Santa Monica's Circle Bar Celebrates 15 Years Under Current Owners

Circle Bar, the oldest in Santa Monica, will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary under the stewardship of owners Will Karges and Howard Alpert. 

To celebrate, Circle Bar will host a 15th Anniversary Party on Thursday, Jan. 9 where anniversary drink specials is be marked down to 1999 prices until 11p.

Established in 1949, Circle Bar was reinvented in 1999 and continues to attract the vibrant and diverse crowds on the Westside. With careful attention to detail, Circle Bar has recently made vast improvements to the decor, ambiance, music, and most importantly, service.

What makes the Circle Bar unique is that it continues to outlive trends that come and go. By reinventing itself via nuances (photos, lighting, etc.), it prefers to stick to the same floor plan since its opening in 1949. The music may change, images here and there, but the spirit of Circle Bar lives on. Many generations return to Circle Bar whether they met their mate there, had a birthday party or simply had an amazing night out with friends.

“It’s not an easy task to keep a place busy with the right crowd so by embracing our nostalgia, heritage and commitment to good service, Circle Bar will be around for years to come,” said Karges, who brought Los Angeles — Jones Hollywood, Johnnies Pizza and currently is behind the series of The Six restaurants. 

Alpert also owns the new and improved Rick’s Tavern on Main across from Circle Bar.

— Circle Bar press release