Pioneer Saloon

Can I give it 10 stars for atmosphere? Maybe 1 or 2 for food, but that makes it even at 5 stars. It's a historic dive bar that has character from its many years of pouring drinks. It's the absolute opposite of many of the bars/restaurants just down the road. Those are nice too, but cannot keep up with the character at Pioneer...

An iconic establishment with a friendly bar and good patrons. Great live music venue.

They have an excellent and enthusiastic bartender here in this old roadhouse. They aren’t as busy as they were pre-pandemic. People need to start going out again! Make 2023 your year to go out and socialize. The Pioneer is beautiful inside, and it has a long history on Whiskey Hill. If you live in San Mateo County, take the short drive and stop in. Hopefully, the Pioneer will survive.

The Pioneer Saloon is my favorite day saloon and late night club! Awesome live bands or stand up comedy all nights with a all inclusive jam session on Sunday's. The saloon itself has a great old rustic western feel to it set in a easy to find location. All ages are seen at the Pioneer Saloon from the nicest day crowd to silicon valley tech people at night. Excellent bartenders and reasonable prices for drinks, not to mention a great location for a private party!

I remember the Pioneer Saloon from when I lived in the Bay Area and worked in Silicon Valley. I came there with friends over a few decades and enjoyed the live music. And, way back in 1975, my brother, Tom Martin, was a first live music performer at the Pioneer Saloon. Tom is still a singer songwriter performer.

The pioneer is an iconic watering hole for bikers and billionaires. It's been operating since the late 19th century. It's main attraction is the music program which has some of the greatest talent both local and national, featured on the small Dusty stage. This is a very casual place, often a destination by those on horse back-who park out back. Weeknights, you might walk in and find a #1 artist playing the guitar to 5 people in the bar. On weekends, when big headliners like Dutch Uncle play, expect to mingle in a very packed bar with captains of industry from the local area, and the regular folk who are all there to party and enjoy life. Even for people who rarely get out, this is not a place to miss.

George L

Can I give it 10 stars for atmosphere? Maybe 1 or 2 for food, but that makes it even at 5 stars. It's a historic dive bar that has character from its many years of pouring drinks. It's the absolute opposite of many of the bars/restaurants just down the road. Those are nice too, but cannot keep up with the character at Pioneer...

Michael Bobadilla

An iconic establishment with a friendly bar and good patrons. Great live music venue.

Liz Martin

I remember the Pioneer Saloon from when I lived in the Bay Area and worked in Silicon Valley. I came there with friends over a few decades and enjoyed the live music. And, way back in 1975, my brother, Tom Martin, was a first live music performer at the Pioneer Saloon. Tom is still a singer songwriter performer.

Carla Ré W.

They don't serve food, as it's a Saloon. The staff are very friendly, and I LOVED the stained glass windows!

Athanasios Rebelos

They have an excellent and enthusiastic bartender here in this old roadhouse. They aren’t as busy as they were pre-pandemic. People need to start going out again! Make 2023 your year to go out and socialize. The Pioneer is beautiful inside, and it has a long history on Whiskey Hill. If you live in San Mateo County, take the short drive and stop in. Hopefully, the Pioneer will survive.

Wendi Underhill

Always a good stop on a ride in the coastal Hills. Sunday is Jam day and always good music! Great atmosphere fun dancing old-time feel in a Pioneer bar.

Ron Kardos

The pioneer is an iconic watering hole for bikers and billionaires. It's been operating since the late 19th century. It's main attraction is the music program which has some of the greatest talent both local and national, featured on the small Dusty stage. This is a very casual place, often a destination by those on horse back-who park out back. Weeknights, you might walk in and find a #1 artist playing the guitar to 5 people in the bar. On weekends, when big headliners like Dutch Uncle play, expect to mingle in a very packed bar with captains of industry from the local area, and the regular folk who are all there to party and enjoy life. Even for people who rarely get out, this is not a place to miss.

Dave Kent

The Pioneer Saloon is my favorite day saloon and late night club! Awesome live bands or stand up comedy all nights with a all inclusive jam session on Sunday's. The saloon itself has a great old rustic western feel to it set in a easy to find location. All ages are seen at the Pioneer Saloon from the nicest day crowd to silicon valley tech people at night. Excellent bartenders and reasonable prices for drinks, not to mention a great location for a private party!

Tiny but historic local dive bar with frequent live music. Dishing out drinks on Whiskey Hill since 1880.

Nice place for shows although kind of crowded with very few seats.

Mike Harms

Tiny but historic local dive bar with frequent live music. Dishing out drinks on Whiskey Hill since 1880.

Orly Liba

Nice place for shows although kind of crowded with very few seats.

Great place to hang and have a drink in a very historical place. Ask the bartender for the binder that has the history to this place; you will be amazed. Live music and local crowd that is as colorful as the history. I never am bored when I visit.

Live music was cool but there wasn’t much room to watch!

When I purchased two drinks, a glass of wine and a Scotch and soda for $23, there was also a $20 cover charge. ??? Music was great!

It's one of the friendliest "hole in the wall" bars you will ever walk into. There are people there that will always buy you a drink. And the staff can talk to just about anyone. There are a lot of locals that know each other, but there are friendly.

Nelly W

When I purchased two drinks, a glass of wine and a Scotch and soda for $23, there was also a $20 cover charge. ??? Music was great!

Margaret Brown

Live music was cool but there wasn’t much room to watch!

Todd Engle

Great place to hang and have a drink in a very historical place. Ask the bartender for the binder that has the history to this place; you will be amazed. Live music and local crowd that is as colorful as the history. I never am bored when I visit.

Tracy L. Crawford

It's one of the friendliest "hole in the wall" bars you will ever walk into. There are people there that will always buy you a drink. And the staff can talk to just about anyone. There are a lot of locals that know each other, but there are friendly.

Very and Small, less than friendly staff, and patrons. Good live bands frequent it though, look for a band named "Marshall Law" -google that chit, Holmes!

Lance Setter (MotorMouth)

Very and Small, less than friendly staff, and patrons. Good live bands frequent it though, look for a band named "Marshall Law" -google that chit, Holmes!

Came here mid-day on a Saturday and expecting a dive bar; got a biker bar instead. We decided to have a round anyways and the server was really rude. We went to the bar and she came by and asked what we wanted. After we pondered drinks for no more than 10 seconds, she sneered and walked away to serve another customer, as if the place was crackin' (there were 7 people at the bar). The actual bar is really beautiful, with seemingly original walls and ceiling and a stained glass window. However, the overall vibe is aggressive and intense, and not what I want out of a dive bar. I think most of the reason I didn't like it was that the crowd and atmosphere are just not ones I prefer in a drinking establishment, but to each their own. Regardless, the service was inexcusable.

Paul Volk

Came here mid-day on a Saturday and expecting a dive bar; got a biker bar instead. We decided to have a round anyways and the server was really rude. We went to the bar and she came by and asked what we wanted. After we pondered drinks for no more than 10 seconds, she sneered and walked away to serve another customer, as if the place was crackin' (there were 7 people at the bar). The actual bar is really beautiful, with seemingly original walls and ceiling and a stained glass window. However, the overall vibe is aggressive and intense, and not what I want out of a dive bar. I think most of the reason I didn't like it was that the crowd and atmosphere are just not ones I prefer in a drinking establishment, but to each their own. Regardless, the service was inexcusable.