Wow it's been way too long since my last review! I was in town for a wedding and after a long day at the beach Saturday we were strolling down in Newport on "the strand" and headed in here for a refreshing beer. There was a pretty rowdy crowd of guys in here which was a little annoying, but then I remembered my days in San Diego and our occasional long days of drinking in bars on the beach... and I had more sympathy. We just ordered ours and parked ourselves by the pool tables. The music was SUPER loud so I would suggest just turning it down a tiny bit, but it was country so I approved. You don't really get that in any other bars...So thank you Beach Ball for mixing it up!
Review Source:Great dive bar to grab a drink. Especially if you're off during the week and just want a quiet place to have a drink and enjoy the view of the ocean. The bartenders are all very polite and helpful. If you're an early riser and need a really good bloody mary... they have one's with BACON!!!! But that was at 6:30AM one day when I was down on the pier to grab some fresh fish, crabs and lobster from the Dory Fleet Fish Market.
Review Source:Beach Ball is definitely offers more in terms of alcohol and with 3 pool tables, it's a lot easier to kick back and watch the drunk shenanigans ensue. For our 3rd stop of the night, and hankering for a game of dunken billiards, I knew that BB was where to go, mostly because the crowd at BB is more welcome to play with new people. They are very liberal on the alcohol!
Review Source:Came here on Friday evening after hittin' up the HH at Rock n' Fly further down the street. The homies wanted to play pool and so this is where we ended up.
Of course, it was only 6pm so it wasn't very crowded. That was nice, considering two in our party were on crutches. Pool is pretty cheap - four quarters (that's $1 people) a game. Tables seemed fine and I didn't hear any complaints about the quality of the cues.
We just had some shots and beer, nothing fancy. The bar staff was friendly and one of the girls hooked us up by telling us what to get for the best bang for our buck.
This place is definitely a dive bar. And not just a dive bar, it's a dirty, nasty dive bar. DO NOT go to the bathroom when you are here. Not even worth it. I'm all down for a dive bar, but I need at least a cleanish restroom. When you have something that looks worse than an outdoor bathroom you find on the 5, you know you got some problems!
All in all, it was alright. Prices weren't especially cheap for it being a dive bar. I don't think I would ever come back. I like lots of windows...and light =)
As a lover of dive bars, this one is on the top of my list. My favorite in Orange county. First off its cheap, second its an Anaheim Ducks friendly bar. After the home opener my girlfriend and I stopped in and people were genuinely wondering about the game and talking hockey, trust me a rarity in Southern California. Plus they have an Original Mighty Ducks of Anaheim jersey signed on the wall, always a great sign. Mind you on a Saturday the place gets ridiculously packed and you may have to wait a little bit to get in, but for no cover its worth it.
Review Source:As visitors, we enjoyed this bar for many reasons:
-It's on the beach. Drunkies at the beach is always great.
-Lots of parking available, and free at night. Drunkies love leaving cars in safe, chill parking lots.
-It was packed. Lots of Drunkies ina confined space is always great.
-the bartenders were awesome. Drunkies love being treated well.
-They have pool tables. Drunkies tend to be playful.
I'd give it 5 stars if it had been a bit cheaper, bc it's divey, but I'm guessing that because of the location they are allowed to charge more. I don't blame them.
Thanks for giving us a great night.
Great drinks, great bartenders, great location, decent prices (Blackies next door is a little cheaper), love the mix of music people play on the juke box.
My only complaint/suggestion is they need to get a modern cash register system. On a Saturday night when they could really use both bartenders behind the bar actually pouring drinks it seem one is stuck on the credit card machine closing people out. Sure the old fashioned cash register they have is unique and all but a modern system would really speed things up behind the bar.
The Beach Ball was my favorite bar to go to in newport till yesterday....I wasn't drinking but my friend wanted a drink.. Â the girl (thats what we will call her) was RUDE right when we walked in the door. Â Asked if it was happy hour yet she said no we dont have one.....proceeded to order 2 rum and cokes at 6.50 a piece for well rum??? Â OK no biggie....So she keeps on with her rudness....I hand it back to her....and she pulls my drink and asks me to leave....WOW. Â never been kicked out of a bar without being drunk or fighting before.. Hope the owner reads this...get a new bartender that is just a little bit friendly.......completely not professional I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THIS BAR for more than 20 years...I was completely floored by this. Â Thank you.
Review Source:I'm not sure how this can be considered a dance club seeing as how there were maybe 5 people total when I visited, but if your looking for beer and a game of pool, this place will fit the bill. It seemed to be mostly 30+ and locals, which is all well and good, but probably not the crowd I will seek out for a night out. They do card and charge for pool, so have your I.D and some extra change if you plan on hanging out for a while.
Review Source:Love this place! Â
A cool bar with a great beach view! Â The owner and bartender are totally awesome, and the other customers we met at the bar were friendly and super entertaining. Â This is a great place for both locals and visitors. Â Best of all, it is open at 6AM! Â We came early (free parking until 8AM), grabbed morning-wake-me-up drinks and enjoyed brunch by the beach...great way to spend our Saturday!
Fun little dive bar.
Came here on a Thursday night with a friend of mine to grab a drink since the bars next door were all closed.
We just wanted some beers and they had two light beers on tap, as well as a Widmer IPA & Shocktop. Â Can't really go wrong with the Shocktop! Â Also tried the Widmer, and as IPA goes, it's a more easily accessible IPA compared to others, but still quite heavy! Â Each pint was only $5. Â Good price.
There was also a group of people there that came to Beach Ball after an event so the place was quite lively, although I can see this place being a little slow on a Thursday. Â Some were there earlier watching sports on the TV since there are a few LCDs around. Â Overall, the place just has a really laidback atmosphere!
Bartender is a really chill dude!
When I was growing up in Newport, I spent every day at the beach in the summer. Â I would invariably ride past the Newport Pier, and it's trusty line of bars and storefront establishments. Â When I was in Junior Guards it was donuts at Seaside, and when I was lifeguarding I upgraded to coffee and Ham & Cheese croissants. Â
When I started to get around the age that I began to drink, all of a sudden the bars took on a new view to me; I wanted to get inside and see what was happening! Â The things is, you can see inside just about every bar on the strip except for Beach Ball. Â I remember looking at that stairway and wondering what was inside. Â I could always see the folks at Blackies or Stag, but never Beach Ball.
And finally the day came that I could step through the doors of Beach Ball and walk up that small staircase into an oddly designed, yet strangely inviting atmosphere. Â This spot is such a dude bar, and I love it. Â Tall buds, stiff drinks, and some pool tables downstairs that are actually accessible. Â I didn't really appreciate this place in college, as I favored the more bro friendly bars like Sharkeez or *gasp* Cal Beach. Â
But like a finely aged scotch, Beach Ball just has a refined finish that might just punch you in the face and leave you on the floor if you're not careful, and I dig that.
Dive bar lovers and d-bag haters rejoice!
One of the most laid back spots on the P. Cheap drinks, ocean view, pool tables. Friendly bartenders. The crowed is way less douchey than you typically find in good old Newps -that or it's the same people just acting less pretentious. Either way it's a good atmosphere.
Also not too disgusting like your usual dive bar. Clean and well-maintained, it's nothing fancy but you won't be scared to sit on the furniture or pick up a pool stick.
I love dive bars and this place is the greatest dive ever. Â Low key attitude, low key friendly bartenders and crowd, always good music on the internet juke and a round bar overlooking the pool tables on the lower floor. Â They keep the attitude right here. Â Please don't play your rap music or techno in this bar it will get nexted for sure.
Will always choose this place over many others in the area.
I've seen this place described as a "dive" but I guess that is relative. To me a "dive bar" is a place where they seem to have no concept of a public spaces smoking ban, you are considered a "regular" when you occupy a stool there no less than 8 hours a day, and you can potentially find a hitman for hire playing pool in the back.
I'll agree it is probably as divey as you get in Newport Beach. Its a dimly lit no frils old fashioned bar. Plenty of tvs to watch the game on, some seats have ocean views and there are a few pool tables.
I only had beer, so I can't comment on their cocktails. $3.50 for a budlight was a nice break after $5 bucks each at Mutt Lynch's down the street.
The peninsula is not my usual scene, but The Beach Ball definitely makes me feel more at home. What can I say? I love me a good dive bar, and being beachfront makes it all the better. Of course, the stellar location ups  the bro quotient compared to other dives, but it still does the trick as far as cheap drinks and pool go.
I hear the pours here are pretty hefty, I've only opted for beer, but sounds like you can get quite the bang for your buck with the cocktails.
I'm a gal that hates waiting in line for places and massive crowds - that's why on a busy night in Newport, I think I'll call Beach Ball my home.
Although I'm kind of scared to say this one here since it might bring a ton of people, but I love Beach Ball!! Â Pool tables, nice people, good music, and awesome sunset views make this place great.
On a Friday night when a million people are overtaking Newport Beach, and every single bar has a  line out the door, Beach Ball always has a place for you to order a cocktail.  No line, no cover, stiff drinks, and a comfortable atmosphere makes BB the best!
Ahhhh... good ol Beach Ball...
This place opens crazy early (like 6 or something) so if you're one of those that like a bar first thing in the morning- you may have found your gem...
One of my favorite places in that area. Â I hate Sharkee's, District is too trendy, Mutts is great but they don't serve liquor, But Beach Ball is always a great drunkin time!! Â Super cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, and awesome people watching!!
The Beach Ball is that little hole in the wall dive bar right off the bike path that you go to after a great day down by the beach.
The second you walk in, you feel like you are entering a big, dimly lit pirate ship. Â All the walls are made out of wood, and the upper bar area almost resembles the bow of a boat.
The bar tenders have been there forever, and are very friendly. Â It's a great place to grab a cheap Coors Pounder or 2, play a few of your favorite songs on the juke box, and get in a game of pool. Â (there are limited tables, so you may have to wait!)
The ambiance is pretty cool. Everyone is really laid back and some people just come in straight off the beach in wet suits and bathing suits.
I'd definately reccomend it as a change of pace from some of the other over crowded places in that area if you are looking for a little more quiet and relaxation
The Beach Shack feel surrounds you as you walk up the stairs and enter the bar. Â It's kinda like a Lifeguard stand turned bar.
It's crowded... the music is playing loud enough that you hope your breath isn't kickin while your leaning in to order your drink...
There's a guy down below ruling the pool tables with a blonde fro and the only thing keeping it from hitting the dim lights over the table is that annoying visor he's wearing. Â It was the 2011 version of Jeff Spicoli! Â You know, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High?! Â I swear it. Â
We had a few drinks here in the upper level over-looking the game room & then we took off before my cousin decided to try and get Spicoli to remove his visor. Â haha
Good night. Â Fun dive bar.
Christ almighty. If only I woulda gone home after Mutt's, Blackies and Cassidy's.
Things I'd have if The Ball didn't exist:
* a job
* a not broken leg from falling off my cruiser
* a nest egg
* an std-free history
* no appreciation for Dio's "Rainbow in the Dark"
* six pack abs
See ya tomorrow fellas.
For what it is - this place rocks.
Just think 80's, Van Halen beach culture. This place is always busy and full of people from all walks of life.
seriously though - live the dream, come in in some short board shorts and a tank top and sing your heart out when bon jovi comes on.
Its not really my scene, but i really like this bar. The bartenders pour a stiff drink, and the inside looks like you are in the galley of a ship - wood covers nearly every surface - very beautiful.
They have some pool tables and a few video game machines. This place opens at 6am and is always packed,they tint the front window, so whilst getting drunk you can fool yourself into thinking its at least the afternoon.
Pros--
The outside of the bar reminds me of an homage to Three's Company. Â
The inside smells of dark, rich mahogany.
Pool tables. Â YAY!
Great place to get your FIRST drink of a bar-hopping evening at the Peninsula.
If you are into mixed drinks they are strong. Â
Cons--
If you are a beer connoisseur you will be disappointed. Â Hence come here for your first drink so you can (and should) experience this place, then move on. Â Although! Â They did have a hefeweizen on tap. Â Wish it was in a chilled mug instead of a plastic cup...
one of my fav bars in OC. Â Hell, its on the NB boardwalk, which makes this 4.5 stars. decent pool tables, un-assuming crowd, and worthy b'tenders. Â Unfortunately they don't have everything to make a great m'rita -- their version is one of those lame wine enfused lab experiments. Â
Can get crowded, VERY... crowded... on the weekends. Â Parking is usually annoying. Late night (outside) the beach crowd is entertaining, and worth watching if the NBPD is involved.
Want to go to a legit OC Beachfront Dive? Then the Beach Ball is perfect!
It comes well equipped with:
A Jukebox
Strong drinks
Wasted locals
Pool Tables
Wasted tourists
Surfers
A grungy bathroom w/ one stall
Wasted people who will try to feel you up all night long
(OK, this only happened to me once)
I like that its right on the boardwalk, so you can literally breathe in the sea breeze and actually jump right in the ocean if you need to sober up quickly.
So if you're looking for a good Newport dive this is your place.....its just not really my style, that's all.
Standing on the patio outside with my boy Kwis, we witness a typical Newport Beach hyper-agro beach jock trying to assert his alpha-male dominance over everything within shouting/chest-puffing distance.
I can't even remember what was said that led to the confrontation, but it had to do with defending some (probably very skanky, now that I think about it) young women's honor.
Anyway, dude caught a poetic right-cross to the jaw and crumpled to the sidewalk like a wet beach towel.
We were all kinda surprised at how fast it was over. Gotta give it to Kwis for the perfectly-placed punch. It reminded me of when you knock out Glass Joe in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out: Nighty night.
Stop the violence.
Of course a place called "Beach Ball" is a dive bar. but what a dive bar!
The beer is cheap, cold, served in a glass (hey, some dive bars use plastic) and is invariably available without having to wait for it. Â I used to come here after work aa little too frequently with friends.. closing the bar before heading over to Seaside Bakery (ahh..!) Â We always got a pool table, always heard our songs on the jukebox and always had good times. Â
If you're looking for hip, cool or even remotely happening then don't come here. Â But if you just want to hang out with your friends and have some beer then this is your place.
The Beach Ball is a special place, a place unlike any other and one that I hold near and dear to my heart. Â I keep saying that I am going to go one morning at 5:58 am and pound down the doors until opening at 6. Â It has yet to happen, but a girl can dream. Â
I did go to the ball the other morning on a Sunday to grab a mid-morning mimosa with a friend of mine. Â And boy was it everything I had ever dreamed of and more...we bought donuts and ham and cheese croissants to share with the regulars, and I'm pretty sure we made some lifelong friends that day. Â
Everyone has a story at the Beach Ball, and if you're lucky you'll get to hear it over a stiff drink and a glazed twist! Â It's fun at night as well, but you get to meet all the characters in the morning. Â If you're a writer like me, it makes for rounder characters...
(Sidenote: In my opinion, no visit to the Ball is complete without a piping hot ham and cheese croissant from the donut shop on the corner to go along with your drink of choice)
There's pooltables so you can work off that processed cheese and meaty bread concoction by hustling the locals!
All this and more with a sweet view of the Pacific outside!
The Beach Ball is the best!!
I use to live down the street and one night (my first time there) I wondered into this place, It just so happens to be the night I met my husband to be.
Yes, this place can get packed on hot summers night, but the staff is really cool and they pour some stiff drinks! They don't  serve any food, but they never seem to mind if you bring something in. They also have a couple of pool tables in the back. I always make it a point to come here whenever I'm back in town!!
***UPDATE***
I just read Esquire Mags top 100 bars and The Beach Ball is #67!!!
Very cool, wish I could stop by and have a drink with Pete & Â Todd!!
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
