This place was a 10 out of 10. Food was amazing, drinks were awesome, and the ambiance transported…read moreyou the moment you walked in. You can tell the owners really have the right passion for tiki bars with vintage cups and tiki mugs, flame drinks, curated umbrella drink decor and a rum list that had about 100 different types. The pineapple rice was delicious and well flavored with pineapple and ham, the coconut shrimp was perfectly cooked and the egg rolls were cut fairly for a table appetizer. The dipping sauce was perfect too. I had the Vitamin D in a coupe, my sister had the flamingo which needed simple syrup which they brought and took care of that, my husband had a coffee drink after ordering a green iguana which they didn't have. The service was perfect. Although they didn't have the fren iguana, they custom made one which was very kind. We will be back.

My friend and I were suffering from back-to-real-life after a vacay in Maui. The antidote? A…read morestateside tiki bar! From the outside, The Stowaway is entirely deceptive. There's a sign at the door that hints at the theme within, but really, it was so delightfully shocking to walk into this immersive tropical paradise. The lighting, the decor, the music, and the total vibe of the place was so....Tiki bar! Reservations are greatly encouraged, and I made mine on Yelp. We were seated at the bar which worked out perfectly for us. We were greeted by a friendly, wonderful bartender (I *think* his name was Danny? Sorry if I got this wrong!) who created our tasty Polynesian themed cocktails for us. It didn't take long for us to release the tension in our shoulders, laugh a little more, and ease into relaxation here. Going for the full experience, we also had reservations at their speakeasy, The Belly of the Beast. We were well into the Hawaiian spirit as we moved into that delightful space next (also reviewed). We weren't really ready to head home yet, so we were able to be reseated back at the bar. Our new bartender was fantastic, too! He made what might be my new favorite drink for the now, "The Bitter End". The Stowaway had been on my radar for a while, but I'm IE and it's OC, and it's easier to get to Maui. But on THIS night, it was a pilgrimage. And so, SO glad we came out. It'll definitely be a stop when out this way.

The absolute best speakeasies are transportive, sending the guest into an immersive state of…read moresuspended reality for a while. From the sign as you enter, through the teeth, to the throaty-red textured walls, The Belly of the Beast encases guests in the whimsical journey down the whale's gullet. Who knew getting "swallowed" would be such fun? Keeping with the throaty theme, the space inside holds a few tables. It's an intimate space with ambient lighting and cheery Hawaiian/beach music. Puppets hang here and there, as well as other thematic, decorative details. My friend and I shared a few mouthwatering apps and imbibed a few delicious concoctions. Our wonderful bartender frim "outside" even came in with us, which made our experience even more personalized. We especially appreciated the complimentary shots! Our food was delicious and plentiful for apps: spam musubi, edamame, sliders, and shishito peppers. Now this is a big deal: my friend has celiac disease. She needs to be very cautious when ordering food. She self-advocates but much relies on the knowledge of servers. Our wonderful bartender, now our server, was very diligent and knowledgeable, and double checked ingredients with the chefs. Accommodations were made. Good times rolled on! Extra heaps of thanks on that! We fully enjoyed every minute of our (generous+) 90 minute time slot here. The service was amazing, the food delicious, and the cocktails made with magic. It was worth the drive, and one I'll gladly make again at next opportunity.

The decor and theme are amazing. I love the immersion and attention to detail. The service was…read moreoutstanding. Brodie was on his game all night with drink recommendations, food suggestions and just being a great host for our table. This was our first time to TBotB, so we're went sure what to expect, but we've been to Stowaway many times. The only knock I had with it was the selection of cocktails is limited. While I understand TBotB is it's own thing separate from Stowaway, I wish you could get some of the drinks from there. Most of the cocktails we had were good (but I'm not sure I'd order them again), but the menu had a number of drinks I won't order, they're just not my style. We missed being able to get some of our favorites from Stowaway. We ended up getting a table at Stowaway after our time was up in TBotB anyway because we were having a good time so that was fun. All in all, I think next time we'll stick with Stowaway and sitting at the bar. At least we can check TBotB off our list. It's worth checking out for sure, but for me I enjoy the more classic tiki cocktails. It's fun to venture off the beaten path once in a while.

First time visiting this cocktail lounge, and it was a truly unique experience. The space is…read moreintimate with limited seating, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The service was outstanding--attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. What makes this place special is that there's no traditional cocktail menu. The bartenders craft drinks throughout the day, and guests are invited to sample them before deciding what to order. It feels personal, interactive, and completely different from the typical bar experience.

Great place for a celebratory night out with friends, drinks are unique and food is delish. Being a…read moresmall place, the service is more personal.

Awesome place love coming here Cynthia David and Carlos are awesome…read more Bar Louie is my spot I come here at 4 days a week.

Brittany is a great bar tender.! The martinis are…read moredelicious and the food is great.!

It's so sad to hear this place is closing today if I'm not mistaken? I came here on Sunday and my…read morebuddy said Renz was closing this week. Walked in and immediately got looks from the regulars here haha, it gave me dive bar and lounge vibes from their furniture and booths. The furniture is on the older side and the lighting is dim inside. Bartender here was really nice and helped us while we had our fantasy draft here. She gave us the wifi password and came over to our draft a couple of times to ask if we wanted to order more brews. Looks like they also do karaoke here at 9pm too. Such a cool neighborhood bar and a perfect spot to grab a drink.

Because of my two dear old friends recommended. It was a very pleasant experience…read more First place I go is to the bathrooms. If they aren't CLEAN, I don't stay. The Renz was and we stayed had a grand old time!

When I said "Bar" and "Santa Ana" in the Yelp search - of course it said "Club 616" in the first…read morespot - OF COURSE IT SAID 616!!! I was lucky enough to stumble across this gem of the center of OC when they first opened - and I am proud to be a regular here. I don't know how to go somewhere else - because I feel like the staff are giant gems in this jewel of a spot. Winters is a curator of boozy information that has helped me learn about "gin" and "root beer whiskey" so I can sound like an adult-ish purveyor, when really I know close to nothing except being a willing student to his creations. Dan the Man and Jacob always see me raise my hand in the corner of the bar, like the student I am, and have been willing to fill in the blanks for me when I know I am of thirst, but do not have the words for what to order. Every person working in the well has treated me with kindness - they have taken the time to get to know me, and I will be forever appreciative of how they have taken care of me over the years. But the real joy has been the transformation that this spot has for building a community of people in Santa Ana for real recognizing real. I have been bringing my Dad with me to play pool for the past few years. Sometimes people ask me if he plays professionally, I am terrible, and my skill incline is slow, he is patient and plays with the same level craftiness that the staff offer the cocktails. My Dad is always stoked when we have time to go have a few hours of games at 616 - especially now that there are regulars on 4th street that are excited to see that he is there playing - and they rush to write their names on the chalkboard to challenge him - or beat him in a game they really earned the W. On lazy Sundays, I watch couples sit with their drink, listening to Jazz, and watching my Dad whoop my ass while making amazing shots. I am forever grateful to Memo who sometimes takes a break from his shift behind the bar to give my dad an actual challenge - which allows me the chance to watch my Dad enjoy fellowship around the table. Knowing the table was a relic of the bars former self, and knowing the history that this spot has in Santa Ana is a reminder that so much around us can change - but it is those moments of the crack of the rack, the cheer of getting the combo shot, and the shake of hands when it's over that shows that it's not just about the pool table - but about the energy of a place that is welcoming and curated by people who care about what they do - and care about who comes through their doors. Thank you Jason and Mike B to bringing this to 4th St and supporting the community that was already here - and for building a community for the future. Thank you to Christina and Brandon for always having amazing pictures, decor, and fun events at 616 that help introduce new folks into this great spot. Time is short. Learn about Root Beer Whiskey. Write your name on the Chalk Board. No one lives forever.

I love the vibe here. It's about the energy and atmosphere for sure. Reminiscent of the bars /…read moreclubs in Baja California or Mexico in general, it's lively with a back patio area and even like a taquero there, at least on weekends. The drat beer selection is solid and the cocktails are well crafted. Highly recommend this spot. One of my favorite it's Downtown Stabba Ana

Another bucket list restaurant. Such a great spot in Old Tustin. It's a beautiful free standing…read morerestaurant with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. We were greeted pleasantly and quickly shown to our table in a great location in the middle of the restaurant. The decor and atmosphere immediately makes you feel like you're in the Yucatán. We ordered the shrimp huarache, Cochinita Pibil torta and Pato (duck) Salbute. All three were completely different and delicious. We also ordered the Basque cheesecake for dessert which was both pretty and delicious.

Delicious food with plenty of great vegetarian options as well! Everything we ordered was…read moreflavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. The decor and ambiance made the whole experience feel cozy, warm, and inviting. The service was also excellent. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Honestly, I'm so glad we ended up here instead of going to Javier's! We had such a great experience from start to finish, and it turned out to be the perfect spot to celebrate a birthday. Definitely a place I'd be happy to come back to! The only thing I didn't like was the beignets. It just wasn't what I expected. It was undercooked, dense, and just not great.

Sonder was amazing. We really enjoyed their creative menu and everything we ate was delicious. My…read morefavorite would be the pork belly skewer. It was fatty, juicy, and had a slight charred taste. All dishes ordered were done really well. The vibes were fun and upbeat. I really appreciated the design and interior decor of the dining room. Deeper in you will find more seating, the bar, and a live DJ! Service was good. it was a little slow at times but I understand it was a busy night. Staff were friendly and helpful. Great spot for a night out with friends or date night :-)

Stopped by for an impromptu date night and left pleasantly surprised. Our server Jenny was super…read moreattentive and made sure we were taken care of all night with on point recommendations. She suggested we try the skewers and each one was a 10/10. Drinks were unique and definitely worth the price. The Smooth Operator and Kokomo were our favorites. Overall, great date night vibe with good music, interior and amazing service. Will have to be back with a larger group to try more items!

QUA Contemporary Chinese Cuisine is tucked into a pretty busy plaza, so parking can get a little…read morehectic with so many restaurants and businesses nearby. The shrimp wonton noodle soup was light and delicate, and I also really enjoyed the wood ear mushrooms, cucumber, and cabbage salad. Everything felt fresh and balanced. The restaurant itself is spacious, beautiful, and looks newly renovated. A really nice setting for a more modern Chinese dining experience. I also liked that the base of the dish is vegan, and you can have the meat served on the side, which makes it easy to accommodate different dietary preferences.

Modern interior with a lot of tables, very spacious inside. Menu has a decent variety. Entree menu…read moreitems are pretty good actually, including the crab roe noodles, fried rice options, steamed cod fish, dim sum options as well. Flavor profiles feel balanced and palpable, I can see myself coming back. There are some items that were not quite as good, like the egg tarts and bbq pork pastry. Egg tart egg mixture is too delicate like tofu and not enough flavor before the toppings. Truffle and salted egg topping didnt give enough flavor to compensate for blandness of the egg filling. Bbq pork pastry's pastry shell would have been better if it was a little thicker to absorb the strong bbq sauce. It felt like eating curry rice but with not enough rice. This would have been an easy 5 stars if there wasnt a few disappointments on the table.

Strong Water isn't just a place to grab a drink, it is an entire experience from the moment you…read morewalk through the door. We were escorted inside and our hostess immediately started introducing us to the lore of the place: a capsized ship with the space decorated using pieces recovered from the wreckage. The room is VERY dimly lit, and we actually stood near the entrance for a moment while our eyes adjusted, but honestly that just added to the atmosphere. On the way to our reservation in the Captain's Quarters, our hostess gave us a little tour of the main room and even pointed out the bathrooms for later. Once we sat down, we met our bartender, Drew, who was fantastic. He walked us through the different menus, explained the food and cocktails, and really added to the experience throughout the night. I'm normally a whiskey drinker, so I started with the Southeast Spice Trade while my girlfriend ordered the Pineapple Whipped Colada. Both were delicious, but half the fun was watching Drew make them. You could really see the amount of care that went into the craft and presentation of every drink. For food, we ordered the chicken katsu and ahi poke nachos. I was especially excited when the nachos arrived and I realized they were made with wonton chips. I'm a sucker for wonton chips, so those were an immediate win. We obviously couldn't stop at one round of drinks, so next came the Tarobi Colada and Zombie King. Drew told us a little about the history of the Zombie King and gave us a lesson on rum, so I had to try it, plus it came in one of the coolest mugs I've ever seen. The Zombie King was easily my favorite drink of the night. The flavor was fantastic from beginning to end and dangerously smooth. I didn't even realize how much it had hit me until I stood up. Even leaving was part of the experience. We finally checked out the bathroom and the door has what feels like TEN different locks on it. It genuinely felt like I was locking myself inside the bathroom of an old pirate ship. Between the storytelling, incredible atmosphere, Captain's Quarters, food, cocktails, and especially the service from Drew, this was such a memorable night. Strong Water completely commits to its theme without sacrificing the quality of the drinks. Absolutely an experience worth having, and we can't wait to come back.

We have returned to Strong Water several times in recent months, so it's time for an update. We…read morefirst returned in early June since they introduced some new cocktails and food to the menu. The other visits were just because this is by far our number one place. Recently added cocktails: Buzzin' Jungle Bird (Jamaican gold rum, coffee infused campari, dark rum, pineapple, lime, hemp orgeat, cane, Angostura bitters). This is a great spin on a jungle bird, with some complexity and coffee flavor. I'm usually not a big fan of coffee, but it is at a good level. Chi Chi (Whey vodka, pineapple, lime, date, honey, coconut, salt). This has a great creamy texture which I believe comes from the dairy component of the whey vodka. It is well balanced with some sweetness, and I could taste the coconut and date flavors. Lapu Lapu (Asian rum, Jamaican rum, dry curacao, lime, orgeat, demerara). It is juicy, well balanced, and served with a flaming sugar cube on top. This is the cocktail they chose to serve at their booth at Tiki Oasis recently which says a lot, try it! Thai Me Down (Barbados rum, coconut liqueur, papaya, lemon, demerara, Thai basil). It is served old-fashioned style, and was light and perfectly balanced. Those Thai inspired flavors were all noticeable. Demerara Dry Float. They added and took this one off the menu as of now. It was a balanced light citrusy drink which was served with a delicious sidecar of Hamilton 151 rum infused with banana chips. I sipped half of that and mixed the rest into the cocktail. It was served with a beautiful ice shell. I'm guessing it was too labor intensive, and took up a lot of space in their freezers. Recently added food: Ahi Poke Nachos (marinated ahi tuna, masago, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, furikake, green onion). This is such a tasty starter with so many textures and flavors. I love that the nachos are wontons too, and not just chips. Crab & Cream cheese wontons. Nice crisp wontons with a good amount of crab and cream cheese inside. The chili sauce and spicy mayo adds another layer of flavor, and there is a slice of jalapeno on top for a little heat. Pan-Seared Scallops. This was an excellent lighter entrée. The four scallops are cooked perfectly, and even have a little dollop of caviar on top. I liked the mix of veggies and really liked the bed of potato puree underneath. Steak & Eggs (8oz hanger steak, crying tiger glaze, Nam Jim Jaew sauce, sunny eggs, rice). I normally wouldn't try steak & eggs for dinner, but I can't resist a good hanger steak. It was cooked a perfect medium rare and I appreciate that it was pre-sliced. The crying tiger glaze and sauce were so flavorful. There's plenty of rice to soak up any left egg yolk or sauce. Recently added desserts: Dubai Chocolate Lava Cake. This was excellent, but it's definitely sweet and rich. Save some room if you plan on ordering this. Ube Flan Cake. I'm usually not a fan of flan, but I have to try anything with ube and this was good. The cake had nice ube flavor, and I liked that the flan was a little firm since the looser custardy/gelatinous texture is not for me. This is definitely a lighter dessert than the lava cake. It's not a new drink, but I also had the Naval Grog for the first time. (Lost Voyage rum, overproof white rum, allspice dram, lime, grapefruit, demerara, honey). It is boozy with nice spice notes. Other repeat cocktails enjoyed were Tales from the Black Lagoon (my favorite), Missionary's Downfall, Agave Parrot, Singapore Sling, and Serpents Grasp all of which are excellent. Their cocktails, food, ambiance, and service are always top notch. Thank you Ying, Erica, Greg, Jordan, Joey, Iris, Karen, Kyle, Joy, and John for your wonderful hospitality during our visits. We will return again soon!