Johnnys DIVE South Bay

It has reopened under Brixton management, I guess since they took over since they are right next door. The Dive is now two orders of magnitude better than it once was, so I am revising my review up to two stars. No one tried to set me on fire during my last visit. So the clientele has improved.
I saw a free acoustic show by the former singer from Yes and actually enjoyed being there — a first. Not sure whether amplified music would work in there given it’s smallish size.
Has the feel and warmth of a very small coal mine, so points off for ambiance, but then if I wanted to hang out in a really nice place I would just stay home. So, Meh. Beats sitting around surfing the internets, which is what I am doing right now.

I heard Johnny’s Dive was closed, except there was an Agent Orange show and I was definitely there, so, uhhhh… Fake out? Open or not, the place was small, dingy and dirty… and the speakers were loud. Damn near blew my ears out.
My huge issue was the fact that the drink prices (for the same drink) would change depending on the bartender we ordered from. That’s a no bueno and an automatic deal breaker in my book.
I’ll probably never go back cuz momma didn’t raise no fool. Ya dig?

My first time here was for a Unilocal Elite event. The ambiance is pretty snazzy… my kind of dive bar. It’s dark and goth like. There’s all sorts of funky graffiti-​like art on the walls. plenty of lounge room with comfy sofas that will eat you up. I forget the name of the band that evening but they blended in perfectly with the environment playing their rockabilly type beats. Drinks were cheap, but maybe it was b’coz of the event… most importantly, they were strong! Nonetheless, I had a good time and am sad to learn they closed down and won’t be able to come back again. Hopefully something just as cool replaces them.

I am a HUGE fans of Dive bars. I love how you can just relax and chill without having to worry about anything. Toss in a little music and you’ve got a perfect situation!
The décor and layout is really what brings it all together. It’s dark and everything is centered around the stage which has live music. It’s perfectly hidden on the pier, so you can get away from it all and really hang out for a bit.
The price is right, and the service wonderful. Johnny himself will take a couple of minutes to talk to you and hang (which is rare nowadays). After such a great experience here I’ve added Johnny’s Dive to my list of favorite bars.

$ 3 with great music and vibe. Great place to be in Redonod Beach.

I really dug this place. I went here because I got on the guest list for the T.S.O.L. last month, and it was pretty chill. The place is a little dark for my taste since you can’t really pick people out of the crowd. However the drinks are priced great, the bartenders are awesome, and all in all I love this place LOL. Any dark dive bar that plays punk music is A ok in my book!

This place rocks!
I love me a jack and coke, and that just happens to be their specialty! And they pour em stiff!
I like the dark vibe inside and the jukebox is always playing something punk and anti pier bars, which is great. They have couches and ample seating area and it’s a place you wouldn’t mind spending your whole night.

I took a trip to this bar after being a regular customer of Johnny’s Saloon in Huntington Beach. Once again Johnny has taken the idea of making an alternative bar that doesn’t go out of its way to appeal to the douchebags driving lifted trucks and Affliction wear. It’s not the overly-​priced cookie cutter bar that tries to be punk, rock, alternative… it’s the real deal.
Great music, great atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable.
This place takes the HB location and adds a party with Johnny’s stage AND the Brixton connection.

What’s better than walking into a dimly lit, darkly decorated punk rock bar? Sitting at the bar while drinking Jameson and singing along to the punk rock songs you grew up on.
We went early. The music was brilliant. The place was pretty empty since we were there right after opening. The drinks were amazingly cheap too!
I definitely want to go here again when it’s a little busier and we’ve had a little less to drink. :)

Great spot!!! cheap drinks, cool staff, love the décor, loooooove all the Bath & Body works lotions in the bathroom!!! awesome music!

Didn’t realize this place had its own Unilocal listing – I’d reviewed it with The Brixton. Since I’m closing in on 400 reviews I’m pulling out all the stops on my reviewing! This is like the Brixton’s younger Goth little brother. While the aging longhairs are rocking out to the 80s and 90s tribute bands upstairs, the little punk/​goth kids are lounging around down here. The night we checked it out there wasn’t anything going on, but we enjoyed taking a breather from the upstairs in the enchanting bats/​cobwebs/​red light ambiance. Even though the bar wasn’t very full it still took us a while to get drinks – I guess the bartender wasn’t feeling very motivated. Not sure how this place would be for a performance – guess one of these nights I may find out.

wow, the South Bay is finally getting back the cred it had in ’80-’87 thanks to places like this and Gasser. thanks Johnny!!!

just awesome go check it out!

Dark very dimly lit Goth-​punk bar located in the literal underground of the Redondo Beach Pier. I inquired with the bartender about the cotton faux-​spider web decorations that adorned the ceiling of the bar and asked him if they were leftover Halloween ornaments or if they were a permanent fixture. He quickly replied that they were permanent. Its that kind of place. Unlit wax candles and an antique cash register that they actually use.
Each room has its own theme, aging rock star stencils on one wall and horror movie villains in the next. Kitschy, but I get the themes and its slightly works. Comfortable couches and chairs that make the place feel like a lounge. Great place to relax and enjoy a nice quiet drink.
Johnny’s Dive Bar is definitely the best bar in the Redondo Beach Pier. That doesn’t say much, but this place is worth visit for what it is. Great drink prices along the lines of $ 3 well drinks and they charged me $ 8 for a double Jameson. I love this place already.
If you like to shoot pool, this may be one of the worst tables in the city, but the games are free so I guess it may be waste of time to complain. One half of the table is on a steep incline and there is Jack Daniels print on the black felt. With the extremely dim light, it is almost like shooting in the dark. Have fun.
If you are a Punk Goth Vampire or are fond of drinking in dim bars, this is the place for you. Great bar for the area. Apparently this place gets packed Thurs-​Sat, but is comfortable on the weekdays. Crowds range from young local hipsters to old aging hipsters that look like Andy Warhol.
Recommended