Fourth in Line! Paul's Cocktails

Paul's Cocktails, Orange, CA

Welcome back to The Bar is Low! This week, we’re switching things up. We’re getting out of Newport Beach and heading back to Orange. Paul’s Cocktail’s is up! Paul’s actually well known among the younger demographic in Orange, however I will say not necessarily for the best reasons. The crowd can be a lot at times, and some peculiar things have happened there. However, Paul’s has been running in Orange since 1942, so there’s quite a bit of history there as well. Let’s get into it!

Drinks (4/5): Paul’s is a dive bar in the truest sense, and that extends to the drinks. Don’t come here expecting craft cocktails or an extensive menu of microbrews, but if you’re good with the basics, you’ll be set. The drinks are great because they are on the stronger side, so you feel like you’re getting what you paid for. I also just want to note the bartenders are low-key angels.

Crowd (2/5): This is where Paul’s will lose some points. First of all, it’s always just so crowded. Every time, it never fails, it’s just way too crowded. I don’t even know why because it’s not that popular of a spot?? The crowd is also just so rowdy which gets tiring.

Bathrooms (3/5): The bathrooms are about what you’d expect from a dive bar—small and not great. So, with this section, it used to be bartenders, now it’s bathrooms, but I feel like I’m looking for another piece of criteria to put here instead of bathrooms. Do we like bathrooms as part of the criteria or should we switch it out?

Music (3/5): Paul’s doesn’t seem too concerned with curating a playlist, which is fine if you’re not super picky. It wasn’t much of a dancing vibe, but at least it wasn’t country or just 2000’s throwback hits.

Overall Vibe (3.5/5): Paul’s has a classic, old-school dive bar feel—nothing fancy, but still a good vibe. I wouldn’t make the journey to Orange for it, but living a few blocks away from it, it’s worth it.

Final Score

After tallying everything up, Paul’s earns a solid 62%, or a D. Not bad! I am starting to feel like this grading scale is harsh or potentially I’m just being harsh because a D seems to be the average grade every bar is getting.

Fun Fact

The word "bar" originates from the literal bar or counter over which drinks were served. In old taverns, this physical barrier separated customers from the alcohol, preventing them from helping themselves! Extra fun fact, Paul's had a fire that closed it down for a few months LOL. 

Thanks for tuning in to The Bar is Low! As always, drop me a comment if you have any suggestions for where I should check out next. See you next week!