Swallow's Inn

A great cowboy dive bar! Its been in SJC for years! Local party spot mostly mature folks who still like to kick it up and country dance. A few 30yo’s! Great bands! Generous pours! Come On Down!! Security are young Marines 😉🥰 and the Manager was a Gunny 😎

This place is a favorite among old-school folks. The people are super friendly and always ready to give advice. The food is made with Mexican flavors and is really well-prepared. They have a full bar and plenty of security guards to keep things safe, even if there are some rowdy patrons. It’s a great place to meet new people and enjoy some live music and dancing every night. It’s like a piece of American South tradition.

Great place to bring your friends or family in a Monday night. Get steak dinner or Salmon and nice crowd and dancing. Relaxing not to crowded . Great little local place. Supports Our Veteran. Staff is super nice and accommodating. Chef makes amazing fresh hot food. 10 Stars!!!?

This place is legendary, what a vibe. This is the dive bar we all need in our lives. Bartender poured them heavy which is appreciated and great prices. We even bought some hats because they were so dope. Band was awesome and just made for a great ending to our night. Do it, go… I dare you not to have a good time! :)

Went here for the Marines 250th Bday. Outstanding place to be. Great food, good times, fantastic people, awesome history. Met the owner, Ret. U.S. Marine, phenomenal gentleman. Look forward to going back just for the hell of it. RETREAT HELL!

Great tacos and cheap drinks. You cannot beat it. It's a dove bar but with amazing food.

Old watering hole from the 80's when i was in the USMC. Came to our 40th reunion and stopped in to wet our whistle and reminiscing about old times. Beer is cold whisky is poured. What else can you say except drink up and have fun.

Thursday is a big h-down barn dance with the quintessential gentlemen cowboys ready to dance with you. If you're unfamiliar with the Two Step they will teach you. We had so much fun!!

Great live music!! We saw Bunch O' Guys and they were really talented. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, violinist and drums. 3 of the 4 guys sang and they were terrific. They played everything, lots of crowd pleasers. There are definitely some regulars here and they are out on the dance floor having a good time. Even though you may think a few of them are snobby rich women, once they've had a few drinks we're all pals. Lots of people just dance with whoever and have fun. I absolutely loved our bartender, I wish I'd caught her name. She was working the dance floor bar. I don't drink anymore and just read that Club Soda is sugarfree and Tonic Water has sugar. So I ordered a Club Soda with lime and she was like, "that's my drink too!" and did you know that O blood type should drink club soda? No, I did not know that. I came back for many during the evening. We were with a big group celebrating our friend's birthday and it was a lot of fun. At one point I asked the band (and tipped $20) if our friend Mark could sing Purple Rain. They obliged, he killed it, it was a fantastic time. When we used to live in San Juan, we didn't come here nearly enough which I regret. We will definitely be back to enjoy the live music on the weekends!

We stopped in hoping to enjoy a couple of drinks -- and to be fair, the drink prices were solid and the bartender was great. But we were quickly interrupted by a very persistent guy who, I guess, wrote a book and decided the bar was his personal book club. He kept shoving an iPad into our faces like we were late for homework. "Read this chapter!" "Wait, you missed this character!" "You didn't really get it unless you read this part!" It was like trying to have a quiet happy hour while being cornered by a one-man pop quiz. We ended up just leaving. What really made us laugh (and cringe) was hearing from a couple of friends who had the exact same experience weeks later -- same guy, same relentless book pitch, same result: they left. It's a shame, because the vibe and service were otherwise great. But it's hard to settle in for another round when someone thinks you came for a live reading and won't take no for an answer.

First I need to say, this was a drive to get to. I was looking forward to visit SJC historial Mission. But first wanted to visit this business "Swallows Inn" described as an Old-school country-western bar with a variety of drinks & quirky decor. This all sounded great!! Until my Husband & I entered. It felt like the very few patrons & bar tenders were confused why we would want to discover their lil Cowboy Heaven. Starting with the older lady (maybe the owner or Mgr) who passed us as we walked in. No smile, No Welcome.. just an annoyed look to see us there. We ignored the unwelcome feeling & looked at their quirky & funny decor. That was the only highlight because no one acknowledged our presence. I smiled to all but received not one smile back. I feel this place is only for "White" people. Sadly, we'll never return nor recommend this business to any of our friends & especially not to our family. FYI: My 1star is only for the funny decor.

GASPAR is cooking up some Michelin star Tacos, steaks, specials. Easily the best food in San Juan Capistrano period... the only thing is, you'll have to do some dancing across the bar to make it to the small window in the back where GASPAR is working that magic. Genuinely Phenomenal tacos, fresh seafood sourced locally, and someone you will meet promptly after becoming a customer because he oversees that your experience is 10/10 despite being in the middle of a pretty iconic Bar. Enter from the back on a busy night would probably be easier for food access.

Cool bar with music all year long great bar service very nostalgic with all the items on the ceiling and walls . Great people, locals and newbies. Very welcoming and fun. Goodtimes I will be back

Swallows Inn has a great night life environment. From karaoke night, line dancing or live band performances. Swallow's Inn is a must visit if you are in the area. I always bring family here when they come visit me to experience Swallows Inn. They have a good taco catering company that takes your order and tacos are yummy.

Swallows Inn is an experience that everyone must try out! For starters, the ambiance is so cool. There is fun decor that can transport you immediately into a fun, free spirited environment. The drinks are made with a heavy hand, which is just right if you ask me. The service is incredible and they're amazing at checking ID which is flattering and I absolutely love. Swallows Inn also usually has super fun live music and it is amazing to see everyone just have an amazing time. Everyone is super friendly and it's hard to find places like this in Orange County!

This bar not only has a jam packed dance floor with some of the most positive patrons and exceptional live music, but they also love and support our veterans. I felt like home here. Any place that has great music, great drinks, and brings in my friends from the the base is always a recommendation.

Best dive bar in town! cheap drinks, stiff drinks, fun western vibe. Swallow's Inn is one of those legendary dive bars that just hits different. Sticky floors, cold drinks, loud country music, and a crowd that's somehow both chaotic and welcoming -- it's the perfect recipe. The bartenders pour heavy, the dancing gets wild, and you'll walk out with at least one new friend (or a story you can't tell your mom). It's unapologetically old-school SJC, and thank God for that. If you're looking for a polished, fancy night out... keep driving. If you want a rootin' tootin', boots-scuffin', whiskey-sippin' good time, Swallow's Inn is the spot.

If you're debating coming here, this is your sign to pick another place. Some people might enjoy it, but the way this bar treats certain customers is honestly disappointing. We came for a friend's birthday and everything was fine at first. But one employee -- a guy in a cowboy hat who acted like the "sheriff" -- was rude from the start and seemed to single out our group. Things escalated when one of the restrooms was broken and my friend (who has a medical condition) urgently needed to use the bathroom. Another employee told us she could use the men's restroom since no one was waiting. Two minutes later, the cowboy-hat guy stormed in, aggressively accused us of lying, and acted like we were breaking some major rule. Even after the other employee confirmed he gave us permission, he stood there angry, watching the door until my friend came out. Then a couple of regulars joined in, threatened to kick us out, and told us to use a porta-potty instead -- all while we stayed completely calm. To top it off, one of these same people had earlier made a weird homophobic comment toward my boyfriend over his normal red sweatpants. Not sure how that even makes sense. Completely unprovoked and unnecessary. We're not dramatic people, and we weren't looking for problems. But this experience felt hostile, targeted, and way out of line. If this is the vibe this bar wants to be known for, then future customers deserve the warning. Not friendly, not welcoming, and definitely not a place we'll return to.

It's the best kind of surprise: you walk into a rowdy dive bar expecting to soak up your whiskey with something greasy, but instead you get tacos that could stand up to any top-shelf taqueria in Orange County. Pair them with an ice-cold beer or a shot of tequila from the Swallows bar--served up by the hot bartenders who keep the drinks strong and the vibe fun--and suddenly Taco Tuesday feels like the smartest decision you've made all week. Bottom line: Dive bar energy, restaurant-quality tacos, and bartenders that make sticking around an easy choice. San Juan's Swallows Inn has nailed the balance.

Fantastic old San Juan vibe and great service! You cannot visit San Juan without a trip here!

Is it a dive bar? Yes... Is there a dive bar smell? Yes... This isn't the type of place in my opinion that you would want to come all the time but once in a great while step inside .. Just for the kitschy ness of all We popped in for a hot minute I recommend you go straight for a shot of your favorite libation . Ours was patron. However, we got a little crazy and had a Jell-O shot. Not good my friends , not good... The band was fun and entertaining . We sort of hung around by the front door and listen to the music, drank our shots and slowly spilled out the door back onto the great smelling streets of San Juan Capistrano . " if you're not careful, you could lose a bra in there!"

I researched this place as it does claim on thier website "socal best place for live music, cold beer and great cocktails" Bartender was nasty as he greeted me and said I could not bring in my unopened water. Utterly shocking greeting. I would never recommend this establishment to anyone.

Took the choo choo into San Juan Capi for the day & dipped into this bar coz we heard live music Day drinking activated! Lol The gentleman behind the bar today was handling all drink orders like a chAmp! The band was great & the roaming cowboy in the red shirt kept popping up every now & then and I would not mess w/ em. Def would return to try out those jello shots I kept my on. Haha

Great drinks and food, nice people and live music. All wins. Really cool atmosphere and good vibes

This is a no BS dive bar that pours proper with friendly service. Located across the way from mission. Shout to Frank the Bartender: we had a great time and you make great conversation. Franks a real gem and we were glad we stopped in. Anytime we visit SJC we stop into the swallows Inn!

do NOT get the huckleberry seltzer. dangerously delicious. great bar and interesting crowd though. will definitely return if i'm ever in the area again. decent music, lots of line dancing.

This dive bar located in the heart of fancy San Juan Capistranos downtown, right across from the mission, it is wild. The live band was so talented! It just made me laugh as everyone here dancing were doing two steps and line dances making it more of a local vibe. There are sooo many nice people who will offer to show you the moves but if you intend to show up and break a leg with your significant other or friends, it seems like you might be getting in their way, not that they mind! Everyone here is smiling and nice! I did not see food (not sure if this happens anymore), but def drinks & you can get quickly served at either bar. Since it's one of those "dingy" bras hanging from the ceiling type bars, it's understandable but it was pretty hot inside & we didn't even go on a super hot day. They have scattered fans plugged in all over the place, but I enjoyed leaving and going to a place with a proper ac unit after. This made that place feel worse than what it was. I truly did had fun & will go back.

Go here for the music and people watching. They often have great bands. When available, the chorizo tacos are dynamite. The place is about the vibe, which is upbeat. It is about hookups among the elder population (I am in that group, but love to people watch). Dancing is a vital function here as is having fun. On the weekends, including Fridays, and holidays, this place is wall to wall people. The bride and I love going on Sunday afternoons.

I was there for a few drinks on a Sunday afternoon and to watch the NFL playoffs. Here is my observation of the place. It is dark. It is loud due to the band. The drinks are expensive. It is swimming with 45-70 year olds, dressed as cowboys/cowgirls. There is a lot of plastic surgery walking around. The only tv for football watching is out on the smoker's patio. The staff is anything but friendly. The security guards are stalking around looking for an altercation (I'm retired law enforcement, I know a guy looking for a fight when I see one). The restrooms are impractical (I can't elaborate, you'd have to see them to believe they are in a public place....and a bar where people are drinking at that !). These are my observations, you decide for yourself if it is your type of place.

Popped in here before dinner for a quick drink. There was a band playing 80's songs- super talented and people were dancing. It was awesome to see everyone having so much fun. And it was only like 6pm. It was nice that a dive bar served La Crema Chardonnay! Usually I have to succumb to yellowtail lol. This place is great and the decor was awesome. Boots and bras everywhere. Haha. Will be coming back at some point for the full experience!

Great vibe in this place. Feels like a mix of cowboy, military and biker without the "Bro" BS. The bartender Clayton kills it and drinks are super reasonable. I love this place.

This is definitely a dive bar. If you want cheap drinks but can deal with the smell of vomit and cigarettes then this place is for you.

This place was the life of the party! Two bar areas and a full room for everyone to dance, and let me tell you everyone danced hard!!! They have live music usually and everyone of all ages was there. Everyone was friendly and wanted to have a good time. Going to come back to drink and dance the nights away.

Stacie is the best bartender in town !!! She made us feel so welcomed and d answered all of our questions

Not your average biker bar. This bar is awesome. Great drinks, live music, dancing, casual party vibe...and bras hanging from the ceiling. This place has it all. Indoor and outdoor seating. Decent alcohol selection and friendly bartenders keep us coming back for more fun. We've created many happy memories here.

Went for swallows day celebration. The rudest jerk doormen I've ever experienced. Would not allow me to reenter bar after i already paid entry fee and had to step out for a phone call. At no time was I rude or argumentative. I simply asked to go back in to my friends. At one point, one of the doormen said, "you're about to get fucked up." Will never go back!

And a fun time was had by ALL! no trip to San Juan Capistrano is probably complete without at least popping in to the Swallows! My sister and I took the train down to celebrate our birthdays, and we're fortunate enough to get a seat at the bar at 2ish. Fun in full swing on the dance floor, very experienced dancing in country regalia, and plenty of folks just having.a schmooze. Bartenders were fast, music was loud.We didn't stay to eat but then again, I'm not sure if everyone goes there for food on the weekends. Fun!

One of my all time favorite dive bars. Slightly upscale one in both ambiance and people so I like that. The people are friendly, mostly locals and the Sunday afternoons are through the roof! All ages, which is nice too. For women, it looks like the men outweigh the number of women at this place so that could be good if you're single. Happy people, down to earth. I don't drink and barely eat so I'm just good for ambiance reviews lol

The "bouncers " mistakenly assumed I was stealing drinks and tossed me out They didn't ask any questions or state their logic for their conclusion. They robbed me of a drink I paid $17 plus tip for. They could have asked the bartender but they meanly ignored and refused to listen. I felt like they were trying to start a fight. They had big muscles and small brains.

We appreciate the old town San Juan vibe and the eclectic decor. I do suggest it because of the wide whiskey selection and the variety of locals who are so eager to tell you about the specialness that's San Juan. Annalee was super helpful in assisting us navigate the favorable selection of drinks and just a friendly person to meet. You feel at home here and the drinks are strong and perfect. I would highly recommend it!

This is the worst bar I have ever been to. I was innocently waiting in line to use the men's restroom when a woman came out of the single use womens restroom and said "hey, there's no line, go ahead and use the this bathroom." I said thanks and used the bathroom. The instant I came out of the bathroom an extremely rude and trashy bouncer said "you're gone. you are leaving now." Without ability to close out my tab he forced me to leave. That behavior was completely absurd and unawarrented. I will never be giving them my business and I strongly advise any human who goes to the bathroom on a daily basis to avoid the terrible and abusive behavior or this bar in case Mother Nature calls and a polite female offers the bathroom to you. What a terrible terrible experience. Unbelievable.

This is dive bar heaven. I loved everything about this bar. It's cash only, so come prepared. I loved the bras hanging everywhere. I had just thrown out some bras earlier that day. Had I known, I would have contributed to the collection here haha. Stiff drinks, nice bartender, definitely everything you need in a bar.

Always true down to earth fun. It is a great place to let loose and have a beer and dance. Great crowd always. Ive been coming here throughout the years.

It was a girls train trip to San Juan Capistrano to listen to Family Style at Swallows Inn. The band started at 2 and the place was packed when we walked in around 1PM. We walked around briefly and 3 stools cleared at the bar! SCORE! We had a blast! Happy Hour prices until the band starts - that;s an awesome deal! Our bartenders were Clayton and Rebecca! They were very attentive and knew all of their regulars! They made out visit there awesome! We enjoyed a little lunch - Fried Guacamole Balls, Tacos and a quesadilla. The food was tasty! Will definitely be back!

Dive bar heaven. Girls trip on the train to San Juan Capistrano & you can walk to this gem. Live music on weekend afternoons & people were dancing . We got there after lunch at 2:00 & the place was packed. Quite a variety of clientele, somewhat older, but you can find bikers, want-to-be cowboys & urbanites. Go for the experience & a drink. A fun time! I would count this bar & Cooks Corner as best dive bars in south OC.

Everything. Regretfully Steve Nordeck, one of the San Juan Partners and owner of and Dave "Two Dogs" Reza (bartender and head of security and Cheryl, general manager, all passed away a few years ago, but you can still feel their presence. Never pass up a chance to drop in.

Four stars is about right for this place and perhaps five, but I'll stick with four stars for the time being. The Swallows Inn has been around about as long as I can remember, which is a long damn time. It's located in Old Town San Juan Capistrano where there are lots of great places to eat. It is unapologetically a country bar through and through and perfect for old town SJC, which for those who don't know is very much an equestrian town. The seasoned bartenders are great and won't let you go thirsty; do your part, and you will be rewarded with great service even when it's packed. Swallows Inn hosts live country music Wednesday through Saturday. The crowd is varied, but generally speaking it is mostly SJC locals. Don't let that deter you. If you know how to behave in a bar, you will be fine and welcome. All in all, it's a legit country bar, which are few and far between in Orange County, the emphasis being on legit. Pro-Tip: Arrive early if you are there for the live music. The place gets packed often. Cheers!

This is very much a dive and a great place to catch live music on the weekends. If music is not your thing, you can always hang out on the patio which has plenty of space for large tables and is pretty shaded in the summer. The vibe is interesting, you will see all walks of life especially when there is some type of event happening in Old Town. Drinks are fairly priced and the service is great.

Everything about this place is awful the bartenders need better attitudes and the security guards are terrible the way they treat others. The manager should consider getting a new crew.

We stumbled across this place because we heard live music. The band playing were called The Creepers. They were the perfect vibe! The guitarist shredded. They played all kinds of music from many eras and the crowd danced happily throughout. The beers were fairly priced, cold and the bartender was friendly. We enjoyed our time here. Would recommend for a fun, eclectic, local feeling bar. You can tell this is a beloved staple in the community. Stop in and bring cash. (ATM inside if you forget)

This place is awesome, an authentic cowboy style bar/inn that takes you back to a different era of life!! The staff was friendly and fun, great selection, all sorts of memorabilia, funny pictures and tons to look at while you enjoy a cold one!! Cal is a great guy and I'm glad I was able to meet him in his bar! Next time you're in San Juan Capistrano, check out the Swallow's Inn!! Swallow's Inn (949) 493-3188

Fun dive bar for country music, dancing and special events. Where the bikers, surfers and cowboys collide.

I really like coming to swallows to listen to country music and the country family vibe! You will see some awesome dancing! I leaned how to line dance here years ago! I like the two bars inside and I was here recently abc they have outside bar and DJ. Totally worth coming here!

A must experience destination! Growing up in SJC , it was always a place I heard of. When I finally got in, it lived up to all the hype. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

I was there yesterday. My friends and I went to the bar we ordered a bloody Mary. It was the worst bloody Mary we've ever tasted. Right there and then we asked the waiter if he could exchange it But he refused to. Then we all noticed that he would dip his fingers into the Green Olive tray Grab and Olive Throw it in the drinks Immediately after collect cash from the customers. He did this repeatedly. It was rather disgusting. After that we did not Order any more drinks. Which is too bad because the band at 3 o'clock was really good And it would have been nice to have drinks throughout the 3 hours they played I think they were called family style. I'm really tempted to call the health department. The bartender was wearing a black T-shirt and turns out he was the manager. I was shocked when I asked an employee who he was And she said the manager. Because of that my rating will be low.

worst place ever!! terrible & rude service. there was a bouncer with a beard and darkish hair and he was so creepy, would not recommend coming here. he touched my friend in a super weird way, really uncomfortable experience overall.

The bar is great, we always have a good time when we're there. But please, if anyone knows where Pedro went please let me know, we went for taco Tuesday and we're completely disappointed with the new taco guy. Not even sure if we actually had chicken in our chicken tacos.