MARIO & JOHN'S

On arriving we got denied into the bar, which is fine!! My problem is the bouncer was extremely rude and told us he hates engagement parties or bridal parties. I went to a wedding two weeks prior and had the best time there. It just sucks to be told you’re “too much” when you chose to have your party in a place like Petaluma, I’ve obviously never had this experience in San Francisco and I know I never will :)

Echoing what others have experienced, bartender was completely pretentious and cold. My husband asked for a specific drink and the bartender refused to make stating he doesn’t want to make an ‘unbalanced’ cocktail. When my husband stated that he actually liked it and drank it often he still refused in a very snobby way and made him something else… vibes are way offfff

Hands down the best bar spot in Petaluma! Super cool vibe with great drink options and nice lighting! Owner is super cool! Definetely recommend.

Perfect After Party Spot – Amazing Drinks & Even Better Hospitality We hosted our wedding after party at Mario & John’s Tavern, and it could not have been a better experience. The bar has the perfect vibe—lively and energetic without being overly loud—which made it a great space for our guests to relax, mingle, and celebrate. I coordinated with Nick, the owner, and he was fantastic to work with. He’s straightforward and no-nonsense in the best way, but also incredibly fun, thoughtful, and accommodating. We had a couple of phone calls to make arrangements, and I visited the bar ahead of time to meet him in person and get a feel for the space. From the start, Nick made everything easy. On the night of the event, he went above and beyond—he had drinks prepped and ready before our group arrived so no one had to wait in a long line at the bar. He also offered great suggestions for cocktail options, and every drink was absolutely delicious. It’s clear he knows his craft and cares about providing a great experience. The cherry on top? At the end of the night, Nick surprised us with bottles of whiskey and sparkling wine—a generous and thoughtful gesture that made the night feel even more special. If you’re looking for a cool, well-run cocktail bar with exceptional service and a personal touch, I can’t recommend Mario & John’s Tavern highly enough. Huge thanks to Nick for helping to make our wedding night unforgettable.

They won’t allow groups? We had 10 people show up on a post-wedding shuttle before 11pm and they said “no party buses” even though there were only a couple of us. So I guess get dropped off a few blocks away if you have more than a few ppl. We also had called ahead and gotten approval

This bar is great! Has a very cozy atmosphere with low light. The drinks are always creative and delicious. The pool table is in the corner and allows for a relaxed game. The only downside is that seats get taken fast!

Wonderful drinks! The bartenders (more like mixologists) are all very experienced and attentive. The atmosphere is very dark on purpose and has a great old school Petaluma vibe 😎. The pool table is free and has a mellow vibe without being boring.

This place had extra rude security guards. Made us feel unwelcome and killed the vibe of the night. Wouldn’t recommend, better choices in the area.

Loved it !! Great Service, Selection , and Vibe ! Will be back whenever we're in the area.

Feb 2023 Definitely been here a few times. Cool spot with street parking, but the vibes are awesome. Bartenders were helpful with any questions that we had, and the drinks were on point. The people that we've meet here have been awesome, and I love that they're dog friendly. Met a number of other fur baby and fur baby parents, and they've all been so friendly. If we're out for the night and looking for a watering hole in the area, this place is generally part of the conversation.

I recently stopped drinking (health) but still love the experience of going to a bar to have a couple at the end of a long week. Came here after a recommendation from my barber (Who also tends bar here when he's back in town.) This place is fantastic. Love the vibes and the ambience. Totally unassuming from the outside but what a great neighborhood bar can be on the inside. No frills but great quality. I asked the bartender if they did mocktails which they do. Told him I was up for whatever he recommended. Both drinks were amazing. Friendly patrons. I live 15 mins away but will come here regularly. Thanks M&J's!!

Absolutely loved this Bar and Libation spot!! I am a Bartender from trade and liked everything from the decor and the drinks and the ambiance. I had ordered a Paper plane and a Highwest double Rye Whiskey sour. Both were great tasting and made with precision. They had lot of Spirits and diverse selections of Whiskey and Gins. Was a little dark in the Bar but it added to the Mystique and vibes. Definitely will be back to more of their libations and drinks.

Mario and John's is THE PLACE to get a cocktail in Petaluma! While they aren't located right downtown, they are a short walk or drive and well worth it! They are located in a residential area so just look for their neon sign and you can't miss it! They have a small parking lot located behind Mario and John's and a lot of residential parking available.  The bar is pretty large and includes seating. They also have some additional tables and seating as well as a shuffleboard and pool table. The overall atmosphere is very inviting and homey on the inside.  The owner, Nick and the team know how to make amazing drinks and really focus on crafting high quality cocktails.

This place has always been my favorite but once I met Cody it became my super favorite. Best drinks ever and even some amazing garnish too! We love the shuffle board and the heh you combine the service, ambience, and amazing drinks you can't beat it.

Amazing hidden gem! Thanks to Yelp, I found this neat bar. The ambiance is definitely aesthetically pleasing with very low light, almost dim. The service here was phenomenal and staff was very friendly & easy to talk too. They also have names you can plan and tables to sit with friends. Would definitely come back here for more drinks in the future!

Bartenders are amazing, owner is always super helpful and attentive! I can get help anytime of the week whether it's busy or not! This place welcomes everyone, no matter man or woman! Atmosphere is great, bartenders go above and beyond to make customers happy! I'd give 10 stars if I could. This bar has zero room for bullshit/nonsense. I respect the staff for standing their ground when need be. Cocktails are great and always consistent! Best bar in Sonoma County!

- Ambience: nice space. Lots of room to stand around with a shuffle board and pool table (Score!!!!) - Service: my dog was allowed inside. She got to watch us play pool and enjoy some cocktails for the first time so - Drinks: I had the corpse reviver #2 and Ryan had a tequila drink. Both were extremely well crafted. We will definitely come back.

I guess never judge a book by it's cover. From the outside Mario and Johns does not impress, but once inside, you definitely think twice. Mario and John's is a secret staple to Petaluma and it's residents. Located outside of downtown in more of a neighborhood, it could be considered a local watering hole. I've only been a few times mostly due to them shutting down for quite sometime during COVID, but they are open once more! The bar itself is pretty roomy for it's footprint with plenty of seating and activities inside. The bartenders do not skimp on their pours and make superb drinks at a great price point! Never had any quarrels about them to be honest! When it comes to parking, it's really street parking, which is pretty straight forward and should not pose any issues. Beware this place can get busy during peak times (Friday through Sunday), so plan ahead with that notion. Three cheers to them being open again and a near visit is a must soon for me!

Visiting Petaluma antiquing and decided to have a cocktail. Yelp review search and local recommendations we decided on Mario & John's. Glad I read the reviews that said just go in as the outside is deceiving. True That. We actually parked and went to the Nursery across the street first because the corner bar looked uninviting. I'm glad we did because walking the gardens was such a treat. So many roses to amd beautiful items amd flowers to choose from. But back to Mario & John's. JUST GO IN. The Female bartender at 430pm on Wednesday, sorry did not get her name, was very inviting and helpful in choosing drinks. Excellent selections, spacious interior, and very clean. There was a male employee there that was not so friendly with us not sure who he was. He was talking with a male patron right next to me And he never acknowledged Us at all. Our bartender made up for it though. She was very personable and engaged with everyone sitting at the bar and those who entered. All men inside except us so hope That was not why we were ignored by the male employee. Definitely check this place out. I hope the male employee reads this and just takes note. Female Bartender Bravo your an excellent mixologist and sorry I did not catch your name that's my bad.

I soooo wanted to love this place. Great booze selection. Solid cocktails. Good bartenders. Terrible regulars. People were rude. Bartenders didn't make it better. When you drop $150 for a few cocktails, you don't want someone pushing you off your barstool. Again, could be THE place. Just missing the mark by a bit. Not saying to not go as the bar is great. Several other options in Petaluma will be more welcoming.

This bar has a laid-back, speakeasy vibe! The drinks are always tasty and the bartenders are attentive. Tons of whiskey options! There's also a pool table and shuffle board table for use, if it's not too busy.

BEWARE! If you leave anything under 3 stars, you will get kicked out! Down below is the original review I left on Google. "Place is amazing, except for the know it all bartender. Place has a great atmosphere, billiard, shuffle board, and a wack bar tender. Acts like he's a know it all, will ignore you if you're not a woman, and if you don't know exactly what you want, he can't help you. Enjoy.. I Guess." Well guess what? I tried giving this place a second chance. This review was left on March 5th, and I re-visited yesterday, August 25th. This is 5-6 months later. It was super busy as a party came to the bar. As soon as I walked up to the bar, the same bartender as last time randomly disrespectfully points at me and says, "This F****** guy! You here to leave another bad yelp review? Get out of my bar." And quickly goes to get the security guard outside to kick me out. Like what? This guy is so butthurt from my review that he had to kick me out? I didn't even leave a one star, (now I did and you'll see why), and I left an honest review. I just walked out. Here's what made it even worse. The owner came out to talk to me about my previous review! I humbly explained how his bartender was mad disrespectful the last time we came in, focusing on chicks instead of all his guests. We came in as customers, on my birthday, just to be treated as.... On my birthday.... Anyways, he asked why I came back, and I told him, "because I love your bar and think it's nice." He said, "ok?" I then explained, "It's just your bartender that didn't respect us the last time we came..." And he said, and I quote, "you're not welcome here." Just like that. Like I'm sorry but if you ask me to explain what happened just to ignore everything I said and not actually care, why waste our time? I guess nowadays, an employee can disrespect customers and can't have any upset guests leave a review without any second chances. When someone has a bad experience, the business usually tries to reach out, talk to the customer, see what happened and try to give them a better experience the second time. Nope! Not here. The owner was clearly intoxicated, and maybe he didn't mean it, but he was being extremely passive aggressive to the point where everyone around us and the friends I brought to have a good time, all left with a sour taste in their mouth because of what the owner was saying. It's clear this place values its staff's ego over customer feedback. Come in at your own risk. Fool me once... but fool me twice... I'll gladly not come back, and suggest you find a different establishment to give your $14 a drink to.

Great place; great drinks; great vibe! Definitely recommend coming for a more chill experience away from crowded bars and loud people. Great mix of fun, peace, and company.

My experience at Mario & John's has been exceptional every time. David always provides wonderful service and puts his full knowledge of mixology into every drink catering to each customer in a unique way. My favorite bar in Petaluma!

Came here on a whim after a dinner date on a Wednesday night. Decided to end the night going to a bar to have some fun! We found Mario & Johns and decided to come in. Let me just say I love a good cocktail and wow did the bartender deliver! My favorite of the two I had that night was The nacional! I had two of these and were both consistent in taste. I also had a tiger gimlet. Don't think I'm a fan of gin but this was pretty good as well! The ambiance is nice. Granted it was a Wednesday night so it was pretty empty(ish) but there was still a few groups of people there. Seemed to also be dog friendly as there were two small dogs allowed in:). There was 80/90's pop playing as well. And they also have a pool and another game table there as well. Had lots of fun playing pool and having a couple of drinks! Would definitely come back again.

Best damn selection in the city. Enjoy the atmosphere, indulge the quality liquors, tip the amazingly knowledgeable staff!

My favorite place to grab a quick drink and catch up with a friend after work! The lights are dim and the atmosphere is relaxing and intimate. Love grabbing a booth and just relaxing. Their drinks are great and the bartenders are always super friendly. A great option for a drink in a chill atmosphere if you are in Petaluma.

Living in sonoma county for 10 years and 4 of them in Petaluma, this place is the best gem I know of in Petaluma. It's a little off the beaten path, but that adds to the charm. An upscale locals bar with knowledgeable, friendly bartenders that make the best cocktails I've had in Sonoma county. The ambiance is dim lit, in the best way, that offers a billiards table and shuffle board. Also has an amazing whiskey selection for anyone interested...

Hidden gem for sure! So I was in search of Pappy Van Winkle 15 year in the Sonoma County area to surprise my boyfriend. I messaged multiple places and whomever runs the Mario and John's Instagram page was so sweet and attentive and messaged back quickly. He/she said they had it and when I asked the price, he/she said that they would message the bar team for me. SO kind! And let me just say REASONABLE prices! They also said that a gentleman named Mica (hope I'm spelling it right) would be the bartender that night and that he could recommend other great allocated bourbons. We ended up going and wow! The bar was great, Mica was so very kind and sweet and made the experience very special for my boyfriend. If you are a whiskey fan, or even a spirit's or cool bar fan in general, definitely check out this great place. Great drinks! And the most welcoming staff as well!

5 stars all the way around but the bartenders are truely what makes this place so special- specifically David. I asked him to make me something fun with gin and man did he deliver! I will 100% be going again. And again. And again.

Great ambiance and service! They don't serve food but let you bring in takeout. Nice place to grab a drink!

This place is awesome. Don't let the location fool you, this cocktail bar is super classy. The bartenders really know what they're doing here - the price is understandable for the value you get - delicious cocktails that taste like they actually have some oomf to them. Wide variety of spirits (even some rare ones) so that the mixologists can make whatever you like. I ordered something not on the menu like a pretentious douche and the bartender made me a perfect Naked and Famous. Menu cocktails are equally great. Very happy we decided to stop in.

From the outside, you'd have no idea that a quality craft cocktail bar lies inside. I was impressed by the environment-- it was spacious, dimly lit, and had an impressively long shuffle board! My first drink was a whiskey cocktail from their menu and for my second I asked for a whiskey sour. My first drink was quite stiff, but certainly the real deal. The whiskey sour that was served was up to par, comparable to some of my favorite cocktail bars in the South Bay. This spot was recommended to me by a local when I described that I love quality made cocktails. This was the exactly the kind of spot I was looking for, thumbs up from me!

Fun, neighborhood setting. Good prices and a nice drink with friendly folks behind the bar. If you're in Petaluma and looking for an old school vibe this might be your spot. I'd go back

Last time the boys and I did a north bay trip, I missed out on this stop. Since we were in the area, we decided to drop by. The three of us walked in on Wednesday, February 21st around 9:30pm. The bar was a bit crowded, but we found two seats. *Old Fashioned: buffalo trace bourbon, brown sugar, angostura bitters ($10) *Rye Old Fashioned *Manhattan I believe the bill was $30, so I'm thinking the drinks were $10 each. The boys didn't like the drinks the last time they were here. I guess they were too sweet. I got the old fashioned off their menu and asked for less sugar. I thought it was fine. Overall, the drinks were very smooth. This bar is actually pretty big with a pool table, shuffle board, etc. I guess since it was late for a Wed, no one was playing. Everyone was crowded at the bar area. But it could be fun to place games while drinking. Fun neighborhood bar with a dive like feel. (Though it was actually pretty clean for a dive bar.) Good option if you're in the mood for cocktails.

Fun dive-y place for drinks. They make legit cocktails and also have beer on tap. The bartenders are more on the mixologist end, as their drinks require multiple steps to put together rather than just pouring. No food served. They have pool tables and bocce too!

Awesome spot with solid cocktails and completely unassuming from the outside. So great that they were able to book a private NYE party. What's not neat is having DB bouncers who have no clue about how to turn away away customers with class so that they actually feel inclined to come back another time.

Great Ambiance! The lighting makes it feel cozy and relaxing! The service outstanding! Mikey the bartender there really put his all into the drinks he makes and he's pretty dang good at it!

This place is deceiving. The outside is basic with minimal decorations but the inside looks very classy mixed with a lounge feel. There was lots of open space and room at the bar to sit. I'd advise people kinda know what they want because the cocktail menu was minimum which surprised me with how extensive their liquor wall appeared. The drinks are made right there obviously, but each time the bartender tried it to make sure it was as it should be. Got the feeling that the mood wasn't overly friendly but the two working behind the bar were super quick with drink orders and making sure everyone was happy which matters most.

Mario and Johns is Petaluma's no longer hidden gem. The words gotten out about how amazing this spot is! You haven't really experienced Mario and Johns unless you've had one of their cocktails.... no disrespect to the beer and wine lovers but a cocktail here is a must! If you catch them on a slow day I love to let them make me something off menu and they're always nice enough to oblige. They do get very busy on the weekends, so if you can swing it I would recommend it for a weeknight. They also donate and volunteer a lot to charity so many reasons to love M&Js

You can't find a better local hangout that Mario & John's. Laid back feel with a ton of seating, a few games and a ton of libations to boot. Cocktails are only ten bucks (!!!) and they come up with some amazing mixes including fresh squeezed juices and house made syrups. The staff is so nice, and hangs out with the guests between making drinks. Hey also gave us chips and snacks when we hung out for a long time This place is pretty chill and only has dancing on special occasions, so if you want to get crunk you may have to go elsewhere. If you want to hang at the bar, knock back some cocktails or beers this place is perfect for you. I recommend this place for locals and out of towners alike, don't miss it if you're in town in Petaluma!

Nice little spot! Good drinks but my only feedback would be to add more seating- it's tough to have a bigger group here

I grew up on Wilson Street around the corner from the bar that was a joined to a little market that Mario ran during the day. We rented the house at 318 for $75 a month. As a kid I remember Mario being very serious, but also very caring. When we didn't have money Mario would allow us to purchase food items like bread, milk, etc. on credit until my mother was able to pay. I remember once I was riding my bicycle and one of the bar patrons who obviously had too much to drink and hit me as they were driving out of the parking lot; most likely not looking. That was back in the days where drunk driving may have been illegal but it wasn't enforced, so the driver picked me up, helped me walk it off, put me back on my bike, and sent me home lol. I remember looking inside the bar and seeing so many taxidermies, large size game; polar bear, grizzly bear, full-size stag and moose. Obviously some sportsman's prize trophies. I don't know if it was Mario or John, but as a young kid in the late 60s early 70s it was very intimidating. We moved out of Petaluma in my teens and I've never been back to visit. However I have very fond memories of Mario and John's; their neighborhood feeling, and the sense of community that existed 50 years ago. I can't comment on the quality of service or merchandise from the new owners, but they have one very nostalgic setting that I'm sure they've built upon.

Love this bar! When we first moved to Petaluma, we were looking for a cozy neighborhood bar with great cocktails and craft beer. Well, this isn't exactly in our neighborhood...but it's worth the short drive! There isn't another place like it in Petaluma. Whiskey cocktails = delicious. Bartenders= friendly. It's the perfect place to stop in on a winter's eve or fall late afternoon and sit by the big windows. We've noticed it's a more mature crowd here (a good thing), but maybe that's because we don't stay out late anymore. :)

we had a cocktail and a couple beers Sunday, and the real take-away sense here is that they are selecting their beers on the wall and making cocktails to ensure an EXPERIENCE. If you want to get a beer at the store and go home and watch TV, fine, but if you want to remember that someone invented the perfect mixed drink for your simple pleasure, well, here it is. And where can you go in Petaluma and be sure it's a safe exit, to get to your car without a panhandler and other issues? hint, it is not on Kentucky. It's a great place, a real gem.

Came here June 2, 2019 to try it out and get some cocktails with the hubby. I liked the decor inside and it had a lot of open space. PROS: - cocktails we ordered were good - lots of open space and an area to sit in cool chairs and on benches - awesome shuffle board - loves some Of the decor/design PROS: - wish there was seating by the shuffle board - the open space was a little awkward. With so much space more seating would've been nice besides right at the bar and across the room in another area - I enjoyed the drinks but more cocktail options would've been nice.

I've lived in Petaluma most of my life and just visited Mario & John's for the first time last night... I'd heard of this bar many times by multiple people and have driven by it plenty of times so I really don't understand why I had never been before. From the outside, this bar doesn't appear to be all that popping and I would've never guessed it to be a local favorite, but boy, was I wrong. It's definitely a neighborhood bar worth visiting! The inside is beautiful and way more spacious than I envisioned it to be. The place is kept clean (including the bathrooms), there is a lot of seating available, a few games and overall a laid back hangout spot. They have an excellent liquor selection and good beer on tap, too. The bartender who took care of us last night was very friendly, approachable, and attentive! M&J is super welcoming and the ambiance is low key compared to other Petaluma bars.

I absolutely love this bar. Their drinks are always on point and extremely reasonable. They have the best old fashion, it's so good that I can't order it anywhere else because no one makes it as good as these guys. Every one who works their is extremely nice and my favorite thing to do is play shuffle board. Also if you like to play pool it's first come first serve AND FREE!! this is a great place to kick back enjoy tome with friends, catch up with a loved one or it even had the perfect dim lighting for a first date.

Sadly this place doesn't have any significant happy hour deals, but I enjoy the space here. Mario & Johns avoids the downtown crowd, but still has a nice ambiance to it. They have a pool table and a shuffle board, which is free to anyone! Bartenders are friendly and the establishment is kept pretty clean. Parking is strictly street parking, but because this place is located near the residential areas, it isn't that hard to find a spot.

My lady and I decided to stop by Mario & Johns Bar. It was a pleasant time, nice atmosphere and great music. The bartenders were friendly and I enjoyed the setting. We both had a Manhattan and it was pretty awesome. I've tried couple in the city and I have to admit this was very comparable if not better.

Came here based on reviews and $10 Drinks! Ask for custom drive and like magic an awesome cocktail was served. My husband was impressed with the whiskey selection and we got a great pic of the bar! We would come back! Maybe tomorrow?

Really chill place, great range of cocktails, amazing liquor selection. If you are visiting Petaluma, drop by for an after lunch or dinner drink.

Super loud and the cocktails were over-priced. My co-workers and I needed some adult beverages after a very long work week. Ordering our drinks seemed like an Olympic sport because the bar was so crowded, there was only one bartender, and the place was so loud that I was exhausted after screaming my order multiple times to the bartender. If it is like this at 5:00, I can't imagine the chaos later on in the night when the place gets the normal drinking crowd. My co-workers and I grabbed a table, but conversation was useless because you couldn't hear each other. I was bummed because we are a great group and always have fun together. We all ended up leaving after a short while. We are off to find our new Friday Happy Hour watering hole.

Absolutely the coolest neighborhood bar you can find. Almost had my wedding reception there. Very open to awesome parties. Very nice selection of liquors. Cool specials and pretty pretty inside. Plus I'm a sweet good w easy parking

Simply blown away by the cocktails and whiskey selection. I think our bartender's name was Nick, and that he might be an owner (word on the street). It was a very busy evening when we visited, and I was feeling a tad anti-social, but the drinks we were served up were soooo good, that the evening redeemed itself. Colby and I watched in awe as our delicious drinks were craftily concocted. Can wait to return with the squad.

The neighborhood bar of my dreams. Excellent liquor selection! Bartender Danny loves agave based spirits, so ask him to hook you up a bartender's choice with tequila/mezcal/sotol!

Mario & John's is a nice hangout spot with a rustic and friendly atmosphere. It is a traditional bar with a spacious seating area. The bar does not serve food so if you are wanting to eat and drink then maybe pick up some food first. The space also has a pool table.