations. It's great to work with people you like but focus on your customers first. I will say the food and apps are great. But expensive for the type of service you get. If they improve the quality of their customer service and revolve their drink and food, this could a go to spot. read more

Such a cool spot. First time coming here. We enjoyed every minute of it. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The drinks were very delicious. They are able to accommodate large groups too. This place can be loud specially if you get big groups. It's a cozy, romantic spot. read more

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We love supporting local businesses, but this experience at The Vandalist was disappointing. We had an 8:00 PM reservation and were in line by 8:14 PM. A party ahead of us delayed check-in, so we were finally checked in at 8:17 PM. Despite already being on-site and waiting, we were told we lost our reservation due to a strict 15-minute grace period and were put on a 30+ minute waitlist. No flexibility, no customer service. Really, by a couple of minutes pathetic. Between this, the pricey drinks and the very small space, it's not worth it. As locals, we'll take our money to support other businesses. Minus 1 star read more

Food - a variety of options for a crafty cocktail bar Service- very attentive friendly and welcoming Ambiance- dark, romantic, definitely a vibe read more

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Great vibe, friendly service. Restrooms are clean and well kept. Definitely a great spot to celebrate your loved one. Parking is okOpen late! Will come again!- read more

The Vandalist - Main area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

Dark room, red lights, and new/dark wave music. It's an absolute hole in the wall bar in Uptown Whittier. The cocktails are delicious with vast options of liquor, they have beers on tap and a light food menu. Service is steady and consistent. But this place is a dark gem. Food menu needs a bit of work but I'm always satisfied coming here. read more

Random guy got arrested on a first date. Great drinks! Great music! Was a vibe :) Favorite part was the police coming in and saving the conversation. read more

This spot definitely one of the best bars we have an uptown. Dim lit, candle light, sexy, and classy old school classic cocktail type of bar. Adrian was an awesome bartender and def knows how to branch off and make drinks not on the menu that are incredible and have layers of flavor. Loved this place and can't wait to go back. read more

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I stopped by this place called The Vadalist in downtown Whittier. The drinks were solid--really well done--but the crowd felt a little underwhelming. Service was on the slower side, which was surprising given it wasn't even that busy. That makes me hesitant about what it might be like on a packed night if I just wanted to grab a quick drink. That said, the overall vibe was pretty cool. It has some of that Orange County energy, but it's not quite there yet. Definitely has potential, and I'd give it another shot to see how it develops. read more

Peter was an exceptionally talented and friendly mixologist! Every sublime drink he made for us from the menu (plus a great black tea + gin drink he came up with for my friend) were so sippable and satisfying. In particular the Trust Fall cocktail has such an interesting set of ingredients, I just had to have one...no wait, two I totally recommend it and can't wait to have it again. We munched on the yummy grilled cheese sandwiches - mine was plain, but my bud had with barbacoa - generously portioned, and complemented beautifully by their spicy take on fideo soup. I really dug the setup - nicely dark with red tones, small but spacious. Great for groups but intimate enough for one-on-ones. Looking forward to swinging by on my next uptown Whittier visit! read more

What a refreshing experience we had. Great vibe and Arriana was the best! We will definitely be back because of her positive energy. Great food and better drinks! Order the low bird and thank me later. read more

Came here with a few friends because I heard so much about this meow meow spice tiger. The drink was absolutely amazing the Thai chili and basil really pops in the drink. I could drink like 5 more. The ambiance is great, that dark, red light sexy look. However it was pretty warm in the place. Warmer than a place prob should have it. Service was on point, sat down and within a min or so someone came to the table. Can't wait to come back and have a few more drinks read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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I discovered this place by chance just walking down uptown Whittier. This area is known for having a younger crowd. It's a college area, so I wasn't expecting to find a place like this. It's super chill very dark and intimate. It's very upscale and perfect for a date nite.... Our waiter was very friendly, and super chatty with us, which I happen to love ...! She recommended some great drinks! Can't wait to bring my friends I recommend this place if you're looking for somewhere nice to have a drink and maybe a snack .! Their cocktails are very unique and it's a very relaxing environment. It's a must if you're in Whittier !! read more

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This is a nice intimate spot for date night. I brought my fiancé here for his birthday and we both enjoyed the vibe and drinks. Our server, Steven, was very knowledgeable and suggested a few drinks to try! I really enjoyed the Coffee & Cigs drink - it reminded me of an espresso martini. read more

The Vandalist - Coffee and Cigs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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Had a message near by and walked into this lovely gem. Venue is super cool and calm. Our host Nick was so kind and helpful Best espresso martini I've ever had and never thought I'd ever say that but it's true lol. Many thanks ! Will definitely be back read more

Horrible service This is not a huge place, it's very compact and small There were several waitresses assigned to all the tables so it's not like they were shortstaffed or extra busy Apparently, the waitress assigned to us lacked the professionalism and courtesy We ordered our drinks And we wanted another drink despite the first drink being very average Four times my husband and I made eye contact with the waitress, and she just walked on by deliberately ignoring us So terrible! We were going to have a second drink, but with such terrible service, we just stopped with our first drinks, asked for the checks and left We will never come back Absolutely do not recommend read more

Great place for some drinks. Cocktails are bangers and the atmosphere is calm but fun. Small place but great cocktails. Dark inside and great for having drinks after dinner. Coming here never dissapoints. read more

The Vandalist is hosting a pop up chef, Sol Rad, to provide a breakfast menu Wednesday through Sundays 9am to 1pm. Came in and tried the Barbacoa breakfast burrito, side of bacon and coffee. Food is cooked to order so it tasted hot and fresh. The burrito is big and flavorful with the Barbacoa giving off those old school carne con chile vibes. There is also a lot of refried beans and melted cheese so overall it's a very soggy loosely packed burrito. The candied bacon on the side was not very sweet and tasted like average bacon, meanwhile the coffee was not very hot. I will definitely be back for another burrito for sure. read more

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I love this dark intimate space for drinks and light appetizers. It's great for date night or girl night, the drinks are very pretty and so are the appetizers. read more

The Vandalist - Pretty drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

Amazing drinks, vibes, and service! The best gin fizz I've had since coming back from Denver. read more

The Vandalist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Whittier, California

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It's been months since I stopped frequenting this spot. They do have great drinks, pricey, but they're worth it. It used to be my go-to drink spot in uptown. However, every time I drive by and see this place, I'm reminded of why I stopped going. One particular incident stands out. One day, I found myself in an empty bar, waiting for 5 minutes for the menu, another 5 minutes for water, and yet another 5 minutes to get asked what I wanted to order. During this time, the waiter was engaged in a conversation with the other waiters, completely oblivious to my presence. I guess their conversation was more important in an empty bar. After placing my drink order, I decided to cancel it and leave. I felt uncomfortable and strange, as if my presence wasn't wanted there. That's the feeling I get every time I pass by and see this place. read more

Nice chill spot to come for happy hour which is Mon-Fri 5-7pm. Got an old fashioned and margarita with hummus & pita, everything tasted great. People here are friendly and have a relaxed vibe. Service is very good. read more

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This place is a must on your Whittier bar hopping adventures in the area. $15 cocktails!! Packed on a Thursday night too until maybe 10pmish. Amazing service too. They also serve food! Ceviche was bigger sharing portions than expected. Mixologist can make drinks not on the menu, such as normal classics too. I visited with a group of identified women. Great place to catch up at, chat and more. Service was excellent to us. We got alot of water refills without having to keep requesting. read more