(310) 310-8872

2819 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405 34.024353 -118.460327

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Neighborhoods: Pico, West LA

www.barpico.com

Hours:

Wed-Sun 7pm-2am

Last updated 6.11.11

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Sports Bars, Restaurants, Singles Bars, Lounges, Dance Clubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Bar Scene

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over, After Work, Late-Night Scene

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bar Pico

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Between Valentino Restaurant and SMCC, an area usually hushed after-dark, a single-neon sign illuminates the night. Imported from San Diego, this smaller sequel features a designer-stylized interior of dark wood walls, low-lighting and friendly servers. Long banquettes decked out with swanky lamps and elegant sectionals host Syrah drinkers comfortably reveling in afro-funk house music. In front of a chalk-written menu, bartenders double as sommeliers, guiding guests through an extensive wine list and selection of light snacks like artisan cheese plates.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Most of the surrounding side streets are permit restricted, so guests can park at meters along Pico and the rear parking lot.
What to Drink:
With a global selection of 40 wines by the glass, any wine drinker will surely find something they like. Non-wine drinkers can enjoy creative soju cocktails and beers. Try the Santucci or Flirtini.
When to Go:
Tuesdays: Wine Tastings for $10-$15 from 7pm-8:30pm. Wednesdays: $10 bottomless glass during Happy Hour. Fridays feature KCRW DJ Thomas Gollubic spinning an eclectic mix of electro and mash-ups and Dr. Dave Paine on Saturday, spinning hip hop and reggae at 9pm.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great ambiance”
  2. “Very comfortable surroundings, excellent staff all of which have a good knowledge of their beer and wine which is very refreshing.”
  3. “So i work on the east side of santa monica and i work pretty late and quite often i feel like a beer after work, (who doesnt) i had been to the joker a couple of times which is your classic dive bar but really didnt feel comfortable in there.”
  4. “This place is not pretentious and has a wonderful cozy kitsch about it.”
  5. “nice atmosphere”
  6. “The atmosphere is great - it's really dark and the wood makes for a cool setting.”
  7. “went on a wednesday, which was kind of mello, but I heard Friday is really fun.”
  8. “It has a cozy plush 60's mod-lounge vibe with cool friendly bartenders.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Its a cool westside bar, finally!”
  2. “The drink menu is pretty extensive, so if you're into that sort of thing you'll be happy.”
  3. “and awesome wine as always.”
  4. “as an after work spot, its a great wine tasting spot and place to unwind.”
  5. “They have tons of wines- every one I tried was good- but I loved the Cherritini.”
  6. “So i work on the east side of santa monica and i work pretty late and quite often i feel like a beer after work, (who doesnt) i had been to the joker a couple of times which is your classic dive bar but really didnt feel comfortable in there.”
  7. “the wine selection was nice and the bartender was friendly unlike some hollywood types that cant even smile.”
  8. “Ok , so my friend had told me about this bar that he went to on a date on pico, and he told me he had a great night his date wasnt so great but he said the bar was awesome.”
  9. “She's not much of a wine drinker at all but really enjoyed the drink while I thought it was too sweet for my taste.”
  10. “great DJ played an ecclectic mixed of non-overbearing tunes, while the bartender mixed up tasty soju cocktails.”
  11. “Again, some of the best music I've heard played at a bar.”
  12. “Very comfortable surroundings, excellent staff all of which have a good knowledge of their beer and wine which is very refreshing.”
  13. “this place was so gorgeous inside and the dj was really great and its usually rare to find a bar with a dj on tuesday nites in santa monica.”
  14. “The music is good and the bar is always crowded on the weekends, especially Friday nights.”
  15. “Hey, it'd be a great place if the wine was actually stored correctly.”
  16. “They specialize in wine but all of the mixed drinks are good and the bartenders are always cool.”
  17. “I'm glad they serve Cristalino, which is one of my favorite sparkling wines (Even though at $8 a glass I could have bought myself an entire bottle from somewhere else).”
  18. “Got to say, I'm pretty over the "club" scene and this locale definitely fills the hole on the westside for a mellow lounge with good wine and music.”
  19. “Great hidden bar on the westside.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “great DJ played an ecclectic mixed of non-overbearing tunes, while the bartender mixed up tasty soju cocktails.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “the wine selection was nice and the bartender was friendly unlike some hollywood types that cant even smile.”
  2. “The drink menu is pretty extensive, so if you're into that sort of thing you'll be happy.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “heard the weekend s get busy but as a nice place to be on the weekdays this is it and we'll be back for another round!”
  2. “this is a great place that's right in my neighborhood.”
  3. “as an after work spot, its a great wine tasting spot and place to unwind.”
  4. “Hey, it'd be a great place if the wine was actually stored correctly.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “heard the weekend s get busy but as a nice place to be on the weekdays this is it and we'll be back for another round!”
service
90.0% positive
  1. “Great service, great vibe, great crowd!”
  2. “He's not friendly and he has the worst attitude around.”
  3. “The music on Friday is great, the bartenders (Christine and Scott) are attractive and friendly.”
  4. “It has a cozy plush 60's mod-lounge vibe with cool friendly bartenders.”
  5. “Very comfortable surroundings, excellent staff all of which have a good knowledge of their beer and wine which is very refreshing.”
  6. “great DJ played an ecclectic mixed of non-overbearing tunes, while the bartender mixed up tasty soju cocktails.”
  7. “The music was great, very attractive crowd, same cute female bartender (I have to find out her name!”
  8. “The bartender was very vivacious and helpful and recommended a lovely malbec.”
  9. “They specialize in wine but all of the mixed drinks are good and the bartenders are always cool.”
  10. “the wine selection was nice and the bartender was friendly unlike some hollywood types that cant even smile.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/15/11

Santa Monica's hidden gem

by Matelyan

You can thank me later for letting you in on one of SanMo's best kep secrets. For this establishment is one of my favorite bars in the entire LA area. And you may have heard some complaints about the lack of a hard liquor license, but don’t believe the hype.

Bar Pico offers an extensive menu of draft and bottled beers, red and white wine, champagne, sake, various Cosmopolitans, and they do have shots and so much more. Almost every night of the week they are having some type of event. Whether it’s football Saturday thru Monday or live music several nights a week, this place stays busy and always home to a good time.

I personally enjoy the weekends when their dance floor turns into one of the best around thanks to their in house DJ who spins every Friday and Saturday night. They also have happy hour every night of the week and daily specials. I highly recommend and encourage you to come stop by any night of the week for good drinks and a good time.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/29/08

Great DJ and Courteous Doorman

by Elan7253

I went here with three of my friends on a Saturday night. First off, there was no line when we got there around 10:30 and the Doorman was by far one of the the most courteous and polite doorman I've ever met in LA. He smiled, complimented the ladies, and did not carry any pretentious attitude. He also dressed well in a nice suit and not baggy jeans or a hoodie. Inside, the Saturday night DJ was amazing. Again, some of the best music I've heard played at a bar. A nice balance between top 40 and some Old School with a slight emphasis on Tupac.

While the interior is kind of small, its not at all super crowded. A pretty good looking crowd composed mostly by people in their Mid to High 20s and early 30s. My friends and I were able to move around quite easily and had no trouble finding seats at the bar. The wine selection is fairly impressive. I'm glad they serve Cristalino, which is one of my favorite sparkling wines (Even though at $8 a glass I could have bought myself an entire bottle from somewhere else). They also have Perroni on tap which is my beer of choice when going out. One of my friends ordered the Pinot-Tini which was a mix of Pinot Gris, Pineapple juice and simple syrup. She's not much of a wine drinker at all but really enjoyed the drink while I thought it was too sweet for my taste.

Overall, this place is a real jewel on the westside. Don't be misled by the neighborhood and its location down the street from a 99 Cent store. Parking was also really easy, and you can also call for a FREE table reservations.

  • Pros: Nice Doorman, Great DJ, Easy Parking, Free Table Reservations
  • Cons: Small interior
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/13/08

nice atmosphere

by pinotknows

was there tuesday with my coworkers and found this beautiful nook on the side of pico. who knew? this place was so gorgeous inside and the dj was really great and its usually rare to find a bar with a dj on tuesday nites in santa monica. the wine selection was nice and the bartender was friendly unlike some hollywood types that cant even smile. as an after work spot, its a great wine tasting spot and place to unwind. i heard the weekend s get busy but as a nice place to be on the weekdays this is it and we'll be back for another round!

  • Pros: beautiful place, sophisticated, good cheese plate with the wine, dj, easy to talk to people because its not crowded
  • Cons: parking is a little hard to find, no dance floor
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/08/08

It clearly isn't air conditioned...

by BarrelThief

because all the wine we tried, tasted like it had been stored in an oven. Let me explain.

My girlfriend and I order a glass of Primus Cab and Edna Valley Syrah - mine came from a bottle already opened and hers came half from an open bottle and half from a new. Mine tasted old and tasteless,. Hers? Like the Night Train Express.

Okay. It's a bar. Maybe the bottle of Syrah had been sitting out, half drunk for a week or two. Fine. We replace it with a glass of Bodegas Borsao, which, in our opinion is a hell of a bottle for the price. We've probably downed at least 30 bottles of this over time, which we pick up from the 154 market in Santa Ynez. Great wine selection there, BTW.

The glass came from a new bottle. Sadly, it tasted sour as well. The only thing we could think of is that they store their wine out in some uninsulated, un-AIR CONDITIONED warehouse before bringing it into the bar. Unbelievably, the manager was going to charge us for both glasses until I through a fit. "I just opened that bottle, you expect me to just throw it out?" Ah, yeah! And don't charge me for the glass of nasty you poured either.

Hey, it'd be a great place if the wine was actually stored correctly. Maybe go for the hard licks instead? In the mean time, go to Bottlerock in Culver City. Excellent place and wine.

  • Pros: Great location, not crowded
  • Cons: Bad wine and service
3 Star Rating: Average

04/26/08

bottomless sangria!

by alirg

bottomless sangria night was great (and tasty!!) It gets an average because there was NO ONE at the bar. Went with friends, and we had a blast talking. The astmosphere however is really amazing. Open, modern feeling.

I just wish it was more crowded on weeknights.

The Details on Bar Pico

Place Categories:

  • great music
  • great place
  • great wine
  • great saturday night dj
  • friendly bartenders
  • great hidden bar
  • very refreshing good knowledge
  • great crowd
  • nice atmosphere
  • great modlounge vibe
  • great service
  • cool setting
  • nice suit
  • loved cherritini
  • wonderful cozy kitsch
  • polite doorman
  • excellent staff
  • excellent skills
  • really enjoyed drink
  • annoying valet
  • best cole
  • pretentious scene
  • really great nites
  • worst attitude
  • tasty cocktails

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