Downtown Santa Ana is reshaping itself, and Club 616, a century-old cocktail bar tucked into a restored Prohibition-era speakeasy is proof. One night there revealed why this historic neighborhood is becoming Orange County's most underrated destination.
@thesceneoc Downtown Santa Ana is reshaping itself, and Club 616, a century-old cocktail bar tucked into a restored Prohibition-era speakeasy is proof... See more
Cocktails Worth the Drive
The bar mixes beautiful cocktails with an unpretentious vibe. On any given night, you'll find jazz performances, trivia nights, spicy book clubs, and a back patio slinging $3 tacos. The crowd was local, relaxed, and there to enjoy the experience.
Bartender Andrew Winters
Lead bartender Andrew Winters has been crafting cocktails for 30 years, and it shows. The Pisco Sour got immediate approval from our friend Patty from Peru, which feels like a pretty high bar to clear.
Peruvian Patty gives this Pisco Sour a 6/6
I loved the Vietnamese Shame Wheel with gin, Chartreuse, lemon, pandan, and ginger, while Jason immediately ordered a second Old Man & the Sea with bourbon, aged rum, Fernet, and cinnamon. Every drink felt balanced and creative without trying too hard.
The Vietnamese Shame Wheel with gin, Chartreuse, lemon, pandan, and ginger was my favorite cocktail!
Restoring a Piece of DTSA
Co-owners Mike Berault and Jason Lilly spent years restoring the space, carefully bringing the historic building back to life, not missing a single detail. Previously it was a dive bar, and not the cool kind.
That attention to detail shows up everywhere, from the vintage textures and lighting to the way the old and new blend together without feeling forced.
There’s history woven in too. During Prohibition, the building operated as The Harbor Grape Company that also operated as as a speakeasy.
Berault shared records showing a man named Charles E. Parsons was arrested five different times outside the building for drunkenness. Today, the bar pays tribute to him with a drink special called the “Chareles E Parsons) featuring a Pfeiffer’s Famous Beer and a shot.
Why DTSA Is Worth Wandering
But the bigger takeaway is this: DTSA is having a revivial Historic buildings sit next to coffee shops, cocktail bars, art spaces, colorful murals and rows of festive quinceañera dress stores.
Old Orange County Courthouse
Add in the Old Orange County Courthouse, California’s oldest courthouse still in use, and suddenly this becomes a full-day outing.
📍Club 616: 616 E 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701