Support this interesting and funky stop in Bombay Beach! Rich history, super friendly staff, and a nice bite to eat as you experience Salton sea. read more

10/10! Highly recommend stopping by this place after your adventures from Bombay Beach! The burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had- the staff is welcoming, locals are friendly, and the drinks are amazing! read more

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My wife, son and I stopped here for lunch after a visit to Bombay Beach. It's pretty much the only place in at least 10 miles or more to eat so our expectations weren't that high. And we were wrong! The food, ambience, service was great! The owner recommended the patty melt and after all three of us ordered it and we were sitting down she explained to us why: Anthony Bourdain ordered it when he visited. (I've attached a photo of the owner holding a photo of Anthony Bourdain at the bar.) The patty melt was amazingly good --- so much so I forgot to take a photo of it when it was served to me --- only after I had eaten half a sandwich (picture attached). The onion rings were just about perfect: big, crispy, crunchy. The ambience of the Ski Inn is one of a kind: with decorated dollar bills attached to everything --- walls, pool table, ceilings. They also have a great outdoor patio. In addition to "Anthony Bourdain was here" some other superlatives: it was voted the 3rd best dive bar in California. And it's the "lowest bar in the Western hemisphere." And if you're looking for an excuse to take a very long drive to have their great food and experience their one of a kind ambience: visit the unusual artwork at the shore of the Salton Sea at Bombay Beach. That's a one of a kind experience too! (One thing to remember when visiting: it's cash only.) read more

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Love this gem at the Salton Sea! Great burgers and garlic/parmesan fries. Generous pours and cold beer! Staff was super friendly. Free pool table. read more

Very cool dive bar. Beer was nice and cold. They had a good variety of beer. Robert who was the bartender as well as the owner I believe, was super nice and charismatic. Free billiards table which is a plus. Forgot to take a picture of the food but we got a burger, patty melt, fish & chips, and beer batter shrimp. All of these things were tasty as well as the fries and tater tots that came with them. read more

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Came in just to check this place out because we took old highway 111, people were very friendly, it's unusual with dollar bills on the walls ,theres a big patio that was nice but the place was so dirty tables and floors looked gross, we weren't sure about eating here. My friend ordered burger with fries which he said was tasty. It's worth a look. read more

Awesome small town dive bar with chill vibes. Ring the bell for good luck! Try the patty melt.

This place gets 5 stars just for the 'funky' factor! All that aside the Beef Dips with onion rings we ordered were spot on fantastic! Food and ambiance far exceeded our expectations. We will return. read more

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Good food, good service, really fun atmosphere. And their interior decorating is wonderful!

Cool bar we stopped at on our way to Salvation Mountain and East Jesus. Only had a beer so not sure about food but definitely a cool vibe

I walked in and fell in love! This is a place out of a dream. A remembrance of things past. The vibe is super friendly, laid back and local. I was transported back to my college days circa 1987. Off for the summer and running around to local drinking establishments in NY State, Rhode Island and Vermont. They have 8 different beers on tap. My choice was Golden State Brewing's "Mango Cart" Wheat Ale. Holy crap was it good! Icy Cold and fresh. Krispy with just the right amount of Mango. My buddy and I hung out, chatted with the local yokels, got invited to a bacon, egg breakfast the next morning at the American Legion Hall down the street, drank beer and shot pool. Artfully decorated dollar bills are posted up from customers past on all of the walls. It's like reading ancient hieroglyphics from a time and people gone by. A window into those that came before. Red vinyl booths and nice pool table in the back topped things off. Kitchen was closed but next time I'm getting fries and a cheeseburger to go with my pint. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Oh yeah, pints of beer were $4.50. Score!! :@) read more

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the only place to have lunch in the area. Interesting local restaurant. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The Burgers were ok, and beers fresh. Deserts could have been better but were greatly appreciated. thank you read more

About as divey as it gets, which I guess, what can you expect when you're in the middle of nowhere? But also, where else can you get a $6 meal and $2.50 beers? So I guess I can't complain. We got wings, fries, and a fish and chips plate. Wings: 4/5 Fries: 3/5 - a few fries on top were cold but the rest were fine, so not sure if they just threw some from an old batch on top? Fish and chips: 4/5 The waitress looked she had been working there for way too long and seemed confused by most things. The beers we ordered never came, so after our food arrived, I went up to the bar to ask for them again. Really would be more of a 2-3 star place, but bumping up the stars for the exorbitantly low prices and the kinda cool fact that it's the lowest bar in the western hemisphere. read more

Ski Inn - American Near Me - Niland, California

First timer. Good joint. Good burgers and cold beer!! Great atmosphere, good people from around the way and cool locals.

Did you ever see the movie, Book of Eli? Before visiting Bombay Beach, I suggest watching a trailer of the movie, which encapsulates a post apocalyptic community living on the very edge of society. That said, art and humor are embedded throughout this sleepy, introverted, forgotten town. in the 1960's, the town itself once served as a landmark-refuge to thousands of visiting patrons to the (then) thriving Salton Sea. Over time the sea has evaporated leaving the remaining water saltier than the Pacific Ocean; with this, visitors also evaporated in mass exodus, leaving the town behind to lick its wounds. The Ski Inn is this town's local-bar. While the warn-down town adjacent to the Salton Sea once served as a luxurious resort for visiting patrons, the bar still stands as a strong anchor to house refuge from the unforgiving desert elements. Inside, you'll notice dollar bills taped e v e r y w h e r e, on every-inch of the building's walls, ceilings and tables. Each dollar serves as the ghost of its former holder, often signed, dated and left as a memory. With a sleepy juke box still roaring classic-rock and country music in the background, there is often only single bartender, and single line cook plugging away at a sleepy but steady 3rd-gear pace. The bartender is incredibly kind and engaging, but still rough around the edges with a "I don't give a shit what you think" demeanor. She chatted my girlfriend and I up for a solid hour, and we genuinely enjoyed the conversation. For example, I ordered an IPA, to which she immediately filled the pint at a 3rd gear pace and remarked, "I will never understand anyone who drinks an IPA; IPA's are awful," with a calm friendly laugh while handing me the ice-cold beer, with a soft wink and warm smile. I had no expectations for the food. I ignorantly thought it would be terrible, but ordered it anyway for the experience. It was so god-damn delicious! The fries are made in-house with fresh cut potatoes; the onion rings battered in-house; fresh veggies and fresh meat were embedded with flavor. The locals made friendly small talk and discussed their experience in the town. Other patrons at the bar also had similar experience. With new development being introduced next year, I would not be surprised at all to see this town explode again in a few years. In the mean time, I would encourage you to stop by this bar, still frozen in time. The prices are u-n-u-s-u-a-l-l-y reasonable... I felt like it was a menu right our of the 70's with nothing really coming over $7 or $8; beer ranging around $3 or $4. The bar is an interesting middle ground of what once was, and what still is. It's literally frozen in time and maintained well. read more

CASH ONLY (though they do have an ATM - you will also want a $1 bill to color and add to their extensive wall art collection). We stopped here because - where else do you stop near the Salton's sea? It was awesome. Limited menu (pictured), but everything was delicious and just the right level of greasy in a classic diner fashion. They also have beer, liquor, wine available. This place has an excellent vibe. In addition to the interior that's lined with $1 bills left by prior customers they have a nice courtyard area. Highly recommend going out of your way to visit the LOWEST BAR IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. read more

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This place is nice and ,friendly people here are always happy.Great burgers and cold beer !

The last time I came here was around 2009 or 2010. It was mostly locals, and the food was pretty mediocre, but at least it was cheap. The prices increased, but so has the quality of the burgers and fries. The service is also more attentive. I think it's best to enter and head straight to the bar and order, then find a place to sit. Two beers, a cheeseburger, and fries was $20 plus tip. Service was not rushed, and the bathroom was clean. read more

Ski Inn - American Near Me - Niland, California

Fun, electric bar. Fish sandwich and coleslaw were very tasty. Played pool and enjoyed the interesting nostalgia.

CASH ONLY!!!! I read this in reviews prior to our visit! And that's why I was well prepared! I've seen a few people unaware of this. And they had to go down the street to an ATM. I bookmarked Ski Inn prior to our road trip for the day. At this time, my hubby's family was going through such an overwhelming ordeal- and I knew this was a way for him to get away for a quick few hours.... a trip to Salton Sea. :/ Yikes.... Well, his parent are from El Centro & that was our last stop of this road trip before heading back to San Diego. Well, I knew we were gonna need to stop by for lunch somewhere & I needed to know what my options were. And if you do your research on Yelp prior to your visit to Salton Sea- you will notice there's seriously less than a handful to choose from. And this is where Ski Inn won us over. Depending where your headed on the 111- Ski Inn is a stones throw & will satisfy your belly & wet your whistle. Straight up no fuss given here. Simplicity at its finest & not bougey. We arrived at 10:45ish that Saturday morning & noticed there was a sign posted that the grill open at 11:30am. Keep that in mind! But, Wendell- the bartender was great company and so were the other passerby's & a local. It is a bit stuffy in there already w/ the 7 of us in there. To keep my mind of the dreaded 45 minute wait- I noshed on a large pack of Beer Nuts. At least I didn't finish the whole thing. There are plenty of other chip options available too. Did you see my picture of Fish Assholes for sale?! Yup! I don't make this ish up, my Yelpers! I think it's $4 a can. All proceeds benefit the volunteer firefighters!! They are the ones that make this product. The ingredients do say- onions, bell peppers, paprika, & other spices. I did wanna buy one- but, I didn't. There is a pool table available and restrooms for men & women. Wendell was awesome. Always social w/ whomever came through those doors. There's is a gaming machine at the very far end of the bar too! If you get there early like we did- you can help decorate, up to you, by coloring up one of your dollar bills. Wendell has different colored markers to choose from & tape! The walls are filled w/ them. The ceiling too! It was funny- Wendell made a call on the land line phone. Only thing he said," We got hungry people here." Click. Down goes the receiver. No joke- less than 5 minutes- I can hear someone entering from the back door of the bar. Success! This is when Wendell hands us the lunch menu. Now- from the pictures I've seen posted on Yelp- it seems like the majority of people get burgers. But, there's more options available! Wish I would of took a picture of the menu! Onion rings, chicken tenders... fried zucchini, I think. But, the burger was satisfying enough. I had 2 Stella's prior to the order being completed. I my double patty help soak my quick buzz up. Yes, juicy & fresh off the grill. By the time the grill was ready- Ski Inn was literally packed! Thank goodness we got there when we did because I wasn't gonna have patience waiting any longer for food! hahahaha When it's packed like that- if you're not sitting at the bar- you need to walk up to the bar to place any orders. read more

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Cool spot, the staff was great super nice. Food was delish, they even had vegan options Plant based hot dogs and hamburgers . read more

Ski Inn is the only restaurant or bar in the small town of Bombay Beach, located on the east shore of the Salton Sea. The food is delicious, the prices are inexpensive, the staff and patrons are friendly, and the atmsophere is priceless. My visit actually happened last year, and I'm only getting around to posting it on Yelp. Ski Inn is the only restaurant open in Bombay Beach, and it's advertised as the "Lowest Bar in the Western Hemisphere." No joke, as our GPS measured the elevation as 225 below sea level. As you walk in the restaurant, you'll notice that signed dollar bills are pasted everywhere, and you'll really notice that you're in a "dive bar." I love it!! As you walk in the restaurant, you'll notice the full-service bar to your right, and a large, raised table, which makes for a great view. Oh yes, you'll notice dollar bills, with many of them autographed, plastered everywhere, including on the ceiling. The operating hours of Ski Inn vary, but the bar usually opens at 7:00 AM, and closes in the evening at 11 PM, with the restaurant being open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. Ski Inn is the only remaining bar or restaurant in the once bustling resort town of Bombay Beach. It's the place to be if you want an ice-cold beer at 7 in the morning... The lunch and dinner menu is nearly identical, as the restaurant is open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Note the very inexpensive prices. I must hand it to the management of Ski Inn, as most restaurants, as "the only game in town," and, like Bombay Beach, many miles from supplies, would charge high prices - such as restaurants in the Lake Tahoe area - but Ski Inn's prices are some of the lowest that I've seen in many years. Not only are the prices low, but the service is friendly, and the food is delicious. I ordered a double cheeseburger, and it came with fries, two slices of cheese, along with sliced pickle, tomato, onion and lettuce. The burger was served open-face, which allowed us to add the condiments of choice from the squeeze bottles on the table. I added mustard and mayonnaise on my burger, and I dipped my fries in ketchup. This burger was cooked PERFECTLY and really hit the spot! I highly recommend their burgers! Wednesday night special dinner is Chicken fried steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, roll, gravy along with butter. At $7.50, it's a bargain, and it's good, but I'll stick to their burgers. Ski Inn is a one-of-a-kind place to enjoy great food, friendly conversation, along with beer, wine and mixed drinks at rock-bottom prices. Considering the average age of Bombay Beach residents is 64, if you want to experience the "Lowest Bar in the Western Hemisphere," you need to make a trip to Bombay Beach, and enjoy the friendly hospitality of Ski Inn, stat. The bar is a dive, the food is about what you'd expect, the beer is cold, and the staff, and the locals are super-friendly. Add the out-of-tune piano and the dollar bills pasted everywhere, and this fine restaurant rates a solid 4-stars in my book. read more

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The atmosphere is very cool . The air conditioning is great . The patty melts were delicious The fish and chips were perfect The onion rings were fantastic The jack and coke was great and priced right ! Took one star away took a long time to get our food Will definitely return read more

It hasn't been open during Covid but if the owner is around he'll poor you a beer and talk about Bombay Beach history. Such a cool place! I can't wait to come back and see it with a crowd. Make sure you bring cash and check out some of the art installations in the community. read more

Wow, what a cool little place. A must stop for burger and beer when visiting Bombay Beach. The whole place is covered in dollar bills, and you can graba pitcher of markers from the bartender to add your own. This is standard bar fare, bugers and fries or patty melts and fries. We all opted for cheeseburger and they were exactly what we wanted and one of the better bar burgers we've had. Add that to the super friendly staff and the large outdoor patio makes this an easy place to recommend. NOTE: They are cash only but do have an ATM if you forget. read more

It's seriously exactly what you'd expect on the post apocalyptic Salton Sea town, it's awesome, friendly, and fun!

Well this was an unexpected find! Came to Bombay Beach for the art, and extra bonus of lunch and a beer at this delightful bar/restaurant. Ok, the food is mostly of the deep friend variety - those homemade zucchini sticks were the bomb! And my friend had the rib eye special that conceivable could compete with a &50 steak house. We sat at the bar, as we do. We met a local artist who did a healthy amount of installations on the beach and around town and a spry bartender who we think has been there since the place opened in the 50's and doesn't miss a beat! And the $1.00 bills over every surface.. yes we added our own! read more

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Here's the official Ski Inn guide: Go in and find a seat. Shouldn't be hard between the bar, tables, and patio area. Identify your table number and then order at the bar. They have burgers, grilled cheese, bottled beer, a full bar, and a large selection of canned sodas. Once you've ordered, the bar will make your drinks immediately and then bring your food to your table once ready. That's about it. I highly recommend sitting at or near the bar. You're right where the action is, and you get service faster than being out on the patio. This place gives you what they promise, and they don't promise fine wine and white glove service. This is the spot for a drink and a sandwich. Also, this is indeed the bar Trevor is banned from in GTA V. And yes they sell t-shirts. read more

Omg the highlight of our whole vacation. Go for the experience, music, food, drinks people watching--10 stars! The owner is awesome. You don't go for fast service and if you are being a jerk-leave. This isn't that vibe....people need to relax. Cash only. I ish I could have stayed all day. read more

Ski Inn - American Near Me - Niland, California

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This is a bar I keep coming back to, wherever in the world I live. It's as real (and raw) as it gets. Familiar faces, surprising conversations. And I always smile thinking about the first time, when a guy in a banana costume walked in from Slab City and danced madly to the jukebox... read more

The ski Inn is a Gem. My husband I stop by anytime we are nearby. I brought a bunch of drag queens and people in there for Lunch recently and everyone was so kind and loving and welcoming. The new owners are lovely, The staff was AMAZING and the food was really good as well. There is no place like it. If you are anywhere close to Niland you must stop by. Its a truly special place that you will not forget! read more

Brought the whole family and everyone loved it! Great food and service and you can't beat the atmosphere/decor!

Stopped here on the way to Salvation Mountain because I remembered seeing it on Anthony Bourdain. It was a hole in the wall little restaurant. Mostly locals because it is in the middle of nowhere. My boyfriend said his best cheeseburger was the best burger he's ever had in his life!!!! Ernie (the cook) came out an talked with us for a bit. Super funny guy. If I ever head back in that direction, I will definitely go back. Tip: Take a single dollar bill to decorate and post on their wall (they have markers for you) read more

Ski Inn - Lowest bar in the Western Hemisphere - American Near Me - Niland, California

Totally awesome. I've been wanting to come here for over 10 years. Great food and vibes. Friendly staff. 5 stars!!!

Got lost at the Salton Sea and this is the only eatery in this ghost town. I absolutely LOVED it!! Home made and home pounded burgers!! Simple menu, burgers and beer, the end. Don't expect some fancy service, you have to order at the bar and they deliver your food to you 30 minutes later- and it's still hot! This place is seriously made to order, the wait is worth it! You can def tell the locals sit at the bar and the visitors are on the other side sitting on the picnic tables. Everybody was pretty nice and the sweet lady who delivered our food did it with a smile. I'll def return! They have a music playing, beer taps, homemade burgers, billiards, and clean bathrooms, what else could you ask? read more

Ski Inn - Beer and a burger; homemade patties so freakin delicious!! - American Near Me - Niland, California

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Literally a desert oasis. There are two very popular bird feeders hanging in front, and as I watched the songbirds jockey for a perch, it was like I was looking at myself. So, don't come here for any special reason. Come here because there is no other option for miles around. First of all, let's get one thing straight. No one here does any type of skiing. I checked the census, and median age for this census tract is 64 years young. Imperial county may be filled with able-bodied working-age Mexican migrants, but Bombay Beach, a land fiction couldn't dream up, is all retired white folk. If you're the only gig in town, you might jack up the prices, right? Nope. Median household income in Bombay Beach is $20,982, so the Ski Inn generously offers cold mason-jar mugs of macro-brew for $2.50. Plus cheap eats, a working juke. On this corner of Mars, this is as good as it gets. Expecting more would be foolhardy. Still, the cole slaw was just plain gross. And I have to air one particular grievance. We have a buddy in Bombay Beach named Les, aka "Hunky Daddy". He's an old-time refugee from the Hungarian Revolution, circa 1956, and star of the hit indy film, "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea". We asked about Les at the bar, and got a cold response. "Don't mention that name in here," we were told. Turns out Hunky Daddy and two of his Hungarian buddies were in the bar that past week and they got into a big fight. Our Hungarian friends claim that they were jumped, completely unprovoked. Do I believe it? Not entirely, but I do love my Hungarian friends. And you gotta back your peeps. read more

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Website says they are open with outdoor dining but that's simply not true! Call before you go!

For some reason, I thought this whole area was going to be deserted, but there are people living here and a couple businesses open. I really needed to use the restroom, so we popped inside. The boyfriend decided to get a drink while I used the facilities, and when I came out, he had what looked like a double shot of whiskey for a mere $6. Pretty good deal. The lady behind the counter was nice and friendly, and she sent me on my way with a cup of water, though it tasted extremely full of minerals or something metallic. The bar is covered in signed and decorated dollar bills, which was interesting to look at. Most customers were just sitting around, drinking, but there was a family with what looked like grandparents sitting down to some lunch food. read more

I really liked this place very tasty food reasonable prices. friendly bartenders waiters. This place has a very unique interior such as there you can leave a dollar for yourself and hang it on the wall in any place you want. I liked it the next time I will be there. I will definitely come back. read more

Ski Inn - American Near Me - Niland, California

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We were so thrilled to have found this place basically out in the middle of nowhere! Great atmosphere. Were able to watch the football game front and center. Great drinks and food. read more