Third up! How did Stag Bar + Kitchen do?

Stag Bar + Kitchen, Newport Beach, CA

Welcome back to The Bar is Low! It’s week three, and we’re diving into yet another Newport Beach spot. So far, I’ve been loving having this blog because it does push me to get out and try something new, which is a lot of fun. This time, I stopped by Stag Bar + Kitchen, which has been around since 1908—yes, over a century of serving drinks. That alone piqued my curiosity, and I was excited to see what the vibe was like.

Let’s jump into the review!

Drinks (4/5): The drinks here did not disappoint! Nothing too watery and the bartenders were nice. Sometimes it can be awkward trying to snake your way to the front, but they were super considerate of everyone which I thought set a cool vibe.

Crowd (3/5): The crowd here is a bit of a mix. There’s definitely a strong local vibe, but with Newport’s tourist traffic, you’ll find all of OC packed in there too on a busy night. It leaned a little older than some of the other spots around Balboa, so potentially something to keep in mind. You can still have a good time with your friends for sure. I will say though, it was so crowded, almost a little unbearable at times and a fight broke out, so honestly a 3 for the crowd might be generous.

Bathrooms (2/5): And here’s where Stag Bar takes a hit. The bathroom situation? It’s rough. That’s all.

Music (3/5): The music was alright, but nothing that stood out too much. Mostly your standard bar playlist—‘90s alt-rock, top 40 hits, and a couple of classic singalongs thrown in for good measure. The only song they played that really got a reaction was I love It by Charlie XCX and Icona Pop! It’s always a hit.

Overall Vibe (3.5/5): The Stag Bar’s atmosphere is very interesting. It’s definitely a mix of people, but the crowd can make it a bit overwhelming at times. Music was eh, but drinks were good.

Final Score: After tallying up the scores, Stag Bar + Kitchen lands a 62%, or a D. Honestly a little rough, but I don’t know, that’s just that. Definitely room for improvement, which is sad because it does have such a long history and it is a popular spot. I was just kind of expecting a better vibe.

Fun Fact:

Stag Bar is one of the oldest continuously operating bars in California! It even kept running through Prohibition as a speakeasy, so it’s safe to say this place has some stories to tell.


Thanks for tuning in to The Bar is Low! As always, feel free to drop me a comment if you’ve got a spot I should check out next. See you next week for another review!