Nightlife
Because Orange County is a sprawling region, nightlife, or anything else for that matter, isn’t contained to one specific area. It tends to be spread around, which can be a good thing, since no matter where you are, you won’t have to travel far to find some sort of evening fun. And the term nightlife is subjective, although it’s usually assumed to include drinking, dancing, and late nights. But in Orange County, nightlife can mean many things. Sure, there are the usual suspects—the high-energy clubs and watering holes where people stand elbow to elbow simply because it’s the place du jour. And these places tend to appeal to a younger crowd where anybody over 30 is considered over the hill. But by just broadening the spectrum, nightlife can also include wine bars, jazz clubs, neighborhood pubs and sports bars, comedy clubs, or billiard halls. Even bowling has gotten hip inside some local alleys.
The inland areas, which for the most part are bedroom communities, have fewer options than those by the coast. Huntington Beach has a laidback vibe along Main Street, where people spill out onto the sidewalk from surf-centric bars and pubs. Newport Beach has more swanky venues, especially at some of the resort lounges, and the same could be said for Laguna Beach, although it has a nice collection of places in the village to enjoy live music and evening gallery receptions that wouldn’t be considered high brow. Seal Beach is a bit quieter, catering mostly to locals, and the same can be said for Dana Point and San Clemente. There are also entertainment centers, such as Irvine Spectrum and The Block of Orange, where you can park your car and wander the open-air walkways until you happen upon something that piques your interest.
Overview
Those who live behind the Orange Curtain, a term used to describe the dividing line between the more conservative Orange County and left-leaning Los Angeles County, can be fickle when it comes to nightlife. The newest bar, club or watering hole to open its doors, especially if its located along the coast, is the place to see and be seen—that is, until a newer, more trendy place enters the race. It’s a never-ending cycle where loyalty rarely wins, and today’s crowded clubs are tomorrow’s vacant storefronts.
Unlike Los Angeles, there are no velvet ropes to cross, doormen to bribe, or red carpets to walk. Typically Orange County nightclubs and bars are rather low-key. For starters, things get going around 9 p.m. on weekends, which is early by most city standards. Second, the party is over by 2 a.m. with the last call for alcohol at 1:30 a.m.; alcohol cannot be sold between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the state of California. Finally, while everyone likes to get their groove on, the people of Orange County, and most of Southern California, enjoy taking advantage of the region’s flawless weather, which means serious workouts on most mornings. It’s only the determined barfly that needs a little push out the door long after the last dance has been danced and the last drink has been drunk. As for after-hours joints, you’d be hard pressed to find anything open, except for a 24-hour diner (and even those are scarce), since the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. is prohibited.
Most nightclubs will have a cover charge on weekends and, where alcohol is served, a 21-and-over policy is usually in place, although there are exceptions. The legal drinking age in California, as well as the rest of the United States, is 21, and anyone who looks under 40 will likely be asked to produce identification, either a driver’s license, state ID card, or a passport. California law enforcement has a very low tolerance for drinking and driving, so driver beware. Anyone with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is considered legally intoxicated and, if pulled over by the police or California Highway Patrol, will be asked to take a sobriety or breathalyzer test if the attending officer suspects any alcohol has been consumed. Occasionally, the police will set up sobriety check points, stopping cars at random to see if drivers are under the influence. These are usually noted in the newspaper with just a few sentences. Don’t put your life—or others—in danger by getting behind the wheel after downing a few drinks. Always appoint a designated driver and, if you feel the least bit hesitant as to whether you should climb behind the steering wheel, reconsider and ask the bartender to call you a taxi or check into a nearby hotel to sleep it off.
Nightclubs, comedy clubs, bars, lounges, pubs, and anything else considered an after-dark destination are known to change their hours, formats, and dress codes, or close their doors altogether without the least bit of warning. The club that once required a collared shirt may now cater to a T-shirt and ripped jeans crowd. And the all-’80s Wednesday night that was so fun last week is now hip-hop Hump Night with a much different clientele. Pick up a copy of OC Weekly, which is a free publication distributed weekly and found in newsstands and retail shops throughout Orange County. The free monthly 944 Magazine is another great source, as are the Thursday and Sunday editions of the LA Times and the Thursday edition of the Orange County Register. GreersOC.com, a free online subscription newsletter, reports on happenings daily, and the Web site also tracks the comings and goings of life in The OC.
Nightlife - Performing Arts
Orange County has no core theater district and you won’t find the ballyhoo of Broadway here either, but The OC can certainly take a bow when it comes to the performing arts. Within the county’s neat boundaries you will find classical orchestras, repertory theater, ballet, community theater, and much more. Orange County’s performing arts entered a new era of progress in 2006 as the Orange County Performing Arts Center completed a major and much welcomed expansion. The new and improved arts campus now includes the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall; the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall; the intimate 500-seat Samueli Theater; and a 46,000-square-foot, al fresco arts plaza where special events are staged. Heralded for its striking design and flawless acoustics, the Orange County Performing Arts Center presents a breadth of year-round entertainment including award-winning ballet companies and national tours of leading Broadway productions plus ovation-worthy chamber ensembles, soloists, classical and pop vocalists, jazz entertainers, cabaret artists and many noteworthy events.
1. Goat Hill Tavern
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 548-8428
Address: 1830 Newport Blvd.
Description: This OC institution has survived every trend and has transcended generations with a clientele that remains steadfast. Devotees of all ages still consider the Goat Hill Tavern, named for the goats that once roamed freely in these parts, to be the best bar in the county, and for good reason. There are endless beers on tap all reasonably priced, baskets brimming with peanuts, and, as a result, a floor full of discarded peanut shells. It doesn’t cost a dime to play a game of shuffle board, and the Goat Hill Tavern also has plenty of pool tables. The covered patio is great for sipping ice-cold beer on a warm Southern California evening.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 891 Baker St.
3. Brian’S Beer And Billiards
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (714) 993-1401
Address: 1944 North Placentia Ave.
Description: Right around the time Ronald Reagan took office, Brian’s Beer and Billiards, simply known as Brian’s, was born. The cheap beer and low-key vibe were an immediate hit with the students at nearby Cal State Fullerton. A couple of years later the owner opened up a Laundromat a few doors down, and in between cycles people would pass the time inside Brian’s, which cleverly ran lights into the bar to let patrons know when their clothes were dry. Its strip mall location is obscure, but people manage to find this legendary joint.
4. Olde Ship British Pub
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (714) 871-7447
Address: 709 North Harbor Blvd.
Description: English ex-pats are sure to feel right at home inside this British-owned pub. It truly embraces the public house mentality that has been a tradition on the other side of the pond for centuries. On tap are 20 British draft beers, but if you fancy a gin and tonic or frothy margarita, the mixologist behind the bar will be more than happy to accommodate. The menu is traditional as well, listing bangers and mash along with other English food. But crab cakes, garlic prawns, and smoked salmon with capers make an appearance on the menu as well. Their slogan, “You’ll Be a Stranger Here But Once,” must ring true because the Olde Ship British Pub has a loyal following of locals.
5. Killarney Pub & Grill
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (714) 536-7887
Address: 209 Main St.
Description: Touted as the only Irish pub on Huntington Beach’s Main Street, Killarney’s pays homage to the motherland by pairing Irish ales, stouts, and lagers with food you’re likely to find in a Dublin cafe. Wraps and salads add a California touch.
6. Marine Room Tavern
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 494-3027
Address: 214 Ocean Ave.
Description: With its name emblazoned on a green awning draped over the entrance to the building, it’s hard to miss the Marine Room Tavern. A rebel among Laguna Beach’s wine bars and bistros, this funky find, with wood carved sailfish and marlin adorning outdated paneled walls, proves to be a welcome departure from the more yuppified establishments. The interiors are a mix of hardwood floors, cozy furnishings, and a well-stocked bar proving to be the ideal backdrop for throwing back a pint or two. On Thursday night and Sunday afternoon there is live entertainment.
7. Balboa Saloon
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 673-9783
Address: 700 East Bay Ave.
Description: Flying darts, friendly billiard games, sounds of clinking glasses—this is what you can expect when you walk inside the Balboa Saloon. The big screen television displays major sporting events and there are some smaller screens strategically placed as well. The saloon’s bank of windows lets you take in the beach scene from the comfort of a bar stool. There’s even free Wi-Fi, but this Balboa Peninsula dive bar really doesn’t attract a “have computer, will travel” crowd.
8. The Beach Ball
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 675-8041
Address: 2116 West Oceanfront
Description: As far as dive bars go, The Beach Ball in tony Newport Beach near the pier does a good job with its no-frills ambiance. The bar is small, but manages to fit a few pool tables inside. There is a long list of drinks and music sans the dance floor, but patrons still like to do a little impromptu dancing—especially after a few drinks. With the beach just across the way, the views at sunset are spectacular.
9. Blackie’S By The Sea
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 675-1074
Address: 2118 West Oceanfront
Description: A couple of doors down from The Beach Ball on the same side of the boardwalk is this competing dive bar. It, too, offers ice-cold beer on tap, scantily clad women spilling out the door, televisions positioned at every turn for optimum viewing, and a few munchies, sandwiches, and snacks to chase the beer. Blackie’s is popular because it’s cheap, from the beer to the pool tables in the back. Well-heeled patrons bypass the entrance to Blackie’s for one of the more upscale Newport Beach watering holes. That suits the loyal clientele just fine. It just means more beer to go around.
10. Crow Bar And Kitchen
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 675-0070
Address: 2325 East Coast Hwy.
Description: This Corona del Mar gastropub attracts a polo shirt and khakis kind of crowd. The small bar is usually two people deep and a pair of large communal tables creates a sense of camaraderie. The Crow Bar has quite a few beers on tap, and, as for the menu, you’ll find Irish stew right alongside haughtier fare such as blue crab deviled eggs. Even though this is a pub, which typically translates to pints of ale, don’t overlook the Crow Bar’s long list of wines by the glass.
11. Malarkey’S Irish Pub
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 675-2340
Address: 3011 Newport Blvd.
Description: Orange County really likes its Irish pubs, and Malarkey’s in Newport Beach is among the more popular. It doesn’t really try to be anything other than what it is—a pub that caters to a beer guzzling crowd. There’s no chi-chi menu or martini glasses dangling from the hands of the well manicured; instead, people gather around at the copper-topped square bar holding their pints and chatting it up.
12. The Quiet Woman
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (949) 640-7440
Address: 3224 East Coast Hwy.
Description: This pub’s logo, displayed prominently at its entrance, is every man’s dream. It depicts a headless lass—hence the name “The Quiet Woman.” The moniker is quite common on pub signs throughout England. The Quiet Woman is a hybrid of sorts, being part restaurant and part bar. The bar is more upscale than the traditional pub, which coalesces nicely with similar establishments found in the seaside village of Corona del Mar. Patrons tend to favor electric-colored martinis rather than amber-hued beer, and students from nearby UCI are often the guilty culprits enjoying the funny-named libations. Five nights a week The Quiet Woman features live entertainment and the restaurant area is extremely family friendly.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 2318 Newport Blvd.
14. Haven Gastropub
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (714) 221-0680
Address: 190 South Glassell St.
Description: Micro brews and an impressive selection of Scotch and whiskey are sure to catch the attention of any pub crawler. Perhaps that’s why the newly opened Haven Gastropub in the Old Towne section of Orange has been an instant success. Its menu is best described as comfort food, only with some added panache. A few things you’re likely to find are a glazed pork sandwich, house-cured pickles, traditional fish and chips served with coleslaw, and an Irish stew that outdoes the Emerald Isle.
15. O’Hare’S Pub
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (714) 532-9264
Address: 150 North Glassell St.
Description: Locals and coeds from Chapman University, located just down the street, like to gather inside this Old Towne Orange hole in the wall. Irish to the core, students especially like O’Hare’s because the drinks are cheap, there are pool tables, and a friendly game of darts can add a bit of escapism during finals week. O’Hare’s isn’t very big—in fact, it’s small—but what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in fun.