The Craftsman Bar and Kitchen

Cheap, chill happy hour spot in Santa Monica. The happy hour menu has a good range of options for food and $6 drinks. I recommend getting the chicken strips with the honey mustard - they come piping hot and it’s a good thing to share. The tater tots are also the best in the West Side. There are original and spicy options - I prefer the spicy ones, but the original ones are hot and crispy, so you can’t go wrong with those either. They do search your backpack before coming in and will keep your water bottles with the doorman. No one under 21 allowed unless they’re with their parent. We had an issue with getting one of our interns in who was 20, so that was a bummer. There are single stall bathrooms available. You can order at the counter but there’s plenty of seating on a weeknight and servers walk around that could take your order. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and it’s good for large groups to come. Very casual vibe and I see the same bartender all the time. I suggest getting the Bees Knees for the cocktail of choice, although it’s pretty sour due to the lemon. The margarita is also pretty solid. Overall, this is the type of place you’d come after a day at the beach or a long day at work to hang out and just relax with a group.

Really laid back bar. Bar food was delicious and the vibe was super chill without the beachy vibe. Just a cool place to grab a drink. Servers are really friendly and helpful.

Great spot to stop by on a night out with friends! We got some drinks here after dinner, and they were playing some old school throwback music videos on the screens. They have couches to chill at and shuffleboard to play with. The bouncer, Renee, really made my friend feel safe. There were some rowdy guys next to us and she felt comfortable having the bouncer keep an eye on them to make sure nothing happens. Glad we felt safe while visiting Santa Monica!

It is very, very red in this place. Wish I gave it a try sooner. I was under the impression it is more of a cocktail bar but there are plenty of beer options and very affordable casual bar food. This place, including the kitchen, is open LATE — a hard to find asset for this area. Casual low key slightly hip vibe. Great servers/bartenders.

I had the fish tacos and they were bland and tasteless. I ordered a margarita and it was okay. The system that they have going on is that you order at door and they seat you outside. You have to leave your credit card at the door too. I don't like that. I like to pay after I'm done. I was charged the wrong price so they had to give me cash back. Not a good system. I didn't even get the option to sit inside. I was on patio and didn't really recieve any customer service. They brought the food and brought the check.

July 4th 7:50pm the front door jerk didn’t let us in to dine because I first asked to use the restroom, he said for customers only, I said yes we want to dine in but I need to use the restroom first. He refused us a table and said we don’t want your service. I’m reporting them for discrimination, that is awful and rude service. When I asked to speak to his manager he refused! I do see what the negative reviews mean now. Do not give them your business when they allow their staff to be that rude to customers!! It’s this guy in the picture, when I told him I’ll write a review he even laughed, how disrespectful can a person be?! I hope you have the worst night with your karma catching on, and someone treats you with the same disrespect one day.

Wonderful place. Great vibe. Lovely staff. Opens late, even on Sundays. And has some classic arcade games indoors too. Good bar food as well.

This is the kind of place I will fondly remember all my life. The drinks are great, the bartenders explaining with courtesy even with a lot of costumers ordering drinks. The day we were there, there was a live band and oh man they put everyone to dance and sing. All the people there also singing and dancing and talking to you and I think that's a very Californian thing to do being open to strangers.