Alex's Bar — Restaurant in Long Beach

Alex’s Bar is one of those spots that has real character—you can feel it the moment you walk up. The red neon sign and tucked-away entrance give it this underground, almost secret vibe (even though it’s pretty well-known now). Inside, it’s dark, gritty, and full of attitude. The walls are lined with skulls, old posters, and quirky decor that makes it feel like a true punk rock dive bar with history.

I went on a Friday night with some friends, and the vibe was awesome. One of the biggest highlights is the live music. They feature a lot of local and indie bands—mostly punk, garage, and rock—and it just feels raw and alive. The sound is surprisingly good for a smaller venue, and the crowd really brings the energy.

Drinks are solid—good beer selection, both craft and mainstream, and strong pours if you’re into cocktails. Prices are totally fair, especially for Long Beach. The bartenders were fast, cool, and knew what they were doing, even with a packed crowd.

One thing I love about this place is that it’s not about being trendy or polished. You don’t come here to pose—you come to listen to music, have some drinks, and enjoy a place with actual soul. The crowd is super mixed, from longtime punks to younger people looking for something real. No pretension, just vibes.

Only downside: parking can be a pain, especially on busy nights. I’d recommend taking a ride share or getting there early if you’re driving. Also, if you’re sensitive to loud music or dark, crowded places, this probably isn’t your scene.

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Bottom line: Alex’s Bar is a Long Beach gem—loud, gritty, full of personality, and unapologetically cool. Great live shows, solid drinks, good prices, and a real-deal atmosphere that’s hard to find these days. Definitely worth a visit if you’re into music and a night...

Ahhh, Alex’s Bar. I’ve had many a good time here. This is my favorite place to go see live bands. The booking agents have a knack for booking bands that I can get into. Usually there is one band I know that draws me in, but I’ll end up being surprised by most of the other bands playing with them and it usually ends up being a pretty good show all the way through. It’s the right size for many of the bands I’m into, and even when the turn-out is not so great, the room doesn’t feel empty. But they can pack them in too, and it can be nuts to butts in there. They also have themed trivia nights that look fun, but I have yet to go to one of these.

Besides the bands, the bar is just a pretty nice bar in my opinion. They have plenty of choices for draft beer that should satisfy most beer snobs. They did a good job classing it up with the decor. Virgin Mary wall sconce lights, velvet paintings, etc.

I used to go park my truck at Orizaba Park, which is at the end of the block behind Alex’s, and do a little stealth camping. I have a camper shell on it, so I’d throw my camping gear in the back, and after the show I’d climb in the back and sleep it off. I’ve never been harassed at night by cops or thieves while doing this at this location. So far, so good. The park also has some vegetation and dark spots so you can take an incognito leak.

If stealth camping ain’t your thing there’s also plenty of decent but inexpensive motels just a short Uber ride away. Try the Econo Lodge or Day’s Inn on PCH. These are both cheap,...

The drinks were OK, the inside (sound set up, overall vibe, etc.) were OK, the bands were GREAT. But man, the bouncer that was at the door (middle-aged, black), his attitude STUNK. Like in the 2 minute interaction we had, so much sass, attitude, and rudeness that you would’ve thought he was a 13 year-old girl who just got her first period. I get that this is a punk bar, but you don’t let your employees treat paying customers like that!

Another thing is that the show/door prices are very confusing. For example, there is an upcoming show that’s advertised to be $20 in advance and $25 the day of. If you look on DICE (the app the tickets are sold on) it’s $25 (and the show is in 2 months). If it is DICE fees, then those fees must be inconsistent because the price differentials are ALL over the place when you look at the various shows. It’s not just DICE either, when me and my wife went, we were expecting to pay $25 (because it was the day of). It was $32, which wouldn’t be so odd if they would just be honest on the poster.

Overall, everything was O.K. with the exception of the bands (f** fantastic), the service from that one dude with a stick up his butt (not fantastic), and the...