The Side Door
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 722-1084
- Cross Street:
- Ninth Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Spot for a Secret Affair 2008, Spot for a Secret Affair 2008
- Hours:
- Daily 6pm-2am
Editorial Review for The Side Door – by Tara de Lis
In Short
A compact cathedral facade, complete with stained-glass windows and unmarked entry, conceals this slightly subterranean watering hole. The cozy spot features faux blue velvet couches, benches and rounded booths, along with a tiny bar in the middle of the room. Sunday through midweek, it's an egalitarian mix of local barhoppers, bohemian Venice commuters and the college contingent. Much the same crowd shows on the weekends, when all but the former are held behind a slow-moving velvet rope.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Look GoodThere's no sign and the entrance is located just north of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, on Ninth Street.
ParkingMetered spaces are free after 8pm on the main drag and neighboring side streets.
The ExtrasChat up the bartender on a slower night and you may get treated to a tour of the exclusive 700 club upstairs, where there's a full menu available and you can smoke both cigarettes and cigars freely.
User Reviews for The Side Door
03/16/2008 Posted by RonnieEx
I live in San Francisco, and have always been a proponent of lunge type bars. San Francisco is home to some of the best lounges in the world, all with their own unique style and sophistication. I found the Side Door to be one of my favorite lounges I have ever been to, which is not an easy thing for me to say. The four times I've been there I enjoyed the music selection. Trance, Downtempo, Trip-Hop and Electronica give this gem of a place a certain ambiance that can't be found just anywhere. The service is great, and the female bartender who seems to be the regular there is very pleasant and knowledgeable of the in-house special Martinis. The Martinis are not cheap, but you will have fun trying them all out. I myself only have a few more to go before I can say I've tried the whole menu. A little steep in price, but the drinks are worthy of the price. If your looking for a cool fun place to hang out in Manhattan Beach, this is the place to go. The crowd is sophisticated and the atmosphere is unique and welcoming. Enjoy!
Pros: Atmosphere and Ambiance
Cons: A Little Pricey
02/01/2008 Posted by manbchron
This cozy little hole in the wall is located right in the heart of downtown Manhattan Beach. A great little Martini bar - even if you don't drink martinis. The small size really adds to the character. Always great music playing in the background. A great menu and really great service from a friendly staff. My server was Amy and she was super attentive. Got everything right. I'm going back for sure!
Pros: Good selection, great ambiance, great service
Cons: Pretty small - will not work if you're looking to hold a big party.
Users Like You Also Viewed
Goa
1615 Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
The Edison
108 W Second Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
