The Bungalow in Long Beach - our First Grade of a B?

The Bungalow, Long Beach, CA

Welcome back to The Bar is Low! This week, we’re heading to Long Beach. Enough of the bars in Orange County! I’ve heard about the Bungalow from a few friends, so I thought it was just time to give it a shot. What’s unique about the Bungalow is that it feels at times like you’re just hanging out in a big house—it doesn’t feel like your average bar. It feels more like a lounge, which I think is interesting.

NEW ADDITION: I think I’m going to add in another section on my reviews that will be for the history or general information of the bar. Getting into it, the Bungalow Long Beach offers a punk-rock vibe but with a contemporary yet nostalgic social experience. As the third location after Santa Monica and Huntington Beach, it provides a cozy, laid-back setting with eclectic decor, wood-plank ceilings, and a couple fireplaces. Guests can enjoy a variety of spaces, from a game room to a deck overlooking the marina.

 

Now let’s dive into the review!

Drinks (4/5): Drinks were nothing to write home about, but they were good! Prices weren’t crazy which is nice as well of course. Could be better but could be worse!

Crowd (4/5): I did go with a big group of friends, so my opinion could possibly be swayed by that factor, but honestly the crowd was good. It was just a welcoming, easy going, chill but still fun vibe. No weird energy from anyone, and generally a younger crowd!

Bathrooms (4/5): Bathrooms were fine! Nothing to make run back to my friends screaming and crying about.

Music (3.5/5): To be honest, because it’s a bit more of a lounge vibe, I didn’t even always notice the music they were playing. They played honestly kind of a lot of pop, but some cool stuff as well like Tame Impala and at one point a Strokes song.

Overall Vibe (4/5): Honestly so far, this was the most enjoyable spot! It felt chill but still a lot of fun—I loved the vibe. We sat near a fireplace which felt cozy. The drinks were solid, music wasn’t horrible, and again the overall vibe of the crowd was nice.

 

Final score

After tallying everything up, the Bungalow lands at an 80%, in other words, The Bar is Low’s first score of a B! How exciting! This is great because I’ve been starting to feel like my grading scale was maybe a bit harsh. I feel like this is a great spot to land our first B, and I would definitely suggest going.


Fun Fact

The oldest continuously operating bar in the U.S. is the White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, which opened its doors in 1673! It's been serving patrons for over 350 years, making it a true piece of American history with a pint on the side.

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!