Gem City Grill

Good dive bar. Strong drinks offered at low prices. We'll be back on a day they're offering live…read moremusic.

Another visit to First Cabin Bar, however this one was late-night on a Friday. A little different…read moreclientele than midday, but still a fun atmosphere and friendly, social crowd. Live music by "Pat O'Brien and the Priests of Love" who we were told is the house band. They were loud but rockin' and groovin'. Very small area in front of the stage where you could dance, if so inclined. DRINKS at night. The bartender was not making cocktails like Apple does during the day. Pretty much beer, shots, and very basic drinks (rum & coke, vodka, cranberry & OJ, etc.). They weren't running tabs at night either, it was pay-as-you-go. We had two bottles of Modelo and two Madras and the total was slightly more for the second round (not sure why) but it was too loud to try and discuss it with the bartender. On street parking, or a small lot in the back, off the alley. After only three visits, I can't say that this place is our regular hangout, but it's become one of our favorite watering holes. See you there.

We were told that these guys are the "house band".

Some bourbon at the bar

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Sign at the bar

Blush

4.8(13 reviews)

1.5 mi

I was invited to my friend's friend birthday party and it was a very cute venue with stunning…read moredecor/interior!! I've never noticed this venue located in Arcadia but it's super beautiful. When you walk in they have these mirrors on each side that you can take pics in or look at your outfit! They have seating at the bar and lounge area. I love the flower decor that's in the ceiling!! It gives the place a nice modern luxury touch. It's not too big but perfect for a party of 30-40 persons. They have parking in the lot right by Outback! It's easy to find and very nice to celebrate. You can also have food catered or taco truck outside venue. I will come back her for another event or maybe in the future consider renting out for myself. -Marshay D.

It's so great having other bar options instead of driving to Los Angeles to drink nowadays. This is…read moresuch an amazing spot for girls night out and for people who just want to sit by the bar to order drinks all night. Ambiance is super warm, the service and bartenders are amazing as well. I can honestly say this is one of the best bars in the 626.. Aesthetically pleasing and the drinks are actually made well. They don't use that shitty sweet and sour mix, a lot of syrups are made in house, they have a nice selection of spirits and the overall speakeasy vibes are immaculate. If I could come here every weekend I would! It's a nice spot to bring your girl after dinner or if you're on a date.

Tea Party Set-UP

Cake Cutting Back Drop

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Delicious

The Station

4.1(144 reviews)

3.4 mi

It's a little dive bar in Arcadia! Bartenders I normally see are Nathlie and Bobbie! Service here…read moreis excellent, and most people are regulars who are very friendly. Unfortunately they do not serve food, but from what I have seen many patrons bring in food from the Chinese restaurant next door! They have a single pool table and a huge parking lot in the back. They do take credit cards "3%" charge!

This place was a lot of fun. Filled with friendly locals, the ability to play your own music, and a…read moregreat bartender, I had a really great time here.

Nat is and will always be THEE BEST!

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Mt. Lowe Brewing Co.

4.5(627 reviews)

1.5 mi

One of the best breweries in the San Gabriel Valley. Great tasting beers, and they often have a…read moregood food truck in the back patio. It's even family friendly. Most of the staff are very nice and they even have some cute brewery cats! Lots of games to play and cool events including comedy shows.

This spot wasn't exactly my cup of tea for just hanging out with friends, but I can definitely see…read morewhy people like it. It seems more geared toward bigger groups and parents who want to relax with a beer while their kids run around. They have a massive outdoor area and a food truck outside, which makes grabbing food really easy. Inside, there's plenty of seating and the pricing is reasonable for the area. There are quite a few kids around, so it really just depends on what kind of atmosphere you're looking for. That said, what I got from the food truck was good and the beers were brewed well with a nice variety to choose from.

Front area

Blondage

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Uncle Frank

Drinker's Hall of Fame

3.9(80 reviews)

1.5 mi

We were looking for a place to watch the Mexico vs England World Cup match that wasn't over…read morecrowded. We were able to sit at the counter and watch the Dodgers and World Cup at the same time. They only offer bottled beer and mixed drinks. The east coast bartender is great and very hospitable. Once the games were over it turned into karaoke night and got crowded.

We were looking for a bar and good place to have a drink and appetizers. Found this place not far…read morefrom our hotel. Bartender was excellent and the vibe was what we were looking for. We prepared wings they were good but definitely need to come back for food !! Will be back

Racist picaninny

Took a seat at the bar to have a cold one. Knowing some of my Facebook friends love this place. I Like it too.

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The State

4.2(295 reviews)

0.1 mi

Had a great experience here! We got the bacon-wrapped dates and the BBQ bacon cheeseburger, and…read moreboth were outstanding. The bacon-wrapped dates were the perfect sweet and savory combination with blue cheese crumbles. The BBQ burger was loaded with flavor, especially with the onion rings and tangy BBQ sauce. The meat is cooked to perfection. upgraded the chips to fries and I definitely enjoyed them. The service was top notch from our bartender. She was super friendly and made a delicious vodka gimlet. And having happy hour at noon on a Thursday is definitely a bonus. Great food, great drinks, and great service, we'll definitely be back! It's a fun spot to have drinks and the AC was bumping for a hot day that was extra nice!!!

The place is a nice restaurant with a huge bar. The service is always great…read more If you go during happy hour or Sunday brunch, you get a lot of food for cheap too. I tried the western burger, the Swiss burger, chicken and waffles, onion rings, and fries. The burger is one of the best I've had with a grilled brioche bun that is slightly crunchy on the bottom but so spongy and chewy on top. It perfectly complements the perfectly cooked wagyu patty. The chicken and waffles is almost too much to eat in 1 sitting. They also don't drown it in syrup. They drizzle just enough to flavor it but not drown it and make the waffle soggy. But the best thing is the tempura onion rings. They are huge and super crunchy but not greasy. I love them the best. Their fries aren't bad either and I hardly eat carbs. I love the place so much I would go every week if it wasn't so far...

Patio area bar & lower table

Bruschetta $10

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Bacon Wrapped Dates $10

Seoul Alley

Been coming for great fried chicken for a while now…read more The vibe is always nice, love the ambiance, the neon lights contrasting the dark background really shines "nightclub" vibes. We came for takeout since it was a weekday night, had a Korean food craving nearby and since it was close to 9pm this place was still open. Staff greeted us right away and we asked to order to go and they helped us out real quick, only 15-20min wait. Ordered large boneless 2-flavor fried chicken (soy garlic and honey garlic) and kimchi fried rice. I haven't had their kimchi fried rice before but it was quite spicy for me! I love the spam and large chunks of kimchi. Fried chicken was delicious and saucy but crispy, I think honey garlic was a bit spicy too. They gave us two containers of pickled radish which we enjoyed. I think if I wanted some drinks and good Korean bar food, I'd come back here and for the vibes too.

I think that this place is kinda pricey, All things…read moreconsidered its more of a divy bar. So you are paying bar prices. We got the soy garlic and the honey garlic chicken. Delicious very good, the crunchy bite and the sweetness is on point. The kimchi fried rice was pretty good, it's more on the spicy side a good amount of Spam in the serving. The togo bag decorations is so cute, The inside of seoul alley is dark. It really matches the name of theme and feels like an alley.

Pan Tteokbokki $19.95 Rice cake, boiled egg, Korean pork sausage, fish cakes, onions & green onions stir-fried in spicy sauce

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Pan Tteokbokki

Moxie Lounge & Karaoke

I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I enjoyed my experience!…read more Getting here was tricky. It's on what looks like the upper floor of a parking lot. There is plenty of parking up here. They do take reservations, which I recommend. We had a large room with about ten people. It had two wireless mics as well as a retro mic on a stand. The TV screen was really big. The music volume was very high. We couldn't figure out how to lower it. For three hours and alcohol, it came out to about $36 per person. The cotton candy machine in the front is really neat! It made a really cute flower design that was instagrammable. I wish they had hand sanitizer.

I'm genuinely not a karaoke person (I can't hold a tune!), but I had SO much fun at MOXIE! I drive…read moreby all the time and finally stopped in for a girls' night out. The space is huge. Our private room had awesome projection screens, great sound, and a huge song selection (English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Arabic, etc.). We originally planned to grab a quick drink and leave, but the food was actually good so we stayed for dinner. It's part karaoke spot, part izakaya! The menu is loaded with sushi, sashimi, ramen, takoyaki, grilled pork jowl, baked mussels, clam soup, kimchi fried rice, and warabi mochi. We ordered cocktails and sang everything from Disney tracks and OG hip-hop to Chinese songs. **Happy Hour Deal:** Mon-Fri (6-8 PM) & Sat-Sun (3-7 PM): $30 per person for the entire HH window, which includes your private room rental PLUS up to $30 in food/drink credits! They're open until 2 AM (located on the top floor of the Vons parking lot, right next to Daiso). Even if you're not a karaoke fan, I'd still recommend coming. I spent the whole night singing terribly and had the absolute best time!

Karaoke Room

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The Bit

4.2(65 reviews)

2.5 mi

The bit has good cold bottle beers & Angel the bartender is Always attentive and very friendly and…read moregood attitude! Will always come back on her shift.

First time here! My friends were meeting to listen to the band and catch up on things. This is a…read morebeer bar with a rotating list of beers on tap. The bartender was attentive and the band playing was the Waffle House. The woman singer was great, and the musicians seemed like they were having fun. Couple of pool tables and there was plenty of street parking on a Saturday night.

Beers on tap Feb. 2025

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Hop Secret

4.7(137 reviews)

0.8 mi

This is a really good place , beers ate really good Tried…read morethe razzle dazzle ( rasberry wheat ale ) customer service its great , love the way the have all these video games consoles

I found this spot when looking for breweries in the area…read more This spot looks like it's by the metro station. Theres ample parking in the back entrance. Which was the confusing part since there's another entrance. The gps sent me to the back of the brewery lol. Once we entered we realized that lol. The spot is decorated with lots of videogame merch which was aesthetic. The menu includes seltzers, lagers, & ipa. We tried the lager & seltzer which were both 10/10. There's also snacks such as chips/popcorn. What's pretty fun are the TV's mounted at tables where you can play some of the games. Smash bros to Mario cart. They also have sega games which was pretty cool to see. The staff was friendly and open to questions. The day we went was pretty quiet, I'm hoping to visit with a bigger group so we can play some of their game selection.

Fabulous In California B.

Everlasting Hopstopper - West Coast IPA 6% ABV

Tongue Butter Peanut Butter Stout Beer

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Pork Soup Dumplings; ordered from XLB Dumpling Bar

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14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Edna S.

Elite 25

3

67

165

1 year ago

We stumbled upon this cool little spot in the heart of Uptown Monrovia, and it turned out to be a great find! Came here for a friend's birthday and had an awesome time. The bar has a fun vibe with pool tables and a dartboard, and the drinks were reasonably priced. Special shoutout to bartenders Darren and Kenny -- they were fantastic! Super attentive, made sure our drinks were perfect, and checked in often to see if we were ready for more. Their customer service really made the experience stand out. The only thing I'd love to see is a live DJ on Fridays or Saturdays to bring even more energy to the place. Other than that, it's definitely a spot I'd come back to -- whether to hang out with friends or catch a game. read more

Frank C.

1

26

1

9 years ago

Not only a dirty dive bar but a dangerous and deadly dive bar. Shooting inside the bar at least one dead and two others injured (shot). This place better start using metal/gun detectors for everyone entering the bar But that would cost money, which the cheap owner won't spend to keep customers alive. http://abc7.com/1-man-killed-2-others-wounded-in-shooting-at-monrovia-bar/2728146/ read more

Charlie S.

179

83

9 years ago

This place attracts the most unsavory of types. Just the other day, a fight broke out between two groups and one of the guys pulled out a gun a shot and killed someone. Needless to say, I'll never be coming here again. To read more details of that story check out the story on abc 7. http://abc7.com/1-man-killed-2-others-wounded-in-shooting-at-monrovia-bar/2728146/ read more

Brendan M.

0

121

56

1 year ago

If you want to get shot in the back or listen to a Fat Toad, go here... Dirty, ghetto, and full of unpredictable alcoholics this place is PERFECT!!! What is their current stat???? 3 people shot in 3.5 yrs??? MPD Shut this place down.... Monrovia has some nice locals, Gem City NOT So much... Truth Hurts.... read more

Larry D.

0

4

0

3 years ago

This place is great. Reasonably priced. Yummy snax. It's clean and 99% of the customers are chill. The only bad mark are the bartenders . Slow and disinterested. Not friendly unless you're a long time regular. Sorry folks. Time for some younger blood. read more

Heather S.

1

33

10

15 years ago

If you are into being around a bunch of wet brained has beens, then this is your place. Gem City is the ultimate drunk hang out next to the VFW in Monrovia. If you are an alcoholic, then go to the Gem. Its gross. read more

Linda P.

0

1

0

3 years ago

I go to support the kj THE WORST SERVICE EVER!! I can sit and wait wait !! I support the kj the bartender is affiliated with people who beat up people I think the owners need to take a good look around!!! read more

Shaun D.

Elite 19

1

138

35

9 years ago

Just don't. It's not worth it. https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2017/12/22/monrovia-triple-shooting-leads-to-four-arrests-with-more-suspects-sought-sheriffs-detectives-say/ read more

Claire M.

0

13

0

8 years ago

Please go out of business! Cops are always there, music is too loud. And there was a shooting here. Nuff said.

2

21

11

7 years ago

BEWARE came here on Sunday, 10/20, Darcy pocketed well over $80 as a tip! She is a thief!!! Please beware!

Curtis W.

0

1

0

10 years ago

To Megan C: I was there, and all these accusation's are false. But still wish you the best. read more

Vinnie S.

0

2

0

16 years ago

It's a dive bar but a cool little place with live music on the weekends.

Jasmine D.

111

9

0

10 years ago

Decent prices, karaoke is always super fun with Steve.

Loren O.

0

2

13 years ago

No.

Gem City Grill - bars - Updated October 2026

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Shady Brady's

3.9

(73 reviews)

Great dive bar, looks very "shady" from the outside but chill and friendly inside. (note I've only…read morebeen 3x in the afternoon while killing time). Great friendly bartenders. Parking lot in back. Couple of pool tables, darts, e-jukebox, big screen TVs. I watched a bit of world cup here. They have an Angel City IPA I like. Pro tip, x- large size is a better deal.

Came here to watch the Dodger game with my son and his friends. Super great prices and plenty of…read moreTV's all over and they were playing pool most of the night. This day, the offered free hot dogs, which was pretty cool. Place is big and the service was great.

Drinker's Hall of Fame

3.9

(80 reviews)

We were looking for a place to watch the Mexico vs England World Cup match that wasn't over…read morecrowded. We were able to sit at the counter and watch the Dodgers and World Cup at the same time. They only offer bottled beer and mixed drinks. The east coast bartender is great and very hospitable. Once the games were over it turned into karaoke night and got crowded.

We were looking for a bar and good place to have a drink and appetizers. Found this place not far…read morefrom our hotel. Bartender was excellent and the vibe was what we were looking for. We prepared wings they were good but definitely need to come back for food !! Will be back

The Bit

4.2

(65 reviews)

The bit has good cold bottle beers & Angel the bartender is Always attentive and very friendly and…read moregood attitude! Will always come back on her shift.

First time here! My friends were meeting to listen to the band and catch up on things. This is a…read morebeer bar with a rotating list of beers on tap. The bartender was attentive and the band playing was the Waffle House. The woman singer was great, and the musicians seemed like they were having fun. Couple of pool tables and there was plenty of street parking on a Saturday night.

The Station

4.1

(144 reviews)

It's a little dive bar in Arcadia! Bartenders I normally see are Nathlie and Bobbie! Service here…read moreis excellent, and most people are regulars who are very friendly. Unfortunately they do not serve food, but from what I have seen many patrons bring in food from the Chinese restaurant next door! They have a single pool table and a huge parking lot in the back. They do take credit cards "3%" charge!

This place was a lot of fun. Filled with friendly locals, the ability to play your own music, and a…read moregreat bartender, I had a really great time here.

Crest Lounge

4.1

(230 reviews)

Cheap beer good grub welcome to the pub!! Lol!! I was told…read moreby a coworker, that used to live in TempleCity that this was the place to go for a good steak dinner

This dive bar has an old school vibe that I really like, reminds me of bars that you see in the…read moremovies. The food and drinks are solid and very affordable. Mariano is sweet and was patient when we were trying to figure out what kind of martini my mom likes lol.

Santa Anita Bar & Grill

3.1

(19 reviews)

Before pandemic, my family and I came here almost twice a month. Beautiful view with delicious…read morefood. Very calming and relaxing vibe. Great customer service here, people are so accommodative and friendly. Club sandwich and Denver Omelet are my favorites go-to dishes. Highly recommended if you are looking for a nice and quiet place for brunch with fam and friends.

Stopped in before a round and ordered the bacon and sausage breakfast burrito ahead of time. The…read moreconvenience factor was definitely a plus, especially when trying to grab something quick before teeing off. The burrito was decent, though the eggs seemed a bit overcooked, which made it drier than I would have liked. Flavor was fairly average overall--nothing particularly memorable, but not bad either. Portion size and value felt reasonable for a golf course restaurant, and it did the job of keeping me fueled during the round. Not a breakfast burrito I'd specifically come back for, but if I was playing here again and needed a quick, convenient breakfast, I'd order it without much hesitation.

Maria's Bar

3.8

(10 reviews)

High Dive Fa sho. from San Diego love dive bars but this on reminds me of the good old days in TJ!)read more

If I would have given a review 7 years ago in 2016, I would have said 1 star. Because there was no…read morebeer on tap, it was a Corona from a refrigerator & my thoughts were that I could go across the street to Target to get beer from a refrigerator for cheaper. However, when this guy invited me inside on Wed. 9-6-23,, it was a different story. It was very welcoming & friendly. The cold beers (Corona, Dos Equis, Modelo) in bottles were delicious, especially on a hot day, & at a discounted price during happy hour. The bartender (the owner's wife) kindly made me some free popcorn. There was a jukebox playing Mexican music & it was entertaining to see someone singing along to some songs. I enjoyed my time there & was thankful that my friend had invited me. I really like him & liked it even more watching him play pool & hit the ball really hard at times. And I learned some more Spanish too. So my mind changed from 1 to 5 stars. Thanks for your generosity & thanks for treating him well!

The Colorado Bar

4.0

(256 reviews)

My last review for the Colorado bar was back in 2019 ! I'm still going there and now it's even…read morebetter. Live music performed every Tuesday that includes, rock, R&B , soul and whatever comes and plays this way ! No cover. Free parking on the streets or ample rear parking lot. And when your'e hungry mozy on across the street to the 24/ hr Denny's or hit the nearby taco stand in near the bar entrance or on the next block. Great selection of liquors from Top shelf premiums to affordable non budget busters. I've been a fan of this place for years and years.

Great Bar! Absolutely love this spot. Makayla and jess are…read moreamazing!. Great service. The ambiance is nice and dark and cold enough!, great cold beer options and love the music choices.

Max's Mexican Cuisine

3.6

(602 reviews)

Always the friendliest place I've ever been to. Food is top notch and very reasonably priced…read more Thank you, Max. See you next time, why not? ;-)

We recently tried this Mexican restaurant and unfortunately the food and drinks were very…read moredisappointing. The margaritas were honestly some of the worst we've had -- they tasted like straight margarita mix blended with ice, and we could barely drink them. The enchiladas were also very underwhelming, especially for the price. It was basically shredded chicken in tortillas with sauce, rice, and beans, and for $20 it just wasn't worth it. The food tasted very Americanized and lacked authentic Mexican flavor and seasoning. That being said, the customer service was amazing. The two ladies who helped us were incredibly attentive, kind, and kept checking on us. They offered extra drinks and multiple items, which we normally appreciate because when we go to Mexican restaurants we usually order multiple rounds and end with Cadillac margaritas. Unfortunately, the drinks were so bad we didn't want to order anything else, but their effort and service did not go unnoticed. One small disappointment was when I asked for hot sauce to add more flavor to my green sauce enchiladas, and I was brought the same red enchilada sauce instead, which made the meal worse. I am a food and beverage manager myself, and I can honestly say I would hire those two servers in a heartbeat because they were fabulous. The service was excellent -- it's just the food and drinks that really need improvement.

Locals Bar

3.5

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