(310) 451-2221

1301 5th St
Santa Monica, CA 90401 34.0185 -118.4955

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Neighborhoods: Downtown, West LA

ZANZIBAR.NET

Years in business

Established in 2002

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Nightclubs, Singles Bars, Lounges, Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Dance Floor

Bar & Club Type of Music:

DJ - Latin & Salsa, Reggae, DJ - Reggae, DJ - Electronica, Hip-Hop & Rap, World, Funk, Soul & R&B, DJ - Soul & Funk, DJ - R&B, Latin

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over, Romantic Nightlife

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Zanzibar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Despite its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Zanzibar is anything but your typical beach bar. The owners, who also operate the nearby Temple Bar, have transformed longtime watering hole, West End, into an exotic East African-themed dance club. The dimly lit, red brick and earth-hued interior sets a risque tone that carries over into the semi-private lounge areas with cozy couches. An intimate dance floor is framed by velvet curtains, an uplifted stage and a wraparound bar. –

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The club does accept credit cards, but if you want cash, there are three ATMs on Fourth Street near Arizona.
The Extras:
Nearby Temple Bar features live music with regular performances by Dakah, Kim Hill and Natural Afrodisiac.
Parking:
The neighborhood parking crunch and lack of a valet leads people to take their chances in the bank lot across the street, just west of the club.
ambiance
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “love the decor at "Zanzibar" and the music invites you to dance.”
  2. “liked the decor, but the lack of care made it hard to care for the staff.”
  3. “The first night was awesome -- great DJ, nice ambiance, good dancing, good value, but temps were hot.”
  4. “Great decor, great music, and definitely not a touristy scene - however, it's not your usual typical Top 40 and Hip hop music w/ go-go dancers - If you're looking for a huge mega club with top 40 stuff go to White Lotus, Avalon, or Highlands but if you wa”
  5. “the music is so fun and we always had a great time, its totally casual and the prices are great.”
  6. “had not been there in a while, but when I went about 2 months ago, it was still the same fun place with terrible AC!”
  7. “the decoration inside was awesome and the people were so nice!”
drinks
20.0% positive
  1. “The security were friendly, our waitress did disappear often, but she would check on us from time to time to make sure we had all the mixers and drinks we needed”
  2. “And I waited almost 45 minutes for my drink - the line is messy and long.”
  3. “Its about $10 to get in (but KCRW members get 2 for 1), and the drinks are a little pricey, but its worth it every time.”
  4. “The bartenders are slow as hell, and sometimes they get cocky - avoid the drinks at all costs, they are rather high-priced.”
  5. “The bar staff sucked and the door men were Harsh.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “love salsa music.”
  2. “Running away I turned around and was blasted in the face with the rank smell of fresh human fhart.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “nicely re-decorated Westend with some funky couches and drapes that makes it a nice place to lounge.”
  2. “pride myself on being a good patrion, but this place made it difficult to givre back.”
  3. “though this was a nice place UNTIL YESTERDAY.”
service
75.0% positive
  1. “like the color scheme, but the staff need to learn customer service”
  2. “The bartenders and servers are great!”
  3. “The music is SO LOUD there's no way you could even carry on a conversation in this place, and the dance floor is full of SO MANY RANDOM people that you have to have to hold onto yourself for dear life.”
  4. “Best waitress I've ever had, $2 shots”
  5. “liked the decor, but the lack of care made it hard to care for the staff.”
  6. “The cool bartender guy was still there and the bouncers are pretty cool.”
  7. “The security were friendly, our waitress did disappear often, but she would check on us from time to time to make sure we had all the mixers and drinks we needed”
  8. “the decoration inside was awesome and the people were so nice!”
  9. “The bar staff sucked and the door men were Harsh.”
  10. “regae should be loved, this includes staff.”
  11. “Overall, good looking people, great music, and cool surroundings.”
  12. “The bartenders are slow as hell, and sometimes they get cocky - avoid the drinks at all costs, they are rather high-priced.”
value
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. “Great decor, great music, and definitely not a touristy scene - however, it's not your usual typical Top 40 and Hip hop music w/ go-go dancers - If you're looking for a huge mega club with top 40 stuff go to White Lotus, Avalon, or Highlands but if you wa”
  2. “Drinks are kind of pricey.”
  3. “Its about $10 to get in (but KCRW members get 2 for 1), and the drinks are a little pricey, but its worth it every time.”
  4. “NOT TO MENTION female silluetes (ala the old ipod commercials) for NO REASON are projected onto a huge screen.”
  5. “Drinks were kind of expensive.”
  6. “The $10 cover charge was overpriced, to say the least.”
  7. “the music is so fun and we always had a great time, its totally casual and the prices are great.”
  8. “The first night was awesome -- great DJ, nice ambiance, good dancing, good value, but temps were hot.”
  9. “The dance floor huge, the crowd chill--mixed, unique, and beautiful--the lounge cool.”
wait time
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “And I waited almost 45 minutes for my drink - the line is messy and long.”
  2. “The bartenders are slow as hell, and sometimes they get cocky - avoid the drinks at all costs, they are rather high-priced.”
  3. “We didn't wait long in line and security was actually cool (rare!)”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/08/10

Zanibore

by anodetolisa

I must admit that Zanzibar has an eclectic style, however not the greatest club in the westside. When the venue gets packed on a Friday and Saturday night, there's literally no room to dance or walk around. They should really limit the number of club goers inside. And I waited almost 45 minutes for my drink - the line is messy and long. If you're looking to have a great time without all the fuss, I recommend going to Hollywood.

  • Pros: bartenders, music
  • Cons: small, overcrowded, limited bathroom stalls
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/08/09

JOHN THE assian GUY AT THE DOOR IS A REAL BAD PERSON

by morphita

I though this was a nice place UNTIL YESTERDAY.

I went last night to the salsa night... my girlfriend and I paid $20 to get in, because there was a life band.

I had one drink at my house and then I had one drink at Zanzibar...went outside for a second and guess what...

JOHN THE ASSIAN GUY AT THE DOOR... DIDN'T LET ME GO BACK IN....

He let me frizz out outside.... I had to beg him please I'm frizzing,,, he didint care.... my other friend that was going to pick me up didnt show up until one hour after...

I was soooo cold and sooo mad that I ended up dancing salsa right there in the street. I love salsa music... its my favorite.

I PAID $20 to get in... and JOHN who is an $#%^R%&^^ didnt care about how much I paid... THE MOST UNRESPECTFULL treat I 've ever had.... He really offended me !!!!!

But for now on I'll take all my friends to the salsa night at MANZOON (They have salsa night..wednesday and saturday night )

4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/23/09

Good Music

by kellynotabundy

i love Zanzi! I used to go almost every weekend and I always had a fun time. I had not been there in a while, but when I went about 2 months ago, it was still the same fun place with terrible AC! LOL. The cool bartender guy was still there and the bouncers are pretty cool. The girl bartenders arent really the best... seriously. My sis said that she was charged an extra $4 on her tab, but she didn't realize it until the next day. She had a girl bartender. I've never had a problem with that, but then again, I'll pay cash and get from the asian guy bartender or someone will buy me drinks... haha. Anyway, the music on Saturdays is pretty awesome. The DJs are cool. Fridays are just okay. More mellow and the music isn't as great, but it's not bad either. I recommend this place. Don't expect a Hollywood crowd (thankfully), but expect that EVERY Saturday night is a totally different crowd. I was there one time when there so many guys! Woo! LOL... and then I was there another time when there were tons of girls, like 4 for each guy thing... lol. Then another time was a bunch of asians, then another time tons of beach boys... lol... and so on... you get it. =)

  • Pros: different crowd each week
  • Cons: Terrible A/C!
2 Star Rating: Below Average

03/16/09

IT WAS KOOL

by klientelevision

I ARRIVED AND FOUND A SEMI LONG LINE WITH A FAT SECURITY GUARD THAT HAD A LIST THAT MY NAME WAS NOT ON. I HAD TO PAY 20 US DOLLARS TO ENTER THE CLUB. THERE WERE NOT MANY HONIES. BUT PLENTY OF HOBOS. THE SANTA MONICA BEACH CROWD IS NOT THE BUSINESS. IN FACT I DON'T THINK THERE REALLY IS ANY TYPE OF SCENE. IT WAS KIND OF AN ANYTHING GOES EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER THE BAND WAS GREAT. SLY'S DAUGHTER, BABY STONE WAS AMAZING. SHE MADE IT ALL WORTH WHILE.

THE PLACE WAS DEFINITELY TOO CROWDED. YOU WERE BASICALLY CONFINED TO WHERE THE HECK YOU WERE. MOVING AROUND WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE AND PHYSCALLY CHALLENGING. KIND OF LIKE THE 405 DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.

THE BAR IS A DIVE. BUT I LIKE IT. JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET THERE EARLY SO YOU WON'T INVEST 20 US RECESSION DOLLARS TO BECOME A HUMAN SARDINE.

THE CHARACTERS IN THIS JOINT ARE IMPECCABLE, IF YOU ARE A WRITER YOU COULD GET A BUNCH OF MATERIAL FROM THIS PLACE.

I WOULD GO BACK IF I COULD GET IN FOR FREE. ONLY.

ITS NOT WORTH INVESTING 20 US BUCKAROOSKI'S.

  • Pros: BABY STONE BAND WAS GOOD, DECOR
  • Cons: STINKY
3 Star Rating: Average

01/28/09

Definitely check your bill carefully

by alysedg23

Yes, the bartenders and waitresses will rip you off if you let them. Check your bill CAREFULLY! The waitress had the audacity to add a tip onto my check after I had already tipped her the standard 15% AND an additional $60 bucks in cash.

I also dropped my cell phone in the VIP area ONCE THE club had closed, so more likely than not, it was an employee that picked it up and didn't have the common courtesy to turn it in.

Complain to the manager, you say? Right!! Destiny, the GM, took my call and assured me she would check the camera and get to the bottom of the additional monies added to my bill, but do you think she ever called me back? You guessed it, NO

I'll still go here when I'm in SM, I like the music, but will I ever buy bottle service again? Uh..no, I'll stick to single drinks and make sure the bartenders get what they deserve..if anything...

Shame on you, Zanzibar, Erin & Destiny

The Details on Zanzibar

Place Categories:

  • great africancarribeanbeat music
  • nice chill lounge place
  • great dj
  • of pricey drinks
  • favorite little club
  • nice bartender
  • long line
  • cool scene
  • cool security
  • not as great more mellow
  • full dance floor
  • really nice kcrw vibe
  • nice dancing spot
  • liked decor
  • nice setup
  • disgusting air quality
  • loved regae
  • good value
  • bad parking
  • amazing baby stone
  • overpriced cover charge
  • really nice look
  • terrible ac
  • awesome garth trinidad
  • nice ambiance