3 late-night dives in Santa Monica our editors have drunk at, sorted by score. All Santa Monica nightlife.
The Gaslite ★ 4.2
mid-city · 2030 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403
The Gaslite has held its Wilshire Boulevard corner in Santa Monica since 1962, a come-as-you-are karaoke dive open 06:00 to 02:00 with free popcorn.
Tip: It bills itself as Southern California's longest-running karaoke; sign up early because the nightly list fills by 21:00.
The Daily Pint ★ 4.3
pico · 2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405
The Daily Pint stocks more than 500 whiskies behind a Pico Boulevard dive-bar front in Santa Monica, with sharp rotating taps, pool and shuffleboard.
Tip: Ask the bartender to steer a whisky flight; the beer list turns over constantly and skews serious.
Chez Jay ★ 4.4
ocean-avenue · 1657 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Chez Jay has kept its nautical dive-bar dining room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica since 1959, a city Historic Landmark of steaks, peanuts and lore.
Tip: The sandy-floored front room is the landmark bit, designated by the city in 2012; the Backyard patio opened in 2019.