The Venice Whaler

I visited with my parents from the East Coast, and we had a wonderful time. The food was excellent, and being right by the beach made it perfect for a nice walk. The clam chowder and buffalo wings were especially delicious. Thank you for giving us such a great memory for our first trip to the West Coast.

Great vibe, very fun/beachy atmosphere. I visited at night but this would be a great spot to watch the sunset. Service was top tier, the bartender, Erin, was amazing and extremely efficient. The tuna crispy rice had too much rice for my taste, but the house made guacamole was perfect. Overall, happy hour is a great deal for the pricing.

This was our first evening in LA, and The Venice Whaler set the tone perfectly. The atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed—exactly what you want by the beach. The staff were incredibly welcoming and made us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. I had the fish and chips, and they were excellent—the panade was especially well done: crispy, golden, and full of flavor without being greasy. Overall, a great spot to kick off our trip. Highly recommend for anyone looking for good vibes and good food in Venice!

This is a must stop by! From when we walked in, we were greeted by Lala and she was so sweet and welcoming. The happy hour was a great deal and delicious!! I got the yummiest coconut drink. The music was great. This place is such a vibe upstairs xx

Venice Whaler is the perfect spot to grab drinks and food after catching the sunset from the Venice boardwalk. It’s got that classic beachside bar feel, but with great food, strong drinks, and a vibe that can match whatever kind of night you’re looking for. I started with the coconut shrimp appetizer, and honestly, that alone was more than enough for a meal. The portion was huge, and the shrimp were crispy, flavorful, and paired with a great dipping sauce. I went in thinking I’d follow it up with an entrée, but by the time I finished, I was completely satisfied. Now, let’s talk about the Whaler Margarita—this drink does not mess around. By the time I finished my first, I was already feeling it, but it was so good I couldn’t stop at just one. I ended up having three total before heading out (don’t worry, I took a Waymo back to my room), and they were consistently delicious, well-balanced, and exactly what you want from a beachside bar margarita. Service was also a highlight. My waitress, Veronica, was beyond sweet—seriously, the kind of service that makes you want to come back just for the experience. Attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect. The upstairs bar was packed and way rowdier than I was in the mood for. But the downstairs patio was absolutely perfect. Even though it was a chilly night, the outdoor heaters were placed just right, keeping things warm while still letting you soak in the fresh ocean air. From my seat, I had a great view of the water and could still people-watch as folks strolled by on the street out front. Overall, Venice Whaler delivered exactly what I was looking for—great food, strong drinks, and a laid-back but lively beachside vibe. I’ll definitely be back.

We came for Happy Hour. I had the Californication to drink. It was refreshing but a little tart for me. The spicy tuna rice cakes were delicious. The clam chowder was good also, they put bacon in it, which is different for me but it was a nice touch! My husband got the fish tacos and said they were “taco-ey” but he said he enjoyed them.

The atmosphere is great because it has a nice rooftop overlooking the beach. The female bartender upstairs though does not know how to make drinks. Asked for a Jameson sour and it was literally mostly bitters. Had to have the other bartender remake it and it was really good. Still a nice place to have a drink. Not too pricey.

Fantastic view from upstairs. The food was absolutely divine and portion sizes were plenty sufficient. The servers were super friendly and welcoming. Wished we'd known about this place sooner as we would have eaten all our meals here!! Will definitely come back if staying in the area again!

We had the Calamari & ceviche. The food was very tasty surprisingly good coming from Texas and Louisiana. We were definitely impressed the waitress. I forgot her name, she was amazing. She's been there for 10 years and she was just very helpful and a wonderful waitress. I had a margarita. Also it was delicious..

The place is very nice outside near the beach! The can see the pier and the beach! Nice view! Is only outside. The service was ok. The food was good to my husband the margarita pizza was awesome the tomatoes! For sure will be back!

I tried couple tacos and all of them was nice, except their BBQ Wings. View was great/staff was nice&cool I wish their menus and table was not sticky and chairs were cleaner.

4+ Pretty sizable bar literally right next to the beach. There's two floors and great view from the second floor. They pretty good drink specials and good cocktail menu. A few friends and I were hanging out in the area I wanted to grab a drink at one of the places. We chose this place because we knew that the views were pretty cool. We were pretty promptly. The place wasn't as busy as we thought it was going to be so we didn't have to wait. This place has been around for a long time, and the vibe is usually beachy and chill. I can't speak to the food because we didn't order anything on this visit and I can't remember the last time I visited while eating here.

I waltzed into the Venice Whaler at 11:21pm on a Thursday, a fresh Zyn packed, as my big homie was DJing at midnight. This spot is about as Venice as Venice gets. The faint smell of the ocean mixed with the devils lettuce wafting in from outside, a grungy interior, mostly locals, and a mural on the wall that reads "All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine." The heart and soul of Venice. After chopping it up with my big homie and his big homie (my grand big homie) for a sec, I went to get a Pacifico. I felt like someone kicked me straight in the huevos when it rang up for $10. DAMN. I'm I in Venice or NYC!? $10 for a beer is pain. I then proceeded to watch the big homie, who was draped in a black tshirt that read "THEY NOT LIKE US, LOS ANGELES, CA," rock the Whaler. Idk if the Whaler has ever seen a performance like that. His crowd awareness, transitions, beatmatching, and ability to play the right song at the exact right time were oddly reminiscent of a prime John Summit. One girl even leaned over to me and said "I saw you talking to him before he is set. He is really good and so handsome! How do you know him?" I just responded with, "that's my big homie!" SAKIFML IS NEXT UP! Ig @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

My boyfriend's flight got delayed so we decided to grab lunch by the beach to kill some time. We had originally chose this place because we really really craving some oysters but they didn't have it the day we went but everywhere else didn't either which was weird. But we still settled with what they had to offer. I got one of the burgers and I personally really loved it, I forgot which one it was but it had cheese, a thick juicy flavorful patty topped with their aioli and some jalapeños! It was surely a hefty burger but I beasted that thing soooo juicy! Their fries were nice n crispy as well! My boyfriend got their taco tuesday's deal and got their chicken tinga, birria and carne asada option. It was only $4 each which isn't bad considering it's a spot where all tourists are flooded with. But the taco itself was kinda mediocre... When the server had set the dish on our table we already knew it was probably not gonna be the best. the chicken was pretty flavorless and bland, the carne asada was pretty sad but the birra was probably the best one out of the three. Our server was sweet and bubbly but the host seemed bothered when she came to check on us. She asked if we needed anything so we asked for some sauces and she gave us a look like we should've said no we didn't need anything. Besides the point, it's a nice spot to try and dine out on a nice sunny day super lively!

I wanted to give it 3-3.5 stars because our server was actually pretty terrible. A lady server came over to check on us and take an order and he told her it was his table so she left. He never came back lol we waited a good 30 minutes before we went to the bar to get that lady to help us. She was so nice and actually bought our next beers because of it. Speaking of beers the Whaler Lager was so (surprisingly) good! Light and refreshing with flavor! If you like beer you for sure gotta give it a try. We were there on Tuesday so we did taco Tuesday. We tried steak, chicken and maybe another (might've had a few lagers) and they were all good but the chicken was my favorite. I ordered a second one. We went back on Wednesday for a few more Whaler Lagers and to enjoy the view from the rooftop.

The Whaler is just The Whaler. Pretty consistently average all around. Casual bar atmosphere throughout. Ocean views upstairs and on the patios Food/cocktails are decent but overpriced for what it is. You're definitely paying for the location. Service is pretty good. All the servers have been really cool and friendly. Better if you're at the bar in front of someone. Lots of TVs for sports. More a hangout spot. Not a place for date night.

Came here in a Wednesday evening and I was pleased to see that they had a weds special for burgers at $10 and draft beers discounted! The staff were nice and welcoming! Surprisingly the food came out quicker than expected. The burgers were better than I expected and a fairly large portion! The pizza was delicious as well, definitely worth grabbing a bite!

The perfect spot to go on the beach for happy hour! The views are stunning and the appetizers they offer were very good. I got these little rice fish bites that were delicious and spicy. Only downside is our party couldn't be seated on the rooftop because it's only 21+.

reserved in advance but they take walk-ian too, the upstairs area is self seating. the appetizers were great and super filling. the marg pitcher is a good idea if you're with a group. the pizza and tacos were ok and the service was pretty slow but we didn't mind. there's also a big parking lot nearby for $4.

Went for happy hour on Thursday with my friends and it was way more packed than anticipated. The whole top area was unfortunately full so we had to sit on the bottom deck at a corner table. The happy hour drink and food deals aren't too bad. I tried the Aperol spritz which was alright, a little too much Aperol and no champagne taste. I also had the house white wine which was simple as well. We got the pitcher deal which was good. For food we got a basket of fries which was probably my favorite thing there. The truffle aioli added perfect flavor to the fries and it was a good amount for five of us to share. We also all got the personal pizza with the hot honey and pepperoni, it was good but was missing something. The service was decent, our waitress was nice and the location is crazy but a cool place to go out with friends.

Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon before brunch was over. It was pretty busy as the sun was out and weather was perfect for the beach. We got seated quite fast as there was some tables available on the front patio. Hostess was very sweet and friendly. The place was great but service was kind of slow. It took us a while to order and water was never brought out for quite some time when we asked for it when seated. Noticed that a couple of other tables that got seated after us was served it. Our waiter was quite nice and friendly. But it seemed like he was the only one working the patio so it could be the reason for the slow service. We ordered drinks and food but drinks didn't come for quite some time. Almost halfway done with our meal when the drinks finally arrived. Don't know if he forgot to put in but like mentioned. The other tables did get everything they ordered before we did. The food was quite good. Shared the fish and chips and a pizza. Both was great and would order again. I like the place as it's right off the water and good for a nice bite or drink and people watching. But this time, service was quite slow. Waiter was sweet and very friendly but it could be that he was the only one working the front patio.

This is my go to spot for a burger and beer in the area. The meat is always tasty and tender fries hot and crispy and beer fresh and crisp. Upstairs bar is always a vibe, great beach views and everyone's always friendly.

This is NOT the place you should visit when deciding where to eat by the Venice Beach area. Their food is fine, but the whole establishment itself is a mess. Their seating is abundant, but that's all that's good about it. If you look closely, you'll see all of their furniture is old and dingy, and from what I witnessed today, dirty. The service was terrible and I'm not sure if this is just because it was a Saturday, but they weren't packed, so maybe it's just how they normally operate. The waitress said "I'll be right with you" multiple times and took her time to even offer my table any water. Overall, their pizza's are good, but like I said before this is probably not the best place to eat at if you're looking for a full experience or even a decent/mediocre one. There are so many other places nearby that will at least take your drink order within 20 minutes of sitting down.

Had a really nice time at a weekday happy hour on the patio and the service was great. She was so slammed with all the outdoor tables but she worked hard. I wish I could remember our servers name, because she is awesome. The food was pretty good, very good pricing. I can only speak to the food off the small happy hour menu. I really liked the wings and the fries. Of course you can't beat the beach views and it was extra nice because it was mellow on Washington so we could really enjoy ourselves and chill. The Whaler has changed so much over the years, I am glad I enjoyed myself and out of town friends did as well. I would probably go back for happy hour again.

Fabulous service! Perfect views! The upstairs deck was amazing to watch the sunset and taco Tuesday!!! Tried the shrimp tacos and the trigger cod- both flavorful and full of fish. Then classic margaritas... yep it was a great night!!!!

Savero makes one hell of a mojito on a Sunday afternoon perfect in taste and flavor it's a good spot on daytime to get a great view of the beach,

They have lots of seating options. I like when they have a dj on the rooftop. Service is typically good. I like the shrimp quesadilla, house fries, calamari, and espresso martinis

The Venice Whaler is a solid spot with a few standout features. The service is decent--nothing extraordinary, but the staff is friendly and efficient. The food is also decent, offering a variety of options that are satisfying, though not necessarily memorable. The happy hour is reasonably priced. The real draw here is the view from the upstairs area; it's a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean while you sip on a drink. Overall, it's a reliable choice for a casual outing.

We came to the Venice Whaler to eat, and the security guard was beyond rude. He singled out my boyfriend and me, telling us we couldn't use tank tops. However, just five minutes before, two friends wearing tank tops walked right in without any issues. After I pointed out that my friend was already inside, he said he would make an exception. Additionally, the security guard also pointed out that we could not go upstairs. It felt like the security guard didn't want to let us in because we're gay. We even took a picture of a table that arrived at the same time as us, and they were also wearing tank tops. We won't be coming back and will be choosing more LGBT-friendly businesses instead.

Very nice service and excellent specials! The drinks were tasty as were the bar bites. Made to order quickly, much better than expected. Prices and portions are fair. The location is stellar, ideal before or after going to the beach, worth checking out if you were looking for a fun and affordable drink or bite in the area!

Went for their all night happy hour on Monday. They have great options on the smaller menu and very reasonable prices for happy hour. It was a friend's birthday and they brought out a free dessert with a candle - so sweet! Lots of outdoor seating and pup friendly!

When I tell you a must visit. A MUST VISIT!!!!!!!!! The food was delicious. Those salmon bites yesssssssssss Lord. I ordered two orders because it so delicious. Our waitress was a Venice native and gave excellent customer service. Just a beautiful place to dine with the beach close by.

I guess you shouldn't expect much from salads at a bar but gd the Cobb salad was such a disappointment. Before I get into the bad, I'll share the good: Fries at the whaler are perfection. Chicken tenders meet expectations as well and the variety of sauces between each is very satisfying: -With the chicken, we received ranch, Buffalo(?) and barbecue. -With the fries, we were given ketchup and mayo. The Cobb salad though... sheesh. Ordered it sans bacon (food allergies) and it came with bacon + cheese. Cheese wasn't listed as an ingredient on the menu and I can't eat cheese either. Asked for a new salad which ended up coming back free of bacon, cheese, AND dressing? If there was dairy in the dressing, then I'd prefer being offered an alternative instead of being served dry lettuce. Additionally. I asked for double chicken ($12 extra) and the diced chicken squares were so few that I could hold all of them in the palm of my hand. A very expensive and very disappointing salad experience, but again.. it's a bar. Wouldn't recommend eating here but it's nice place to come with a group for friends and the view of the sunset is beautiful!

Very good meals and drinks! They have a 90 minute bottomless mimosas on Sunday. Service is a little slow but it's a beautiful location, right on the beach.

This spot is for sure a tourist trap, but it does have a great location. Came here on a Friday night and we had a party of 6. I can't comment on the wait since I just strolled in since we already had a table outside. The food itself isn't terrible but I would say it's not the best for the price you're going to be paying BUT you have to take into account the real estate they're sitting on. I got the Amber Fried Chicken sandwich with fries and it was decent. The deviled eggs were actually good and smooth and not chalky at all. As for the margaritas I think the girls said they were watermelon and hibiscus? I would assume they're good since they ordered seconds. Fair warning if you're sitting... out of 7 heaters only 1 was working and if you don't have a jacket, you better bring one because it is COLD at night. There are limited metered street parking but if you just head straight to the restaurant you can park in a giant lot for $5 right between the restaurant and beach.

This for any disabled veteran going to this establishment ! Im a local from Venice and have never had an issue with my service dog going to this place! But I am writing to file a formal complaint against The Whaler Bar for discriminatory treatment I experienced today! As a disabled veteran, I rely on my trained service dog to assist me with my daily activities. However, during my visit to The Whaler Bar, I was refused seating upstairs based on unjustified and discriminatory reasons. The staff claimed that the upstairs area was too loud and unsafe for my service dog, stating a supposed decibel level that would be harmful. They also accused my service dog of being fake due to her collar and insisted that I was abusing my dog, threatening call the ASPCA. These accusations were baseless and discriminatory, especially since I have video evidence showing there was no DJ or excessive noise upstairs at the time of my visit. My service dog is properly trained and certified to assist me, and denying us entry based solely on the staff's bias and discrimination is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. I was deeply humiliated and distressed by this treatment. I request that appropriate actions be taken against The Whaler Bar for their discriminatory behavior and that measures be implemented to ensure no other individual with a service animal experiences such service. Just so Patrick knows I do have my armor to fully process this going to the DOJ and beyond! Enjoy Patrick! We have full video and evidence of your bias discrimination

If your goal is to be in an orgy of TVs, they've got you covered. Even the staff is watching the TVs. If you actually want to eat something, go somewhere else. Anything else in that neighborhood is a step up.

Just at the end of the Washington pier. Overlooking the beach. They have indoor seating, patio, seating, upstairs, seating. Lots of space heaters. We enjoyed our beer and burgers. Servers were extremely nice. Food is just medium. Great place to watch a sunset and then take a walk on the beach.

Great place to come and watch the sunset. As many of the locals do. Their happy hour is awesome. Great spot. Go do it.

Food is awesome ! Get the shrimp added to your salad and it looks like lobster. So good. Servers are always friendly and pretty quick !! Sometimes there is a DJ on the upper deck and it's always a really chill vibe. Love this spot for sunset or chillen with friends

Always a Fun Spot! Beautiful Sunset View Up on top! Service is great! Definitely a Great Menu Selection!

I ordered take out from the happy hour menu. This is a great thing because a lot of times you cannot do that. I ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice. (3 pieces for 13$) kinda pricy to me but...The person who took my order was nice also helpful. Took about 10 to 15 minutes for the order to come out. Cool!!! BUT when the order came out I asked another person for ginger for the sushi. I was told it's in the sauce. I didn't quite understand what she meant so I opened the box IN FRONT OF THE PERSON. Almost all the sushi was flipped over. I look at her and before I could say anything she says I'm sure they didn't put it in like that they just fell. didn't offer to remake it. Didn't offer any help. The bag went from her hand to mine then I opened the box. This was very disappointing. What I could put back together was good but I don't appreciate them not offering any resolution. Not professional at all imo.

Worst pizza anywhere. If you are looking for cheese pizza with no cheese and no tomato sauce than this place is for you. As for "service" can you believe that our server would not accept coins as part of payment. It do not believe this is legal. Money is money. Maybe she was hoping for a "keep the change" from me. Sorry, never at this place.

Shout out Jeannette! Incredible service. Great food. I like the ambiance. Me and my boyfriend will be back. :)

The food and drink was reasonably priced for a beach side restaurant. The food was fine, though the poke nachos fell flat. Raw tuna is a delicate flavor, and it was more than over powered by the heavy sauce they put on it. Ambience was good and service was just fine. A good value for a drink and some food by the beach, so long as your expectations aren't too high for the food.

Cool bar with a nice location near the beach. Staff and service were awesome, they let us hang out at our tables for hours and frequently checked in to see what we needed. Food was mediocre, and pricey, hence the 3 star review. 2 tacos for $15, and they don't let you mix and match types of tacos. The grilled cod taco was ok, but the fried one wasn't great. Come for the drinks and the vibe, and maybe go elsewhere for food.

Always been a bit of a locals hang but can't beat the views for evenings or kicking back on weekends - good bar food and if you get a patio seat settle in and enjoy it!

Chill patio vibes on a Sunday. I suggest sitting on the patio on the second floor for some sun and views. Shout out Fabian for being a funny, down to earth waiter. Service can be a bit slow when they're busy, as expected. Highly enjoyed the lobster sliders. Parking is $9 at the lot or street parking if you're feeling lucky.

Staff is nice. Parking can get tricky but lots are an option. Food solid but you are likely coming here for the experience of socializing. Pricing and portions are fair at this hip causal spot.

I ordered the new grain bowl. It was disgusting. A waste of money. The fish was rubbery and gross. The rice was cold. And I actually got food poisoning

This place is amazing!!!! Service is on point, the balcony upstairs is soooo beautiful with the best view in venice and the burger is to die for! Naomi is our favorite, always such a light every time we come in and the main reason we started coming here so much. See you next week!!!!

So I ordered the tacos I got one grilled fish one crispy fish and a chicken taco , my dad got the clam chowder which he was happy with. I thought the tacos were kinda fishy. We also got the guacamole/salsa with chips. I wasn't really impressed with anything. And that was yesterday... today, my dad and I both got serious stomach aches that of course were followed by .... U guess it! But we all know what it was food poisoning. Be CAREFUL at these places by the beach they have so many people coming through who knows what kinda corners are cut.

Great place with a great location. You do have to pay $6 to park in the beach parking lot between the restaurant and the ocean but that wasn't too big of a deal. Service is excellent and the view from upstairs is the best.

Whaler is always solid . Atmosphere over the beach is 5*. Servers are sweet & bartenders are way cool . A must for tourist looking for a good scene . Locals love it here .

I have once previous attended and after a wait we got our food, and actually really enjoyed it. We stopped by again today, and was incredibly disappointed with the service. We were seated at least 30 minutes and were never approached by a server to even take our order much less offer water or anything else. We finally got tired of wasting our time and cut our losses and went home. I don't recommend unless you're willing to take a chance with your time.

This place has been here for a very very long time. I used to see the owner here with his dogs on a daily basis. Somebody told me that he wasn't going to bring them anymore. I hope that's not true because they are adorable. It's a good basic place for fish and chips and beer. They have an upstairs patio to enjoy the sunset but you better get there early because it fills up fast up there. They also have a nice downstairs in the bar area and another couple of places to sit outside one is the patio right outside the front door and the other is one of the special areas that they made during the pandemic which all of the business is opted to keep. It really helps on the weekends when things get really packed because of visitors from the area. I wish I had taken pictures of my food. I have tried fish here and I have tried tacos and nachos and the usual bar fare. It's always tasty. The service can get a little slow when it's busy because maybe they don't have enough servers? But normally they're pretty attentive. This is a lively place. It's nice in the daytime but even better in the evening. Definitely recommend it

Ended up here when we went to the canals to check out the Christmas lights. We grabbed a drink and a taco each (taco Tuesday). For 2 drinks, vodka cran and a draft hard kombucha and 2 veggie tacos it came out to $40. The drinks were decent and the tacos were yummy (mushroom). Not much to say about the service, we sat ourselves on the rooftop and ordered at the bar. Food came out fast.