Jessica C.
Yelp
We came to check out the Herb's Place speakeasy and Jingle Bar that was festively decorated for the holidays.
Herb's Place
We ordered the prime rib sandwich and burger, which were both fantastic! Our server was friendly and checked on us often.
I ordered the Mistletoe Margarita from the holiday cocktail menu, which was crafted with whiskey instead of tequila and so delicious.
My husband tried the Johnny Thunder from the signature menu, and it was equally fantastic. The bartender mixed our drinks with the perfect spirit to mixer ratio. Specialty drinks average around $17, sandwiches/burgers around $20.
Jingle Bar
We moved to the bar when we finished our meal. I tried the Mint Cookie Monster, which tasted like a thin mint cookie, and the Polar Express, which had a dominant peppermint flavor and was decadently topped with whipped cream and espresso. Both were fabulous dessert drinks. My husband had a Mai tai, which was ok. The sparkling holiday decor and Christmas music playing created a cozy ambiance that's atypical of most bars.
Around 3:45, I asked the manager if we needed reservations to be seated on the rooftop. He said no, it's open seating, but we couldn't just sit up there for cocktails as it's reserved for dining customers. Considering we had just spent $165 on food and drinks, I felt it was bad business. We left and enjoyed the sunset at the beach, which is literally across the street.
Misc.
Our reservation was for 2:45, and the inside was fairly empty. Most people entering went directly to the rooftop. It's a popular place to watch the early sunset. It started getting very busy right at the golden hour (3:45, an hour before sunset).
Public parking was easy to find. Use this address: 501 Glenneyre St, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
3 hours max, $3 per hour which was payable through the website posted on the street lamps.
The lot we parked in had stairs that led directly down to shops that were adjacent to Skyloft.
There's a sizable stage/dancing area. Check the website for the live music schedule.
We really enjoyed the food, ambiance, service, and cocktails. Next time we will save our appetites so we can sit on the rooftop.