Basement Tavern

Great place to drink some beers and listen to live performances.

Always loved this place. Drinks are great, food as well.

Go to spot for Friday/Saturday nights. Nice addition with gay friendly bar.

Food and ambience are amazing! Drinks are decent and the live band was really good. No reception though

What a fun place to be in! I love it here because they have some of the best drinks in town and they also have some great burgers here. A perfect place for a drink.

Such an amazing spot. Great live music. Drinks were fantastic. The bartenders were so much fun to talk to.

Great dark comfy basement bar with good cocktails. Good happy hour. But NO IDEA how time passes down there. Which is part of the charm I guess.

Good music and good drinks. Nice vibe. Don't think its a speakeasy, but kind of feels like it.

Awesome spot if you like loud music and drinks. It's small so you may feel like you're on stage with the band and rhino.

It's got multiple floors with music and dancing. I went Saturday and it was packed! Reminds me of a high class frat party.

Glad I got to experience this place before I leave LA. Great place to mingle meet people and hear live music.

Aesthetically pleasing. The live music is the cherry on top.

Dreamy location, great live music, and tasty drinks.

Brian Guizar

Aesthetically pleasing. The live music is the cherry on top.

Alicia Post

Dreamy location, great live music, and tasty drinks.

This was my first official going out in LA experience, and I have to say, I loved this place. Walking in, I felt like the coolest kid on the block since this place feels like a well kept secret of Santa Monica. It literally is in the basement, so it makes it kind of a mystery to find, and once you walk in you are transported to such a cool setting. There's chalk walls that you can write on, a little side room that you can sit and talk in, live music, cheap beer, chandeliers... you name it, they probably have it. The only downside (that I didn't experience) is the line to get in. We arrived early and missed the late night rush, but there will be a line if you decide to head out later.

I loved the place! Three different scenes :-). And I want to give a quick shout-out to Raul! You da real MVP! Thanks for being an excellent example of exemplary customer service!

The Basement Tavern is a cool, laid-back bar with a great selection of craft beers. The place has a relaxed, almost speakeasy feel with its dim lighting and vintage décor. They have a killer burger that pairs perfectly with any of their local brews. The staff is friendly, and the vibe is chill, so it’s perfect for a low-key night out with friends. If you’re looking for a hidden gem in LA’s bar scene, this is it.

One of my favorite hang out spots on Main Street Santa Monica. Often have some great live bands. Definitely not a location for deep conversations or really getting to know someone as it can be very loud and crowded, but if you like live music and a bar with a dark ambiance it's a real gem.

My absolute favorite bar in Santa Monica. Awesome happy hour until 8pm, which is perfect when paired with the Tuesday Food Truck gathering in the accompanying parking lot. Sit out on the patio, have a delicious $5 bourbon cocktail and eat your fill of food truck findings. Also, their food menu is super cheap and really tasty - so no need to limit your visits to Tuesdays! Love the furnishings and lighting in the basement bar, and staff is all really friendly. Highly recommended!

Jan Schachel

The Basement Tavern is a cool, laid-back bar with a great selection of craft beers. The place has a relaxed, almost speakeasy feel with its dim lighting and vintage décor. They have a killer burger that pairs perfectly with any of their local brews. The staff is friendly, and the vibe is chill, so it’s perfect for a low-key night out with friends. If you’re looking for a hidden gem in LA’s bar scene, this is it.

Janine Mena

I loved the place! Three different scenes :-). And I want to give a quick shout-out to Raul! You da real MVP! Thanks for being an excellent example of exemplary customer service!

Trevor Newman

One of my favorite hang out spots on Main Street Santa Monica. Often have some great live bands. Definitely not a location for deep conversations or really getting to know someone as it can be very loud and crowded, but if you like live music and a bar with a dark ambiance it's a real gem.

Meaghan Haas

My absolute favorite bar in Santa Monica. Awesome happy hour until 8pm, which is perfect when paired with the Tuesday Food Truck gathering in the accompanying parking lot. Sit out on the patio, have a delicious $5 bourbon cocktail and eat your fill of food truck findings. Also, their food menu is super cheap and really tasty - so no need to limit your visits to Tuesdays! Love the furnishings and lighting in the basement bar, and staff is all really friendly. Highly recommended!

Alyx Barranger

This was my first official going out in LA experience, and I have to say, I loved this place. Walking in, I felt like the coolest kid on the block since this place feels like a well kept secret of Santa Monica. It literally is in the basement, so it makes it kind of a mystery to find, and once you walk in you are transported to such a cool setting. There's chalk walls that you can write on, a little side room that you can sit and talk in, live music, cheap beer, chandeliers... you name it, they probably have it. The only downside (that I didn't experience) is the line to get in. We arrived early and missed the late night rush, but there will be a line if you decide to head out later.

Cool place, I preferred the DJ over the live band that came on but upstairs was pretty cool and nice ambiance.

Super fun and great atmosphere, can get a little packed but just go a little earlier!

Great place for a thursday night, avoid weekends can get too packed.

Cool vibe, good drinks, reasonable prices. The food is a little weak though.

Great little spot. Drink selection is limited, but live jazz and good ambience

Basement bar at The Victorian. Dark, cramped, and $12 drinks, but usually a good crowd and live music. Also worth exploring the first floor when you need to grab some air.

Went here on a Thursday night and had some great appetizers and awesome drinks! In fact, I would be a regular at The Basement if I lived in LA.

I love basement tavern before 9pm, and then the live music starts. It’s often just way too loud. Not an ideal location for some of the bands.

Last and best (imo) stop on our Santa Monica Barcycle Crawl. The other bars we'd been to had been fine, but I didn't think there was anything really special about them. The Basement Tavern was definitely different. Located literally in the basement of the Victorian house where they do special events, it was the coolest-looking bar of the bunch. First of all, you're going underground, ooooooh! This bar definitely had more of a hip current ambiance, with fresh herbs at the bar for special cocktails (a dead giveaway) and a coo old gentleman's library-ish atmosphere. They had a variety of seating areas, ranging from some pretty comfy leather armchairs to standard tall bar tables and stools. I was feeling pretty full by the time we got to this place so I just ended up having a Coconut Porter (forget the brewery, but it was in a can, not on tap, alas). Something else to note about its undergroundedness: your phone reception will probably suck. Our group had a dandy time here, and this is a place I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to in the future.

I liked this bar, it's located at the basement under the Victorian, cool old dashing style. Live band playing jazz. Bartender was rude, service is not the best.

Went here last night, extremely good bartenders. They really know how to make a drink with style and super cool. The games with classics like pinball games and group games with up to 10 people on one single game. Overall a good cool bar with a great atmosphere.

Floraa Clayton

Went here last night, extremely good bartenders. They really know how to make a drink with style and super cool. The games with classics like pinball games and group games with up to 10 people on one single game. Overall a good cool bar with a great atmosphere.

Robert Levy

I love basement tavern before 9pm, and then the live music starts. It’s often just way too loud. Not an ideal location for some of the bands.

Rafael Rubio

I liked this bar, it's located at the basement under the Victorian, cool old dashing style. Live band playing jazz. Bartender was rude, service is not the best.

Stephanie Han

Last and best (imo) stop on our Santa Monica Barcycle Crawl. The other bars we'd been to had been fine, but I didn't think there was anything really special about them. The Basement Tavern was definitely different. Located literally in the basement of the Victorian house where they do special events, it was the coolest-looking bar of the bunch. First of all, you're going underground, ooooooh! This bar definitely had more of a hip current ambiance, with fresh herbs at the bar for special cocktails (a dead giveaway) and a coo old gentleman's library-ish atmosphere. They had a variety of seating areas, ranging from some pretty comfy leather armchairs to standard tall bar tables and stools. I was feeling pretty full by the time we got to this place so I just ended up having a Coconut Porter (forget the brewery, but it was in a can, not on tap, alas). Something else to note about its undergroundedness: your phone reception will probably suck. Our group had a dandy time here, and this is a place I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to in the future.

I waited forever in line to get in and when I got in it was cool but not worth that wait.. its nice just too overcrowded for that small place.. its a bar with a line like a club in hollywood..

The place is very cool. But it gets three stars because the drinks are a bit pricey, even with happy hour. I've been here a few times, but the last time we were there, a pipe above our table was dripping. They told us it was from the bathroom upstairs, which definitely didn't help too much. But it wasn't a huge deal, there was plenty of space and we moved, but the pipe leak upgraded from a drip to a stream, so be on the lookout for dripping ceilings.

Audrey Z

The place is very cool. But it gets three stars because the drinks are a bit pricey, even with happy hour. I've been here a few times, but the last time we were there, a pipe above our table was dripping. They told us it was from the bathroom upstairs, which definitely didn't help too much. But it wasn't a huge deal, there was plenty of space and we moved, but the pipe leak upgraded from a drip to a stream, so be on the lookout for dripping ceilings.

The place is so packed that you will be covered in the sweat of everyone around you. It's impossible to move, dance, or make your way to the bar. There's a horrible line outside, and after opening a tab there my credit card was used for fraudulent charges the following day. The bands that play on Saturday nights aren't bad, but the environment is dismal.

It is a nice venue, our food order got missed/messed around with. Waited over an hour for 2 appetizers. (For me, but I may be wrong) I didn't like the selection of drinks available. Definitely not a place for shots with regular drinks.

This review pertains to the Basement Tavern - Poor experience. Security guards are dumber than dirt...heaven forbid you walk up the stairs looking for the bathroom because they make you wait in line again. Once inside it's douchebag and guido central. Music / band is okay and drinks are mediocre. There are way better hot and overcrowded shiteholes than this place...save yourself the wait and hassle.

It's a hipster den where they play terrible music that doesn't fit their theme and has overpriced meh drinks. An old school warmly lit den isn't where you play the worst pop hits from 2012.

We were searching for a speakeasy in the area or at least a place with speakeasy vibes that we could have a good drink and hang out in a small group. This place is NOT that. It is in the basement of the Victorian, which definitely has a college club vibe. Then you go to the basement to get to this part and that seemed fine because we expected the vibe would be different downstairs and it wasn't. Same loud music you had to yell over with a focus on a DJ and open floor versus seating and chilling. Could be someone's scene, but not ours and not a speakeasy or chill space.

Anthony Navarro

We were searching for a speakeasy in the area or at least a place with speakeasy vibes that we could have a good drink and hang out in a small group. This place is NOT that. It is in the basement of the Victorian, which definitely has a college club vibe. Then you go to the basement to get to this part and that seemed fine because we expected the vibe would be different downstairs and it wasn't. Same loud music you had to yell over with a focus on a DJ and open floor versus seating and chilling. Could be someone's scene, but not ours and not a speakeasy or chill space.

Mark

It's a hipster den where they play terrible music that doesn't fit their theme and has overpriced meh drinks. An old school warmly lit den isn't where you play the worst pop hits from 2012.

shamb0lical

It is a nice venue, our food order got missed/messed around with. Waited over an hour for 2 appetizers. (For me, but I may be wrong) I didn't like the selection of drinks available. Definitely not a place for shots with regular drinks.

Joshua Hoskison

The place is so packed that you will be covered in the sweat of everyone around you. It's impossible to move, dance, or make your way to the bar. There's a horrible line outside, and after opening a tab there my credit card was used for fraudulent charges the following day. The bands that play on Saturday nights aren't bad, but the environment is dismal.

The Hern

This review pertains to the Basement Tavern - Poor experience. Security guards are dumber than dirt...heaven forbid you walk up the stairs looking for the bathroom because they make you wait in line again. Once inside it's douchebag and guido central. Music / band is okay and drinks are mediocre. There are way better hot and overcrowded shiteholes than this place...save yourself the wait and hassle.

Besides one of their employees throwing gang signs and sucker punching me in the valet parking lot it was fun I guess

The place looks charming, but the service was horrible. The bartender completely ignored my party despite us being the only ones in the bar. When we were finally ordering a drink, she seemed inconvenienced by us speaking to her. She was very dismissive about questions on the menu, and offered no input on the drinks. She clearly believed our IDs to be fake, and demanded passports from us (not a second form of ID- a passport, specifically). When none of us had a passport with us (as we are traveling within the continental United States) we were refused service. We went down the street to manchego, which has much better drinks, much friendlier staff, and required no passport for entry.

College vibes, super loud music, frat bros peeing outside. NOT A JAZZ CLUB AS ADVERTISED and you can tell just from seeing the clientele and hearing the music outside

I had an absolutely awful experience at The Basement Tavern last night. I presented my REAL, valid ID, and the bouncers immediately decided it was fake. They kept repeating, “Real IDs scan now too!” as if that alone proved anything. They examined it over and over, but instead of admitting they were wrong, they doubled down. I even showed them additional proof — photos of my passports, other forms of ID, documentation — literally everything. They refused to acknowledge any of it. They talked down to me, were rude, dismissive, and acted like they had already decided who I was before even looking at the evidence. Then it escalated: they confiscated my ID and refused to give it back, which is not legal in California. They kept it even after seeing all the proof of my age and identity. I felt humiliated, helpless, and genuinely treated like a criminal for simply trying to enter a bar with my legitimate identification. I ended up having to call the police and stand outside in the cold while waiting for an officer to come by just so I could get MY OWN ID returned. The entire time, the bouncers acted smug and entertained by the situation. No establishment that treats people this way deserves business. If you value professionalism, safety, or basic human respect, avoid this place at all costs.

Tali Peretz

I had an absolutely awful experience at The Basement Tavern last night. I presented my REAL, valid ID, and the bouncers immediately decided it was fake. They kept repeating, “Real IDs scan now too!” as if that alone proved anything. They examined it over and over, but instead of admitting they were wrong, they doubled down. I even showed them additional proof — photos of my passports, other forms of ID, documentation — literally everything. They refused to acknowledge any of it. They talked down to me, were rude, dismissive, and acted like they had already decided who I was before even looking at the evidence. Then it escalated: they confiscated my ID and refused to give it back, which is not legal in California. They kept it even after seeing all the proof of my age and identity. I felt humiliated, helpless, and genuinely treated like a criminal for simply trying to enter a bar with my legitimate identification. I ended up having to call the police and stand outside in the cold while waiting for an officer to come by just so I could get MY OWN ID returned. The entire time, the bouncers acted smug and entertained by the situation. No establishment that treats people this way deserves business. If you value professionalism, safety, or basic human respect, avoid this place at all costs.

S

College vibes, super loud music, frat bros peeing outside. NOT A JAZZ CLUB AS ADVERTISED and you can tell just from seeing the clientele and hearing the music outside

Allie Elozory

The place looks charming, but the service was horrible. The bartender completely ignored my party despite us being the only ones in the bar. When we were finally ordering a drink, she seemed inconvenienced by us speaking to her. She was very dismissive about questions on the menu, and offered no input on the drinks. She clearly believed our IDs to be fake, and demanded passports from us (not a second form of ID- a passport, specifically). When none of us had a passport with us (as we are traveling within the continental United States) we were refused service. We went down the street to manchego, which has much better drinks, much friendlier staff, and required no passport for entry.