Total dive bar which I love. Been here twice and both times there are always some characters at the bar - which is what dive bars are supposed to have. This place has great vibes. read more

Such a great spot, good bartenders and a very welcoming bar. The best buffalo milks on the island!!

Classic Catalina semi-dive bar. We were over a few weeks ago on a beautiful three day stay. Hit most every place in town at least once. Not hard to do in the small town of Avalon. We just came in to the Marlin club for a quick beer, but the staff was really helpful. It was daytime so it was pretty quiet but we could tell that during the season this place would be packed. I can see why. Good vibes. Good drinks at a fair price. Great location just a half a block up from the main beach. Lots of locals hang out here, day drinking. I think that's pretty typical on Catalina. This would be the place to do it for sure. read more

Marlin Club - Cool dive bar. Temp & vibe - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Very rude service. I went with my friend here for only one shot and a beer. We ended up going to JLs locker room because the bar tender was so rude. The cap came off his first pour and tequila got all over us, but thats not why I was upset. My friend passed the shot to me and he quickly took it from her and poured more than half of it into her glass. He didn't realize he only left me a tiny bit but gave her a regular shot. I was paying for it and barely got anything because he was so focused on cleaning his mess. I was totally sober but he gave my drunk friend way more tequila. When I asked him how much everything cost he gave me this annoyed look and started recounting my change back to me. I had to ask 3 times how much shots cost for him to take me seriously. Very rude. If you want friendly and professional service with a happy vibe I strongly suggest JLs. read more

Came into the marlin club about 30 min before our boat ride to leave... Charles was here and some of the regulars around Catalina and we HAD TO LITERALLY CHANGE OUR BOAT RIDE!!!!!!!!!!! To later, 7:15 pm so we could stay and hang with Charles longer and everyone sitting around the bar. What a blast of a time we never wanted to leave. read more

Loved this bar! First of all, the bar is shaped like a boat and the decor depicts that the boat had sunk and is under the water. Daytime bartender, Chuck, was clear to point out. My wife asked if he makes a good Bloody Mary, he said, "They suck." So she and my daughter ordered one. I got a coors stubby bottle. Chuck has a dry sense of humor. Loves giving people a hard time for no reason. Just give it back to him. We met a couple locals who were feeling happy to be there. Met a few people who stayed on their boat in the harbor. All very friendly. We came back to marlin club each day we were visiting Avalon. Each time we had a great experience. Nice people, mix of locals and travelers. Beer was cold. Drinks were good. Music on jukebox, but when it stopped, someone was sure to point out awkward silence. We were lucky enough to get a seat at the bar each time. Others sat along benches around the pool table. Will definitely return. read more

Marlin Club - Chuck our bartender - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

We came here twice while in town for a wedding. This is a great local bar. Fun jukebox and the first night we had two young women who were behind the bar and super friendly and helpful. They tried to help me find a nba game which I appreciated. The second night they seemed a bit understaffed without the friendly bartenders from the night before. The bartender was an older gentleman who seemed alone and overwhelmed. After awhile a woman came to help which was needed but she wasn't that friendly either but we had a large group of friends and had fun regardless. read more

The service is the worst! Place is too small, poorly lit, and just a nasty dive bar! Don't waste your money here it's really poorly managed and operated! Go to Luau Larry's, the have great staff, drinks, and food!!! Avoid Marlin Club at all costs! read more

Luke and Kate were the hosteszz with the most!!!! Best vibes of all the island. Only came for the drinks and the bathrooms clean Great place. PERIOD. ON GOD. read more

We only went for a quick shot after porting from our cruise but this was a fun spot. Great vibe and seemed like a place where the locals hang out. Everyone friendly as well. Great Tuaca shots too! read more

The best bar on the island. Once you walk in you are guaranteed to start conversation with a local or fellow visitor. Everyone here is so friendly. It's probably because it feels like home once you walk in. They have a state of the art jukebox where you can play your favorite tunes and manage your pics from an app. Pretty cool! Last but not least - drinks are stiff and very reasonably priced. We just left the island but I already want to go back to Marlin Club! read more

Marlin Club - Our little corner of the bar for the night. - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

Great divey bar vibes for Catalina island with very cheap drinks. If your trying to get rowdy this is probably the best place to do so on the island read more

I love dive bars but this was the best so far , i loved the familial ,local hangout feeling you get. The decorations on the wall were super cool and you feel welcomed instantly.We went for a day to visit the island and came into this place while we explored. The bartender was awesome he came up to me and squirted a mustard bottle in my face and it was a joke bottle with a strong it was hilarious lol I just closed my eyes it was funny he is known for his cool trick jokes so you must bring your sense of humor with you. There weren't too many people in the bar but everyone was really nice and fun. The prices were beyond cheap 6 drinks for $ 36 and very strong , you can't beat that . I would definitely come back here again when I visit Catalina in the future. read more

Marlin Club - Jack n, coke and sun rum - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

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Not a bad place until the bartender was completely rude when I was trying to order a drink. The girl with an orange top and black shorts on a Monday night was super rude when I was trying to order a drink. Definitely not friendly with people outside the island. Don't go here if you're not a local. It feels like they identify the locals and then treat them like crap. read more

Had a great time here when we first got in. So much so, that I went back to buy a T Shirt the next day. When I did, was greeted by a very unfriendly bartender who was extremely rude to both me and my wife for no reason. Maybe it's because he didn't want to go get us a shirt, I don't really know. His demeanor was so explosive and rude that maybe it was directed at something else going on in his life, so I tried to be understanding, but we received no apology or explanation. The interaction was so uncomfortable that I'll never come back here. read more

Came into this bar because of the fun decor and drink specials ($3 jell-o shots, $5 snapple shots, etc.) but was quickly made aware that my friends and I were not wanted. Bartender (younger brunette woman with glasses) was super short and rude to us. we ordered jell-o shots, she gave us random ones (didn't offer us to pick a flavor even though there was 20 of each flavor in the fridge). She was super short with us and just had an unwelcoming attitude. She was super nice to the locals though! We then went up to ask for some change for foosball and she rudely responded she couldn't do it without a card. like I get it but at least have a little customer service politeness. She was so blatantly rude that a local sitting next to us even made a comment to us about it. If you're a tourist looking for a fun cheap drink, this place is good but be warned: you are not welcome by this bartender. read more

Rachel was so freaking rude. I didn't even touch the freaking ball in the game being played but after I tipped her over 20%. She accused me of throwing a ball on the ground. The only thing I touched was the person next to me to alert the other person that a game was being played at the bar. I was rallying for her the entire time because it wasn't fair she was alone. I've been here probably 6 times on vacation. But she has ruined all previous positive experiences. read more

I really enjoyed the vibe, it was very old school bar. But definitely felt nice to drink and play pool. Just didn't like the fact you need to pay to listen to music. The drinks were ok. read more

Nice dive bar. Was invited by some locals to grab a drink there with them. Glad we did! Upon walking into the bar, some guy at the bar turned, looked at us, and yelled "tourists!" He then proceeded to introduce himself and his buddies to us. Bartender was outstanding, attentive, and cheerful. The crowd was friendly, largely locals. Best bar experience of our trip! read more

By far the best bar in town. Want to have a good time? Want to enjoy amazing bartenders? Look no further. Great service, loaded jukebox, live band on Friday night. The crowd is just as good. If you come to Avalon and don't stop by you're severely missing out. 5 stars isn't enough. Can't say enough good things about Erin and Dana, most favorite bartenders ever. read more

Marlin Club - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

a local suggested marlin club to us and we are so glad we asked. We went both nights we stayed in Catalina and Luke was great. He was so personable it was as if we were just sitting at a bar with our friends from home. Everyone who came in was so friendly to us. Luke makes the best Mexican lollipop shots thanks for a great few days! read more

Fun dive bar- and I'm a girl who doesn't enjoy dark dive bars. This place is lively, drinks are well served, bartenders are attentive and skilled entertainers. And....bathrooms are spotless! We would totally hang out here next time we are on Catalina. Total thumbs up. read more

Marlin Club - The marlin - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

AN AVALON INSTITUTION We stop in at the Marlin Club for a drink every time we visit Catalina. It's the oldest bar in Avalon, a local institution. The drinks are strong and the bartenders are congenial. It can get pretty loud and rowdy at times, but that's part of the ambience. It get quieter in the early evening, when it's more a local crowd. Definitely worth checking it out. read more

I had the best Time. It had a great mix of locals and visitors. you can get Jell-O shot. I never had an empty drink.

What a gem of a shit hole. Best dive on the island and it's not even close. Cheap drinks, fun environment and friendly people. It's a must visit. read more

I really like this divey bar! There's a juke box, pool tables, and sometimes live music. Bar tenders know how to serve drinks and they are very attentive and friendly. There's a nice mix of locals and tourists and they close late. Visited before COVID-19 read more

I've been going to the marlin for 30 years. Plus. It's dependably divey and full of characters. Don't miss it when your in Avalon

This is your typical dive bar with pool tables and a live band. With that said, we had a great time!! The band was awesome and played really good music. Everyone was cool and we really enjoyed our time here. Place gets really packed so if you don't mind it, I definitely recommend it. read more

They should rename this place Louganis because it is a great dive. Marlin is all about the people. The "boat" area sits maybe two dozen at most, so it's a place for friendly people who are all "in the same boat", perfect for tourists brave enough to enter a dark dive full of locals and respectful enough to earn the respect back. Everyone there was geniune. Sure, some were a genuine asshole, but geniune nonetheless and we instantly felt like regulars. Or irregulars. Brian was our instantly likeable Drew Carey-looking wisecracking guy who lent me one of the SharKoozies he makes to cure me of my label peeling. Randy was the somewhat grumpy but chill storyteller. He was 3 days from being retarded (his word for retired) so you're likely to find him on what he calls the "fun side" of the bar. They don't have the internet style jukebox, but Brian likes it that way... it's mostly old rock and roll with only a few options like No Doubt that make the locals cringe. Pool table, foosball, flat screen (playing Young & the Restless?!), wacky mermaid photo op, all in a dark bar that feels like you're hanging out in the shade. The regulars included a lot of guys who looked like the Muppet Show judges with sunburns, but it was a fun crowd. If we lived on the island (and had perhaps a missing tooth) we would be regulars at the bar as well. They have great douchebag radar, so if you're wearing a Tapout shirt and an Ed Hardy cap and are prone to say "What are you looking at?" you probably belong elsewhere. read more

It is a dark and dingy dive bar with an array of interesting patrons to keep you entertained. It's a bit small and could use more tables but they have pool, music, and beer so can't complain read more

Just go! Sure it's a little dive bar but it's great. We happened to go when someone kept buying rounds for everyone and was tipping the bartender crazy cash. A new bartender came in and was super rude when she started so the guy left. She apologized after he gave her $100 and told her not to be so rude to people. read more

This place mostly varies with the old salt dogs of the island and then kinda changes in the evening as the tourist wander in after dinner and the local youngers gather to ogle the "fresh meat". Everyone is friendly and all get chummy after a few rounds, it's kind of like your dad's bar that you aspire too once you make age. lol A full bar, pool table and jukebox, a decent bathroom, and a video table game all make for a good place to get your drink on! read more

Marlin Club - Love the sign! - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

If you just was walk in get a drink and head out this is the perfect place. Everyone was super friendly and was quick to take our order. Definitely get the Jell-O shots strong and with a punch, and the prices are reasonable not extremely over priced. Definitely going back! read more

I *love* dive bars. Always have, always will. The decor of this place just worked for me. That's it. Full stop. Done. Stay away if you have any sense or pride or self worth. I'd give 0 stars if I could. Even as I was ordering drinks for my wife and I, a gal at the bar asked for a job - something or other about bookkeeping. The bartender then said something lurid about taking her to the office. Creepy. Weird. Whatever (mind you, this is 11am). So, I get our drinks, and the same gal, the bartender, and apparently other patrons get into a loud (we were not sitting at the bar, but heard every word), explicit discussion about various sex acts. The wife and I are super creeped out at this point. Gets better. Some other gals walked in, and the bartender immediately bends the conversation to the same lurid tone with them. Seriously? I'm a grown ass man, and have enough sense to know you don't talk like this in public. Never have seen such conversation in a public establishment, even a 'dive bar'. Oh, and we went across the street, got the same beer, a bigger glass of wine, and a shot for 2.50 less. read more

We stumble upon this bar while looking for a bar that had the Patriots game on. It was dark and very much divey bar. They serve no food here but the bartender said we can bring outside food in and gave us recommendations. Brain the bartender is one funny man. He had all these tricks up his sleeve. It was good entertainment! This place also makes really good cheap bloody Mary's! I love it because it's thicker then normal and they put olives and pickled peas sticks. I drank 3 and so did my bf, bill came to about $37 with 2 hilarious looking coozies. Great interesting crowd as well. Heard it gets down on Saturday nights! Hit this place up for cheap drinks, they even have Jell-O shots! read more

Great dive bar! Drinks are strong and inexpensive. Lots of locals hang here so it's fun to get some insider island info from them.

Big props to this gem of a dive. This nautical themed bar has a bunch of a charm gooing for it. From the bar shaped like a boat including mast and covering. To the fish and waves painted on the walls. To the straight out of the fifties restroom door where you can stick your head through the porthole and take those silly tourist pictures from way back. Went on a Sunday afternoon and it was kind of dead. Which was okay, because I didn't want to fight crowds. The bartender was nice and made a strong bloody mary for $6.00. He even offered the ultimate bar food, a pickled egg to me which I don't believe I have ever tried. What the hell. It's an boiled egg and pickled. Again the charm is the kitz. If you are looking for trendy or upscale, this isn't your place. read more

No visit to Catalina is complete without a visit to the Marlin Club. One of the world's best dive bars. Maybe THE best dive bar. Lots of adult blue humor, so if you're easily offended you don't belong here. Full bar and knowledgeable bartenders with reasonable prices for Avalon. Best Bloody Marys from Liz. She's adorable and quick witted to the guys that hit on her. Bring in your own food if you like. Sometimes live entertainment. Great jukebox. Excellent selection of Draft Craft beers. Full bar including your premium and high premium booze. read more

Marlin Club - Arron the bartender - Dive Bars Near Me - Avalon, California

The definition of a Catalina "dive bar." Interesting setup: Pool table in the corner with benches surrounding two sides (either: makes it hard to shoot OR makes for a more interactive game), the bar itself is a horseshoe with stools around it, and there's a ton of open space for chilling. If you're going on a Catalina bar crawl (bar's... not places that serve drinks), I would make the Marlin your first stop. It only gets more Catalina "classy" from here. Recommendation: If you're on the Island around July 4th, they have colorful assortment of patriotic Red, White, and/or Blue Jell-O shots! read more

I read all these reviews of the Marlin Club and, of course, there's mention of the drinks, the crowd, the atmosphere, etc, but... Doesn't anybody go in Friday night and see the Catalina All Stars (CIA) Band perform? Hasen't anybody whose reviews I've read, anyways, noticed the fantastic music played by some of the famous musicians that frequent that place? The music is a major draw for Catalina Island, and the performers are among the world's best, period. It's a bit odd or funny to me how many people don't see-or hear- that, wow! If you love music, The Marlin Club Friday nights and Avalon, namely Casino Dock Cafe, during summer days for great music! They play at local restaurants/pubs too! It seems to almost always be an adventure of some sort at The Marlin Club, where things can go sideways from alcohol-induced patrons. There are locals and there are guests, and ye' be warned, never keepeth up with a local drinking at a tavern! read more

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