BEST cocktails in Chico. Best Moscow mule in the north state. Awesome bar tenders. They are so creative with the classic drinks. You will re fall in love with your classic drink all over again. Josh is the one you should hit up for the best drinks. read more

This is probably my least favorite bar to go to. It's extremely hipster. I don't blame the bar, but the people that go and the Thursday music make it uncomfortable. It's fitting for Chico. Everyone is guaranteed to have a beard. Stop in and play ring toss and drink a beer. The inside bar is better than outside. Sometimes the beer outside instantly turns my stomach like the keg has been sitting in the sun. read more

Came here for a couple of beers and they happened to have a live band playing! The place filled up pretty quickly on a Thursday night. They have a good beer menu and lots of cocktails to choose from. Employees were friendly and the patio out back has heaters! Will definitely be back! read more

Great new spot in Chico. Great mixoligists behind the bar. Super sleek contemporary atmosphere. This a great place to get an artisan cocktail. Don't go here if your looking for a qoors light and a shot of patron. Also they have a great patio out back. read more

Argus - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

See all

This place is cool. Great bar with a great selection of spirits and beers on tap. They utilize local ingredients in a lot of their specialty cocktails, which by the way, are delicious. You must try something with strawberry infused bourbon, even if you don't generally like bourbon. Our bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Specialty drinks are only $7. The bar is clean and they play great music. I did not get a chance to check out the patio, but will do so next time. Free snacks are always a plus, and here they serve you a martini glass containing chex mix or something similar. The noise level is good at Argus too. You don't have to scream to be heard. Job well done, Argus. Job well done. read more

After moving back to Chico from NY where there was a speakeasy on every corner, I'm so happy we now have crafted cocktails. Went in on a Sunday night and had the Kentucky Buck - AMAZING. Also had a "Chai-nese Dust Up" which was something I've never had before...loved that they used Chico Chai infused liquor. Will definitely be back again - can't wait for the food trucks on the patio! This place just needs a bit more time for people to take notice, also needs perhaps some decor on the walls and a good happy hour :) ALSO - bartender was amazing and extremely sweet. read more

Always the best place in town if you want to sit with a drink and talk with friends. Drinks are worth the price, and easily the best cocktails in Chico. If you're looking for loud music, cheap drinks, and partying this isn't your place. If you're looking to relax, drink excellent cocktails, and actually hear what your friend is saying, this IS your place. read more

We wandered in here after a disappointing evening somewhere else, and what a breath of fresh air. The space is attractive and inviting, and someone welcomed us when we came in. Feels like a place for adults, not the kids, which is a nice thing in Downtown Chico. It wasn't very busy when we arrived, but it filled up while we were there and the noise level wasn't bad - we could hold a conversation in a normal voice. It was really cold outside so we didn't give much more than a quick look at the patio, but that's going to be a great spot in nice weather. We ordered a Manhattan and a Sazerac and both our drinks were outstanding. I don't remember our bartenders name, unfortunately, but he did a great job on our drinks and was quick to offer to customize a cocktail for us when he didn't have exactly what we wanted. Decent selection of craft beers and nice variety of good liquor. Prices were reasonable too. My only complaint, which isn't a major one, is that a few other bar snack options would be nice other than the Chex mix-type thing. I'm probably a lightweight, but am definitely over my limit with two real cocktails on an an empty stomach and Chex mix just isn't my thing. read more

Wife and I recently stopped by Chico to do some 'memory lane' walking downtown and found this spot. What a pleasant treat! Although when I think of Chico I think cheap and mass quantity alcohol this was a good change of pass. Nice to see craft cocktails in the area. I can this maybe not being a huge hit with the younger crowd as the price, selection, and atmosphere is more mature. I personally really liked the limited rotating menu. The bar tender (Adam) was super friendly and even made us a few drinks off the cuff. Very knowledge can't wait to stop back in when in the area! read more

Argus - Two down one to go! - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

I visited Argus on Thursday April 28 to see Golden Travelers. I didn't know the music was on the patio. I went to the bar upstairs and witnessed an in different bartender. He was dressed nicely with a vest and groomed hair. All I wanted was a beer. All I got was attitude. He didn't even say Thank You. No tip for your lack of customer service. It may have do with my age and not a hip student. The music was great and the crowd was having alot of fun. The poor bartender downstairs was slammed. Where was my friend upstairs where he was needed most. Bartenders with attitude suck. It seems alot of people feel the same way about the bartenders that work here read more

one of my favorite bars in chico because it reminds me of the ones i used to frequent in san francisco. super classy without having to dress up. a bit pricier than the other college bars downtown, but it's worth it. love their passport booklet of mixed drinks. i think i've tried almost every one on there! leibor is an amazing bartender, super nice and friendly. sending love to steve as well, make sure to check out the candles she makes! she sells them at the bar inside and you're able to check them out before you buy! read more

We experienced a three just for being open,so brave.If you're underage walk right in and do whatever drugs are there and then post drink reviewes of your first cocktail. read more

Came across this place by accident to be honest. Since I decided to check it out, I have been in a couple of times and have enjoyed it a lot. Also came here for one of the world cup games and the atmosphere was great. The people are fun, it's a great place to grab a drink at a reasonable price, definitely a place I will visit again. read more

Was walking around downtown and decided to drop in for a Tom Collins. Good vibe and great Cocktails. I really enjoyed this place. Big ups!

I really like this bar because of the aesthetic and vibe of it. Whoever they have at the front door checking IDs that night are always really nice. My poor review is coming from a night that I went. It was very slow this night, not really anyone in the back where the bar is at which was surprising to us, but we loved because yay no line for drinks. There was a girl bartender that night, Caucasian, long hair I believe she was a red head, not sure. But she was absolutely rude. Did not greet us at the bar whatsoever. She was cleaning and putting up chairs while we were standing there and didn't ask if we were ready to order drinks or anything. I asked her if they had Red Bull, because I like to use it as chaser. She made a snarky comment rolling her eyes saying "we're not that kind of bar." And walked away to put up more chairs. It was only 10/11pm at this time. Don't know what she meant when she made her comment, she could've easily just said "no sorry we don't have that." We were put off and quickly decided to leave because of how rude she was. Way to kill the vibe. read more

Great place to 'chill' with friends for a mellow-ish night of drinks. I have been several times and it does not disappoint. The atmosphere is modern without seeming overly 'hipster' and the seating is nice. They always have fantastic IPAs on draught, not a lot of dark stuff which is what I like but hell it's Chico, the land of hops! Only thing I don't like is the staff sometimes strong-arms you into tipping. Coming from someone who has made a good portion of their living off of tips at one time I can understand but I still think a jar or gratuity minimum would be better than shaming your customers. That's just how you keep them returning :) I also am NOT cheep and will overtip if a server works their ass off for me. Stop at Argus. It's clean, fun, friendly, tasty, squishy, sexy... I digress. Cheers! read more

Went here after S Nevada Octoberfest. Madison bear garden was packed so some locals brought us down the street to this place. They had Sculpin and Hoptologist on tap. :-). Nice atmosphere and friendly tenders. Good times! read more

Such a incredible spot!!! Just what Chico needs. Great atmosphere, innovative space, and a priceless staff full of witty and genuine characters. Family and friends will find comfort in this warm environment. Methodical cocktails, high ceilings, jovial conversation...all of these are provided by the wonderful owner and his incredible friends and staff. Endless thumbs up, my sincere thanks for providing my friends and family with such a space to create memories :) read more

See all

So I didn't think I was going to like this bar, I think just it is what most people would consider to be a "hipster" bar, but that seems to be the new fad these days. I was pleasantly surprised however, the bartender's actually know what they are doing. Their cocktails are not only completely original, but top notch. The staff is extremely friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The crowd is mixed, with a nice balance of all ages. The prices are a little high buy Chico drunk college student standards, which is actually nice, because it seems to keep the "let's get wasted" college student confined to the bear, Riley's, and other downtown watering holes, making Argus a great bar to grab a cocktail with coworkers or for a classes girls night out. Not my usual place, but not a bad spot for a change of venue. read more

Argus - Kentucky Buck - the doorman suggested this, and honestly one of my new favorite cocktails in Chico. - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Expensive but only by Chico standards Love the patio! It's the only reason I go there. It's so beautiful out there. The crowd can be kind of pretentious at times but the bartenders and bar backs are really chill. They sometimes have food trucks out back but I always miss them so I don't know the secret formula to get there on those days. I have heard from many reliable sources the food from them is always amazing. Fingers crossed I time it right next time! Plenty of bathrooms read more

Awesome new upscale bar in Chico. Exceptional drinks, nice outdoor patio space, and professional crew. Highly recommended if you're looking to avoid the normal cluster of college kids looking for Patron shots. read more

Argus - GinGin Mule was delicious. - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Started date night at the Argus. When you first walk in you'll immediately say "this place is cool". It's got a nice vibe, the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable. We'll definitely be back. read more

I was visiting a friend in Chico and he suggested our group check this place out. He said it was pretty popular with our age group; mind you we are all in our late 20's-early 30's. Classy atmosphere and they have TVs going. Bathrooms are clean and well stocked. The drink selection is pretty standard and good local beers. We sat in the patio and a lot of other people had the same idea. I would love to come back here when in town again! read more

This place has real adults. I kept wondering where these people hung out before Argus existed. I've never seen so many people NOT wearing yoga pants or other athletic wear. It was a nice change of pace. I kept thinking this was the hang out place for Chico executives or real estate agents where they come for some good cocktails and discuss their interns. I loved it. The back patio is the best asset of this bar with its open atmosphere and food cart area. I went on the night they were cooking crepes. Um, yum! As for the drinks, they're fantastic. The bartenders create each drink with so much passion that it makes me appreciate the cocktail much more. I tried the Chapmantown and Pisco Sour my first night there. The Chapmantown smelled amazing with the orange peel and the Pisco Sour had a thicker texture thanks to the egg white that comes in the drink. Don't expect to come here for sugar-laden shots with cute names. It's a place for conversation and drinks that you appreciate. Rated M for mature. read more

Argus - The Chapmantown with some drought-friendly succulents in the back as table decorations. - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Decent craft beer selection, but there's better in Chico. Best cocktails in Chico period. On par with Tradition or Bourbon and Branch in the city. Bartenders have generally been excellent: Knowledgeable - especially about the classics, but asking the right questions when necessary. Always willing to give recommendations if you at least have a vague idea of what you want, and willing to experiment if it's not too busy/crowded. Crowd/atmosphere varies, but generally friendly if a touch hipstery at times. The patio is awesome if it's not too hot or raining. If you're just looking to get fucked up, give it a pass - there's faster, cheaper bars for that. read more

Argus - A bijou at Argus, in of the 3 weeks of Spring in Chico. - Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Argus is my favorite bar right now in Chico. The ambiance there is awesome, it feels a little classier than your typical college bar and their drinks are DELICIOUS. Every single one that I've tried I enjoyed and they have a great beer selection as well. Not to mention they also have, I believe on Fri & Sat if not more days of the week, different food trucks that park in the back and serve food. Each time I've been there I have seen a different food truck-- 1st a taco truck which I got two free deeeelicious tacos from, 2nd a pizza truck which looked delicious and 3rd was a bbq truck that served some tastyyy pulled pork nachos along with a few other things. The drinks are more expensive than other places in Chico but it's worth the money to escape the bustle of all the younger college students and for the great service they provide on many levels. read more

This place has the BEST l cocktails I have ever had. Their liquors are infused in-house and everything is handcrafted and made fresh to order. I would normally guffaw at the thought of paying $8 for a cocktail, but not at this place! Calling the bar staff "bartenders" feels wrong to me - they are definitely "mixologists!" I had the Art Garfunkel (Rosemary-infused gin, ginger and lemon) and it tasted so fresh and delicious I almost thought it was healthy. My boyfriend had the Kentucky Buck and absolutely loved it. I definitely recommend checking this place out. High quality ingredients and friendly staff! read more

Argus is the best place to go in Chico if your looking to chill with friends in a relaxed atmosphere with the best drinks. Their cocktails are a little pricey but EXTREMELY worth the price! The bartenders are super nice and experts at their craft! read more

Pros: new bar in Chico, a new environment is always welcomed. Quality drinks, great ingredients, fantastic patio and food trucks in sometimes which is neat. Cons: some of the wall decor (ahem metal peacocks) are just odd and really out of place. Seems like the decorating choices of someone who maybe should have asked for a second opinion. The crowd there is also a little unpleasant, seems like an overflow point for Lasalles or the bear sometimes, which is no fault of the argus, but holy shit are those people the worst. read more

I love Argus. They have always been friendly to me and their drinks are craft, home made and delicious. Argus is my go-to for a good quality drink, especially on the awesome back patio, to enjoy while I sit and talk to friends, something that is very hard to do in most of Chico's bars. The food truck in the back...genius! Who doesn't want delicious fusion tacos and snacks after a night of drinks. Well done guys/gals! It cracks me up when people leave bad reviews that I've seen on here, this is why yelp is dangerous to businesses, because any Joe Schmo and Jane Schmo person can rant about nothing important instead of a good critique. Top end bar for Chico, and for the "welcome to Chico" reviewer, welcome to Chico where usually bars are smelly and overcrowded. Welcome to something called classy and something called adulthood. read more

I'm sorry but the decor was cute. Security was rude. White girl that works at the bar was rude. She just faked laugh and rushed us into ordering our drinks. Terrible customer service. Don't order any of their drinks on the menu unless you want a campfire smoke in your mouth or some weird gin drink. Terrriiibleee kamikazeee as well. Idk how you can mess up an easy drink. I got 5 drinks which totaled $58 !!! Very disappointing. Also why put a chili in my drink. I'm sorry it just made it 10x worse...... read more

Trendy and upscale without being stuffy. Would return. Thought it was lovely. Dark enough that it wasn't awkward, but also not so dark that it seemed like a sex maniacs cellar. Drinks are mid range but they have good selection. read more

This place is pretty great. I am continually impressed by their kind and engaging bartenders. Argus feels like a temporary transport from Chico to a more fun, metropolitan atmosphere, and it is so lovely! read more

My favorite bar in Chico and I can explain why in three words: impeccable customer service. From the get-go, the bartenders are heart-warmingly compassionate and have a knack for seemingly superhuman peripheral vision. I love that you guys have such a diversely populated bar, without the typical college wait time(which is so accustomed to Chico it's deplorable) Even when the bar is busier than lady gagas outfits, the bartenders fly while maintaing a calm, comfortable demeanor. The main thing I really wanted to compliment you guys on is how quickly you work under pressure. Too many bartenders around here that are painfully lethargic and extremely lax(i.e. Hanging out with their buds on shift, monitoring a playlist, or even blatantly drinking too much on the job) I can really appreciate a place like this where I can see a sense of urgency , sans tension. Another aspect about this place which makes it all to easy to love: the employees are truly happy to work here. Never have I ever heard a solitary complaint, and I know through a personal level that they have work parties and meet up outside of work regularly. My kindest regards to management for providing an exemplary environment and the means necessary for their employees to WANT everything to run efficiently. Argus sets a new standard: the bartenders along with the doorman care to know my name, they know my favorite drink, and they even have live music on Thursday nights. The patio is insanely wide and rustically gorgeous, all the while comfortably secluded. Fills up quickly due to cornhole and an impossibly fun ring toss game. Outside playlist is always better than inside in my humble opinion, but I love that they give you multiple options musically. Best Moscow mule in town; ginger is spicy and refreshing. Truly artisan drinks coming from a one of a kind place. read more

If you are going out on the town I highly recommend this place . Drinks are fab and so is the set up! Not to bright and not to loud but just right !!! read more

Drink was amazing! I got a Kentucky bucket. Very minty and with sour and sweet after taste. This place is very cute and relaxing. Highly recommended!! read more

We loved this place so much we went three times during our weekend in Chico! The bartenders were phenomenal and during slow times, they were willing to take the time to make you something special based on your favorites! They had a special menu based on Quentin Tarantino movies that my husband was all about. The bar becomes quite busy later at night so if you are looking to really take the time and get to try a lot of different things, I would suggest going earlier in the evening. This was our first time in Chico and they were great at giving us some recommendations for other bars and restaurants. Next time we are in town, Argus will be our first stop. read more

You probably want to avoid this bar on a Tuesday night. Bartender is nice and mixes good drinks but sole tender to about 60 people. 20 minute wait and non personalized treatment for a drink (sitting at the bar). For non-happy hour prices I'm pretty disappointed. read more

My wife and I took our daughter here after taking her out for dinner to celebrate her 23rd birthday. It seems to cater to a slightly older crowd - not drunken frat boys. They were playing a lot of Motown on the sound system which was cool. My daughter and I both had two locally brewed beers which were quite tasty and my wife had a glass of white wine. The waitress comped my daughter one of her beers for her birthday. Nice touch. Would like to go back and try the cocktails sometime. read more

Finally a cocktail bar for those not on Jello shot train. These guys know what they are doing. A huge thank you for coming to Chico and filling the need for a legit cocktail bar with excellent service in Chico. read more