Places on the Eastside can be so crowded and pretentious. A friend and I escaped the heat and drove West. Parking was easy on Abbot Kinney on a Monday, almost nobody in the bar. We grabbed two orange wines, more of a ramato really, and easily plunked down on a wooden bench in the back. Everyone working there was in a good mood and the soundtrack was somehow good new wave. Our bartender was also cute and chic in her dickies jorts and cut up t-shirt. Loved the textures and lighting there. Bonus: If you look up in the bathroom, there are magazine pages of naked dudes pasted on the ceiling. Not my thing, but if it's your thing, now you know. read more

Watch your phone when you go there. My phone was stolen last night and when I went to the front door to address the owner to see if anything was turned in, two other girls were there saying theirs was stolen too. Sadly, one girl was recently married and had wedding photos on hers that hadn't been backed up. They were logged into their find my phone and could tell it was still at the bar but the owner did not try to do anything. Interestingly enough, when I went to my phone provider today, they said this was a known place for phone theft to happen and they think the restaurant is involved. Go there at your own risk. I filed a police report today to see if anything could be done. read more

Just needs another bathroom but other wise great! Music was fun, dance floor was decently full and I appreciate the seating on the sides and the two bars. read more

We took everyone's advice to bar hop down Abbot Kinney after a day in Santa Monica, and Roosterfish was the ultimate winner. The inside gives off great speakeasy vibes, and the service was incredibly quick and friendly. Plus, their cute little outdoor patio was great for a quick smoke break. Such a fun spot with an amazing atmosphere. highly recommend! read more

I checked out Roosterfish on a Saturday night and it was very disappointing. The crowd weirded me out. It had a strange mix of people in their early to late 20s and a few people over 40 who were very drunk and spilling drinks on everyone. The venue itself is cool, and they play modern music so I can see why it gets attention. I also appreciated the big fans on the ceiling to cool everyone off. Despite the nice space, the crowd ruined the experience for me and my friend got hit in the head with a cup that someone threw. read more

Honestly this place just sucks. It used to be such a cool dive bar. Now its just another carbon copy velvet rope venice douchebag place. I paid over $18 for a crappy poorly made old fashioned made with Evan Williams (the absolute cheapest bourbon produced). For the price they couldn't even pour a quality drink. The bottom line is go to another neighborhood for authentic and real places. This new "roosterfish" is just a room with some pretty faces. read more

Perfect little bar in SaMo, good music and chill vibe. Lots of space but the two single bathrooms do cause issues with a line if you have to pee. If one of them was for guys and had like 2 urinals or something it would be easier or faster. read more

Lovely. Great dive bar. Probably my favorite across the west coast. Service is great. No food. Drinks are great. Come here for a good time :) read more

I have really enjoyed the atmosphere every time I've been here, whether for a chill daytime/evening or at night, with good drinks and nice bartenders. I went here for NYE and it was way more fun than other spots we had tried, my only issue I've had here was with the bouncer on NYE. It was still early and I arrived in a group, but he didn't let the last person of the group in because she was "falling over." read more

Roosterfish - Mural in back patio - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Long-standing all inclusive bar w/ some seriously great music, bartenders, seating and an incredible patio space with beautiful murals, art, rainbows and tons of spots to hangout. The original Roosterfish is one I'd pop into now and again... Being one of the few if not only lgbtq+ spaces ‍ in the Venice/Abbot Kinney Blvd/Santa Monica adjacent area... It was cash only... Seafoam blueish inside, less spacious and the definition of divey, in a fun way but definitely less busy with time and not as well kept up... Eventually Roosterfish evolved into what it is today with a serious revamp welcoming any and all with it's beautiful chic layout, gender neutral restrooms, persons with disability accessible and pet friendly (patio)! I can't believe how beautifully different the energy feels with the mix of so many people enjoy adult beverages, conversations and great service. Happy Hour is everyday from open until 6PM with $10 well drinks, $7 draft beer, plus some familiar as well as speciality $12 cocktails... Including one of the best margaritas you'll ever enjoy. Regular drinks can run up to $17 per person without a tip... but they're good and strong! Roosterfish has a small but good variety of both beer and wine. Full bar so order to your heart's content. You can start a tab or close out per drink order. Complimentary cold water dispensers/stations at multiple ends of the bar as well as multiple bartenders on duty. QR codes on the backs small gold-like plaques with their logo... Scan to check out the menu. Plenty of space inside or in to enjoy a cockadoodle splashing good time! Parking is street, but it is there w/ no meters (just a 2hr limit until 8pm)... Rideshare maybe easiest as the night goes on... Definitely during a big outing weekend like Halloween. Though if you go early... Like we did you'll find something forsure... if not on Abbot Kinney Blvd... Side streets for sure. Q Tip: Check out their IG for events or their inquiries feature for your own event. read more

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I think this place would be good for a date night as it's dimly lit with small side tables and has some craft cocktails. I ordered the spicy cucumber mule and it was way too spicy :( I would not order again. I'm sure other cocktails are much better but this one was just too hot for me. The bartender was attentive but not the most friendly. I think it was because they wanted to be productive and serve people quick. They had a variety of music playing from hip hop to house to reggae. read more

Roosterfish - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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Great location, but the bouncer was rude and made fun of my outfit at the door. Unprofessional and unwelcoming. Not coming back.

Lovely bartenders and ambiance!! Always pleased with the service, drinks, and fellow patrons when I stop in here for drinks! read more

Roosterfish - Espresso martini - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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How I miss the old queer dive bar. Now it's filled with snotty influencers thinking they're in Hollywood and the drinks match the piss poor clientele. I don't mind paying for a quality drink, just don't expect one here. read more

Extremely rude bartender and pointlessly expensive for how bad the drinks are. Makes some of the other bars in the area feel like they're value for money. Iykyk read more

Solid bar - we came right when they opened and got some happy hour drinks. Pleased with service and price. We got: spicy rooster 5/5 mezcal, serrano, orgeat, falernum, cassis (contains almond) grapefruit gin fizz 4/5 gin, aperol, grapefruit, lime, prosecco, Peychaud's bitters read more

DJ on New Years was so so so bad. Would not take recs even though no one was dancing--we desperately needed a beat. Very sad.

Decent bar good drinks awesome patio. The crowd can be hit or miss. The house music is good! Some advice when you make it front of the line know what you're going to order. read more

Roosterfish - Vodka Martini - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Ambiance is great and the music is nostalgic. Shannon, thank you for the most delectable whiskey sour and welcoming nature. Looking forward to coming back again! read more

Roosterfish - Whiskey sour - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

One of the bartenders here is the rudest/ most insufferable individuals to ever work in a social setting. They actually had an ATTITUDE and CURSED at us for assuming their cocktail menu online was up to date and available to order from! We were only "allowed" to order $20 "classic cocktails" aka well drinks because they were too stressed to handle their own bar. The DJ and vibe here is on a weekend is fun but it just goes to show it only takes one assh*le to ruin EVERYONES time read more

I love going to Venice area and find these small bars that become full on dance party during the night. I went there on a Saturday night and we had amazing experience. The bartenders were nice and looked very professional like they know what they are doing and it was fun to watch them. It wasn't expensive at all, it didn't cost anything to enter and the drinks costs were reasonable. The vibe was perfect, we were dancing and having fun. The DJ had some good tracks and we could dance near him and watch. Highly recommended! read more

Roosterfish - DJ - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Visiting the area for a few days, a friend of mine recommended we got to Roosterfish which we ended up here a few times over the weekend, which is safe to say we had a great time here! The first time, the DJ had the place going it was a Thursday night. Playing a mix of top 40, the dance floor was poppin all night, well at least in our eyes it was bc it seemed like we danced all night. It was pretty packed for a Thursday, which was fun, especially for me since I was on vacay. Having a great bartender can make or break a night out, and our bartender Bri was absolutely amazing and provided top notch customer service! In a crowded bar she was pumping out drinks with a quickness and really set the vibe for the night.. The lemonade drink with the fresh squeezed lemon juice was so good! For the mezcal fans, the Spicy Rooster was absolutely delicious. Another favorite was the watermelon Fresca which was hella refreshing. The other thing I appreciated is that they had water dispensers set up at different parts of the bars, so you could stay hydrated no problem. We were going to have dinner in Venice on Sunday, so we decided to pop back in for some pre-dinner drinks. What's good about the day time is that it's happy hour til 6, the back patio which is huge, is a great place to enjoy the Venice weather. It's not as crowded, so if you want to enjoy the space without it being super crowded, it's definitely worth a stop and try. read more

bouncer named Dino physically abused my friend - for context, she is a 5'1" girl who skipped a song on the stupid iPad. Instead of talking to her, he PUSHED her and then pushed another friend who was trying to de-escalate. Go here if you want to have a flop night read more

I grew up in LA almost all my life but never went to Venice to enjoy a day out drinking but I did this time during covid when restrictions are relaxing due to better infection numbers/cases. Since restrictions are relaxing, I found this bar to have both indoor and outdoor seating available. I checked out the back outdoor patio but it was filled with people without masks so I preferred to sit inside by the main door with less people where I felt more comfortable. Apparently this was a very friendly gay bar before the renovation and change of management? Not sure the history but if you want proof, head to the restrooms and look up! They are still a bar that welcomes everyone. The look and feel is cool, I like the furniture, walls, and lights. Great for a date spot, bring your friends from out of town, or a simply stop for a nice drink after work. It's Abbot Kinney, so the drink pricing here is like going to a Vegas high end nightclub or restaurant, about $15-17 a crafted cocktail. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. If you're looking for a dive bar, this is not it. If you're looking for nice crafted cocktails, nice decor, more intimate experience, then I highly recommend it! read more

Roosterfish - Summer Old Fashioned and Spicy Mule - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Would 1000% come back the ambiance is vintage and astounding. With great drinks with very pleasant tenders.

This historic gay bar was renovated several years ago and has come back beautifully anointed and now serves distinctive signature cocktails such as the Black Eye. It is no longer a gay bar, however. The only remnant is the ceiling in the bathroom which has vintage gay porn as "wall paper." I think we've gotten to a point where queers and straights can drink together without sexual insecurity, so I hope with time queers on the west side will come back (or be welcomed back) to bring this bar back to its gay glory. read more

My fiancé had her holiday party here and the venue was very intimate. The staff were extremely friendly and made a mocktail margarita for me that was delicious. They had a live band karaoke that was really fun. read more

The place is horrible. First off the doorman is racist and rude to anyone visiting the establishing. Not only that but they are also very hands on with people which is completely a violation. The Manager Travis Kulp is also a complete rude prick. He has been found at the end of the night marinating bottles into other bottles and selling them for a higher price. They also tend to upcharge the price on cocktails for patrons who are intoxicated. Don't go here. read more

Found this gem quite by surprise. Fell in love with the spot so much that we are going to have a company party here. We were at a different bar and did not like the vibe there. Found this spot and Travis immediately made us feel comfortable! Informed us of some of the special beers that were in and drinks we might like. Way different from the bar around the corner that we left because we weren't feeling the vibe. The bartender and staff were friendly, helpful and made awesome suggestions. You know, like they actually cared about their jobs and the people that they are serving! They had a great singer/guitarist playing named Randy Crawford. He was amazing! Singing stripped down versions of songs by The Eagles, Chris Isaak, and Steve Miller...he blew me away! This is a must-stop by bar in Venice Abbott Kinney area...check it out! read more

I'm giving this a 1 because I can't give any lower. Multiple women had their iPhones stolen last night and it seems management doesn't care. STAY AWAY!! read more

Must try the Black Eye. Made with cloudy smoked bourbon and who knows what else. Well balanced and does not knock you out with smokiness. I picked up a note of coconut too. My girlfriend had the watermelon fresca, rimmed with Tajin, and loved it. read more

Roosterfish - black eye and watermelon fresca - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Jordan was working the bar on 10/26 the H-ween Saturday night and holy shit.... the service was fast and incredible Jordan HUSTLE, that man was making sure everyone got service as quickly as humanly possible, friendly and great attitude the whole night. if your looking for a great bar in the area Jordan alone makes this sport worth it. Cheers Jordan read more

Great drinks, good ambiance. The moody indoor bar also has a DJ that shows up later in the evening. Decent sized outdoor patios in the back too. Only issue for me is the bartender increased her tip and changed my total after I already signed the receipt. Immaterial amount, but principle out the window... No biggie, just credit card fraud. Something to watch out for. Other than that, great spot. *edit* The owner reached out and corrected the mistake. Prompt response, took a week. Will give it another shot. read more

Don't be loud or else a patron will close the window on you . This place is not gay anymore . Stick to the Abbey lol . Friend go into it with a guy over noise . It's a Saturday at a bar not a high end restaurant . My friend let him have it though lmao . Anyways, good strong drinks . The female bartender was great , I'd come only to sit at the bar . 4 stars for her read more

Roosterfish - Charcuterie not so cute . - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Love this place! Great ambiance & amazing craft cocktails. There are two different areas to hang out, which is nice as well. read more

Roosterfish - 1979 - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

RUFEED AT ROOSTERFISH My boyfriend Alex was drugged by one of your bartenders on Friday, April 7th around 1am. After ordering a shirley temple for our sober friend, we were served a clear drink in a short glass with a lime, a "tequila soda," we determined after tasting it. Alex walked away with the free drink while I tried to get the bartender's attention to re-order the shirley temple. Sipping that drink as he walked towards the dance floor is Alex's last memory of the night. Alex became increasingly incapacitated as the night went on, and once we arrived home he threw up for HOURS. His nausea and vomiting continued from 2am-5am, in addition to agitation, aggression, mental confusion, and loss of coordination. The nausea and vomiting persisted sporadically until 8pm on Saturday the 8th. What the FUCK is up with that?? I've taken care of Alex plenty of times after he had drank too much, but this was VERY different. His symptoms and behavior matched every description of ROHYPNOL I could find. Alex was practically sober when he arrived at your establishment, and the only other person with access to his drink was the bartender. Our visit to Roosterfish ruined 20 hours straight of our trip to LA. I will tell everyone I know to AVOID ROOSTERFISH FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. (I believe Travis is the manager's name and our bartender was @wavyonthetrack20) read more

Roosterfish - This is the receipt we received after ordering our green tea shots. - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

I love this place! I go there usually on Saturdays and there is a good amount of people, not too packed and not slow. The guys bartenders on the right side are great always do an extra effort to make the drink tasty and beautiful. I love that they have standup comedy sometimes on their back patio. read more

Cute decor , overpriced drinks IMO but you are paying for the atmosphere . The hostess was very nice and attentive as well as the bartenders and staff . The back patio is cute but a little too crowded . The inside decor is adorable and I would happily come back to enjoy drinks here . They would probably get more business and start building better customer rapport with 12-15 dollar drink range I stead of 17 plus . read more

Roosterfish - Inside - Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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The drinks were good and so was the vibe, but once it gets busy they stop making their menu cocktails and only classics which I think is pretty lame considering paying $18 for a cosmo isn't the same as a craft beverage. read more

Terrible experience. The staff was so rude and the vibe is all-around unpleasant. The bouncer was extremely rude and obnoxious. Worst bar experience I've had in a long time. Never coming back, and I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. read more