The Partisan

We visited this gem on our first visit to Merced. We were in the mood for some great beer and pizza…read moreand our amazing bar keep helped us with great recommendations! We ordered beer and walked down the street to order our pizza and bring it back. It was great to hang out and take our time while waiting for our son's next water polo game. They do a great job of keeping this place super clean. The vibe is very casual/college town - which fits since this the college is nearby! I would recommend this great place to anyone looking to stop in for a good drink and friendly barkeeper!

My favorite place to go for a cold beer. They have beer from all over on draft and in cans. If…read moreyou're a beer connoisseur and in the area stop by. Vibes are chill and they even have Pliny on draft. Oh yeah they have wine too and seltzers--and miller for you light drinkers

Artwork and seating along the wall during the day

Pliny the Elder

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O'Ryleigh's Bar & Grill

2.8(77 reviews)

Beers were cold, Burgers were fresh, FIFA was in the tube and AC was cold. Just returned from a…read more4day hike in Yosemite and was looking to grab a proper meal and a cold beer. Hit the spot. One of our crew they forgot to make his burger so we are ours before he got his.

Lulu the bartender is horrible. I went once before and loved it. But that woman must be going…read morethrough something. Nothing but rude and attitude.

Bar

O'Ryleighs Big Burger Rib Eye Steak & Fries

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Side of bar and main walkway

Bella Luna

4.0(656 reviews)

Decided to take family out for dinner on saturday night to bella luna. The greeters were very nice…read moreand seated us shortly after.the food was absolutely delicious. We order calamary,caesar salad,capellini and italiano pizza which was outstanding. Service was ok, our server jasmine was very short with words and seem to be in a rush, we did not kept us from enjoying our food. We will definatly be back to try other pizzas and pastas.

Bread is freshly baked and yum but not complimentary. Meatballs appetizer is tasty, comes with 4…read morebig meatballs. Combo: half salad and half sandwich are limited to a few options only. Asked the waiter if I can pay extra to select a different salad on the menu and they said No. Pasta is great, salad is average, the beet salad plate was cold, seems like it came straight from the fridge. Pizza took very long to make, it came towards the end of our meal. The waiter gave us some free fries and soups to make up the long wait time. Overall it's not a bad experience, I would go back for pasta dishes only.

Best Seat in the House

A Place To Bring a Friend

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Book for Private Events. Contact : banquets@bellalunamerced.com. Tuscan Room. Seats 80.

Jams@209 Sports Bar & Grill

4.0(261 reviews)

7.6 mi

Never disappoints the food is always fantastic. I had a pizza the others had Philly sandwich…read more Bella was a great server so bubbly and fun what a great asset to Jams. I Love the music it always makes me sing it takes me back to the 70's now I'm telling my age haha. It's always a great time. Thank you see you soon!!!

I'll start this by saying that the service was exceptional. The young lady was by herself handling…read morea large party, guests at the bar, and tables scattered around the dining room. This server definitely deserves 5 stars! Now, the food. We heard good things about the burgers. We didn't have a burger however, we had a Jamwich? I'm not sure if that's the name but it's the fried chicken sandwich with various sauces. And we also tried the santa fe grilled chicken sandwich. I'm not sure of the name on this one either. The fried chicken sandwich apparently comes with two sauces. I only saw one and asked for it on the side because I like to taste the ingredients first. Well, it come with A LOT of the other sauce - maybe a Chipotle type sauce. I mean it was drowned in the sauce. The chicken was cooked in appearance but it ate like it needed more time in the fryer. It was kind of tough to the bite. If you're a chef or cook, you know what I'm talking about. The garlic fries are basic sidewinder fries dressed with parm and garlic. The other chicken sandwich was actually more enjoyable but the fries on that one were very very subpar. They do give large portions and the food looks good in appearance. We may come back to try the burgers since that's what was recommended.

Sitting at the high top tables looking at the Menu and enjoying a Dust Bowl Therapist

Chipotle Chicken Sandwich

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Monster Burger

Joystiq

3.6(117 reviews)

Fun place for DDR and video games. Ask them to bring you a switch and you can play vids right at…read morethe bar, super cool experience.

is an awesome spot for a night out -- packed full of energy, games, and good vibes. The venue…read moreitself is large, with a lively arcade-floor full of games, karaoke upstairs, and a bar that keeps things fun. The staff were friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Food- and drink-wise: the menu covers both comfort items (wings, fries, burgers) and some Mediterranean-style dishes, which was a nice change. The wings and seasoned fries were standouts for us. The drink options were creative, and the bartender nailed our cocktails. While the entrees were okay (nothing gourmet), the portions were solid and the overall quality matched the atmosphere. If you're looking to hang out with friends, play some vintage arcade games, and enjoy a casual meal and drinks in one place, Joystiq hits the mark. I'll definitely be back.

Inside

Mozzarella sticks

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Lamb burger with onion rings

Five Ten Bistro

3.7(353 reviews)

Stopped in with my family for lunch on Friday. When we walked in the restaurant was pretty busy and…read moreunfortunately only had one server working all positions herself. She greeted us and sat us. Then we sat looking at the menu for over 10-15minutes and she still had not returned to even get our drink order. She finally returned and apologized for the long wait. We ordered our drinks and food since we were now ready. The food took quite some time to come out. But as we were waiting we noticed the tables around us still had not received their food as well. When our food finally arrived it was really good. We ordered the buttermilk ranch Chicken Sandwich with fries / sweet potato fries, double stack burger added egg on top with fries & kids chicken tenders. Chicken sandwich was perfect. Juicy on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside. My husband enjoyed the stack burger. The restaurant was clean and had they of had a hostess & busser to help out the waitress I believe the experience would have gone better. For this I deducted 1 star.

Lunch with my son and pup here was fantastic. We sat outdoors and the courtyard in front of the…read morerestaurant is a nice space to take in the active downtown view. Our server was top notch and very well versed on the menu. They have a full bar and extensive menu. We started with the poke appetizer, which was amazingly flavorful. I was not expecting the ample amount and excellent quality of this dish. It's a must-try if you like raw fish. We also tried the bacon wrapped dates, which were awesome. The cashew nut inside is a pleasant addition. I ordered the 510 Penne for lunch and my son had the tortellini. Both were excellent. The chicken was very tender. It was a lot of food and we took some leftovers. They have a unique payment system whereby you can scan a barcode on the bill to pay your bill automatically. This was a nice touch and came in handy to pay quickly because rain was rolling in. Overall I highly enjoyed this restaurant and look forward to my next visit. There's parking nearby and it's close to lots of shops if you care to walk and shop.

Dinning room

Valentine's Day's Dinner Wonderful

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Inside restaurant

Out of Bounds Sports Bar

3.8(16 reviews)

7.6 mi

Service is great. Great Bands and entertainment on the weekends and excellent drink specials…read more We'll be back.

Right next to a laundromat if you got the urge to do laundry, day drink and play some pool. It…read morecould happen lol. Neighborhood bar with friendly neighborhood charm, yes I said it charm. The bartenders are attentive with a smile. I didn't stay long enough for the music to start, I guess a band comes in. 2 pool tables ($2 per game) money changer on the wall. Dress comfortable and prepare to be friendly cuz you're going to end up chatting the night away with the locals. This is a bar so choices for snacks are very limited but that won't stop you from having a fun time.

Applebee's Grill + Bar

2.5(318 reviews)

1.5 mi

Server was very helpful, easy to talk to, and overall a very nice gentleman. The extra hot wings…read morewere on point, and the cheese for the pretzels were absolutely out of this world. Five stars, will 100% be returning. P.S I cleared out my plate lol

Riblets didn't have enough fat on them, though that should be expected with mini ribs, the servers…read morewere kind and patient. Very good service from that. And the place could use a bit higher music, the ambiance was just too quiet, felt like I was eating in a library.

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Applebee's Grill + Bar

2.4(234 reviews)

7.5 mi

The service is always amazing, with the best food options for your entire family with such sweet…read moreand kind waitresses!

Husband liked his steak.. After waiting for a glass of the wine I ordered, I was informed they…read moredidn't have it in stock (no biggie other than the wait). I ordered a soup and the salad. The soup came out Luke warm with cold spots and the salad was old, browning and slathered in dressing. Soup was reheated and brought back out (probably microwaved) but I am content with the soup. We try this place every once in a while trying to have a better experience.... Sigh.

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11 reviews that are not currently recommended

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

Marissa B.

0

12

11

2 years ago

I absolutely love The Partisan! It has such a great vibe, and it changes depending on when you visit. On First and Third Fridays, they have an amazing DJ who plays fantastic hip hop, really setting the mood for a fun night. On other days, the atmosphere is super mellow, making it the perfect spot to relax. If you're not into the noise, you can always head to the back for a quieter area to unwind. The drinks are really good and reasonably priced, which makes it even better. The staff is always sweet and patient, and I've never had any issues there. Whether you want to kick back with a drink or enjoy a fun night out, they've got you covered. They host comedy and karaoke nights, which adds even more fun to the experience. Honestly, The Partisan is perfect for me; great drinks, good vibes, friendly staff, and something for everyone. It's the kind of place where you can always find the right energy, whether you're looking for a relaxing night or a lively one. read more

Tom C.

1

13

0

15 years ago

This bar is a nightmare. It's trying to pose as a place for young hipsters. Uhh, not so much in Merced, posers. The bar itself is filthy. The crowd is full of idiot posers or low class thugs. They have reportedly had several incidents of people either being beaten by groups of thugs, knifed or shot just outside of or after leaving this bar and going into the parking lot according to the Merced Sun Star. Just google the police blotter crime reports with their name on the Merced Sun Star and see for yourself, don't rely on this review. Their bartenders are also inattentive and creepy. As soon as they burn through whatever operating loan they probably got to start this bar I predict they will fold up in about another year. Good riddance, the downtown is a filthy, dangerous mess these days thanks to crappy bars like this which fits right in with all the addicts, mental defectives and bums wandering around Main Street in Merced. read more

Joe M.

0

10

0

17 years ago

All I can say about this place is HELL YA you need to go here. The bartenders are AWESOME (Candice especially- that girl is the BEST BARTENDER IN TOWN, HANDS DOWN!). Most of the DJS are AWESOME- The vibe is GREAT inside and most of the patrons are cool people to drink with. The live music is a little to be desired but then again that might be because I have never heard of most of the bands that play there. easily the best bar in Merced. Highly recommended. read more

Ben W.

0

22

0

17 years ago

Good prices on beer and cool place to come see live music, this place is good for Merced because it's not like evrything out there that has been done rap ,country, and of course spanish music. I can't rate the Partisan higher, due to the fact it's in Merced it seems thats it's GOD'S gift to man because every other bar in Merced is lame, if the Partisan was say in L.A., Austin, or etc...... it would just be average but still much respect to the Partisan read more

Alexander L.

Elite 9

279

271

6

17 years ago

This is a solid bar to go to with friends. I wouldn't to here if you're looking to hook up. This is a chill venue with good solid action every night and they post it up too. When you come there's usually something of something goin on. They're pretty good about posting up what's going on in the near future up on the board they have in front of the bar. Also there's a yogurt shop called Forte Frozen Yogurt where they have some cross advertising. read more

Noel B.

20

73

5

16 years ago

This hardly passes for a bar/club. It is literally a loud and long hallway literally explaining how crowded it is. Also, when you order a beer the glass doesn't come frosted and leaves your wondering about the cleanliness of the establishment. The only reason the partisan receives 2 stars is because I am giving it the benefit of the doubt of being in Merced. read more

Cecilia Z.

88

28

3

13 years ago

Mediocre Bar the LEAST Requested a song and got shut down... Thanks Partisan!! Hispanic and Asian atmosphere.. be warned that there are creepers!. read more

Andrew B.

12

51

5

11 years ago

Hipster central, a true hipster would have gone there when it was still Trails End , lol

Tori G.

Elite 14

301

162

18

18 years ago

any bar that plays elliott smith is worth drinking at.

Seth G.

0

4

0

15 years ago

nice place to hangout downtown at night.

DJ T.

53

166

9

12 years ago

Most lively bar in Merced...

The Partisan - pubs - Updated October 2026

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Service is great. Great Bands and entertainment on the weekends and excellent drink specials…read more We'll be back.

Right next to a laundromat if you got the urge to do laundry, day drink and play some pool. It…read morecould happen lol. Neighborhood bar with friendly neighborhood charm, yes I said it charm. The bartenders are attentive with a smile. I didn't stay long enough for the music to start, I guess a band comes in. 2 pool tables ($2 per game) money changer on the wall. Dress comfortable and prepare to be friendly cuz you're going to end up chatting the night away with the locals. This is a bar so choices for snacks are very limited but that won't stop you from having a fun time.

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The Tarmac is an amazing brewery. Over the years it has had amazing events, drinks and vibes. Did I…read moreforget to mention a variety of food trucks. It's the spot to be if like good vibes. Their service is very slow and unprofessional. Like it's embarrassing how long it takes to get a beer or a cocktail. They might be more successful with providing better service and quicker if the beer tap area had lights so the 2 ladies a see. The tarmac not only has beer, but really good cocktails too. They have no security to check ids. I'm sure they serve miners. Cause they don't ID at all. The Tarmac Owner Steve really should hold his staff accountable for being slow and unprofessional, and actually very aggressive and argumentative when customers wait 30mins for a beer. The guy at the register was literally waving his hands and voice to customer asks for polite and more professional service. I really suggest some bar lights and more professionalism this might be to much of an expectation, so I encourage everyone to come to the tarmac and and enjoy good food, cold beer, chill vibes and below average service in my opinion today

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This is such a beautiful space. They play soft music and have various events throughout the month…read more My favorite part however, is their non-alcoholic menu. I don't drink wine, so I never thought this place would be for me and now I can't wait to return! They also sell boards and sandwiches. This is for sure a local gem.

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I had a Bloody Mary and it did not disappoint! The patrons were amazing and fun. Barbara is a great…read morebartender. I had tacos from across the street and came and did homework and relaxed. This place is worth the drive! I think I found my new drinking place.

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