(310) 450-0508

2926 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405 33.9991 -118.4807

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Neighborhoods: Ocean Park, West LA

THECIRCLEBAR.COM

Last updated 11.11.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Nightclubs, Singles Bars, Taverns

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Circle Bar

Featured Review

Katie Heffernan

Contributor

The Scene – A neighborhood dive for three decades, this Main Street bar has redefined itself as a destination for the single, 20-something lush. After enduring the sometimes half-block weekend wait outside, ex-fraternity boys and grown-up party girls cram into the crowded dark den where drinkers radiate from the central circular bar. The more intimate booths and bar stools fill quickly, but the best hottie-spotting--and shoulder-brushing--is done while squeezing against the red-lit walls, haphazardly decorated with old photographs. Circulating socializers eventually find enough room to…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Sunday through Thursday nights feature DJs spinning house and trance music. Other times, customers can rely on the early-'90s rap jukebox.
Parking:
Street spots are limited, but 24-hour metered parking is available in lots just down the block on Ashland and Kinney streets.
Look Good:
Sign up for the club's VIP list, which offers private party invites and drink specials.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Named after the large bar that circles and takes up the majority of the room, this red-lit, Santa Monica nightspot lures college kids and young professionals alike with decent-priced drinks and a cozy dance floor.”
  2. “Cool circular bar which allows you to scope out the great looking people all around it, and has a Great atmosphere!”
  3. “The crowd was fun and the ratio seemed perfect.”
  4. “Circle bar has so many other things going for it: great location, interesting decor, good drinks.”
  5. “Great atmosphere”
  6. “Love the red and black decor with all of the candles!”
  7. “This bar is fun, full of energy and atmosphere!”
  8. “good spot to go when you want somewhere fun but not pretenious.”
drinks
88.24000358581543% positive
  1. “Cool bar, baaad service”
  2. “Then as soon as you enter the swanky velveted wall classic bar, you are distracted by the gorgeous female bartenders eager to mix you your favorite cocktail.”
  3. “This place is a must visit; it has a ton of history because it has been around since the 40s and they can deliver a full bar to any party anywhere.”
  4. “The drinks are decent but the place is dark, and the music is too loud.”
  5. “This bar is great for those who want to dress up to go out on the weekends, but don't want to bother with all the pomp and circumstance of the Hollywood club scene.”
  6. “Named after the large bar that circles and takes up the majority of the room, this red-lit, Santa Monica nightspot lures college kids and young professionals alike with decent-priced drinks and a cozy dance floor.”
  7. “originally really liked this bar, but after constant rudeful treatment from bouncers/bartenders, I felt I had to abandon this bar.”
  8. “Its a cool bar.”
  9. “Cool circular bar which allows you to scope out the great looking people all around it, and has a Great atmosphere!”
  10. “Circle Bar is a great bar to go to if you live on the westside for some dancing on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night.”
  11. “Circle bar has so many other things going for it: great location, interesting decor, good drinks.”
  12. “Great, casual spot for drinks and dancing”
  13. “the place is cool other then its mostly 15 to 20 dudes per every girl and there is some a-hole drugg dealer outside whom the cops nor the bar seem to do anything about.”
  14. “The music is good, the place is small so it is alway crowded, the people are nice, the service is good, the prices are far, the door policy is not like a Hollywood bar.”
  15. “HOWEVER, beyond the good drinks, I have to say NO to the Circle Bar.”
  16. “This bar is fun, full of energy and atmosphere!”
  17. “The drinks are average and the clientle is so pretentious it is insulting.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “So if you are looking for a great staff and no eye candy then this is the place to go!”
  2. “Once inside, this place seemed like a good place for Interracial dating.”
  3. “This is STILL the best place in LA to hook up and get crazy without the LA crap!”
  4. “The music is good, the place is small so it is alway crowded, the people are nice, the service is good, the prices are far, the door policy is not like a Hollywood bar.”
  5. “It is the best place to go if you want to hang with the hotties and dance to some cool grooves.”
  6. “Generally though, the bouncers and barstaff are good - especially when you consider the people who frequent the place - VERY ugly, and I'm not talking in terms of looks.”
service
75.0% positive
  1. “Cool circular bar which allows you to scope out the great looking people all around it, and has a Great atmosphere!”
  2. “The staff is completely RUDE, RUDE, RUDE especially the bartenders!”
  3. “Cool bar, baaad service”
  4. “The music is good, the place is small so it is alway crowded, the people are nice, the service is good, the prices are far, the door policy is not like a Hollywood bar.”
  5. “originally really liked this bar, but after constant rudeful treatment from bouncers/bartenders, I felt I had to abandon this bar.”
  6. “Then as soon as you enter the swanky velveted wall classic bar, you are distracted by the gorgeous female bartenders eager to mix you your favorite cocktail.”
  7. “So if you are looking for a great staff and no eye candy then this is the place to go!”
  8. “Generally though, the bouncers and barstaff are good - especially when you consider the people who frequent the place - VERY ugly, and I'm not talking in terms of looks.”
  9. “If you are looking for good vibes it aint here, beautiful people arent here, no great music etiher, not even a scene if you are into that.”
  10. “We grabbed a table, but even that didn't help us because people are so rude and crazy that they almost sat on top of you.”
  11. “This is supposedly a hot spot for beautiful people?”
  12. “Great scene great vibe hot bartenders”
  13. “Great doorguys and hot bartenders who don't put up with LA nonsense.”
  14. “If you are 2 people (girls or guys) you'll leave with a good taste in your mouth but nothing else.”
  15. “while this place had all the hollywood hype, it had none of the hollywood beautiful people.”
  16. “The bouncer Guy was fantastic, the bartenders were great, and the music was okay.”
  17. “don't know what the comments are of rude staff.”
  18. “have never seen such unhappy and rude women ever.”
  19. “The staff was very friendly.”
  20. “Great looking bartenders despite giving terrible service.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The music is good, the place is small so it is alway crowded, the people are nice, the service is good, the prices are far, the door policy is not like a Hollywood bar.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/29/09

Worst experience

by Sonia1 at Citysearch

Omg! I'm so dissapointed and speechless. This was my spot. I always had a good time. Even when it was super croweded. I never stood in line. All of a sudden they have a line on thursday. I'm hoping they're under new management. FYI they're doing a bad job. The bouncer are rasist. After I had over heard one tell the other bouncer if it was only us two mexican waiting to get in. First of all I'm not Mexican. Second of all they where letting other people in with out making them waite in line. When I did get in the crow was not as diverse as it usually is, and alot of the guys where old. I also couldn't believe that they had guys from a baseball team wearing nothing but a baseball jersey and shorts. So if they're being so picky on who they are letting in you would think they would be picky on the dress code. I won't give circle bar my business anymore. I'm so telling all my friends not to go there. Very bad experience after being a loyal customer. It's that bad I had to right a review. I still can't believe that they where beign rasist.

  • Pros: Nothing now
  • Cons: super crowded
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/24/09

BE CAREFUL with this place!!! DO NOT GO THERE!!

by TCueva at Citysearch

I was pushed by a" low class" woman, and the security guard did not do a thing to protect me. I had 4 different witnesses, however, the security guard preferred not to take any action. Instead I was not allowed to go back inside after I' had gone outside to complain. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!!

  • Cons: If something happen the security guard will NOT PROTECT YOU!!!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/08/08

Great scene great vibe hot bartenders

by johnnyjon at Citysearch

This place rules! Starting with cool and entertaining door men always willing to chat or light up your smoke. Then as soon as you enter the swanky velveted wall classic bar, you are distracted by the gorgeous female bartenders eager to mix you your favorite cocktail. If you can pull yourself away from these gals you can make your way on to the dancefloor to mix it up to some of the spinnings of the hottest DJs on the west side. This place is a must visit; it has a ton of history because it has been around since the 40s and they can deliver a full bar to any party anywhere. Check it out.

1 Star Rating: Poor

11/10/08

Gheettoooooo

by LucianMariano at Citysearch

This place is not supposed to be located in Santa Monica. So unlike the other places there. First of all, even though it's cold outside, it's like a sauna inside! They pack the place so much that it is impossible to dance or even move. We grabbed a table, but even that didn't help us because people are so rude and crazy that they almost sat on top of you. No joke! Some drunk girl was giving a lap dance to her friend, totally in my friend's face, who was sitting right there. So nasty!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/05/08

Great, casual spot for drinks and dancing

by jenheidir at Citysearch

Named after the large bar that circles and takes up the majority of the room, this red-lit, Santa Monica nightspot lures college kids and young professionals alike with decent-priced drinks and a cozy dance floor. This bar is great for those who want to dress up to go out on the weekends, but don't want to bother with all the pomp and circumstance of the Hollywood club scene.

The Details on Circle Bar

Place Categories:

  • beautiful people
  • cool circular bar
  • best place
  • rude staff
  • really cool music
  • good drinks
  • great casual spot
  • great atmosphere
  • fun crowd
  • cool baaad service
  • cool joint
  • love decor
  • great hot bartenders
  • great vibe
  • cozy intimate dance floor
  • great open scene
  • good ratio
  • worst experience
  • good taste
  • favorite cocktail
  • terrible service
  • great doorguys
  • good barstaff
  • good bouncers
  • pretentious clientle