The Zoo

The best neighborhood bar...ever. People who thought this…read morewas a "biker bar" were surprised by the amazing cross-section of people and The Best Bartenders in Santa Rosa. It will be sorely missed.

When my friend told me that there was a really cool dive bar called the Wagon Wheel I had to go and…read morecheck it out. She and I went and have been back about five times in the past week. We really love this place. It's a hidden gym the food is great somewhat and the ambience is amazing. Definitely recommend that you go check it out! Be sure to tell them that Juliana sent you.

WAG HEEL

Pool and booze, what more could you ask for?

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Sports bar too!

440 Club

3.7(73 reviews)

1.3 mi

This place is your local dive bar where are the locals go. Cool vibes everyone's welcome. J. d is…read morethe bartender nice and chill. You can't go wrong here .

My Favorite Local Dive Bar…read more This spot is hands-down my favorite local dive bar. The drink prices are super reasonable, and the bartenders are not only friendly--they make you feel right at home. Michelle is my go-to bartender (she's the best!), but I also love Candace and Edie--they're all amazing and bring great vibes every time. During the day, it's mostly a crowd of regulars, which gives the place a laid-back, welcoming feel. But you'll still see some out-of-towners passing through. On weekend nights, the energy shifts to a younger, more lively crowd--especially when the jukebox is going and everyone's playing their favorite bangers. If you're looking for a chill spot with great value, good drinks, and genuinely cool people who are just there to have a good time, I highly recommend this place. Bonus: it's clean, which is a big deal for a dive bar--not like some of those sketchier, grimy spots around town.

Great drinks, good music, chill people

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PBR and Jim Beam

Fiorino's

4.3(26 reviews)

3.9 mi

The shots are huge for the price of one. And the bartender is super sweet! Good parking, and they…read morehave free popcorn! A cute little joint to get yourselves into to play some pool or whateva :)

Absolutely love this bar, I've been coming off and on for over 20 years, definitely a more regular…read morenow, especially since I introduced my mom and her husband to this bar. The bartenders are great. The drinks are strong great price, great jukebox. They have fun events and the regulars who frequent here are almost all awesome.

Halloween party 2024

A nice welcoming... Not really

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Gary's at the Belvedere

3.2(163 reviews)

1.3 mi

Favorite bar in Santa Rosa, very laid back and cozy Outside…read moreis gorgeous, the trees and lighting is perfect and it's a good quiet place to sit down, inside has fun games and a louder atmosphere. The bar tenders are super sweet too.

This place continues to challenge me in ways I never expected. I identify as they/them, and…read moreunfortunately, that comes with a lot of misunderstanding and a lack of acceptance. I was simply relaxing when I was told to put my shirt on. Despite explaining myself and pointing out that other people were showing their chests and breasts, my concerns were dismissed. Apparently, the rules only seem to apply when it comes to certain people. For the longest time, I genuinely believed the Belvedere was a safe space where I could express myself freely and feel comfortable in my own skin. It's disappointing to see how quickly that sense of safety can disappear when you're simply trying to exist as your authentic self. What's even more disheartening is that, rather than having a respectful conversation or making an effort to understand my perspective, I was kicked out. Being treated this way for standing up for my gender identity was both humiliating and incredibly disappointing. It's ironic that a place I once considered welcoming has made me feel so unwelcome for being who I am. Inclusivity should mean more than just words or appearances. It should mean treating people with dignity and respect, even when you don't understand them. I refuse to believe that being comfortable in my own skin is something I should have to apologize for. I know who I am, and I will not make myself smaller to accommodate someone else's discomfort. The Belvedere has lost the trust of someone who genuinely wanted to believe it was a safe space. And honestly, that says far more about the environment they choose to create than it does about me.

The shittiest bar in Santa Rosa

Coming soon!

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Final Edition Bar

4.3(53 reviews)

5.5 mi

Another delicious lunch at the Final Edition. I had the French Dip with side of onion rings and…read morehusband had the Rogers Burger (same as Santa Rosa fair). Both were yummy. French Dip was served on a soft baguette roll with Swiss Cheese and lots of au jus ($16.25). Onion rings with enough for two for an extra $3.50. Friendly workers and fast service. Photo of menu as of August 2026.

Been here many times over the years, first time reviewing. We just came for their anniversary party…read moreand it was packed with a lot of regulars and some, great band, yummy a@@ burgers and friendly service as always, we been there on industry nights, lots of fun, DJ selection of music is ok. We always have a good time there and it's usually pretty full of people

From the dj view

Philly cheese

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The Eight Ball

3.7(67 reviews)

7.1 mi

Great place & friendly staff! A good little dive with pool tables and food trucks from time to…read moretime. Cool they have new owners! Cheers!

I complained before because when I went in, it was an overwhelming smell of cigarette and marijuana…read moreodor. The owners wrote a nice apology and said they're trying to do better to contain that. However. When we went in tonight, not only was there an overwhelming smell of marijuana but the DJ refused to play country music at our request saying, "No, the college kids are coming and they don't like that music." Meanwhile there were a handful of older customers and no college kids at that time. If you want to cater your business to college kids only, I wish you the best of luck. I'll take my business elsewhere where they have better customer service.

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Ausiello's 5th Street Bar and Grill

4.1(354 reviews)

1.0 mi

Watching some football with the fam and i love all the team work and energy and food is good and…read moreshout out to Ryan for going the extra mile and making sure we got the full game experience and turned the surround system on for us!!! Go Ausiello's!!!!

I'm in town visiting my dad and I decided to grab a bite after getting my nails done nearby. Found…read morethis place and they had nice outdoor seating so I decided to eat here. The menu is pretty is simple American bar food; burgers, sandwiches, steak, and salads. They have a lot of options though and you can even build a burger/ sandwich. I ended up ordering the spicy chicken melt with grilled chicken, cheese and grilled peppers. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality ingredients and how yummy it was. Sometimes bar food can be pretty basic and cheap, but the peppers were nicely grilled and the chicken was juicy. I had their sweet potato fries which were really good too! They have a condiments bar with different sauces. I got the DTF sauce for my fries which was fire and some green salsa to put on my sandwich which gave it an extra kick. I had one of their summer menu cocktails and I enjoyed it. Service was great! The server/ bartender was attentive, and friendly. My dad and step mom who live here now want to try it out!

Inside at bar

1/2 order frickles

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Spancky's

3.7(56 reviews)

7.0 mi

Spancky's! Keeping the Music live for as long as I can remember! Thank you I'll see you soon!read more

solid dive bar. surprisingly fun drinks for a dive bar. part of the cotati crawl. a staple in…read morecotati. had a fire shirley temple here. the bartenders were attentive and able to provide a glass of water for the flowers that were brought for a friends engagement. also super nice they let us bring in outside food.

Janet with the B day girl

My buddy , Lee

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My buds. Love you Aaron and Eric

Dolan's Den

4.1(73 reviews)

3.4 mi

Upon reading the reviews... Several of them stated that this place was a "Dive Bar". FIRST of…read moreall, if you are not familiar with a dive bar, then don't come here. You obviously don't understand the wonderfulness of a dive bar and this place is wonderful. I had the Queen prime rib special with mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli. Delicious!!! My hubby had the cheesesteak and crispy, delicious, best ever tater tots. Connie, our waitress was welcoming and attentive! We just moved to California a few months ago and found this place on a whim... It will now become one of our local favorites. We love Michelin star restaurants but we also appreciate a good dive bar because nothing replaces a good dive bar where "everybody knows your name"

We passed this building several times during our stay in Santa Rosa. Entered to an empty dining…read moreroom, several locals at the bar in the adjoining room. They were enjoying themselves. A bit dark. A bit well worn. Menu had more options than I thought it would. Appetizer sampler and a salad for me. Salad was a salad. The appetizer plate left a bit to be desired. There were 2 of each app and nothing else on the plate. It seemed disjointed. Had a cocktail. Eh. All in all glad we went so now I know what it is like. I won't go back to try anything else. They're was also a very strong smell of bleach or disinfectant that was over powering.

Bar

Queen prime rib

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Mamosa

Susies Bar

3.7(131 reviews)

12.7 mi

Terrible experience at Sussie's. I was turned away by the doorman on my wedding day, despite having…read morebeen admitted multiple times before under the exact same circumstances and with the exact same ID. My issue is not that he enforced a rule; it is the complete inconsistency in how that rule is applied. He was also rude, condescending, and treated me as though I were stupid while I tried to explain that this had never been an issue there before. Had I known the policy would suddenly be enforced differently, I would have come prepared. Honestly, it sounds like I did not miss much. According to friends who were already inside, the atmosphere that night was not great anyway. Treating a returning customer this way, especially on such an important night, was the final straw. My 35 guests and I left and took our business elsewhere, where the service was excellent and we ended up having a lovely night. I will not be returning to Sussie's and would not recommend it.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Historic no-frills bar on Calistoga's main drag…read more The sign caught my eye because Susie is my sister's name. Founded in 1944, this is one of the first bars to receive a liquor license after prohibition. We had some time to kill before dinner so decided to step in for a drink. The initial narrow hallway belied its expansive two-level interior, which had pool tables, tvs, internet jukebox and a Photo Booth (of which we took advantage). Pleasant place for beers and simple cocktails.

Clean bar lots of choices !! Great vibe too

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16 reviews that are not currently recommended

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

Shannon E.

0

6

0

12 years ago

I would have given The Zoo a minus 5 but no such button exists I guess.When I go the the bar for a drink I don't think you should have to wait 15 minutes because the Bartender a skinny woman with dark curly hair is standing outside getting high.Not cool in any way what so ever.Not only was she rude to me she acted as if she was doing me a favor letting me buy a drink from her after I stood there waiting the 15 minutes.She must be the owner because any employee that behaved like she did would have been fired..High and rude what a great combo in a Bartender.I had to wait on my second drink because she was busy gambling dice for money with the customers nice I don't even think that's legal in Calif.So if you want to wait for your drink while your Bartender gets high, gambles with the customers and treats you rudely by all means go to the zoo.The place is filthy the bathroom was dirty and had no toilet paper and there was what looked like a prostitute locked in the womens bathroom for another 20 minutes.Yeah great dive bar alright. I wont ever be going there again.. read more

Robert R.

0

3

0

12 years ago

The place is a dive in the worst way. I went there a few times its dirty the female Bartender that works nights is a total B---H she looked and acted like a total tweeker and was rude as hell. If you want a dive bar where you can buy drugs or get a hooker its your kind of place, but if your looking to relax and have a drink you should probably find another place to go. A friend of mine had her purse stolen right out from under the bar and the B---H of a Bartender could have cared less she asked us to leave for complaining about it.Its not a bar for the average hard working man or woman to go have a drink its a place for hookers drug addicts and drunks. read more

Mike G.

6

57

14

9 years ago

Omg this place is nuts. Definately a dive bar. But great music box and loose women! LOL Super friendly peeps. I like to play pool with my friend Dawn ... we like to party on the weekends. Maybe even join the pool league. If you are looking for classy.... this is not the place. If your looking for down to earth and raw... this would be it. I also like that I can bring my dog out back and hang out and have a beer or two or three. read more

Dawn B.

1

11

0

9 years ago

a total dive! lots of bikers! lol I love it here. Drinks are a bit pricey but what the hell do i care.... i am not buying. And if the hubby aint around I get more free drinks. I really love the margarita.... super strong and usually only need one or two to do the trick. The pool tables are fun... and I love music selection on the juke box.... super modern juke box. read more

Janet M.

0

4

0

12 years ago

This place is a shithole. I went there with my boyfriend . We were there for an hour in that time my boyfriend was approached by a prostitute doing business in the bar and some drunk man was bouncing off the cars outside in an attempt to reach his car, he left driving I hope he didn't kill himself or someone else .This place is disgusting. read more

Jessica L.

0

3

0

7 years ago

Very disappointed there wasn't any animals hear I was hopping to see some giraffes I love giraffes I also like penguins but I guess they weren't in season or something because they didn't have penguins ether I guess mama was right she always said life was like a box of chocolates never know what your goina get read more

Alex B.

0

6

2

9 months ago

This bar was dog shit. we arrived and the guy running the bar came out of a shack that looked like a meth lab. We went in and my friend had forgotten his ID (he went to go get it) and later was denied entry because he was supposed not matching with the ID. Absolutely dog shit service and we left right after read more

Randy P.

0

1

0

12 years ago

The Zoo gives dive bars a bad name . I went down there Thursday night based on the supposed good reviews . The place is dirty , people are doing drugs out in the back. Prostitutes,drug addicts and drunks appear to be the regulars here and the bartender was a total witch. read more

Justus M.

274

4

0

5 years ago

Terrible place, atmosphere after 11 completely changes. Lots of hostility and arguments. Depending on bartender working they will not remove them as they are likely friends. Leave this bar looking over your shoulder read more

Selector C.

200

11

7 years ago

Met a racist las woman last night. Serves her friends and tells us bar is closed 12:45 and shows me the finger. Only sane person @ this joint is the owner Vick and best bartender John. read more

Joe L.

42

5

0

15 years ago

The Zoo is awesome. Been going there for a couple years and its always a good time. Vince and Nick and awesome, and so is Kathy!!!!!

Melanie R.

0

17

0

3 years ago

Pool tables are good here. Regulars are whatever. Staff is cool and you know what you sign up for with a real dive bar.

Rick C.

0

1

0

12 years ago

Shitty bar,crappy service I used to be a regular when Frank owned the place now its pretty much a shithole.

Lisa D.

0

1

0

3 years ago

We were going to get a ride there but luckily we called first and found out they closed permanently!

Marlene T.

Elite 17

229

260

2894

17 years ago

Oh something else worth mentioning. Pitchers are an amazing 6 dollars.

Edgar G.

9

54

0

15 years ago

100% dive bar & Cheap drinks.

The Zoo - divebars - Updated October 2026

People who viewed The Zoo also viewed

Fiorino's

4.3

(26 reviews)

The shots are huge for the price of one. And the bartender is super sweet! Good parking, and they…read morehave free popcorn! A cute little joint to get yourselves into to play some pool or whateva :)

Absolutely love this bar, I've been coming off and on for over 20 years, definitely a more regular…read morenow, especially since I introduced my mom and her husband to this bar. The bartenders are great. The drinks are strong great price, great jukebox. They have fun events and the regulars who frequent here are almost all awesome.

Old Main Street Saloon

3.4

(31 reviews)

Great vibes. No frills. Played pool and shuffleboard. Locals were nice. Strong drinks. Cash only so…read morebe prepared.

I was visiting from out of state when I spent an evening at Old Main Street Saloon. Fantastic…read moreatmosphere, above average bartenders who were friendly and attentive. I met a lot of people, made some new friends and had a few fantastic drinks (Kimmikazie) and enjoyed my time there. Wish I lived closer so I could patronize Old Main Street Saloon more frequently. Highly recommend you pay them a visit.

Gale's Central Club

4.2

(40 reviews)

We attended the NASCAR race in Sonoma over the weekend which was really fun…read more We decided to go up to Petaluma and went to Gale's Central Club and enjoyed really good food and outstanding drinks at a reasonable price. The bartenders not sure if they were the owners were incredibly nice and welcoming. Just like out of an episode from Cheers "Where everybody knows your name" at least it felt like that for a first time visitor! Great place!

We had friends visiting from out of state and we always find a dive bar to enjoy…read more I have been to downtown Petaluma, and in the general area a million times and I've never even seen Gale's. Julie the most fabulous, engaging and hilarious bartender, kept us entertained. There's a couple pool tables and modern juke box, the expected regulars and eclectic decor. PBR on tap, which the menfolk really liked. Always Tito's and soda for my friend and I. We spent way more time in there than we planned it was a great all around experience. Cheers to Julie!

Enology Lounge

3.4

(9 reviews)

If you're going to name your wine bar Enology you better deliver the goods when it comes to wine…read more Enology doesn't. The wine selection is very limited and unimaginative. They had exactly zero Rhone varietals and just one or two Pinots when we visited last week. The red wines were mostly big jammy Bordeaux varietals and blends from conglomerates like Jackson. I'm guessing one distributor was supplying all the wine. Given the proximity to Sonoma wineries, this is criminal and a real head-scratcher. They need a better wine curator - heck, I could whip up a vastly superior wine list in half an hour. Our server, while extremely friendly and attentive, was not well versed in wine. He proudly brought a blend to our table that wasn't on the menu, stating "I don't know what this is a blend of, it's new" as he looked at the back label. I asked to see the bottle, and in black and white on the back label it clearly listed the varietals of the blend. It was another pseudo-Bordeaux blend and was very jammy. In a nutshell, lively bar (in a hotel lobby), friendly but not wine-versed service, lame wine list that doesn't live up to the name.

Cute lounge with friendly service. We got a happy hour zinfandel and it tasted old and expired…read more We enjoyed the vibe of the lounge and the trivia song event they had going on~

Ausiello's 5th Street Bar and Grill

4.1

(354 reviews)

Watching some football with the fam and i love all the team work and energy and food is good and…read moreshout out to Ryan for going the extra mile and making sure we got the full game experience and turned the surround system on for us!!! Go Ausiello's!!!!

I'm in town visiting my dad and I decided to grab a bite after getting my nails done nearby. Found…read morethis place and they had nice outdoor seating so I decided to eat here. The menu is pretty is simple American bar food; burgers, sandwiches, steak, and salads. They have a lot of options though and you can even build a burger/ sandwich. I ended up ordering the spicy chicken melt with grilled chicken, cheese and grilled peppers. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality ingredients and how yummy it was. Sometimes bar food can be pretty basic and cheap, but the peppers were nicely grilled and the chicken was juicy. I had their sweet potato fries which were really good too! They have a condiments bar with different sauces. I got the DTF sauce for my fries which was fire and some green salsa to put on my sandwich which gave it an extra kick. I had one of their summer menu cocktails and I enjoyed it. Service was great! The server/ bartender was attentive, and friendly. My dad and step mom who live here now want to try it out!

Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen

3.6

(506 reviews)

I love Beer Baron for their outdoor patio on the square, and their happy hour…read more The drinks are always good and their Paloma is very refreshing and tastes high-quality. The fries are my favorite thing to get here. They're always perfectly cooked. I also tend to order the guacamole and chips every time I come here, but every single time I also say it always needs a little bit more lime as the smoky flavor is very prominent. Sometimes they have live music, and they also have a back room that's more private if you want a quieter scene.

Came here for their happy hour drinks and food! Good options and fast service! I was lucky to come…read morewhen it wasn't busy but I do know it can get pretty crowded on a weekend night

The Front Room Bar & Lounge

3.3

(7 reviews)

•$$$

The worst happy hour ever, should be ashamed to call it a happy hour. Prices are ridiculous. Menu…read moresucked. Service was ok. Only thing they have is a beautiful property. Not anything like it used to be. Very disappointed!

Usually like to come here . Cozy place for a rainy day. 4 of…read moreus arrived and there was an empty table near the fireplace. Perfect . BUT , tho it's open seating, we were not allowed to sit there. We were told it was saved for 5-6 people. We were ushered to the "sun room" which was cold with no sun. We stayed 1.5 hours and when we left the table near the fire remained empty. Our service was poor. We were ignored and had to flag down the server for everything.

Penngrove Pub

4.4

(35 reviews)

Penngrove Pub is exactly the kind of place I hope to find when someone says, "Wanna go where the…read morelocals go?" My friend hit me with that line and I was immediately in. Uhhh yes... absolutely. I'm always down for a community spot that feels like home, and after the other two places we had already stopped at, I was thinking, "Alright... this one better be special." Spoiler alert: it was. We walked in, ordered our drinks, and with the weather being way too good to waste indoors, we posted up outside on the patio like two people who clearly had nowhere better to be. And that's when this place really started to show its character. Let me tell you... this place was exactly what I hoped it would be. Locals rolling in, saying hi to each other, swapping stories, laughing like they've all known each other since cassette tapes and landlines were still a thing. Hearing people talk about folks who've been coming here for 20+ years honestly felt like I had accidentally wandered into a 90's sitcom--but in the best possible way. Just good people, good laughs, and that rare kind of atmosphere you can't manufacture. It had that "everybody knows somebody" energy... and somehow even as a first-timer, it still felt welcoming instead of cliquey. Now let's talk drinks. We ordered tequila doubles and I'm already mentally preparing for younger-me behavior... and my friend hits me with, "We don't shoot tequila, we sip on it." Excuse me? Sip it? I looked at her like she had just introduced tequila to me for the first time in my life. I was like, "Whaaaaat?" because somebody really should've told younger me that years ago. Would've saved me a few poor life decisions and at least two questionable mornings. But honestly? She was right. Sipping tequila on that patio, soaking up the weather, listening to the local stories and laughter around us... it just fit. That's the kind of moment this place gives you. It slows you down in the best way. The vibe here is relaxed, unpretentious, and full of personality. No fake polish, no trying too hard--just a true local gem doing exactly what it's supposed to do. In all, Penngrove Pub isn't just a place to grab a drink. It's a front-row seat to community. It's storytelling with tequila. It's the kind of spot that reminds you local places still matter. And honestly... I'd go back just to sip tequila properly this time.

We went to see a fantastic band playing last Friday. We've been to hear other bands at Penngrove…read morepub before and really enjoyed our experience. I don't know what was going on with the bartender, but she must have had a really bad day. She was rude and obnoxious, drinking while working, being boisterous and loudly telling a guy, "Don't F*CK WITH ME!" She refused to serve any other man at the bar. My husband stood there for over 20 minutes to get our drink while she walked past him, even when he moved to other spots. We had just gotten there for the show, and she was busy, but it was apparent she was not happy with men. She served women and called them sweetie, repeatedly. I don't make these assumptions lightly, it was blatantly obvious! We only ordered one round of drinks in 4 hours, because it proved too difficult and unpleasant. Despite the poor service and her rude behavior, we had a great time watching one of our favorite local bands.

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