Local History: Belly up to Newport Beach’s 16 oldest bars
Photos provided by the Newport Beach Historical Society
In 1906, the 206 Newport Beach residents voted to incorporate the townsite. Why? Because in a mostly dry county, alcohol was a way to attract tourists. It worked. Newport Beach, especially the Balboa section of town, became Las Vegas before Las Vegas. Not even Prohibition put much of a dent in the alcohol-fueled boom.
With that rich tradition in mind, here are the 16 oldest bars still serving drinks in Newport Beach.
Class of ‘47, opened in 1977.
Malarky’s Irish Pub, also opened 1977.
Mutt Lynch’s, opened in 1976 near the Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula. After a fire, the bar moved to the Newport Pier area in 1982–taking its original wooden bar along with it. Happy 50th birthday, Mutt’s!
Muldoon’s Irish Pub, opened in 1974.
The Cannery, opened in 1973.
The Beach Ball, opened in 1969.
21 Oceanfront. The original bar, Alley West, opened in that spot in 1968. The legendary Ritz and Rex also occupied that property before 21 Oceanfront opened in 1991.
Five Crowns. It started in 1940 as Tail of the Cock and three years later turned into the Hurley Bell. In 1965, it became Five Crowns.
Woody’s Wharf, opened in 1965 as a watering hole for fishermen.
The Quiet Woman, opened in 1965 and became intentionally famous in the 2010s thanks to “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
Blackie’s by the Sea, opened in 1953 by William “Blackie” Blackstock.
Balboa Saloon. Jolly’s Taproom first occupied the historic building in 1946. Balboa Saloon took over in 1984.
The Village Inn. Shortly after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, a beer garden popped up on the property followed by White’s Cafe. The Village Inn took over in 1957.
The Arches. Opened in 1926 as a gas station and roadside diner (happy century anniversary!). Alcohol was added to the mix after the end of Prohibition in 1933.
The Blue Beet. The space started life as Stark’s Saloon, opened in 1912 boasting an authentic, gold rush-era back bar that went from the mountains of Cripple Creek, Colorado to the shores of Newport Beach.
Stag Bar, opened in 1908, two years after the city’s incorporation.
William Lobdell is the historian laureate for the City of Newport Beach. He is also the founder of Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror, which produces a local history podcast and 90-second videos (with over eight million views) that appear on Instagram.
Follow on IG @newport.in.the.rearview.mirror
See our Duffy Chats interview with William (Bill) Lobdell on YouTube:
