Just happened to be in Arcadia one Friday night. A friend told me about this place, so I looked it up on my gps. Luckily I found it. Went in for a quick beer, but ended up staying for a couple songs. These guys are awesome. Pat Obrien, the drummer, and bass player are literally tucked into a tiny corner of the place. But it doesn't matter they sound great. If in town, give it a try. read more

A fun place to meet a friend for a drink. Got to love the live music- the stage is the size of a postage stamp!!

Favorite bar in the area, and has been for decades. Mix of young and old, drinking (and dancing together) on weekends when local celebrity Pat O and the Priests of Love play classic rock and blues covers. read more

This place was a decent bar. The barman was attentive, spoke with everyone at the bar and took care of our drinks quickly. Its all that you can ask from a hole-in-the-wall kinda joint. And it was much cleaner than expected! The only real drawback was that they allow smoking inside. We finished our drinks and moved on. read more

Saw Priest of Love there.. man they rock out!

If you smoke, and enjoy a good drink, anyday of the week, the First Cabin is the place to go. Period. It's not the fanciest, it's not the most contemporary, but if you wanna pay half the price for twice as good as drinks and service than quit wasting your money elsewhere. Friendly crowd, friendly staff, good music on Wednesday-Saturday, all around good place to drink. read more

With Bobby behind the bar and Pat behind the mike, makes for a great night. If you fork out some cash, Pat and the Priests of Love will blow your mind. The First Cabin is the definition of "dive bar". If you wanna sit down get there before 8/8:30. Where else can you get your drink on starting at 6 am! By far the best free concert this side of the 405! read more

Great place to come and have a beer and listen to great music. Came with a few friends and definitely will be coming back to this place

Really cool spot. Went for a few drinks with my dad and rocked on with the band. Thanks for the good vibes

The patrons here tend to be a little older, but anybody would feel welcome here. The house band is good, but sometimes a little loud for the small place. Nice character and atmosphere here. The drinks are fairly priced and potent and the service is good. There is not much space in here though. read more

For a whole in the wall, its a pretty good whole in the wall. The bands that play there, play classics and they customer are classics to. The location is nice because its on a straight bus route if you don't feel like driving and close to restaurants, if your hungary! I'm all about location, location, location. I mean with this place what you see is what you get. I really enjoy hanging there. No preppy crowd to impress, doesn't seem like a meat market. Just good old fashion drinking and good old fashion music! read more

A good stiff drink. Music. Horse Racing!! Sweet.

This place is pretty dive-tastic. It's small and you can smoke inside, but the drinks are cheap, they have Red Stag, and beef jerky. In fact, I think they have a special which is 2 beers and beef jerky for $10. Amazing. Also there is photo hunt, in particular the erotic kind. Final note, they have surprisingly clean bathrooms. This place is a good time! read more

I've met a lot of nice people in the First Cabin. In the day time, there's always guys looking over the racing form. The bartenders treat first timers well. I've never been there at night, so I can't comment on the music. It's a great place to start your day before heading to the track. read more

The bar is in a great location except for parking, but that's the only thing I could say is minor. The band plays blues and some classic rock. THEY ARE AMAZING!!! The drinks are priced perfectly and made even better than that. The bar staff is amazing and definitly welcoming. I went there for the first time last week to meet for a date. It was awsome, so much in fact I am going back tonight with the same date. If you live in the area or not and have never been to the first cabin, please stop by for drinks and great music... ENJOY!!! read more

I love this place. I try to visit at least once every few weeks. Pat O'brien rocks!

Fine Establishment. Respectable service. Crowded but fun. Don't drink and drive.

The First Cabin is my favorite place to unwind. I love the Priests of Love who play weekends and Cabin Fever that play on Wednesdays'. Full of fun folks. Bobby bartends and always remembers what I like. He sees me walk in and he stars to pour. I prefer Wednesday night for a midweek outing. read more

Pleasant surprise. I've walked by here a hundred times and decided to drop in last night. Very small bar (they squeeze the band by the front door). By the way the band Priests of Love was great. Apparently the band has been playing there for 20+ years. Waitress was quick and attentive. Only saw one and one bartender which isn't a lot for a Saturday night. They managed surprisingly well because it was jammed. Get there before 9 if you want a seat. It was standing room only. There was an eclectic crowd. Fun to people watch. Everyone seemed friendly. Check it out...again a pleasant surprise! read more

When I came here I fell in love ! The vibe is great and people are chill and I absolutely loved the drinks.Its a place I recommend anyone and I always try and take a friend.Just to even get him a drink read more

This bar looks like a dive, but doesn't feel like one. I am used to going out to the Hollywood scene from night clubs to lounges and everything in between. This place is a cool hang out with a good house band and stiff drinks. It can be a bit crowded, but the crowd is never rude. read more

Without a doubt the best bar in town. I have been visiting LA since 1976 but it is only in the past 5 years that my friend introduced me to the fabulous First Cabin. Now when I visit, my son and I make a point of staying in Arcadia so we can have more great nights out there. The crowd are friendly, the bar staff are great, the music is 1st class and the owners are really nice people. What more can you ask of a bar!! Oh, and they even sell my favourite addiction, Newcastle Brown Ale. Ok, the drinks are more expensive on music nights but hey, musicians have to be paid! 11/10 from us. John + Ian, Hartlepool, UK read more

Went for the first time last Friday. Was a great place and great band. Saw the name Jimmy Volpe on the banner. Wow, is that the same drummer from back in the day? I remember seeing Jimmy play with a local band in Pasadena in the mid 70's at backyard parties and Battle of the Bands events like one at the Hilton Hotel. Fantastic! read more

First Cabin is my only choice for a bar. I go nowhere else. However, I'm waiting for the day that Pat and the Priests invite a Priestess Diva singer to join them on say... The third Saturday per month? Imagine the newly expanded repertoire of songs and full out royal backup to their awesome playlist. Plus the guys in the crowd will have someone awesome to look at while us gals check out Pat and the Priests. Common Pat, give some talented local girls a break and let them sing with you, for you, and for us! read more

Went here on a Saturday night a couple of weekends ago after a server at Matt Denny's Ale House down the street told me about this place the weekend before, so I thought I'd check it out. Not a bad place and most of the people here were pretty cool and the band that's been here for years, Pat O'Brien and the Priests of Love, are awesome, but there were definitely a few strange characters here. A table with a few older drunks, including one guy who was so drunk he could barely walk. But they were harmless. However, I had an unpleasant encounter while I was dancing by where the band was performing. I met this guy and girl in their 50's and a girl who was like a daughter to them, but not quite, in her 30's. The guy invited me to sit with them, bought me a beer and then persuaded me to go up towards the stage where the band was performing and dance with them. Great people! However, while I was at the edge of the floor dancing, someone shoved my back. I turned around to look at the guy and he was pointing to his leg and pointing to my behind saying "I farted on his leg." I swear I'm not making this up. I absolutely didn't know what the hell this guy was talking about, because I didn't do any such thing. Not to mention, how would anyone hear someone fart over the loud music and even be able to tell someone did such a thing and why would someone even say that to someone else. He proceeded to say it a few more times to me. At that point, the guy who I'd just befriended went over to this idiot, introduced himself and gave him a very firm handshake and a look as if it to tell the guy "Leave my friend alone, or else!" I'm not sure if he was drunk or just a douchebag, or both. Actually, he was probably a drunk douchebag, but it was getting to the point where I was going to complain to someone there about this guy, but soon after we got off the dance floor, this guy and his girlfriend took off. His girlfriend seemed to be getting pretty upset by his actions. Not to mention, earlier in the evening, this guy and his girlfriend took my seat, when I finished my Diet Coke and went to the bathroom. That wasn't really their fault though, as the bartender probably thought that I'd left and took my glass away, but I was nice enough not to tell him and his girlfriend that I was sitting there and just had to go to the bathroom and I kind of just wanted to walk away and get a feel for the place anyway, and then he later has the nerve to accuse me of farting on his leg. What a douche! Anyways, I'm willing to give this place another shot. That older guy and girl and the younger girl with them were very nice, as were most of the people here. It's also in a nice area. The quaint downtown section of Arcadia. I just hope I don't run into that guy again who had the nerve to accuse me multiple times of farting on his leg. read more

I actually really liked this place. The drinks are cheap and good! One thing in particular that stood out, was that this place was uncharacteristically clean for a dive bar. I was sold. read more

Pretty much, this place is great. Or maybe I just really enjoy the great music by Pat O'Brien and the Priests of Love!

I met up with a friend there for some drinks on a weds. Sick band. Staff seems friendly enough. Problem is that although the music is awesome the bar is small. The sound bounces off the walls and it makes conversation very difficult. What? What? Huh? Oh yeah? (I have no idea what I just agreed to, I might have to wear the puffy shirt) the other is that I ordered guiness. $6 for the can. So I figure it's import. I ordered a blue moon, $6 bottle. Ok maybe they have a special on coronas,$6! Wtf! I'm paying cash. That's a tip on every order. Those beers are costing me $7/$8 each time. That nearing Chavez ravine prices. I'd have the band do shorter sets and run a beer special on a WEDNESDAY! will I go back? Only because my friends like it there and the band is pretty kick ass. But I don't want to be a pirate! read more

I know there are already many reviews for this dive bar, but I just need to add one more 5 star review because it's just that good. I love this place, great drinks, great bartenders, AWESOME band. It wouldn't be the same without the band. Pat O' Brien and the Priest of Love has got to be one of the greatest Blues Bands playing today and they take requests : ) If you're concerned about your ears you may want to bring ear plugs, but that goes for any concert. It's a tiny place, but that just makes it cozy and welcoming as well as having a little dance floor that's just so much fun. It is a dive bar, but it's clean and not shady at all (like some other dive bars). I've only been there on the weekends so I can't say what it's like during the week, but I've only had good experiences there. One downside for me is people smoke indoors so if you're allergic to smoke or something this may not be a good place for you to hang for long periods of time. Also, cougars. : ) Who doesn't love cougars. The crowd is mainly around the mids but I'm in my early 20s and I absolutely love it. read more

Bob rules!! He's the owner and bartender of this bar. He knows how to keep his costumers coming back.....his long island drinks are the best. All I need is two of these puppies and i'm goooood. I've been coming here for about 4 years and this is one of my favorite bars. It's an older crowd but the atmosphere is great. Its not trying hard, as in, most likely you won't see your typical young crowd playing with their phone, screaming when they hear their favorite song come on. This place is for people who like to drink, dance, and have a good ol' time. Also an awesome band is always there on the weekends playing blues, and classic rock. If you plan to go with a group larger than 4 you might have a difficult time getting together to talk since the bar is kind of small....but hey, you can always hit the dance floor. read more

The First Cabin, stands out in One very Unique way. . . . . SMOKING AT THE BAR . . IN THE SEATS . . .EVERYWHERE IN THE SMALL CLUB . . . JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS BRING YOUR MARLBOROS If you do not smoke . . . This is not the place Go a half a block down to ABC Blues . . . Clean Great . . .No Smoke! Yea, I know . . .There is a no smoking ordinance . . .Not here! They completely egnore it! read more

I have been working in the Hollywood scene for about 10 years. First cabin in arcadia beats them all.

I didn't particularly enjoy this bar due to the fact that smoking is allowed indoors. The drinks are cheap and it's a laid back atmosphere but I didn't like all the second hand smoke. read more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Pat and the Priest of love is scary good! If you like blues and rock& roll you gotta come here. Drink prices are good too and the crowd isn't douchey.....so stay away douchey hollywood types and annoying hipsters! This ain't your scene...... =D read more

This is great place to come and chill, the environment it's perfect to have a day drink and relax. This is my third time coming here and I haven't had a problem until last night. As we were chilling at the bar and by 12:47am the bartender said he was closing early because a person was coming to fix a broken refrigerator. At the moment I didn't think nothing of it as we had just ordered two rum and coke's and we were the only people on the bar. By 1am he comes back and tells us that he had to close, leaving us no time to finish our drink. I asked him if they weren't closing at 2am? He said normally they would but because of the fridge problem he had to close early. We left our drinks unfinished and hanged out the front bar saying our goodbyes when we see Mr. Bartender leaving. I will continue to come here because of the drinks and environment, I'm just disappointed with the bartenders behavior that cost me my unfinished drinks. read more

Great place to grab a quick drink. Generous servings, free pizzas on Monday and plenty of TV's to watch sports. Smoking is permitted on the premises and live bands on certain evenings. read more

Now this place was packed on a Wednesday night! I was completely taken back by how many people were there when I strolled through the door. I was expecting a half empty bar with the usual regulars solemnly drinking away their bottomless pints but to my surprise it looked like a mini rock concert. The live band that was playing definitely had the crowd going which was a nice change to a normal dive bar I wander into and if you like classic rock, they will definitely get you moving. The fact that it was packed also made it hard to move around and really get a good spot to order drinks and chill at. My group of 8 ended up in the back of the bar in a separate smoking room which was nice for some breathing room but it also felt we were drinking in some storage room. Now I can't complain about this as of course you wouldn't normally go to a dive bar with a huge group so don't think about trying it with even 4+ people. But if you were looking for a good ole time with maybe two of your buds it definitely would be a much livelier experience than any typical weekday bar. The only problem is that it is a bit pricier than some bars I've been to ($7 dollars for whiskey) and they aren't as generous. Their regular domestic beers will run you about $4 bucks and imports at about $6 (all bottles). If you want a change from your normal sketchy dive bar then definitely check this place out! Pull up a stool, get a beer, and enjoy the fact that there are still establishments that offer great vibes and good times. Cheers! read more

Depends on what you are looking for. Decdnt band but very very loud with no place to take cover. Drinks were average.

I love it here at first cabin. The bar tenders are friendly. Great bar atmosphere. The only down side is that there is no beers on tap...only bottles =o( read more

it's a nice dive bar around arcadia, although i wish it's a little bigger so the music wouldnt be so loud...., but the drinks were cheap and i was surprised they have wifi! not that you need it lol. anyhow, it's a nice place to grab a quick beer and a few drinks for cheap =) read more