Chez Jay

"Diners have been settling into the red leather booths at Santa Monica’s Chez Jay since it opened in 1959. Vodka fans will enjoy the 1959 Tini, made with Tito’s vodka and olives for a sharp and salty sipper. Pair the cocktail with an excellent Caesar salad and a side of truffle fries for what may be the ideal snack. On warm days, head for the outdoor patio deck and take in the ocean air." - Rebecca Roland

"Scary movies taught us that ghosts are mostly widows in Victorian dresses and hollow-eyed children with unhealthy doll obsessions, but walk into Chez Jay in Santa Monica, and you’ll realize every apparition here is a bitter sea pirate looking for a light. Open since 1959, this nautical-themed drinking hole is where you go when you’re tired of Ocean Blvd.’s glossy apartment complexes and generic Italian restaurants and need to feel something authentic. Or at the very least, something borderline metaphysical. There are peanut shells on the floor, a jukebox that probably doesn’t play anything later than Earth, Wind & Fire, and a giant fish on the wall that you’re almost positive is staring at you. It is—and so are all the framed photos." - brant cox

"When it comes to Santa Monica bars, there’s a belief that it’s Chez Jay and everyone else—and it’s hard to argue otherwise. Opened in 1959, this nautical-themed landmark (literally) is a one-of-a-kind watering hole where you can get a dangerously stiff drink and a 10-oz. butter steak at the same time. There are peanut shells on the floor, a weird giant fish on the wall, and a jukebox playing The Stones. If you want one of the last remaining authentic Santa Monica experiences, head to this crazy shack by the water." - brant cox, sylvio martins, nikko duren

"If the words “60-year-old dive bar in Santa Monica” don’t immediately make you think “perfect first-date spot,” we don’t blame you. On paper, Chez Jay sounds more like a place you’d take your much older, out-of-town cousin than the setting for a romantic evening. But after an extensive update, the large back patio is now decorated with fire pits, string lights, and big comfy chairs ideal for making you feel relaxed and super cute. We like the crispy chicken sandwich with house slaw or the cheeseburger, but if you aren’t that hungry, stick to martinis and an order of calamari." - nikko duren, sylvio martins

"Walking into Chez Jay is like walking into a functioning time machine—one that sends you back to Santa Monica in the early ’60s. There are peanut shells on the floor, a jukebox that doesn’t play anything newer than Earth, Wind & Fire, and a giant fish hanging on the wall that’s definitely staring at you. It’s one of the Westside’s most iconic watering holes, and a place where actual pirates go to load up on (really strong) martinis, bark indecipherably at the TV, and stumble back out into reality several hours later." - brant cox