The Barkley

I came in today, for the first time, on Thursday, 04/10, around 3 PM. There were two patrons at the bar top and a cool, friendly bartender, Kiara, came out and took care of me. She was very warm, attentive, and easy to chat with. The place was clean, the bathroom was clean, chill vibe, the locals were friendly, and I felt welcomed. The happy hour prices are very fair and the happy hour nachos were so good! Shout out to chef Pancho! I was told he has been there for a very long time and I know why! They are cash only (there is an ATM) although I understand you can start a tab with a matching ID. Just pay cash to make it easier for everyone involved. Clean bar top, clean bathroom, plenty of space inside, easy and plentiful parking, and it just seems like a cool place to check out, especially on the evenings and weekends. Once again, the service and food were amazing and the happy hour prices are totally legit! I am a bar guy, I've been to plenty of bars, low end, upscale, and everything in between, and this place is on my list of places to come back to. Thanks again to Kiara (bartender) and Pancho (chef)! I'll be in again soon!

I stopped in to check out the Saturday night Jazz combo with vocalist (female). Classic standards played with taste and a good groove. Place has an old school vibe with booths and dance floor. If that's your "thing".Check it out.

Omg we just found a gem in South Pasadena! Barkley is amazing — they have something like an open mic on Sunday evenings where people can sing, play music, or even dance.

Viola Garcia (Lala323)

They have a very good happy hour on the weekends. My family and I got appetizers and beer. Very good prices

Scott Barber

Went for comedy night. Ruben the MC eas great and kept the show rolling. Most comedians were very good. Saw one of the the next week performing at the Brea Improv.

Olises Naranjo

I stopped in to check out the Saturday night Jazz combo with vocalist (female). Classic standards played with taste and a good groove. Place has an old school vibe with booths and dance floor. If that's your "thing".Check it out.

Will Valentine

I came in today, for the first time, on Thursday, 04/10, around 3 PM. There were two patrons at the bar top and a cool, friendly bartender, Kiara, came out and took care of me. She was very warm, attentive, and easy to chat with. The place was clean, the bathroom was clean, chill vibe, the locals were friendly, and I felt welcomed. The happy hour prices are very fair and the happy hour nachos were so good! Shout out to chef Pancho! I was told he has been there for a very long time and I know why! They are cash only (there is an ATM) although I understand you can start a tab with a matching ID. Just pay cash to make it easier for everyone involved. Clean bar top, clean bathroom, plenty of space inside, easy and plentiful parking, and it just seems like a cool place to check out, especially on the evenings and weekends. Once again, the service and food were amazing and the happy hour prices are totally legit! I am a bar guy, I've been to plenty of bars, low end, upscale, and everything in between, and this place is on my list of places to come back to. Thanks again to Kiara (bartender) and Pancho (chef)! I'll be in again soon!

Good times.....and good appetizers with great selection of beer...relaxing jazz night was a good.

I have not been to the Barkley maybe since Roger passed. We had to go to the vet next door and thought we'd give it a try. It was good. Good enough that I would go back. It might not be for everyone and I have read some negative reviews but I still like it..

Love the decor and great staff, almost wish the flatscreens and bright blue juke box were gone to better fully accompany the great vintage soundtrack they had on. This place really turns back the clock in the best way.

Andrews Lovera

Good times.....and good appetizers with great selection of beer...relaxing jazz night was a good.

Brad Hori

I have not been to the Barkley maybe since Roger passed. We had to go to the vet next door and thought we'd give it a try. It was good. Good enough that I would go back. It might not be for everyone and I have read some negative reviews but I still like it..

sam lueders

Love the decor and great staff, almost wish the flatscreens and bright blue juke box were gone to better fully accompany the great vintage soundtrack they had on. This place really turns back the clock in the best way.

Damien Younger

Love this place. Cannot vouch for the food yet, as I've not tried anything I can vouch for the Service, which is comfortable and casual, yet still professional. The atmosphere is tasteful for a bar, grill, open-late place. Comfortable booths, dance floor, live band section, and bar. It's closed-in in that you can be inside and nicely disconnected from the busy street right outside.

my first impression was that it is quite dark, with all the wood paneling. It is in dire need of a remodel, the booths are torn and there must have been duct tape where I sat, that had rolled up - I thought I was sitting on my purse strap. Too dark to see what exactly it was. The toilet tank is missing the lid. Quite lively for a Tuesday evening, most looked like "regulars", and a bit of an older crowd but nice atmosphere. The band was awesome!!! I counted 14 musicians. It would be amazing if there was a dedicated area for the band. The breading on my fish could have used another minute, to fully cook the breading, but both fish and fries were served hot. And malt vinegar was provided, as well as plenty of tartar sauce.

Bar tender was super cool and knew his biz very well. Location is layed back and the music was good. Small local's hang out spot when you want to get away from the larger fancy watering holes nearby.

Mirtha Hernandez

my first impression was that it is quite dark, with all the wood paneling. It is in dire need of a remodel, the booths are torn and there must have been duct tape where I sat, that had rolled up - I thought I was sitting on my purse strap. Too dark to see what exactly it was. The toilet tank is missing the lid. Quite lively for a Tuesday evening, most looked like "regulars", and a bit of an older crowd but nice atmosphere. The band was awesome!!! I counted 14 musicians. It would be amazing if there was a dedicated area for the band. The breading on my fish could have used another minute, to fully cook the breading, but both fish and fries were served hot. And malt vinegar was provided, as well as plenty of tartar sauce.

J. De Neri

Bar tender was super cool and knew his biz very well. Location is layed back and the music was good. Small local's hang out spot when you want to get away from the larger fancy watering holes nearby.

We came to hear the Sunday night Jazz which was really good. The food and service was sub par. We had the garlic fries and they didn't taste like anything. Drinks were ok. Service was also ok. We will probably go again for the jazz.

Samuel Mebasser

We came to hear the Sunday night Jazz which was really good. The food and service was sub par. We had the garlic fries and they didn't taste like anything. Drinks were ok. Service was also ok. We will probably go again for the jazz.

The customer service was great. The bartender was very friendly and welcoming. The food, not so much. I had the fried fish sandwich with onion rings. The fish didn't have much flavor, I even tried to add tartar sauce and buffalo sauce. Still didn't help. The onion rings were good. My husband had the steak quesadilla. The flavor wasn't there, very bland. The french fries were warm, not hot, so that didn't help. I had a margarita, not tasty, at all.🙄 They have live music in the evenings, but we didn't experience that as it was 5:30 PM. 🤔 They are a cash only business. They don't take credit cards. We wanted to support a black-owned business. Unfortunately, we're not encouraged to return.

Theresa Moore

The customer service was great. The bartender was very friendly and welcoming. The food, not so much. I had the fried fish sandwich with onion rings. The fish didn't have much flavor, I even tried to add tartar sauce and buffalo sauce. Still didn't help. The onion rings were good. My husband had the steak quesadilla. The flavor wasn't there, very bland. The french fries were warm, not hot, so that didn't help. I had a margarita, not tasty, at all.🙄 They have live music in the evenings, but we didn't experience that as it was 5:30 PM. 🤔 They are a cash only business. They don't take credit cards. We wanted to support a black-owned business. Unfortunately, we're not encouraged to return.

Pestered me about showing my id when i had already showed the bar, also racist because they assumed i was another black girl that was in there who didn’t have their id. the woman at the bar gave uncanny valley and is def racist too. Also called the cops on me because the owner said “i was being too smart” when i called him out on his racism.

HORRIBLE! ...and here's why: - This place is cash only! (In 2025!!!) - No Credit/Debit Cards or Electronic Payments! - Their ATM has a $4 fee per transaction!!! - You must order a drink in order to stay (regardless of if you're part of a group, EVERY person in the group must order). - There is an "entertainment" surcharge PER DRINK of $3. - Non-alcoholic drinks cost the same as alcohol (sparkling water was $9). Terrible management of a bar, and questionable ethics as far as paying and costs.

Not a good bar at all. I highly recommend to not come here if you are Black or Brown… Basically if you are not white passing , they will ignore and then treat you in a way that very much feels condescending. It was my first time there and will be my last. The owner also threatened to cut the event performances short if the audience didn’t buy any alcoholic drinks. So that’s also an Important factor to take into consideration ‘bout this joint. They will racially profile you and call the cops on you, Which is what a member from my group unfortunately experienced that night. As the first cop arrived and talked to my friend, the officer revealed that the bar owner often calls the cops on customers who defy his abuse of power (the owner, Frankie De La Torre).

Rude. Extremely rude, specifically Rissa and Frankie. Their behavior last night reeked of racial profiling, mistaking a patron for another then getting upset, and threatening to call the cops when they were corrected not only by the customer but another worker. Other reviews corroborate this btw. Avoid at all costs, genuinely. Food is awful too. Onion rings dry and I was sick when I got home. Couldnt have been the alcohol because I wasnt spending those prices. 🤣🤣🤣

Berry

Not a good bar at all. I highly recommend to not come here if you are Black or Brown… Basically if you are not white passing , they will ignore and then treat you in a way that very much feels condescending. It was my first time there and will be my last. The owner also threatened to cut the event performances short if the audience didn’t buy any alcoholic drinks. So that’s also an Important factor to take into consideration ‘bout this joint. They will racially profile you and call the cops on you, Which is what a member from my group unfortunately experienced that night. As the first cop arrived and talked to my friend, the officer revealed that the bar owner often calls the cops on customers who defy his abuse of power (the owner, Frankie De La Torre).

pogo pope

Rude. Extremely rude, specifically Rissa and Frankie. Their behavior last night reeked of racial profiling, mistaking a patron for another then getting upset, and threatening to call the cops when they were corrected not only by the customer but another worker. Other reviews corroborate this btw. Avoid at all costs, genuinely. Food is awful too. Onion rings dry and I was sick when I got home. Couldnt have been the alcohol because I wasnt spending those prices. 🤣🤣🤣

casmira turton

Pestered me about showing my id when i had already showed the bar, also racist because they assumed i was another black girl that was in there who didn’t have their id. the woman at the bar gave uncanny valley and is def racist too. Also called the cops on me because the owner said “i was being too smart” when i called him out on his racism.

Dan Green

HORRIBLE! ...and here's why: - This place is cash only! (In 2025!!!) - No Credit/Debit Cards or Electronic Payments! - Their ATM has a $4 fee per transaction!!! - You must order a drink in order to stay (regardless of if you're part of a group, EVERY person in the group must order). - There is an "entertainment" surcharge PER DRINK of $3. - Non-alcoholic drinks cost the same as alcohol (sparkling water was $9). Terrible management of a bar, and questionable ethics as far as paying and costs.