Great Pre-Lunch Drinks with a View. We stopped here for drinks while waiting for our lunch reservation at Beachcomber, and it turned out to be a great way to kick off the meal. Located on the rear side of the restaurant, this bar shares the same drink menu, so you're getting the full experience before you even sit down. The bartenders were attentive and kept things moving despite a pretty packed crowd -- impressive given how busy it was. Service was quick and efficient, which made the wait fly by. We tried two cocktails -- the Big Bad Bloody Mary and the Beachcomber Cocktail. The Bloody Mary was the clear star of the show. It came loaded with crab, shrimp, pickled olives, carrots, and beans -- practically a meal in itself and absolutely delicious. The Beachcomber Cocktail, on the other hand, was a bit too sweet for our taste, so if you prefer something more balanced, you may want to explore other options on the menu. Drinks are on the pricier side, but honestly, the location justifies it. You're paying for the ambiance as much as what's in the glass. Bottom line: A fun and lively spot to grab a drink before your meal. Skip the Beachcomber Cocktail if you're not into sweet drinks, but don't leave without trying that Bloody Mary -- it's a standout. read more

So went on a beach walk at crystal cove and ended up at the end or could be the beginning of it where they have a couple of restaurants and cottages and shops . We stopped in at the bar on the backside of the beachcomber. Been here a few times and always had a great experience. They have plenty of seating and standing area for drinks and hanging out and enjoying the weather and atmosphere. Drinks are made very well and flavorful. Outside seating first come , first served. Server comes out right away, fun and friendly we had drinks and had our table right on the patio then we Ordered some very tasty appetizers. Everything we had was amazing like always I know I'll be back sooner than later cheers!!!! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Kettle n water , strawberry martini - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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What a gem. As a visitor from Ohio, this seems like old-time California at its best. Had a great time imbibing by the ocean, waves, and sand. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Lived here for so long and only started visiting this place more recently! Highly recommend giving it a try for a date night or even with family and friends. Right by the beach, and live music really set great vibes. Will be coming back for more food and drinks read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

YUMMY. YES. LOVE. Great vibes and good people. What a beautiful location as well. The drinks were 100/10 and I have not stopped thinking about the watermelon mojito since I was there last week. The apps were very good as well!! I loved the meatballs and the skewers. The staff was nice overall and I liked their outfits:) read more

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Nice bar with a great view. The Korean Steak Skewers were so good. The Kung Pao Calamari was just okay. The Watermelon Mojito was one of the best cocktails I've had. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. The drinks and view made it a spot worth coming back to. read more

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We were spending the weekend in Newport Beach and took a short hike from our villas to the Bootlegger in Crystal Cove. We were going to wait for a table at the Beachcomber but ended up eating at the Bootlegger. We were really happy with our selections and the service was prompt and courteous. We had the roasted tomato soup on puff pastry, Wagu beef meatballs with garlic bread, and buffalo chicken rolls with some cold beers. Everything was served hot and quick. The sauces were wonderful as well. read more

A cool spot in Crystal Cove below the iconic Shake shack. If you know the area you know that parking is a hard task & a 15-min walk to get from the parking lot to the restaurant/bar. While the food was good - We ordered the clam chowder and really just wish there was more of it, portion sizes are pretty small & although they are just an appetizer/drink spot, $14 for a bowl of clam chowder could've warranted a larger portion. I get you are paying for the location, but still! The drinks were yummy, I got the blackberry tea in the large jar and it was even bigger than expected. It was Thursday eve and they had live music, which was an awesome contribution to the overall vibe. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Seating - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Absolutely perfect! It was wonderful. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. Drinks were amazing and view was spectacular read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This was a small cute bar located on the edge of Crystal Cove state park, right by the shorelines. It's a nice place to grab refreshments if you want to take a break from the beach. Vibes were good and the waitress was friendly. Seating was self-serve and not hard to find on a Saturday afternoon (9/14). My friend and I ordered a Skinny Mule. It was my first time having a Moscow Mule, so I don't think I'm qualified to critique but overall I thought it was a decent drink. A lot of other people around us were ordering Blood Mary's; those looked really big. read more

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Fun outside bar with an amazing ocean view. Appetizers, soup, & salad are on the menu. We shared their chicken rolls, which were a perfect accompaniment to our drinks. It was the end of the night, and the bar tender seemed a bit tired. Not as friendly as they usually are. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Sunset at Crystal Cove. - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This what seems like a hidden gem is a whole vibe on the beach. -you can pay for parking, take a shuttle down ($2 per person) and get your ticket validated or you can take a nice walk down. Best to make reservations but since we just showed up to check it out, we sat at the bar, ordered some appetizers with drinks and enjoyed the live music and the beautiful sunset. The appetizers were delicious and my mojito was a lot bigger than I expected (came in a large mason jar). They also have cute little cottages you can rent out for the night. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Fun little bar to have a few drinks. Menu is just drinks and appetizers. The calamari, steak skewers and ahi tacos were good. Service was good. Seating is first come first serve read more

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What a cool little hidden gem of a beach bar. Stopped in around sunset, and it was a great visit. There was some cool jazz playing; and bartender was very friendly. I ordered the baked tomato soup topped with a puff pastry crown, served piping hot, which was perfect on a chilly beach evening. Plenty for 2 as an appetizer. Then I ordered the signature Beachcomber cocktail, which was good, but a little sweet for me. Next time I might try a mai tai if they can make it less sweet, and the chargrilled artichokes. But looking forward to next time at this unique retro beach hangout. read more

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I've been coming here for over 10 years now with my family and sometimes I come alone during lunch. The service is definitely good especially the bartenders (they don't skimp out on the drinks). I've had the crab cakes, ahi tacos, lobster sandwich, micheladas, mai tai and today I tried the dragon fruit tinga tostadas. They were very tasty with a hint of spice. I stood at the end of the bar seats closest to the bungalow till about half way through my meal until someone near me left, I was able to grab a stool. About 2min after I had grabbed my own stool the manager came out and told me to keep my dog under my legs so that he didn't block the passage way, which I understand. I just don't understand why if I was at his eyes view he couldn't bring me a stool when there was one open seat in a three group table. Overall like I said before I've been coming here alone or with family and friends I will continue to come and enjoy the pretty view, ambience and food/drinks. Definitely would advice all my friends and followers to come and enjoy this enchanting spot. My Latino/ Asian and Black community especially! A more diverse crowd would be perfect. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Michelada - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I ordered the michelada and for the price, it was not worth it. It tasted watered down and wasn't even filled to the top. The service was goo though. . They allowed me to trade my drink for a different one. The coconut mojito was decent compared to the michelada. All in all the drinks were more for show than for flavor. read more

Great place to drink and get a bite to eat! Alex (bar tender ) is rock star brought his full energy and made us feel at home at the bar and made us fill at home read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great bartender, Alex! Was helpful & accommodating when ordering Big Bloody Mary's, calamari, & artichoke appetizers! Weather was great & sunny the 2 days we went. Had to return for another round of the marvelous Bloody Mary's $21. Hey, if you're on vacation, you deserve to try it! Sooooo yummy & ambiance was perfect for a fun time near the beach! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Bloody Mary with crab claw, shrimp, pickled veggies & olives $21., gotta try it. - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Watermelon drink was yummy! View and ambience was delightful - can't beat crystal cove

What a refreshing and pleasant experience. Whatever restaurant or bar you want to open, please send your future employees to shadow the servers and bartenders at Bootlegger Bar. The staff at Bootlegger surpass any expectations and bar that is set. We were greeted right away, treated with the utmost respect and hospitality. Man, what joyful time we were able to share with family, and can't wait to return. Shame on me for forgetting the name of our server. However, she happily fulfilled any request we had and all of our food items arrived right away. Even the food runner was so Nice! He reminded us to validate our parking and gave us wet wipes (obviously for our dirty kids faces ). Food: we came for dessert and drinks. 3 of us got hot chocolates, but I got a Mango Margarita (superb!). The drink wasn't washed down with nasty sweet and sour, but it was made with fresh ingredients, you could taste! The beignets were HEAVEN. Oh man. I woofed 3 of them and asked myself how it happened so fast. Overall it was a fantastic experience and we will be returning for date night!!! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Romero the bartender is the absolute best! The skewers, grilled artichoke, mini ahi tacos & cucumber mist martinis are some of my favorites! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Korean skewers - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came here for drinks while waiting for a table at Beachcomber Cafe and were thoroughly disappointed with the mojitos we ordered. These two drinks came out to a total of $29 and yet were watery and gross. The mint was old and browning and the sugar wasn't dissolved leaving an annoying crunchy texture. They were flavorless and horrible. Save your money and go elsewhere for drinks. The atmosphere isn't worth the disappointment. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - watery mojitos with old mint :( - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Stopped half way through our hike for nourishment. Had the bootlegger cocktail, ahi tuna tacos, pork belly bao buns and chicken tostiditos. I loved the ahi tuna tacos and bao buns. read more

My friend and I got really lucky and were able to be seated within 5 minutes of walking up. There were two large parties ahead of us, so we got to skip the line. Otherwise, we probably would've had to wait anywhere from 30 min to an hour. The waiter was really nice, but he kept pulling his mask down when he was talking to the guests standing in line. Not sure what the point of a mask is if you don't wear it. We ordered the calamari appetizer along with a couple of cocktails. The calamari was very unremarkable. It wasn't very crispy and it also didn't have much flavor on its own. The orange sauce was really yummy, but I expected the calamari itself to have some sort of seasoning. The calamari also came with chips, but they were all soggy by the time we got to them. For drinks, we got the endless summer (strawberry & cucumber) and the blackberry G&T. I like that the drinks were made with real fruit, but I thought they went overboard with the amount of fruit bits they put in. My straw kept getting clogged and I basically had to chew through every sip I took. Our second round of drinks was a tad better, with a more reasonable ratio of fruit to drink. The beach environment and beautiful weather helped make the experience enjoyable overall. I was able to overlook some of the not-so-great things because I was practically sitting on the beach as the sun set with a drink in my hand on a 75 degree night. Really lovely atmosphere. read more

We put our name down for the Beachcombers Cafe but it was a 1.5 hour wait so we decided to come here for drinks. It was open seating on the patio area. I ordered the watermelon mojito and it was delish! It came in a huge mason jar with the tropical flower and watermelon for decoration. It wasn't too strong which is why I liked it. We also ordered the appetizers and they were all very good. We came in a larger group of 10 people so it was quite difficult to share the appetizers. They didn't seem like the typical shareable appetizers. They also weren't out of this world amazing. The location is right off the beach but other than that, I don't see myself coming here. read more

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Overpriced bar. Settled on coming here since it was overly packed on a Saturday afternoon, which is routine for the adjoining restaurant by this bar, The Beachcomber. I ordered one of their specialty cocktails named after the bar itself. It was very subpar for a mixed drink but definitely fits the bill of a "girly cocktail drink" with no taste of alcohol apparently. It was honestly a very watered down/juiced up, weak cocktail. I spent nearly $14 on it. Think a spiked pink lemonade drink but very little of the former which makes a cocktail. I barely got even a tiny buzz after effect from this drink. On the upside, the bar service was attentive and drinks were mixed and poured rapidly, ready to be served. Didn't bother taking a photo of my drink though because it was literally a pink colored drink and wasn't an aesthetically pleasing enough cocktail to deserve a nice Yelp photo. Not giving even a 3 star rating though additionally because of lack of seating. Yes, I understand limited space especially when you're on a crowded, popular beach location like Crystal Cove on Newport Beach. But seriously, it creates an uncomfortable, slightly ambience where not all your paying customers can have a seat to momentarily relax and sip on their cocktail. I'm sure there are better beachside bars that have better quality ambience and actually have a venue with enough bar top seating. I could get a cheaper spiked lemonade for a cheaper price elsewhere. I recommend taking a pass on The Bootlegger Bar. read more

This would have been a better experience if the bartender wasn't so cold at first. It wasn't until we were paying the check did he show a glimpse of character and kindness. The drinks are good. That's all. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - The bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

They're not kidding when they dub their Mai Tai's, 'Strong Tai's!!! After the small walk down from the parking lot, it was a refreshing welcoming to the beach! Bartenders were attentive and friendly, definitely set the vibe for a good time read more

An amazing seaside bar ! The drinks and food were top drawer! Doesn't have the usual " tiki bar." Decor but the giant creative drinks and ocean side location do make it a tiki bar I suppose ? The watermelon Mojito served in a giant mason jar was surely a drink to remember! My Dark and Stormy was also great , but seemed tame by comparison! The staff was friendly, Hawaiian shirt clad cuties! They had great recommendations, and We can't wait to return to eat more of the date paste &Blue cheese flatbread. Mouth is watering, just remembering how savory & Different it was ! It sure would be fun to stay in a cabin , enjoy the Beach overnight,and wobble home after a few of the delicious cocktails served Here ! The rest of us can park at the top & Take the free shuttle,,, and get this bar to validate your parking ticket so parking will be free too. read more

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We came here on a Sunday morning, decided to grab some coffee while we waited for the Beachcomber. It was 9AMish, and we got seated right away. This place doesn't have an ocean view m, but it tucked behind and has a bungalow feel. I had no expectations, but this place was so fun! We were seated by a heat lamp and had a fun view of the paths for people watching! In the early morning, they offered crepes and beneits (definitely spelled that word wrong!) and we got the crepes, coffee, and mimosas. (I saw another table order the beneits and they looked so good.) The mimosas were delicious, coffee simple and black, and omg the crepes. Filled with mango, strawberry, banana and the most delicious cream. The were fluffy, stuffed, delicious, didn't waste one bite! Super satisfying and I really enjoyed our experience here! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - Bungalow patio vibe, tucked behind along the path. - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Great spot for a drink and tapas. Erica is an amazing waitress. Super attentive, friendly, and very personable. read more

During a pandemic COVID-19 I would think as a business owner with the power to help people with their parking validation there shouldn't be a minimum of $15 per person. As a business owner and customer I expect more from small business who are attracting new customers even if it is $10 or less. We will remember if you helped us or not and make future decisions on places to dine! Thanks for the Mia opportunities! You know that this country is struggling and to make us purchase $15 per person just so we can get out of the house to exercise on our beautiful west coast beaches you have the power to help and not force such a policy. Food for thought! read more

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Definitely worth the wait. Server Danielle is amazing. We came for drinks only and she recommended two apps that made our day. Mahi spring rolls were stunning and have no fillers and tons of meat. Best bite I've had in a while. Love the lemongrass beef skewers as well. Thank you Danielle for helping create an amazing experience for my girlfriend and I read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I cannot get enough of the ahi tuna tacos! They are a little pricey for 4 little tacos but they are sooooo good on little wonton shells. Bring salt because they need it... but they are addictive. read more

My friend brought me to this place I didn't even know existed 5 mins from my home..... the host lady was very rude and looked at me funny when I asked for a mask.... Service took a minute.. felt rushed as well because the server was ready to clock out and kept asking if we were ready to close out..... didn't like the ceviche but the chips are amazing.... Ahi tuna tacos I think the ratio with the tuna to veggies was a bit too much for me.... But I did ENJOY THE PIM CUP!!! Cheers read more

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This visit did not disappoint. The margaritas were mixed well and the coolness was appreciated on a humid day. The mini ahi tacos were good. Four of them in an appetizer came with a super crunchy shell, cool slaw, spicy aioli, and a good quality ahi. The flatbread was the damn thing though! A thin round of flatbread spread with fig jam, a really good blue cheese, and roasted tomatoes was the perfect combo- every bite was a reward for ordering it. Good drinks, great food, and an unbeatable view. Win win win. read more

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It was my first time here. We went to catch the view on a beautiful day and have a small bite and some cocktails. I asked if the tables near the bar were open seating with a server and the bartender said yes so we sat. 15 mins later no one came by, I saw many servers walk past me on the way to the bar from the connected cafe and I stopped one and asked if there was a server that could help us. He said if you don't get served you should go to the bar it will be faster. Just as I was going to walk up to the bar to order I saw the waitress bringing drinks to the couple two spots away and waved at her hello to her know we sat and she waved back. I thought she would come over to help us. She didn't come back so another 10 mins pass and I get up to go to the bar again and I see the same waitress and I asked can I order from you she said yes so I gave her my order for a couple of ice waters, cocktail and appetizers. She followed me far enough to see where I was sitting and turned around to, what I thought, was to put my order in. Another 10 mins go by, no sign of the waitress anywhere and I decided to leave. I saw her at the bar I told her to cancel my order and she said she put it in and she had my drink order she and points to water getting filled up. I asked what happened she said the computer was down, which was ridiculous. She couldn't have brought the water, the settings for the table and explained it would be a bit for the cocktails? I felt like I was bothering her to do her job and help a customer. I was shocked for a place on the beach in Newport Beach to have this kind of service. So I received the cocktails and the food finally, which was tasty. This restaurant and the waitress could have tripled their revenue and gratuity if they would have accommodated the customer. We're were planning on drinking and eating more. I saw others around me experiencing the same issue also. read more

The Bootlegger Bar - View from our seat - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My husband and I got beignets and coffees here. The food was fine, nothing special. A bit expensive for what it is, but I guess we were paying for the location. read more

The food ... amazing! The drinks ... amazing! The views ... amazing Our servers Max & Jaime ... amazing! 'Nough said! read more

The Bootlegger Bar - American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Not all that great! Went on a hike at Crystal Cove Park and afterwords we were thirsty so decided to come here for a quick drink. First off, this bar does not have a view it's Tucktaway behind the beachcomber restaurant and the only thing you get to see is a dirt road. in addition the prices are still extremely high a beer is $8 to $9. If you parked across the Pacific Coast Highway at the parking lot there and took the tunnel across it is $5 an hour. This bar does validate however you have to spend a minimum of $15 in order for them to validate, so basically a wash. The service was pretty terrible, and the bartenders were busy and basically ignored us for some time. read more