The Most Delicious Bars in Bakersfield

Maxdons Bar And Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (204) • $$

"So the restaurant has a cool vibe. It's very old-school feeling and dated but in a good way, even though it had a retro vibe it was clean. It's very dark red leather booths wood paneling seemed like the Type Pl., Lynyrd Skynyrd would've played at in the 70s. Appetizer and drink prices are a bargain service was good and I'm surprised they weren't very busy for the price, but it was Christmas week so maybe it's normally busier. We both had the filet mignon dinner which comes with an old-school salad bar, one side a cup of clam chowder and garlic bread salad bar was fun as it's been a while since I've had one. I had the garlic mashed potatoes for aside and they were seasoned perfectly. I felt my filet mignon could've had a bit more seasoning, but that's no big deal as all I had to do is add salt. My girlfriend said her fillet was seasoned well. Both were extremely tender and I will say the sign is right. This is the best steak in town so next time I'm in the mood for filet mignon I will be back."

The Stag Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.5 (13) • $$

"Been coming here since I first turned 21. The bartenders are some of the coolest, friendliest people you will ever hope to meet, especially the always sweet, Shannon. The drinks are well made, and cheaper than the bigger bars in Visalia, plus it's one of the few bars that doesn't charge a cover on the weekends. The atmosphere is casual, and the patrons are friendly and fun as well. Drop in, play a game of pool, or shuffleboard. Also pitchers of bud light is only $5 Mon-Wed. Thursday's and Sunday's they have karaoke, and Friday and Saturday nights they have a band."

Huggys

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (20) • $$

"Amazing little dive! Made a pit stop here on a road trip. I was not the driver, so I ordered 2 bacardi fusion pineapples with soda water and lime. Such stiff amazing drinks!! I appreciate any bar that carries flavored bacardis. Fun crowd, a group of older guys offered to buy me a drink, but I had to kindly decline haha. Bartender was great and husband said his coors light was perfectly cold. I'm a dive bar connoisseur, and could have easily stayed here till I was ready for bed! But sadly it was 2pm, and we still had 4 more hours of traveling to do."

Buck Owens' Crystal Palace

★★★★☆ 3.6 (493) • $$

"I haven't been here in ages, but I had a great time. This was a special event of Blues Grass music put on by Guitar Masters. It was a tribute to the 100th birthday of Earl Scruggs with the California Bluegrass Allstars. Such talented musicians playing music that is very much a part of American history. It was a sold out concert and the place was packed. My server was very sweet and attentive, unfortunately I forgot to get her name. They had a limited menu for the event. I ordered the onion rings. OMG they were gigantic! They had a panko crust & were crunchy & delicious! Served with a Ranch dressing. I had some delicious red wine as well. What a great time was had by all."

The Whisky

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"We went to this place to watch the Super Bowl. We had never been before. Very friendly. The bartender was really cool and his brother worked the door really nice too. Drinks were great. Had fun. Pretty cool place and good vibes. We will go back again some time."

Rock N' Horse Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.6 (16) • $$

"If you want a neighborhood bar with a great vibe, look no further than the Rock N' Horse Saloon. Making a bar feel like a home away from home is not an easy feat, but owner Jeff and his crew have nurtured an atmosphere that makes this the premiere watering hole when visiting Tulare. I've been in several times now and always find it to be a welcoming environment. It's a small town and there are a lot of regulars, so it already feels like the old TV show where "everyone knows your name." there's a big stage right near the front entrance and a quality band plays rock and country covers, along with some originals and the occasional vocal cameo from Jeff himself. Everyone on that stage has some immense talent. Even better, there is rarely a song that goes by that doesn't bring everyone to the dance floor. My choice is bellying up at the bar for a stiff drink at a reasonable price. Put it all together and you have a top choice for any weekend night."

California Tacos Seafood & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (14)

"I should've taken a picture of the seafood tostada; so fresh I'm addicted the best flavors! I'll be back for more!"

Don Pepe's Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (83) • $$

"This restaurant has had many incarnations throughout the years. It has recently been remodeled and looks so much cleaner than in the past. The decor is pretty and modern. They removed all of the booths have tables only. This must be very convenient for them when the need arrises to accommodate larger parties. They are very family friendly. They have little bud vases on the tables and cloth napkins. They also bring a standing purse Or baby bag holder, if you ask, to place next to your table. I've not seen this before and I think it's a helpful accommodation, especially because so many women carry enormous bags and you are always trying to figure out where to put them! There are a lot of nice touches. The service was okay today but nothing special. We ordered Cadillac Margaritas and the appetizer Fiesta plate. Both were tasty but not outstanding. I had to ask a second time for our Margaritas and they didn't arrive until after we had our food. The food and drinks are on the higher end for Mexican food. We paid $57 for 2 Margaritas and the appetizer. They have a full bar with TV's and what looks like a dance floor. There are lunch specials & Happy hour."

Salt Lick Tavern

★★★★★ 4.7 (54) • $$

"Amazing. Randomly found this place on a drive and was pleasantly surprised. Beautiful mountain gem. From the service, ambience, staff, and food- everything was excellent. The girls were so sweet and accommodating. We got the salmon and a burger with a Caesar salad. All of it was delicious. The beer is cold and we watched some football. Will definitely come back soon."

Don Vino's Italian Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (93) • $$

"Had a large group come and we had excellent service. Food came out quickly. I had the chicken piccatta and I wanted to lick the plate the sauce was delicious. Everyone thought their food was presented beautifully. Not sure is this is an Italian restaurant that also serves Mexican or visaversa. All loved their food and was impressed with everything. Looks like they have live music on weekends. The prices were very decent. Salads were under $20 and pastas were under $30. I belive only steak was over $30. Our waitress was awesome I feel bad I didn't get her name but I tipped well."

Buck Cafe Bar Restaurant & Lounge

★★☆☆☆ 2 (4)

"The Junction host line dancing most Thursday nights at 6:30. It's a great opportunity to have a night out. I think I would call this dinner/pub food. It's simple, but good. The portions are great and the prices are pretty good too. Dancing is in the bar, which has a pool table and a couple of TVs. It's comfortable. They have several beers on tap. You can also eat in the dining area if you prefer. If you're looking for a fun Thursday, try the Junction and Buck Cafe on Buck Owens Blvd."

Cellar Door

★★★★☆ 3.9 (103) • $$

"I just love this place! It reminds me of a Speak Easy without the secret door! The chef is a master mixologist of any drink you can imagine & his sauces & flavors are so unique & will leave you craving everything enough you WILL be back! Like I said the ambiance reminds me of a Speak Easy & the dining is fancy & has a gourmet flair to each dish! Every drink & dish is made with such love & pride. They also have opened a morning cafe with mouth watering French pastries from the new bakery, Bread Savage across the street. You've gotta try both!"

Vejar's Mexican Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (308) • $$

"We were starving at the end of our day road trip to Tulare from Los Angeles. We first tried to eat at another restaurant a few miles away, but the vibe was obnoxious and too loud to have a decent meal. Luckily we found Vejar's to save the day!Family style restaurant with a bar/lounge connected. The food was good, service was friendly and pretty fast. Plus, to my son's delight, they serve breakfast all damn day. Win!Tip: Check in on Yelp for 10% off a combo meal."

178 Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (104)

"This place has really great food.I had taken my friend Lucas and his wife Tanya here the weekend following her birthday for lunch.I told them that they could order what ever they wanted.We each ordered a different type of cheese burger and with fries and we got an extra order of onion rings and we each ordered ice tea, this place was packed out. We showed up around 2:30 in the afternoon, if I would have been spending the night we would have came latter for dinner and ribs.It was my first time coming here and I was happy with my experience.The place is sorta loud, but at least everyone there was having a great time.The cheese burger that I ordered, I had gotten avocado and bacon on it besides all the other fixings. I was stuffed by the time I had finished eating and I had about a three hour drive back home. Probably two people could share a meal there if you are not a big eater.I highly recommend this place to others when you are in Lake Isabella or Kernville."

Stacked Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (235) • $$

"Want a relaxed atmosphere ... this is a good spot in Visalia! Parking is difficult though ; limited parking in front of this bar and grill. Better luck parking a block or two down the street and around the corner. You sit wherever you want ; and when you're ready you order at the front counter . You are given a number and when your order is ready someone brings it out for you. We ordered the California chicken; juicy piece of chicken, loaded with sprouts, bacon, avocado , pepper jack cheese and pesto basil aloli. Upgraded the fries to garlic fries and glad we did. They were delicious and plentiful to share. Also ordered a build your own burger - juicy patty .... Got all the toppings on it that don't cost extra. Freshly made to order; so be prepared for a little wait. It doesn't sit under a light like McDonald's; so patience is a must. Combo comes with crinkle cut fries and a soft drink. No carbonation at the soft drink machine .... Please fix this ... no one wants to drink flat soda. There should be a sign at the counter ; letting you know ahead of time ... so you can decide if you really want that flat beverage to sip on. The bar is busy ; the drinks made by the bartenders are good and reasonable . Ordered a sex on the beach drink, was very good .there is outdoor space to hangout at when weather permits. Place can get super packed in the evenings and on weekends. Go earlier before the crowd. Good place for big parties ; kid friendly. Clean bathrooms. High chairs for kids."

Longhorn Inn

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (8) • $$

"Ummm YES! This place is amaze-balls. Karaoke check, awesome bartender check, amazing friendly locals check, cheap drinks check. This place rocks it hard. Keep on keepin on Longhorn, you are the shit:)"

Phoville Pho and Grill

★★☆☆☆ 1.9 (21)

"SO glad there is a new option in town for Vietnamese food! We've had them twice so far and have enjoyed it! Does it rival little Saigon options, probably not. But is it a good for Bakersfield where we really lack Vietnamese food options? Hell yeahhhh! We have tried the following:Beef pho: generous portions, flavorful and hits the spot!Beef rice plate & pork rice plate: so good! They come on skewers, a side of rice & sweet fish sauce & some daikon + cucumbers. Portions are generous and was such a yummy lunch/dinner option! Eggrolls: not bad but needs some work the wrapper gets so soggy by the time we get home which is like a 15 min drive.Garlic noodles: bomb.com if you love garlic get this! Fried rice: on the blander side but still a yummy buttery fried rice. Nothing alittle chili oil won't fix! Follow them on IG/FB they are running some soft opening specials on right now. They are located in the same parking lot as studio movie grill & offer booth seating! We've only ordered for takeout but everything is always done by the time we arrive & service is friendly!Support Asian owned businesses!"

Mamma Mia

★★★★☆ 4.3 (362) • $$

"I did something I don't like doing and that's order take out from a really nice restaurantEverything was solid. Food stayed hot and was hot when I arrived home. Everything was packaged nicely and with care. Taste was amazing and what I'd expected if I were in the restaurant. The bonus was I was able to pick up the pork chop I order with my hands and enjoy it like a barbarian in the comforts of my home with no one to judge me."

The Placery - At The Hyatt

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (5)

"Very disappointing service. We were a table of 6 and shown to sit at the bar/lounge area where the small tables were inadequate, so we put two tables together ourselves. Even though we were the only table for some time, the service staff kept disappearing into the back. Went without refills of water and didn't get an opportunity to order a 2nd round of drinks because no one was there.Food came scattered. A few of us served while others waited 10 minutes and share plate items didnt come until everyone had finished their meals. Although the food was cooked well, the menu is lacking and doesnt offer anything that you can't get anywhere else in Delano: Pizza, Burgers, Tacos, sandwiches. Was hoping this would be a nice place to take friends and family who come to visit. Doubtful."

J & M's Cafe Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (162) • $$

"The Food is delicious! Breakfast is my favorite, I love the French toast. My sister and I usually come in for breakfast/lunch when we are in Bakersfield running errands (we live in Lake Isabella). Price is very fair and the service is friendly! Quiet little place, the vibe is nice."

KC Steak House

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (376) • $$$

"We had dinner on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 8:00 pm. We did not have a reservation so we sat at the bar and had a cocktail while we waited for our table. I ordered an Amaretto Sour and it was prepared perfectly, it was delicious. My friend ordered a Paloma and she said it wasn't good but refused to send it back. There was a small band playing that night and the music wasn't overly loud, just some nice background music. Once seated a waitress came by with some "Love Shots" a Valentine's Day alcohol shot. The shot was $6.00 and cash only, unable to add to your dinner tab, I found this to be inconvenient. Nonetheless, we purchased two shots and they were ok, nothing spectacular. And probably won't purchase again. We ordered the jalapeño poppers for our appetizer and they were delicious. Nice size, filled with a cheese mixture and fried. They had a bit of a spicy kick and were served hot. They were freshly prepared, not oily/greasy. We were also provided a bread and butter basket. Bread was warm and butter packets were spreadable. We were also served beans and salsa. I had the NY Steak special (listed on the board). The steak was cooked as ordered and very flavorful. It came with a balsamic reduction and blue cheese, delicious. The steak was a nice size for the price. It was served with garlic mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were a bit on the dry side but delicious flavor. The side of green beans were okay, canned green beans with onions, stew tomatoes and bacon. My friend ordered the ribeye special with a chimichurri sauce, which was ordered on the side. The steak was prepared as ordered and seasoned perfectly. We both ordered the same sides. We both added a garden salad ($5.00 each) and what a disappointment. Do not recommend adding the salad, complete waste of money and awful. It was iceberg lettuce with 4 stale croutons. Beyond disappointing. I had a Justin Vineyard wine and it was decent. They don't have an extensive wine selection. Overall, food was good but our steaks were fantastic. The waitstaff was attentive and accommodating. We will come back because the steaks were that good."

Pyrenees Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (315) • $$

"Bakersfield has the largest collection of Basque restaurants in the United States, with the Pyrenees Cafe being a super old one. I think it was first opened around 1901 as a boarding house, mostly for men, and brothel house on the side that served people coming in from Spain and other areas--the food and the women. It was also quite busy during prohibition making their own booze. Whether it was good, who knows, this was years and years ago. There are not as many Basque places in Bakersfield as their once was and I wish they would all come back. They are just great. The food is wonderful. It is often served family style and you just feel welcome. The ladies of the night are long gone and it is kid friendly. These establishments like Pyrenees carry the traditions of their ancestors, offering a Basque food experience to everyone. It is on a long street and there are several Basque places to eat and we love them all. This one is a favorite. Customarily, meals at the Pyrenees Café are multicourse, served family style at long tables, but they also have smaller tables and a bar counter. We always get started with the 'set-up,' a generous spread of bread, soup, beans, salsa, pickled tongue, vegetables, French fries, and spaghetti. Now you don't have to do this and you can have just bread or whatever to start, but we love the 'set up." I don't like tongue, but I drive it back to my dog who loves me for it. I am sure it is great, just not for me. The entrees include lamb, chicken, pasta, ox tail and seafood, or the special entrée of the night, which is always great.So, go. It may be a new experience for you and the entire Downtown (near the tracks) Bakersfield area can really use the business. It is super safe and it is fun. Oh, and now they have Breakfast. Yummy."

Rustic Rail

★★★★★ 4.5 (26) • $

"Mrs Millie is the star of the show. she is friendly but firm in not let shenanigans amuck. She has put together a history lesson with the photos and art and made the old train station in a great environment. The saloon is clean and patronized by decent working class folks. There is decent amount of domestic and craft beers to please everyone. The bar is well stocked with a fair amount of premium liquor.Cash only but there's a ATM if you need cash.This a low key place but well worth your time. If your looking for a rowdy place - this isn't the bar for you.Give Mrs Millie and the saloon a chance and you will be surprised."

Sandrini's Public House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (226) • $$

"We used to come here a lot many years ago. It's We recently went there after a night of drinking to soak up some alcohol and heard the food was great. Let me tell you their food now is amazing. Specially after a night of drinking, it was a little awkward being in my 40s and in a place full of 20 somethings but it was just nice to see everybody having a good time no drama but if you want some good late night eats definitely come check this place out. Definitely try the Italian sausage bread so good."

Vi's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (23) • $$

"Vi's is a NW Bakersfield hidden gem. Great drinks, great place to people watch, great service....what's not to like? Highly recommend this place."

The Well Comedy Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (52)

"We've come here twice now and both times have been great. The comedy shows are awesome, ticket prices are inexpensive, VIP is the best for an up close and personal interactive experience. The food is a bit pricey for bar food but, it's good. Staff is always super friendly and helpful. Bathrooms are clean."

Happy Hours Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (34)

"Finally this place is open. My SO and I have been waiting for it. It is one of the newly opened places at the Antelope Valley mall. Plenty of tables inside as well as outside. There are like 5 - 6 TVs on the wall playing games and others. A good place to watch game nights. They open as early as 11am and closes late like 2 in the morning. After watching a movie, we stopped by to try their $2 Taco Tuesday. I ordered one of each : grilled chicken, carne asada and ground beef. It was okay for the price, the fillings and the portion. But the meat was dry though. My SO agrees with me.One thing I didn't like is the taco shell, they tried to make it crunchy but ended up making it like a stale tortilla. It slowed me down in chugging them.They don't have a Happy Hour menu but do have everyday specials though. This is their 3rd location opened in the Antelope Valley. If you're around Quartz Hill or Lancaster Blvd - check their place out. Service crew is bubbly and friendly. I will definitely come back and try the other specials. The Taco issue won't deter me."

Fubar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13)

"Nice little bar hidden down the road in Bodfish. Warm environment and friendly people. They have 3 pool tables, a bar area and an outdoor smoking area with heaters. During the day they might have food (bbq), but I was there after hours for a few games of pool and a beer. Definitely worth a stop if you're in town and looking for somewhere to go hangout."

Lr's Pizza

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (113) • $$

"I've enjoyed pizza here for the past 30+ years, and just like everything in life, you get some good days and some bad days. Today was a really good day, the crust wasn't overdone or charred, I just wished the wings had a little more meat. The only reason I didnt give it a 5 start is due to its lack of light inside the dining area. It's a little too dark for me."

Azteca Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (273) • $$

"Wow..! What a great new find. YES... it's a few miles out, but well worth the drive, to be sure.This recommendation came from friends, who know their stuff. And true to their words, it may not be a lot to look at from the street, but once inside it's a very welcoming and comfortable place. And extremely nice folks working there who make you feel right at home.So, you always have 'Chip Expectations' when visiting a new Mexican restaurant, and the bowl of chips (and two nice bowls of salsa) brought to our table were still warm. And they were so very good. I could have stuck with those alone and been a happy camper. They have an Abuelita hiding in the kitchen blessing each and every batch, me thinks. All four of us thought they were delicious.I had a carnitas burrito, mojado style (wet with sauce), with rice and beans. If the kitchen knows how to do a great pork roast for shredding it's a good sign, true..? Well, these folks do a GREAT job with their carnitas. No surprise, as the folks who run the place have a Dad and Uncle that started in the Santa Clarita area 30 years ago. Practice makes perfect, they say. But they've obviously not been merely practicing but perfecting to a higher degree. It was great.And my wife always says that a Chili Relleno is her indicator of a kitchens knowledge. She loved it, they nailed it, all great there.The son, who can be a bit pickier at times (life on the A scale...) had an awesome looking plate of simple but great nachos with beans and chicken. It looked like a picture from a cook book. In fact, when ALL of our dished came to the table... and we just sat and stared at them for a minute. This is beautifully presented food, truly.The daughter-unit had a quesadilla with rice and beans that were in miniature tostada shells, with a very nice guacamole and pico de gallo. Can I use the 'C' word here..? Her plate of food was cute. There. I said it. But seriously, in a world full of restaurants where it seems like some chefs just don't care, these folk care, and it shows.The manager also came by to say 'Hello' and check on us, and the wait staff were so sweet. We'll be back... get those shrimp ready, folks!"

Buckle & Boots

★★★★☆ 3.8 (88)

"Honestly can't say enough about this place. A True gem! The food=incredible! The drinks=wet! The staff (more specifically ASHLEY=best waitress in the world!) all staff incredible. Met the co-owner Tim, he was fantastic and very friendly. They not only have dance classes there, you can also learn the dances online as well! I love this place!honestly you can't NOT have a good time here! (5stars for Buckle and Boots and 5 stars for Ashley)"

19th Hole Bar And Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (48)

"Saturday night and wanted to try a new spot. So happy we did; wasn't packed . Family friendly. The owner seated us; got to sit anywhere we wanted. Very casual vibe. Service was good. Able to watch sports - dodger game so hubby was happy. There's a patio to sit on as well- too hot in this heat though. Think if they get some live music sometime and have some e specials - I would give them five stars. We ordered some drinks - hubby got a draft beer. I ordered the sangria- refreshing. We shared the wings- wing habernero. Good kick ! Served with ranch yum. Great appetizer. This is a very clean local hangout. Would come back ."

The Aviator Casino

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (54)

"So I came out to the Aviator after swearing it off, and was pleasantly surprised. New security guards, and better service! I guess I'll be back for happy hour!"

The Hideout

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (24)

"Its open for business but you wouldn't know unless you pulled on the door. There were no "just open" signs, no neon signs glowing in the window.The decor was a cleaned up Shamrocks the predecessor of this bar. First thing I noticed was all tall tables with bar stools around them. A big plus in my eyes. There are still two pool tables.The bar was cleaned up and a new 20 beer tap has been installed. They had several craft beers along with the major domestic beers. The had several TV's including a couple large projection ones.Nice watering hole to watch sports."

Pierpoint Bar & Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (50)

"Very clean place, and the staff was very hospitable. Had a burger and a patty melt, was very good :). Prices are also reasonable, and there's a store attached if u need anything."