Cliff's Hideaway can actually be the best thing to happen to La Palma, or the worst thing. In short, you know a bar is serious about its mission when they 1) don't have a kitchen or serve food and 2) they have a lotto machine right there. That combines enabling and efficiency in one vice-ridden double whammy. First off, staying true to its name, the place is really hidden. You have to either enter from the east along the south side of the nearby ARCO gas station, or you have to enter through the 7-Eleven parking lot to its north. Flip it around for getting out. Or, take the inverse. Or, multiply by negative one. Whatever. Math sucks. Secondly, the place is really divey considering its well-off neighborhoods. I am actually okay with that, but I know many newbies aren't nowadays. And when I say divey, I don't mean a hidden gastropub in an up-and-coming part of town. This is La Palma--a suburb of Cerritos, for goodness sake! (Well, if you ignore political jurisdictions and take away the commercial centers of Cerritos, the two would be indistinguishable). There is no "up-and-coming" aspect in one of the best places to live in the United States, per Money Magazine in 2011! The theme of the place is a little confusing...but I've managed to narrow it down to something like a tiki bar theme or something along those lines. Either way, whatever your definition of what a "hideaway" is, that's probably it too. I always enjoy a place where the bartenders are cool and are down to take a shot or two of patron with the patrons. It helps illicit honest conversations, loosen things up, slows down one's sense of time, and helps make unbearable music more bearable. I can only imagine the tolerance that each of these bartenders have developed over the years working here, seeing how customary it is for regulars to buy rounds for the staff. It must be like that of a BOSS! And with drinking bartenders, you typically get a heavier pour than usual. This is all good. This is what you want when you go to a bar. It's also an American tradition; this looking for extra value. Who are they to tell you that you've had too much? Last I checked only adults over 21 who can think for themselves were allowed into the bar. Plus, this isn't Communist China. This is a free country, where the booze should flow as such. Though the crowd may be older, good solid values like drinking with your left hand for fear of being called "buffalo" on, not using a straw to drink your cocktail, and to tip those who have control of the alcohol nicely, remain unchanging across generations. Especially if you were raised right. And if you believe that mama don't raise no fool, then you're probably cool and will enjoy this place. Besides, you can always catch the game in one of the TVs here, or walk over to Paesano's next door. I think the two establishments have a special relationship that they're still figuring out...much like an "it's complicated" relationship status. read more

I was having a long day. I was in La Palma and needed a drink. I just lucked up on the Hideaway. It gave a cheers vibe where everyone knows you name and are welcome. Veronica took care of me today. I'm actually happy I found this little place. I'm looking forward to returning. read more

Small divey environment bar..buncha older crowd. Cheap drinks friendly bar tenders. Downside is its kinda hidden but I mean it's good otherwise. read more

Cliff's Hideaway - people sitting at a bar - Sports Bars Near Me - La Palma, California

Cool spot. Come here with coworkers after work and always end up staying later than planned. Good times and drinks are reasonably priced. Usually the same local crowd. read more

Cliff's Hideaway - Good times with coworkers! - Sports Bars Near Me - La Palma, California

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My cousin and I decided to visit our local spot...we will most definitely e coming back again! Everyone was so welcoming and we had a complete blast! Raquel the bartender was great and the locals treated us great! Eugene was a blast! I will most definitely be back on a Wednesday & Saturday night! Don't pay are any attention to the bad reviews... we were nervous walking into a local spot & now we'll be back to make this our cheers!!! Drinks were cold... shots were good & the chicharons to snack on were delish!!! Vibe & atmosphere was on point! read more

First time there I was followed home and severely jumped by 2 men got them on surveillance. Ongoing police investigation still. Kicked my head till I was unconscious, then took 300$. Never again going there. Let alone the shooting that happend there a year ago. Every morning broken glass and bottles are scattered all across the parking lot. How this place is still in business is beyond me. read more

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My coworker and I came on a Saturday night and had the worst experience ever! The bartender (short with blonde hair) was super rude and I felt discriminated against. We were sitting at the bar top and she made us leave because I had the sniffles. I honestly don't understand why she was so upset over me having a stuffy nose. When my coworker went to ask her why she was being so rude she yelled at us that we can get out and not come back while she's working then proceeded to throw a bottle cap at us! read more

Thank God the used up day time bartender finally left I couldn't stand how judgemental she was if you are a regular if she spent half as much time learning how to be friendly to new customers and how to make a decent drink and a big one for me respecting coworkers as she does talking to her little clan over by the pool table and scowling, pointing fingers, and making what seemed like the entire bar feel uncomfortable you might have a decent watering hole on your hands they could really use a few more like the night bartender kron what a sweetheart she really made me feel welcome at this new spot I decided to try read more

Best people around and love to talk too. Best bartender (Rock) and the vibes here are amazing! So welcoming! If you're debating coming here, do it! read more

Me and my dad were in California for the weekend from Arizona and wanted to find a bar to go to after the Gary Allan concert. This dive bar was some of the most fun that I've had in a while. Great environment and an amazing bartender. We were in on the bartender's birthday and she was very kind and hardworking. 10/10 recommend this bar! read more

Only bar in La Palma. Oh boy. Cliff's used to be a cool dark dive bar. They had booth's against one wall and a tiki kind of feel to it. They had these lacquered blow fish hanging from the ceiling. My brother, sister and I each came to Cliff's on our 21st birthday with all the family. It was a rite of passage.... THEN something HORRIBLE happened. Someone decided to change it to a sports bar!!!! Oh the horror. The booths were no more. In there place were tall tables with barstools. Sports banners and flags were hung from the walls. Oh, it is just too horrible to think about. Gone was all the character that the Hideaway used to have. Something about a divey sports bar just made it not cool, actually made it kinda creepy instead. Goodbye my beloved cool dive bar with the blowfish hanging. You are very missed. read more

If I was over 40, I'd probably think this place was the perfect place. But I'm not, so I don't. I used to live in the apartments next door to this place, so I would go out of convenience sake. Then after 30 minutes or so, I'd beg to go back home. read more

YEah... DO NOT USE THEIR ATM MACHINE.. Unless they fixed it.. I never got my $20 back. :( the bar is okay... Just what anyone would think of a bar being.. GRUMPY PEOPLE. Its close to my house so i had nothing better to do with my friends... yeah i think sleeping early probably would have been better. read more

I've been coming here for the last 5 years!! A little neighborhood dive...great people, great drinks and even better prices!!

Hello. Seriously, when I first stepped in, I thought there was a manneqein behind the bar, but it was the bartender. A perfect place to go to just get a good, strong drink and not be bothered. The place can use a good dousing of Lysol and Pledge! A-chew and pee-yew! Great, strong drinks though! Reminded me of the wax museum by Knotts. read more

I saw like half of the Kennedy high school class of 2000 at the bar at Cliff's the one time I went. I'm exaggerating, but there certainly were a lot of old faces in the crowd. It's the only place in town to go if you're into dive bars, unless you want to drive to Fullerton or something. read more

The local dive bar has been around for decades. The old tiki setup inside is whatever, but you come here for the friendly regular faces and the cheap and cold drinks. Bartenders are friendly and outgoing. The crowd can be the twenty somethings to the forty something crowd. Jukebox, pool table, darts and multiple tvs for the entertainment as well as a drunk every once in awhile. Parking lot is dark outside, but local police are always doing drive bys. read more

Customer service is amazing. Everyone here was very welcoming and the location was very clean. Definitely planning on coming back here soon the cobbler. read more

I like to hang out hwre with my friends always a good time. Rock the bartender is always friendly and the service is great The vibes are great and prices are too. read more

Both bartenders on duty we're super rude. My friend asked for a bucket of Modelo & they only put water in it instead of ice, then they asked for limes & they said to come back in 5 mins because they we're busy. Then my other friend asked for a bloody mary bartender said i dont have time ti make it so my friend went ti complain and the other bartender said maybe ahe was too buzy and put her hand towards ny friends face so rude please no one go their bad bad service read more

Trash service. Owner is a jerk and rude to his customers. Waited 20 min to get service. They serve locals only.

Been coming to Cliffs for years and it is a great little spot to just come and have a couple drinks with friends. No frills classic dive bar a pool table if you get board but mostly what you make of it and the crowd that's there. Mostly locals and regulars but yet a layed back friendly environment. If ur in there area stop in for a couple... read more

Wow...I've lived here in la palma for 40 years. Visited cliffs off and on. Just started to come by once a week. Today...came in after a car event 6 pm... I enjoy the inter action with the bartender. Ordered a beer..350...got change for a twenty. Got a text...turn to see the text...when I turned back..I saw that my change on the bar was now 650!!! Huh!!! I asked the brother next to me..did u see what happened to my ten? Ahhhh..what ur saying? I told him I'm old enough to be his grandfather so don't fuck with me!! Anyways...long story short...he offered to buy me a drink...r u kiddin me? I know la palma police...but what eh fuk..10bucks? I asked the bartender if this bro was a regular...she said yes... She also remember what my change was. Beware...don't leave money on the bar! I did that in Vegas and same shit..can't believe it happens here in my home town read more

Cliffs is a La Palma institution!!! And if you grew up in the surrounding area You know about Cliffs . Nothing fancy about Cliffs it's just a kick ass down and dirty old school dive bar. read more

Good old Cliff's...this place is the epitome of a dive...and it's great. My friends are "locals" there and pretty much know all the bartenders and clientele (who are either the newly turned 21 or the 40 and 50 somethings), so when I go there I feel welcomed. It's a tiny establishment but it's a good place to go and get trashed for cheap and play pool or darts if you so choose. If you're hungry, there's a pizza place next door where you can order a decent pizza or sandwhich and they'll walk it over to the bar for you. I spent part of my 30th birthday there and had the pleasure of a wasted 50 something guy sing Pink's "So What" to me (na na na na na na na, he's gonna start a fight). Overall, it's just a good place to drink, spend good times with friends, and get amusement out of the completely drunk people that stumble in and out. read more

Great little bar good people. Amanda is great behind the bar. She is quick to take care of the customers and friendly.

Poor service on a friday night should've had two bartenders close down early i was very disappointed i always come here and I always get this poor service with this lady read more

Hey, cheap, strong drinks. It's a local dive, mostly regulars. And no, I don't look like Mr. Miyagi! Bartenders are great and the ambiance is tiki divey! read more

on a spur of the moment, my friend decided 2 cheer me up since i've been in a really depressing "funk" lately. . . i was @ my mom's doing laundry in los al and he went 2 visit his mom in cerritos. . .so we wanted 2 just chill and drink and "catch up" we didn't really feel like being around of ton of ppl. He remembered this spot. He forewarned me. But i always love dive bars. As we entered there was a handful of ppl there having a grand 'ol time . . .we spoted barstools in the far corner. . . observing the crowd, a couple in the corner full on having a makeout sesh. . .2 other couples getting buck wild and taking shots of 99 bananas! The crowd was a much olderrrrrrr crowd. I felt super young. ppl were lookn @ my drinks and thought i was so high class b/c i was shooting patron chilled! The bartender was friendly. It was definately an experience. read more

I love this bar. Awesome Bartenders, good friends and great owner.

Great dive bar! Raquel weds sat sun! Best bartender! They are all great bartenders. Cheap drinks! Place to be for fun!

This is my local Bar cheap stiff drink s pool tbale juke box and at the tender young age of 32 I am usually the youngest perosn in this bar. But hey my kind of crowd. Great stories and the italian place next door is great and you can bring the food into the bar. read more

Man, I was away for a long time. I used to love coming to this bar but I had a really horrible experience the last time I went there. It was about 10pm and my bartender seemed to like to socialize with the locals more than get to work. I sat down, waited about 10-15minutes for her to serve me after I waved her down and had to wait for her to finish her conversation with the other coworker. The only part I didn't mind was that they were both hot, but I didn't come for that, I came to drink! After waiting for her to talk to her coworker giggling the whole time, she moved over to another group of bar locals, she noticed I was getting a lil agitated because it was a long night and all I wanted to do was drink and play a few cames of pool. I don't remember her name, but she was thin and blonde, after I placed my order, it took her about another 7 minutes to bring it to me! The vibe there was locals only if you're at the bar watching the TV, but the people at the tables seemed to have a great time cause seemed like they were just there to drink and leave, but a person like me, I'm friendly and I like some conversation. But everyone at the bar kept looking at me like who the Fck is this guy at my bar??? Not knowing that I had been coming to that bar on and off for the last 4 years... I guess after you move to another city and want to come back to one of your past time favorite bars you get treated differently? I even told my bartender I was coming here from way back when, and she responded with an attitude "well i've been here a while and I've never seen you..." wow... I gave her a good tip... BUT the worst thing of all... I went to the bathroom, put a cover ontop of my beer and at 12O CLOCK they started clearing up, when I get back from taking a piss they cleared my beer!!! Never clear a mans beer, comin now! But she had the courtesy of giving me a new beer, so I gave her a 2star rating... My last rating was 4stars, I loved this place, but what happened in the last 2 years??? The vibes were great, don't get me wrong, but the service was horrible! And the weird guy who kept staring at me as if to say ''do i know you, why are you at my bar???" I wish we were at another bar, I play alot of pool and I woulda taken a 9 ball to his nerdy azz hahah. In all... if you're not a local, you don't have friends who are locals, or you don't mind waiting forever to get service, this place is really nice, well decorated, the vibe is really chill, and they play real good music on jukebox. But please get some older bartenders like back in the day... I did'nt notice, but Cliffs Hideaway used to hang up the name of the bartender and the older ladies were always real kind, had jokes, and knew how to treat a customer! CHEERS beer lovers... if you like craft beer, good service, and bartenders who aren't just hired for their looks... look elsewhere... unless you come to the bar really drunk then you won't care because you're drunk and everything is always great when you're drunk. :) read more

I love this place. I always used to walk by it as a kid on my way to 7-Eleven, and I knew I'd like it when I came of age. As an adult, it's my favorite bar. It's $6.50 for a pitcher of Coors Light, Miller Light, Bud Light, or Budweiser. A pitcher is about four pints (so $1.50 a pint). You can look far and wide and I doubt you'll find a better price than that. The Blue Moon and other fancy beers are about double that, so bear that in mind if you've got a pickier taste. Cocktails are equally reasonable. Ask to try the Moonshine soaked fruit in the jar next to the Jager cooler. I loved it, and I've never seen it anywhere else. The bartenders are awesome. Every time I meet a new one they're very friendly, and they generally remember me later on. I'm a bit unfair, as this place is still walking distance from me, which makes it convenient for me to down a whole pitcher to myself and stumble home drunk on $9 (the bartenders know me, so I gotta tip them well). This place is home to me, and the locals are always a hoot. read more

I have been wanting to check this place out because I get pizza next door. So I ordered a pizza and went to Cliffs while pizza was cooking. At 7pm on a Thursday night the place was busy! Ordered a 7&7 and it was only $4.00. Not a bad price! And a good drink. People were laughing and having a good time. Bartender seemed friendly but didn't get to talk to her. She was busy. Customers were nice. I was told if you order a pizza next door they will let you know it's done by banging on the wall. Cool! Neat dive bar! I will be back! read more

Went in on Saturday with my husband. We live in the area so wanted to check it out. I love my dive bars... usually because of the people that go to them. But I'll never go back here. This place has the most unwelcoming regulars of any dive bar I've ever been to. Bathroom was clean, drinks are cheap, but not sure I'd ever go back. read more

Cliff's. Good ole Cliff's Hideaway. Your friendly, neighborhood dive bar. The crowd is older, but still rowdy at times. The drinks are cheap, and the bartenders take care of you. Go check it out, it's a good time. read more

My hubby and I love this bar...the only thing that would make it better would be Seagram's honey whiskey :) It is small and homey, the bartenders are always nice (although sometimes a bit too into the regulars and forget about others at the bar), prices are great, music has always been good. We have been here several times and never had a problem finding a spot to sit and a cold beer. We will be back for sure. read more

Great place to relax and have drinks. It feels like a neighborhood bar that has regulars but, everyone was friendly and the bartenders took care of us very well. There is also a good pizza joint next door... read more

Pretty cool dive for cheap drinks. Recent trip on a Saturday evening was dissapointing. The bartender, Raquel, seemed more interested in flirting/socializing with old dudes (probably regulars) than working. Management should hire younger, cute bartenders! Do yourself a favor and go when Teresa is working, she's a cool gal and great bartender!! read more