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Circle Bar

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2926 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405

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(310) 450-0508
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Circle Bar - Santa Monica, CA
Circle Bar - Santa Monica, CA
Reviews
( 12 )
( 9 )
( 7 )
( 7 )
( 9 )

Best

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 ...

Worst

I originally really liked this bar, but after constant rudeful treatment from bouncers/bartenders, I felt I had to abandon this bar. I happen to work in the "biz" so getting in h...

Circle Bar: full of creepy sweaty guys 5/13/2006

Ladies, avoid this place... (unless you're wanting and willing to share your bed with anyone who has three legs). The creep factor is high, the dance floor is small, and the ventilation system is poor. What does this all mean? There's a high probability that a desperate sweaty guy will ask you to dance with him. The walk space in this bar is small, so you'll spend most of the time trying to squeeze between the row of people leaning against the wall and people sitting at the bar. The rest of the time will be spent trying to flag down a bartender who is working the other side of the circle of the bar...yes, sounds like fun. There are more options on Main St... don't make this one of them. Pros: The bar's in a circle Cons: Not spacious, Long waits to order, Many guys named Lurch more
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YUCK 3/17/2006

i went to circle bar on a saturday night. i was with a large group of girlfriends so we didn't have to wait in line or for drinks or anything... but honestly, it just wasn't worth it. the place was packed with unattractive, desperate guys and the girls who take shots to forget them. the dance floor was too slippery; the bar area was too crowded. my girls and i wound up getting wasted out of sheer boredom and disgust. then we all went home... alone. while this place had all the hollywood hype, it had none of the hollywood beautiful people. too bad. Pros: there was alcohol? Cons: creepy guys, bad dance floor, bad everything more
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was cool at first 3/7/2006

when I first moved here a few years ago my friend brought me there since it was the IN place but now it is the absolute last place on my list. Extreamly packed to the point you can't move at times, and it can take forever to get a drink too. don't know what the comments are of rude staff..they have always been fairly nice considering the trendy hollywood atmosphere they try to give off..it's actually not too bad during the week but forget about it on a friday or saturday night... Pros: lots of girls Cons: way too packed, to small, pricey for drinkers more
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Cheesy 12/19/2005

I've got one word...cheesy. The place is crowded and I didn't see any good looking people at all. Cons: crowded more
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Hot Times again 9/24/2005

I was at the Circle last night, for the first time in about six months. It rocked. The staff was very friendly. Good ratio of women to men. Although there was a line, it was worth the wait. One of the doormen told e that if I get there before 9:30, I would not have to wait. I love the small, intimate dance floor and sexy lighting Pros: Good Drinks, Crowded, Great bartenders Cons: tight parking more
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Great atmosphere 9/10/2005

Cool circular bar which allows you to scope out the great looking people all around it, and has a Great atmosphere! Love the red and black decor with all of the candles! more
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Fun place. Rude, evil bartenders 6/6/2005

I've been going to Circle Bar for awhile now and everytime the bartenders are mean as ever. EVIL!!! I have never seen such unhappy and rude women ever. They should be ashamed to themselves. more
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YIKES! 5/28/2005

Was recommended the Circle Bar so a friend from out of town and I went there on a Saturday night. The bouncer Guy was fantastic, the bartenders were great, and the music was okay. Definitely a pick-up scene if you are just looking to "hook up"...with anything! No attractive men to be found!!!!!!! So if you are looking for a great staff and no eye candy then this is the place to go!! Otherwise, I'd stay home! Pros: Doorman, Bartenders Cons: Ugly Men, Very Crowded more
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Nice place in Santa Monica! 4/26/2005

Its a cool bar. It also includes some room to dance to. Drinks are a bit weak for what they charge. People are cool and trendy, attractive women. It is too crowded so I recommend to take a date. Its a little difficult to meet people because the walk space is narrow and the dance floor is packed. Other than that, music is good and I would go again! Pros: music, dancing, great for a date Cons: too crowded, difficult to meet ppl more
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From Bad to Worse!!! 10/20/2004

A new spot to go is always exciting...except if it's this place. Just to keep up with the LA tend the bouncers make you wait outside in line even if the bar is EMPTY. If you finally make it in, you might have to wait a half an hour to get a drink. On a busy night they usually have only 2 or 3 bartenders. The staff is completely RUDE, RUDE, RUDE especially the bartenders!!!! The music mix is a disk changing cd player with the random button on and horrible sound. The only thing going for this place is the picture posted on this site. Save yourself the trouble and maybe consider staying home before going to Circle. Pros: Good location Cons: , Bad Parking more
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They call me trouble 9/26/2004

I love this place...This is STILL the best place in LA to hook up and get crazy without the LA crap!!! I can say that mondays are a secret I must share..great hip hop...and tuesdays with stryker... Wednesdays with Mosses. No Cover..I may not find a husband...but I always find trouble.. :) Pros: Great Dj's more
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Ironic T-shirt, anyone? 12/20/2003

It's a red n' black, sexy-looking place. My 2 drinks were strong in content; ordered and delivered without too much hovering at the bar required. HOWEVER, beyond the good drinks, I have to say NO to the Circle Bar. I filled up my "Hipster Bingo" card in 10 minutes. Wanna check it out anyway? Swing by Urban Outfitters and pick up the uniform before you take your place in the hopelessly long line. Once inside, you're all set for an evening of music presented by thematically-challenged DJ ("White Trash" night. Puh-leeze! Without giving a nod to Skynyrd, you are missing the point entirely, sir.) But hey, the drinks here ARE potent enough to erase all the creepy memories...and it seems as though they have an endless supply of dudes looking to score to keep you ladies in free drinks, provided the mini you're wearing with your Uggs is short enough. Pros: nearby parking Cons: long line , crowded more
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dark but fun 8/5/2003

When I think Circle Bar I think dark, red, and sexy! I always have a great time at the circle. I have never paid for a drink there, so I don't know much about the value... but drinks have been plenty strong. Pros: crowd, drinks, atmosphere Cons: parking, over crowded at times more
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A Velvet Rope? 3/19/2003

Don't let the red rope fool you. Hollywood facelift aside, this is a far cry from the Cirlce Bar of old. For those of you who never experienced it then, I feel for you. The bar does allow you to pay with credit cards now...that's a plus. And if you can put up with the staff's attitude, the awful wet beer rag stench that seeps though the bar and can manage to have enough room to actually lift your glass to your mouth, have a round and move on another bar on Main or Abbott Kinney. Pros: Serve Liquor, Cloe to other bars, Pay via credit card Cons: Smell, Staff's attitude more
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excuse me? 2/6/2003

That's what you'll be saying non stop - this place is so crowded. It's hard to have any kind of conversation here.. more
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Not for anyone under 40! 1/2/2003

Thursday night 2 of my friends and I went over to Circle just to check it out because there is always a crowd outside. Here's what occured: I tried to get myself a drink but the bartenders were too busy walking around trying to lip sync to the outdated tunes... finally I flagged one down, and the girl did not bring me my change. The music was not all that and the crowd was too old for me but really friendly. The worst part: at 1:30 they turned on the brightest lights in an effort to get people out. If it wasn't for the nice gentlemen who we were chatting with, it would have been a complete disaster. Pros: nice crowd, cozy atmosphere Cons: shady bartenders, rude staff more
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Pretentious 9/11/2002

The circle has gotten too popular for its own good. The drinks are average and the clientle is so pretentious it is insulting. They always have a line outside, even if there is nobody inside, and when you do get in, it usually is all guys. more
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Cool bar, baaad service 9/10/2002

I originally really liked this bar, but after constant rudeful treatment from bouncers/bartenders, I felt I had to abandon this bar. I happen to work in the "biz" so getting in has never posed a problem. However, minding my own business and such (Ie not being routy) one would think the staff would at least treat their guest with some ounce of hospitality. Not here. All other bars in the Venice area are great. Pros: cool decore, cool atmosphere Cons: awful bouncers, lame bartenders, bad service more
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HOT, HOT, HOT 8/26/2002

This bar is fun, full of energy and atmosphere! It's popular without being trendy, trendy would imply that one day it would cease to be a "hot spot". Circle Bar will always be attractive, it may even be the only relationship you can commit to on a regular basis. Pros: hot people, hot staff, hot music Cons: only one ladies room, only one ladies room, only one ladies room more
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Red Lights 8/11/2002

We love everyone that works there including Steve DeCastro, Todd, Rob, Pete, Isha, Jeff, Steve (the bartender), Jess & Stryker. It is the best place to go if you want to hang with the hotties and dance to some cool grooves. The Westside is the place to go if you don't want to hang with the superficial crowd and Circle Bar is definetely the place that epitomizes that. Pros: Great Lighting, Hot employees, Fun atmosphere Cons: none more
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Menu for Circle Bar


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Editorial

  • 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 groove on the dance floor.

    The Draw
    Swanky singles come to get down and dirty at this unabashed pick-up scene, where dancing to N.W.A. and the Beastie Boys seems secondary to making out on the dance floor. The red and black atmosphere also helps to bring out devilish tendencies, especially after downing a few strong drinks--most likely paid for by the winking cutie sitting nearby.

  • 8/28/2003 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Ocean Park, West LA
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