• The Location: Ashland Hill is located at 2807 Main Street in Santa Monica, CA 90404.
• Good for: Knocking back pints and sharing bites with friends after a long work week. You could always walk it off with a stroll down Main Street, but it’s going to take a lot for you to ever leave the patio.
• Best nights: Tuesday, Friday, Sunday.
• Insider tip: Most come early and leave late. For a sure seat, get there before 7:30pm. From that point on, we can’t guarantee you won’t be waiting shoulder-to-shoulder with a crowd of desperate drinkers in the tiny indoor bar.
• The crowd: All types converge at this wino, beer geek and foodie trifecta: couples young and old, groups of friends, and pet owners.
• Fun fact: Listed as one of the top dog-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles, enjoy a meal with your furry friend (ask about the dog menu).
• The tunes: Given the dense crowd, roaring conversation drowns out any semblance of tunes.
• The scene: Patio seating in the back is perfect for large groups, plus there’s heat lamps. TVs allow for a great spot to grab a bite and watch a game. There is additional seating along Main Street. Sometimes there’s music as well but not too loud. Overall, the vibe is laid-back and homey, like a friend’s backyard BBQ.

This bar-within-a-bar is located in the back patio of well loved Main Street bar and restaurant Ashland Hill. It is designed as a cozy yet lively space that can be rented out for private events and fundraisers.

The name Locals Only is intended to be tongue in cheek and poke fun at the localism displayed by certain groups of surfers. Mark Verge, one of the owner’s of Ashland Hill, remembers many years ago when he used to be a lifeguard on the Santa Monica beach, he would always try to make it known that everyone is welcome even when there were ‘punky surfer kids’ acting like they owned the beach.

Locals Only Bar is open every Friday & Saturday, 4:00pm to close.

Nearby Parking Options

Free street parking, Paid street parking

If you drive to Ashland Hill in Santa Monica; be ready to search for parking. There are a few parking lots nearby to park and metered street parking along the Main Street (which is strictly enforced).

You can also try your luck with side street parking, but watch out for Permit Parking signs. Insider Tip: You can find free street parking in the residential area about three streets inland.

Parking is a whole lot easier to find on weeknights as opposed to weekends; so it’s definitely better to Uber or Lyft (on weekends especially) since parking can become a problem. * Click here for more Santa Monica Parking Information.