My first time at The Whaler, and it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect -- and what you want -- from a bar right on Venice Beach. It's been there for some time, so there's a bit of grime and decay almost everywhere you look. And if it isn't exactly "charming," it's very comfortable and welcoming, with an ocean breeze blowing through the open, upstairs deck, and a friendly staff working hard to keep everyone happy. The upstairs patio area was pretty full when I arrived, but I snagged a seat at the bar and still got to enjoy both the view and the breeze. They have a nice selection of beachy cocktails (the gals next to me were drinking out of fresh-cut coconuts), and a quite a few beers on tap (with plenty of ice cold glasses at the ready). To get things going, I ordered a Don Julio tequila neat, and the pour was generous. I also ordered a Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp, which was delivered after only about 5 minutes. Despite the swiftness of the prep, the salad was quite good. Baby Gem lettuce, nicely coated with a creamy-but-not-too-creamy dressing that had a robust, garlicky flavor that was pleasing rather than overpowering. Yes, there were the ubiquitous croutons; but there were also quite a few fried capers, which added an appealing, extra layer to the flavor profile. The Blackened Shrimp that I added were small but plentiful, and very nicely seasoned, providing a solid smack of spice that contrasted well against the dressing. It really was a very good salad. The gals to my right were eating freshly shucked oysters that looked quite good. They must have enjoyed them, because they ordered another dozen. Across from me, a body builder chowed down on a great-looking burger, and everyone at the bar seemed to really be enjoying their food. The servers -- Lily and Arian -- were swift and chatty despite being pretty busy on a Sunday afternoon. This isn't the fanciest place you can eat in the area, but it's certainly one of the friendliest, and definitely one of the most satisfying. read more

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Takeaway food menu above order window says "burgers, sandwiches & wraps add fries, salad or soup +$5" I order the chicken Caesar wrap and order the soup Gal taking my order asks if I want a bowl or cup? I say I'll just do the $5 soup She says it's not $5 it'll cost $7 I say it says $5 on menu right here above your window She says "well on my order tablet screen it says $7 and cannot change it" So instead of getting soup, a drink and btw I was going to order the buttermilk chicken strips too I decided to only order the wrap and took the rest of my lunch funds somewhere else. I still tipped $1 because I'm nice but it's always something with pricing at The Whaler just so you know read more

I've been a neighbor and reoccurring patron for nearly 20 years and always loved the place until recent. It's now been three times in a row that I've been denied entry to the establishment by the doorman, Martin based off him "not feeling comfortable with me." After the second time I encountered Martin, I spoke with the manager, Stephanie, and she insisted it wouldn't happen again. After about two months I had friends in town and decided to try and enjoy the restaurant and again was denied entry because "he wasn't comfortable with me." Not sure if it's a personal vendetta, ADA issue, race or sexuality thing but something does not add up. Greg, the MOD stated that to get 86'd from a bar you'd have to have got in a fight or have done something wrong, so my experience at this restaurant is a bit confusing given my present situation and long time loyal support. Employees have always been great and the managers seem to listen but there's a disconnect between management and this doorman power tripping. As a local, I simply can't recommend this establishment anymore when there are great inclusive spots all over like nalu vida, hinanos, Washington square pizza etc. The whaler has lost its way read more

The Venice Whaler - Best oysters at nalu vida - American Near Me - Venice, California

It wasn't sensational. The cashier didn't respond to my hello. The sauce is salty and chili spicy. I wanted my bang for the $6.+ bucks.... Where's the langor? Where's the seaside slice sensation? read more

The Venice Whaler - Sauce on wedge $6.75.... Spicy.... - American Near Me - Venice, California

My family loves the food at this restaurant, so I will start with that fact. It has not changed. However, last night's experience kind of soured the location for us. The restaurant was more busy than usual with soccer on, but there were several sizable tables open outside. We told the hostess we had a group of 5, and she said they couldn't seat us. We asked if we could put our names on a list and she said they don't do lists. We asked if there was an estimated timeline on a table, and she said no. So I asked if she was turning us away and she said they couldn't serve us. We walked maybe 12-15 feet down the sidewalk to clear the entrance a little confused, and tried to regroup on dinner. I then watched the same hostess seat 3 groups of 2 and a group of 6. They all got there and approached the table after us, and the restaurant does not take reservations. So I decided to walk back and ask the hostess why we weren't able to be seated. She started mumbling about the tables not being big enough. The group of 6 they sat was a group of 8 eventually and they scooted tables together for them - our group could fit at a four top. We mentioned that. She told us she had to "get special permission" from her manager to seat them, and I asked why we couldn't have been accommodated similarly. She got flustered when we asked if we could scoot tables together or just sit at a 4 top. We had driven 45 minutes to eat there, and there was plenty of space. She acted like we were asking for too much, and told us she couldn't help us the first time because we "walked away," even though we were dismissed and we were still right in front of her. She did not apologize. She was super weird and unaccommodating until a male in our group walked up to ask the same questions. Then we were seated. The restaurant was short staffed, which we did not mind. Watching the sunset is a great distraction. Plus our waitress (red hair - did not catch her name) was absolutely fantastic. There were multiple items that did not make it to our table, but the staff quickly removed them from the bill. read more

Beautiful view of the sunset up top. They have a great happy hour too! We had a few drinks and an appetizer while we watched the sunset. Waiter was friendly and quick ! read more

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Came here with my group of girlfriends and it was a 10/10 from the amazing piña colada's to the appetizers to our main course. The customer service was fantastic and the food was even better. From the breakfast to the lobster roll. read more

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I come here multiple times a week and love the food, vibe, energy. My favorite server is KAM because his vibe is always up!!! The whole staff is always accommodating over the last five years I've lived here, but Kam really makes you feel at home. The food is fire, the atmosphere can't be beat and the happy hour is unmatched. Hospitality on max. Thank you Whaler staff! read more

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Pizza was cool. Over priced for a slice. Ingredients fresh. Would comeback. Server was friendly read more

The Venice Whaler - American Near Me - Venice, California

Stopped by here after community service at the beach around lunch time. Service was fast and nice. I had the shrimp trio tacos and one crispy cod. I enjoyed both a felt like the shrimp could have use a little more seasoning but overall it was pretty good light weight meal with a nice sea breeze the fish and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Actually pretty good experience. Really enjoyed the views by the beach. Parking is available next to this restaurant so it's like the perfect location. It also has a bit of shade so the it's a really nice vibe. The salsa was a bit spicy and the chips were perfectly crispy i really enjoyed it. read more

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Horrible Management, such racists . We complained about the frozen wings and the manager said "people like you don't understand chicken" what does that even mean? Been coming here for years must be under new ownership . Disgusting behavior . read more

The are so delicious service was awesome and atmosphere was amazing then location is excellent. read more

The Venice Whaler - Coconut shrimp with fried - American Near Me - Venice, California

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The Venice Whaler is definitely worth a visit. The food was fresh, tasty, and full of flavor. The clam chowder was hands down the best I've ever had absolutely fantastic and worth ordering on its own. The only downside was the beer temperature. My beer came out not very cold, and although our waiter was friendly and quickly replaced it, the second one unfortunately wasn't much colder. Hopefully that's something they can improve. That said, the location is hard to beat, with great vibes, good food, and an overall fun atmosphere. I'd still come back. read more

We had an excellent Valentines day date here. Our service was prompt and attentive. Our food came out fast. And we had the ambiance of the sea. Couldn't be happier. read more

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The best steak frites I've ever had honestly. We came here as a party of 6, everybody ordered something different & every single one of us loved our food. The fish tacos are to die for and the lobster Mac & cheese is just done to perfection. Perfect choice after a hot beach day. Will definitely be coming back for more! read more

The Venice Whaler - Steak Frites - American Near Me - Venice, California

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I far preferred this to the Santa Monica location. The vibes in the rooftop were fantastic, especially right after the Venice half marathon with all the runners celebrating. The service was quick and the food was delicious-- calamari was exactly what I needed and the burger was good. They really try to push those don julio bottles on you lol. Docking points for the 3.25% "sunshine and wellness" fee or whatever that they did not tell me about and didn't show on the bill until I was texted the receipt! read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! This is, to me, the classic Venice Beach bar. Lots of outdoor tables, and upstairs is their bar and patio area that overlooks the ocean and all the people enjoying the Venice Beach vibe. This is the perfect place to watch a California sunset. Every time I've been here (and it's been a few times by now) I've always been upstairs on the patio. Super-easy to order drinks & snacks from friendly servers. My Whiskey Sours here have been consistently tasty, and the appetizers have been consistently delish! The Venice Whaler is now a staple for me on my visits to Venice Beach, and I can't wait to get there again! read more

The Venice Whaler - Appetizer Time! - American Near Me - Venice, California

Let's see. I can probably add the Clam Chowder to my top 5 list of best clam chowders that I've had. It has bacon in it which adds a pleasantly subtle and different taste than traditional clam chowder. I also had the Lobster Mac & Cheese which was good and cheesy with bits of lobster and shrimp. I couldn't finish it all but only because I was stuffed. I sat on the patio which was perfectly situated just east of the Venice Beach Pier and prime for people and traffic watching. On a nice day, it's perfect to watch the numerous amount of on-goings going on. The service was great. Even though the patio was full, the server always checked on every table in a timely manner and not overly so. Good spot. read more

Came here for a birthday gathering over a weekend. Their outdoor patio was packed and lively. There's really convenient parking just a few steps away. Service was friendly, but very slow. My friend and I had to go into the bar to get our own beer refills. The food was okay - not great. Kinda what you would expect from typical bar food. Great portions, lots of fried options, and a pretty big menu. Nothing that would blow anyone away though. read more

I came here early in a the morning and it was such a nice vibe. The ocean was right in front of us, and it just felt cozy inside the bar. The food was soooo goood, I wasn't even hungry when I went but I saw that they had a Nutella French toast and decided to try it. I fell in love with it! It was sooooo yummy. My partner also got the steak with chimichurri and the steak was soooo tender. I was very impressed with how tender and delicious it was. And lastly the spicy tuna with crispy rice was good as well ! Severo our server/bartender was super nice and chill. I want to come back for the Nutella French toast and spicy tuna haha. read more

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Great place to come be by the beach and have good vines Food is primarily bar food and wait time can be on the longer end during busier times or sporting events. We got the garlic Parmesan wings and coconut shrimp! In terms of bar food, it doesn't miss! read more

The Venice Whaler - American Near Me - Venice, California

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The dessert was good. And the presentation of the dessert in a to go box was really nice. All we ordered was a lava cake and a glass of wine and it took about 45 minutes. We were gonna take it to go and go sit on the beach. Maybe I'm not used to the pricing, but the wine was quite pricey even for happy hour. You would think ordering those two things could take 5 to 15 minutes at the most yet why 45 minutes for a glass of wine? I finally went and asked the hostess how much longer it would be because I was thinking of canceling my order. Apparently everything was just sitting at a window somewhere. The wine was getting hot and the dessert was getting cold. I mentioned that I was upset and the hostess offered nothing. I was very disappointed. read more

The quality of the food has gone down since I first started coming here almost a year ago, regularly. I recommend the other location in Santa Monica right across from the pier, it's top tier & food quality consistent. Came here on 4/14 the server was very nice, host was sweet, it's not a customer service thing it's a food quality thing, and for that, I will no longer be coming here. read more

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Brunching at The Whaler felt like waking up in a California postcard--sunlight, sea air, and a fire pit full of friends who know how to live. The staff had that rare Westside mix of chill and genuine kindness, like they were happy you showed up and weren't just pretending. Rick Ross would call it brunch for bosses, and he'd be right. The Whaler delivers good vibes, great food, and the kind of laid-back luxury that makes you want to order another round and stay a while. read more

The Venice Whaler - American Near Me - Venice, California

Beautiful views from the roof here. Breakfast was a treat for sure. Would be back in a heartbeat. Service was quick but the place filled up quick too. Can't wait to come back for some drinks next time. read more

Stopped by to catch the dodger game. Great service and also their wings ??? A MUST! These were delicious & very savory. Friendly staff. I believe the downstairs is closed but we had access to the upstairs dinning and bar. Great spot for sports. read more

The Venice Whaler - American Near Me - Venice, California

The Venice Whaler is cool bar at the beginning of the Venice pier. It's has terrific outdoor seating with a view. They have great service we were well taken care of and the food was ok. I had the Coconut shrimp and was ok there shrimp was cooked good but I felt like it lacked the coconut flavor. But it was nice and crispy. The pepperoni pizza was good nice sauce crispy crust and you get a lot of it at a good price. The house fries were really good nice crispy and a ton of flavor highly recommend trying the fries. 4/5 stars read more

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We went here on a Saturday evening for drinks before dinner. The rooftop area was very cute however completely packed. I could barely get in at the bar to order a drink and it was pretty pricey. Got 2 basic cocktails for $50. Music was sooo loud and there's tv everywhere inside and with the amount of people it was so overstimulating even outside area. read more

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We've come for bottomless mimosas 2 times! Its a great price and they bring you the bottles of prosecco. We always come with large parties and they are always able to accommodate us. Kayla was an amazing server! She was super attentive. read more

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We came here recently and the experience was solidly meh. I will says the chicken wings and tuna crispy rice are very good, but the soup came out totally cold and the chips and guac had such a small amount of guac you could barely even see it under the chips. The heater by our table was also broken so it was a bit chilly. It's a classic tourist-y beach/sports bar so I get it but little improvements could be made! read more

You go for the prime location. All else is meh as far as food and drinks. Outdoor heaters do not work well

Absolute must if you're in the Venice beach area. Food is amazing. Drinks are even better. Giuliano is a beast and makes fire drinks. The staff is on point. Greg is amazing. Found us a table when there were none. These people make it happen. 10/10. read more

The Venice Whaler - Outdoor patio area (1st floor NE side) - American Near Me - Venice, California

LOVE coming to the whaler. We had Addyson as a server and she was phenomenal. She was so sweet and took great care of us. We love her!!

Margaritas are trash. Bartender fills your cup with the mix only. Absolutely worst drink experience I've had in LA aside from Cabo Cantina. You're better off going to Whaler Santa Monica over Venice location. Their drinks and food menu are top tier. Don't waste your $$ here. Service sucks too. read more

The Venice Whaler - who puts salt on the rim like that? Also, all I tasted was margarita mix, NO alcohol. - American Near Me - Venice, California

Food & drinks were really good! The dj was playing really good music. Right off of the beach. It's one of the Most fun beach bars I've been too! All the staff were nice! The tuna crispy rice is 10/10 The ahi nachos are a great starter and shareable. I loved the black mussels as well read more

The food is amazing and the staff are amazing they go above and beyond to make sure your satisfied with your visit. The bartender Giuliano is amazing and so is the manager Greg. 100% recommended this place! read more

The Venice Whaler - BBQ Chicken Pizza and a Moscow Mule - American Near Me - Venice, California

This is an $18 kale salad. Shame on me for spending that much. Shame on the Whaler for the presentation and never again will I make this mistake! read more

The Venice Whaler - this is a sad kale salad! - American Near Me - Venice, California

Food was good. The service not so good. We sat and ordered. Our food was given to the table next to us. After they realized it, they gave us the coleslaw they didn't touch. But we had to wait for our chips and Guacamole, and the crispy tuna. Which by the way the Tuna was very good. No one apologized for the screw up, or checked on us. Had to get servers attention to get the bill. read more

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4+ Pretty sizable bar literally right next to the beach. There's two floors and great view from the second floor. They pretty good drink specials and good cocktail menu. A few friends and I were hanging out in the area I wanted to grab a drink at one of the places. We chose this place because we knew that the views were pretty cool. We were pretty promptly. The place wasn't as busy as we thought it was going to be so we didn't have to wait. This place has been around for a long time, and the vibe is usually beachy and chill. I can't speak to the food because we didn't order anything on this visit and I can't remember the last time I visited while eating here. read more

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The grain bowl with shrimp was great! I recommend ordering this! Great sunset views on the roof and will come again read more

The Venice Whaler - Grain bowl with shrimp - American Near Me - Venice, California