The Tastiest Music Venues in Riverside

Club Bombay

★★★★☆ 4.4 (92) • $$

"Cute little cocktail bar in Big Bear Village with fantastic customer service. My husband and I came here on a Saturday evening after a long hike. We made it just in time for happy hour which was great because it was a Saturday and they offer happy hour every day. I asked for a recommendation from the bartender since they had a bunch of cocktails that sounded delicious and she suggested the blood orange margarita with a sugar rim. It was a fantastic cocktail, lots of citrus flavor and not too sweet. My husband's hefeweizen was delicious too. We asked for a recommendation for dinner and the owner went out of his way to call in a reservation for our dinner at their sister restaurant The Peppercorn Grille. We will definitely return the next time we're in Big Bear!"

Whiskey Babes

★★★★☆ 3.7 (70) • $$

"The owners of this place have been buying groceries at my store for years, they're super nice and buy fresh ingredients only, all the time. Well I've been telling them for the two years I've been seeing them, I was going to make it there with my husband for breakfast/brunch sometime, well we finally did last Friday. The place is Very clean, and the decor is Fabulous. Bree the owners daughter was our waitress, pretty and provided the Best customer service! My husband had the Pastrami sandwich w/tater tots and I had the chicken tenders,, they were both so yummy. Highly recommend this Awesome and tasty not so little, Hole in the wall We are going to go back and enjoy a night here soon seeing they have an excellent selection of alcoholic beverages."

The Canyon Salsa, Bachata & Cumbia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (9)

"love the bachata. that's how you start a birthday weekend. shout out to the manager Ralph. thank you for the dance. nice clean club with 3 dance floors and a nice variety of music."

Redlands Bowl

★★★★★ 4.7 (43) • $

"An awesome outdoor venue in the heart of Redlands. Come here during the summer to enjoy free music and the warm Southern California weather, when the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival is in full swing. Since the Bowl is located in a residential neighborhood, most people park across the street and walk a block or two to the venue. We had no problem getting here, but it's something to consider if you or your party have mobility issues. Once at the Bowl, there's plenty of bench seating and areas where you can spread a picnic blanket and relax. The sound is good and the sight lines are fine, no matter where you end up. My wife and I came here for the Polynesian Paradise Dancers, a wonderful production of live music and dance. They covered a wide range of traditional and modern South Pacific-influenced songs, with the most oohs and ahhs coming during the fire dances. This open-air amphitheater is an Inland Empire gem. Make your plans to see a free show or two next summer. Highly recommended."

Black Dog Social Club & Shoppe

★★★★★ 4.7 (53)

"We had the best time at Black Dog! We came for the drinks, and we stayed for the fun. ;)Black Dog is separated into two storefronts. From what I understand, to the left is the store and to the right is the social club. The store sells some food (premade sandwiches, salads, ice creams), drinks (canned and bottled beer, wine, and seltzers), and of course some stuff for the pooches (toys and "dog beer"). We were up in GVL for the weekend, and we could hear the live music at Black Dog from our Airbnb. We just had to stop by! We got some drinks and a toy for our dog in the store (all $7! Incredible prices). We went next door to the social club for a moment to listen to the music then ultimately went outside as it was just a bit too loud indoors for us! Outside our table had connect four, which we played over and over again through a few rounds of drinks from the Black Dog store, all while enjoying the exceptional band on a Saturday night.We loved everything about Black Dog: the kindness of the staff, the amazing band, the cute pups, and the air of complete inclusivity. This was our first time visiting Green Valley Lake and Black Dog is a huge part of us already thinking we want to go back!!"

Luke's On Front

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"I was able to try this wonderful establishment for a friend's surprise birthday party, The staff were amazingly friendly and accommodating. The drinks were good and the food was great. Everything tastes fresh for a buffet party style. They didn't let food just sit, they would put just enough out to not get cold and the steaks were cooked tender and juicy. If it wasn't for the fact that I don't live close by, I would go there again. So if you're ever in the area, give them a try and enjoy!!!"

Rob Kelly's After Five

★★★★☆ 4 (41) • $

"Has an old bar smell to it which is a bit of a turn off. But man do the people there know how to have a good drama free time. Bartender Brandy was awesome! Her drinks were on point and she even offered to remake it if it wasn't. That's what I call service. For a little whole in the wall it was a very pleasant surprise. I will most definitely be going there again"

Last Name Brewing

★★★★★ 4.5 (441) • $$

"First time visiting, cool little spot that is easy to find when you know what you're looking for. Indoor and outdoor seating so options abound. Had a live band the Saturday we were there that was pretty solid for a 2 man band! Shuffleboard was fun and right in the perfect spot to watch the band and have a drink. Beer tenders were nice and informative, some reviews knock em but aside from not having an urgency sense they took the time with each person they were assisting. Way better selection of beers and seltzers than what shows online. The strawberry blonde was delightful with the perfect balance of sweetness at the finish. The red was good, nutty but not overpowering. Didn't see any stouts on deck but may have overlooked it. Worth the visit for sure, maybe skip the food truck and hit the Hat like we did. Something about chili cheese fries after some beers is just perfect!"

The Sand Trap Sports Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (291) • $$

"First time here for lunch. A co-worker brought me because his side job is working here. (He deserves a raise!) ordered the spicy cheese bites which were delightful and will order again the next time I'm there. I also ordered the sourdough burger to go so I could take it with me. The burger and fries were great and I recommend them. It is a sports bar so the lighting is somewhat dim so if you have bad eyes like me it may be difficult to read the menu. If you have the opportunity, stop by and order something to eat and drink!"

Evolve Distilling

★★★★★ 4.9 (18)

"So glad to see this business took over the location. The staff is awesome. The drinks are delicious. There is no food, but the brewery in the same lot usually has food available. Sometimes they do seasonal drinks, but you don't really know unless you go there. It would be great if they posted the seasonal menus on their social media."

Bear Claw Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.2 (99) • $

"Fun place!! If you want to meet some genuine local people from this town, Bear Claw Saloon (fondly known as "the Claw" by some of my friends here) is the place to be! It's a place that reminds me of Cheers - for those who are old enough to remember that show.... "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...". I love the small town bar vibe here. And the bartender was super attentive and friendly. Sorry no picture (yet)... was too busy having fun getting to know the folks here. But do check them out if you're in Crestline or happen to visit Lake Gregory. It's a fun place!"

Old Town Blues Club

★★★★☆ 4.2 (132) • $$

"Music, dancing, drinks (no food). Old Town Temecula is charming and bustling. I chose this place because it has Blues in it's name and I the blues ~ music. After visiting a nearby winery, we got to OTBC just when the band, Lil A & the Allnighters, was starting their first set. The band was terrific! Since we got there early, the place was not very busy and there was plenty of room to dance. We spoke with the manager who said that they mainly promote music. YAY! The cover was only $5 per person! I wish this bar music venue was nearer to our home.Clean place, friendly folks, cool paintings of great musicians. We had a beer and a couple of shots. Prices were not bad. They just recently acquired their liquor license.When we left, we walked around Old Town, checking out the plethora of shops and restaurants. We will definitely return for more music & fun."

That 80's Bar

★★★☆☆ 3 (364) • $$

"The bar isn't in the best area. The parking lot is across the street and didn't feel safe. A woman approached me trying to give me a "med spa goody bag" and there was a voice recording that kept blasting nearby with a warning of being too close to their building and a recording in progress. *THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE ROTATING SPEAKEASY IN THE BACK, SPECIFICALLY THE MATTERHORN LODGE*Overall opinion: fun theme, expensive drinks, long wait, small space, unique experience.Made reservations for the pop-up speakeasy (that seems to have a rotating theme) and there were plenty time slots to choose from the later half of the evening. When we got there they let us know they were 25 minutes behind but by the time we got in it was 35 mins past our reserved time. As they escorted us to the bar they let us know there was a two-drink minimum which came as a surprise. We're told that drinks ordered at the bar with cash got a discount so we headed there first. The discount for paying cash was $.88 lol. The drinks were pretty, and strong, taste was OK. We then tried to find a place to stand because it was so packed. I was under the impression the reservation meant we got seats but you have to try to snag the limited spots when people leave. We stood awkwardly smashed in the back taking in the scene. The decor was perfectly Matterhorn and yeti themed. Lots of fun details including screens playing snow themes that made you feel like you were in the mountains. We were lucky to get a seat about 20 mins in since it seemed like they kept letting more people in while only a few people left. We decided we weren't going to stay much longer and didn't want to get in a long line to order more $20(!!) drinks. You could use a QR code to order by table but the wait would've probably also been long. We waited until we saw the yeti who makes an appearance I think every hour or so, which was fun since the actor in the suit made it a point to go up to all guests and interact/take pics, then left within an hour of getting in. Despite the wait, crowd, and expensive drinks, I'm glad we went. Was worth checking out and made for a one-of-a-kind night."

Jd Allisons Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (286) • $$

"I came to watch the packer game & have mimosas. I ended up ordering their French toast with a side of bacon I would rate it a 7/10."

Maya bar and grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (27)

"Fun place to hang out. We went for happy hour and they were setting up for an event for that evening. The menu was cool because they had American dishes as well as Filipino dishes so we got a chance to try a few different things that we'd never try before. Everything came out looking great Flavor was awesome and the food dishes were really good. We will definitely go back to try a few other dishes."

Juke Joint Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (252) • $

"Juke Joint Bar is sure to hit the spot. I had an amazing time here. Drinks were on point. They had a wonderful selection of beer. Bartenders were pretty attentive and they sure don't skimp on the booze. What stood out the most to me were the arcade games and billiards in the back of the bar. I think the pool games were a $1 each which is pretty cheap by today's standards. We probably spent a couple hours playing. There might be a line though. The dive bar vibe is definitely there though. A little gritty, a little quirky, but it adds to the charm. Definitely on the recommend list to hang out with friends."

Happy Hour Saloon

★★★★★ 4.8 (158) • $$

"Great spot to grab a tasty old fashioned (made with Buffalo Trace). They also make a pretty tasty charcuterie board. Great selection of whiskey, wine, & beer. There is no food menu, only appetizer sized snacks to order. Side note....The bartenders are all super cute."

Whiskey River Dancehall & Saloon

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (213) • $$

"Ok so they open at 6pm. We get here at 6:30pm. Comes with a $7 cover. We are told it covers a show. Online it says it's happy hour from 6-8pm. We get well drinks. Why is our I'll $130!!?? For 3 drinks each. Rip off! Be careful of this p"

Rockefellas Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (118) • $

"The Dive Bar that ISN'T! It's a really chill bar that has DJ's, Bands (Punk, Metal, EDM, Hip Hop, etc.), Kareoke, and open Mic Comedy on Weds!Make sure to come when Alicia is serving, she takes great care of her customers! Also, plenty of places to eat nearby"

Camila’s Jazz Club

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Food, drinks, and service was great. Excellent show and beautiful venue. We will be going again."

Flyway At Fox

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (59) • $$

"The lady manager is super sweet and professional ! I love that you can order drinks and sit any where and there Mexican candy drink is mouth drooling ! I will be coming with my boyfriend again"

The Fox Theater - Pomona

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (331) • $$

"Saw 4 shows over the past 7 days and here's what I learned:PARKING - parking in front of the venue in the Chase parking lot is a rip-off. Park in the surrounding lots for $2. I found the parking lot off of 3rd st. on the east side of Garey Ave. which is a short walk across the street. Currently the first two hours are free and anything after 2 hours it gives you until 8 a.m. the next day and only charges you $2. There's also lots of 2 hour parking and yes the cops do check and give you a ticket or tow you if it goes past 2 hours. Currently the parking machine at this location is finicky and you have to apply the right pressure on the green button for it to work, but it does work. RESTROOMS - they're at the top of the stair case, there's usually a line for the women's restroom. Also, the door is either missing or doesn't lock on two of the stalls so get someone to hold the door closed for you.VENUE - there's an outdoor smoking area to the right, down stairs and also upstairs. Also, you need to pay extra for a wrist band to get to the floor or to sit in the balcony. General admission is for the tiered standing room only platforms and if you're short, you need to get there early to get at the front of the railing otherwise it's a gamble if you'll be able to see anything. I suggest standing along the railing towards the center. I hung out in the walkway quite a bit and only one out of four times did a security guard come by to clear the walkway.SHOWTIME - all four shows the doors were at 7, show started at 8 and headliner went on at 9. The line getting into the venue can be long and hold you up depending on the artist and how popular they are so a safe time to get there, be parked and in line is 7:40 p.m. the latest if you want to catch both the opener and headliner or to secure a spot for the best view. I only stayed to the end for one of the 4 shows and they cut the opener off at 8:40 ish and the headliner was cut off with no encore by 9:45 p.m. If the parking lot is empty or looks not full by 7:30 p.m. chances are there might be low attendance or everyone else is late. It's less stressful than seeing a show in L.A. and still a fun time. I noticed both the artists and the crowd are way more relaxed and nicer here versus L.A. venues of the same caliber. The vibe here is always fun/chill."

Boondocks

★★★★☆ 3.8 (194) • $$

"What an awesome place! If you're ever in the Corona area, please check out Boondock's. Heck, we drove out from Placentia/Orange County! The owner, Nigel, and his wife are both amazing people. He served in the special forces both in Ireland and here in the U.S. We look forward to adding them as an Orange County Law Enforcement Emerald Society (OCLEES) substation. Thanks for the burgers, chips, excellent "bar food," drinks, vibe, and more. Many blessings to you and yours."

Loud burger

★★★★☆ 4.2 (291) • $$

"this is a hidden jam in the city of Colton. My grandson had a football game and after the game, we decided to stop by here. I can tell you that their chili burger was absolutely amazing. Every item on the menu was delicious and the service was fantastic.They have live music on the weekends and the owner is on site being very kind and humble. A definite must do."

210 Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (115) • $$

"GREAT place, GREAT food and GREAT drinks! Love the ambience and especially the political decor! The staff has always treated us great and made killer drinks. Don't pass this place up! Thanks 210 Tavern :)"

C Street Cafe

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"A hidden treasure in the IE, this is the place to hear the very best authentic jazz every Thursday night. These people are excellent musicians. You won't be disappointed. Tuesday's are open mic night and they draw a very diverse crowd. Lots of fun."

The Magic Lamp Inn

★★★★☆ 4.4 (126)

"Hi everyone, I always wanted to come to the Magic Lamp Inn. They were on a hiatus for a while, but they are back! Old classic style and charm of historic route 66. You step inside and you are immediately immersed in the fine architecture of the 1950's.The hostess will warmly greet you and escort you to a grand fire place with a spectacular copper hood and on the weekends live music singing songs of the period while your table is prepared. Our server was fabulous explaining and answering all questions. There's a full bar and we ordered a cosmo and an old fashion. Excellent. There's a magician walking around performing at table side. Fabulous.The food menu is just enough to satisfy meat lovers, seafood and vegetarian. As with most fine steakhouses the sides are extra, but enough to share. I ordered the wedge salad and the server recommended to split it between the two of us and I gotta tell you, the shares we received each would've been a single serving elsewhere. The French onion soup was delicious. They were out of prime rib, but we went on a Sunday and they are closed on Monday and Tuesday, so it makes sense. So instead, I ordered the linguini and Lisa ordered the salmon. I will have to go back for the prime rib and chocolate cake. They were out of that too. Must've been a busy weekend. With that said, I think it is recommended to make reservations if you're planning on a Friday or Saturday visit. It was a Sunday night when we went and it was still quite busy. The chef came out to say hi and asked us how our meal was. He apologized for not having any more prime rib, but I said that we will return. The bar/lounge area is grand with wonderful wood working and pictures and memorabilia from their past. We will be going here when the bar at the Sycamore across the street is packed.There's plenty of parking around the restaurant and the parking lot is big. There's a dress code but I guess as long as you don't show up in torn jeans and a t shirt you should be fine. You just don't see this kind of architecture in a restaurant that much anymore. I recommend a visit. It's gonna cost a pretty penny but I feel is worth it. Please help support your local favorite small businesses."

Carnaval

★★☆☆☆ 1.8 (177) • $$

"I honestly don't know why there are so many bad reviews, but this was my first time coming and they were really nice at the door. The security was really nice gave me compliments and then when I got inside I mean it was nice. The only thing I didn't like is OK. It was a lot of like Spanish people and I thought I was going to a reggae even but other than that the club is so cool."

Misty's

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (223) • $$

"Smooth Touch Band played the Sunday of Dec. 8th of 2024!First experience coming here with friends and dancing with hubby was memorable!!We met up around 7:30 pm and dance floor seem empty !But as soon as the band stepped on stage and played loud music then dance floor was rockin', shakin' and rollin' !!Our server was really great attending to our table.Food was great with my MAI TAI... I had the Mushroom Ravioli which was served in a creamy garlic mushroom gravy with delicious spinach and sundried tomatoes!!!!Dance floor pretty much jammed by 10 pm !!We are coming back on the 29th to end the year with happy eats and music for sure!!'n"

Raquel's Jazz Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (160) • $$

"Absolutely a hidden gem! The live performances are very entertaining. We danced in our seats as well as the dance floor. The group "Synergy" performed and they did not disappoint. They did every artist that they covered proud! The bartenders are friendly. Tonya makes a mean margarita!!! I'm telling you...2 is all you need! There is a back patio for those who prefer to light a good ole Cuban cigar! There's also a hookah lounge in the middle. They offer parties and all types of celebrations. The DJ's are in constant rotation and they are on point as well. All ranges and genres are played. There is a $20 cover charge and it's well worth it. They have different food vendors nightly which offers a great variety! Definitely worth a visit and a return visit!"

Dogwood Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.7 (130) • $$

"I really like this place. We like going here to get their amazing chicken Caesars salad wrap. We also like Sushi night. The fish is really high quality.It may look a little divey when you walk in. Don't let that scare you away. The place, including the kitchen, is very clean. Your best bet is to go to the bar and order. It's what most locals do. Its also a good chance that you will meet some of the regulars. They usually sit at the end of the bar. There are quite a few regulars that you can meet that are characters in a very good way."

Wooden Nickel

★★★★☆ 4.1 (35) • $

"If you haven't been here then your probably just scared of the reviews because there's nothing to be scared of. I've lived over here for 6 years and yes I thought it was exactly what the stereotype makes you think it is but it's NOT!!!! The workers are super friendly and welcoming to EVERYONE! Please support your local bar no matter what you think it is because chances are it isn't! It's a great place so PLEASE SUPPORT THEM! Stop in and tell them Amber sent you, they might. Or know who Amber is because I haven't came here enough for them to know my name but Amanda is a bar tender so just say she's the best and the reason why your stopping in. If you have a chance to try the BBQ please do. I will definitely stop in more often now that I know there's nothing to be afraid of. LOVE YOU AMANADA!!!!"

Av Bar & Nightclub

★★★★☆ 4 (160) • $$

"We went on Saturday night and this place gets hella lit! I ordered a Cadillac Margarita and the bartender had a giant margarita drink and giant shot glass of something in the side and I said "what is this" & he said "it's a cadillac margarita" & I was like "I've never had it like this" & then he's like "well then you've been having cadillac margaritas all wrong" and let me tell you that drink was strooong. Also there was like three bachelorettes going on that night and we made friends that night. Overall a good experience."

The Haven

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"It was a dark and stormy night. Thanks to Yelp and the Haven for inviting us for the Yelp Elite event. K Pop night! Not a huge crowd due to weather. We were pleasantly surprised to find this cute new club in the Pomona Arts district. Super easy parking and walkable from shops. Would for sure be tons of fun with a group on a warm spring night. Big floor for dancing. Fun!"