Great dive bar! If you're looking for a place to get a cheap Liquortooth and to get a little squirly this is the spot. Great bartenders, pool table and a cool little enclosed smoking alley in the back (if you're into that). Not to mention there's a hottie bartender who's life I always try to creep out. Lol I say check it out.
Review Source:We were there on a Friday night and it was JAM PACKED. Â We are middle aged caucasions who seak out dive bars when we travel. Â The bar tender ignored us. Â Then poured super chincy drinks. Â Took our money and didn't bring. Â When we tried to get hios attention, he ignored us. Â We got the other bartender and he got us our change. Â We have NEVER been made to feel so unwelcome at a bar - it was close to a 1960's Wooworth Counter in the South. Â I suspect if you 'fit in' with the general population there you won't have the same sort of problem. Â But for travelers like us - who tip well and treat people with respect - avoid this joint.
Review Source:I like this place and feel comfortable here. The drinks are cheap and well endowed. The music is eclectic but bordering more on the alternative side. I don't think I have ever been at an establishment that I've seen so many people at one time in polyester suits, especially in white and cream, and it wasn't the 70's. The age group varies and at my age I don't feel like a creepy older lady as I do if I'm at sandrini's. Â The only thing I wish that may have a little help are the restrooms. Otherwise, I would come back again.
Review Source:I am new to Bakersfield, and have not gone out downtown many times. Â However, after this I will not be going back to Gutherie's. Â The atmosphere inside is ok. Â It's your standard dive bar nothing special, stiff drinks and sticky floors. Â Bartenders are decent folks, and it is made up of lots of regulars. Â The bouncers though are outrageous. Â On the night we went we saw a fight break out that was started by the bouncers! Â The end result was a patron of the bar ending up out cold on the street.
Now I am willing to admit that I did not hear what was being said, but the patron was not acting aggressively. Â The bouncers threw the only punches in the fight, and continued beating the poor dude up after he was out cold. Â Completely unprofessional security. Â Then again what can you expect from a bar like this. Â Never going back again. Â There are a number of better dives to go in downtown.
I got off of work early one Saturday afternoon to get to my original destination which was "Mama Rhumba's". Since it was still early, Mama Rhumba's was not open yet, so I had an hour to burn. I stood there on the corner to admire the street people and hub-bub. Thirsty from the Bakersfield heat and current air quality, I was on the hunt for what else, a "cold one". I didn't have to look very far, around the corner about 30 paces I soptted a huge Neon sign "Guthrie's Alley Cat". I sauntered in and bellied up to the bar. My thirst needed no introduction, "What'll it be" asked the bartender. I'll have a cold draught, Â he poured me a tall draft and went on about his business. I looked around and found myself right at home! The place won't win any decorating awards in "Vanity Faire", but who cares, I love places like this. I've alway's heard of the legenday "Alley Cat" now I'm here swilling cold beer conversing with the bar tender and other patrons. The bar tender, a surley chap was confidently mixing drinks for the local clientele. A guitar toting street urcnin walked in, ordered a drink and was playing songs randomly for the bar-fly's. To my right was a huge pool table (If you hadn't already noticed, Bakersfield is "Billiard" Mecca). I absolutely love people watching, and was not disapointed as the crowd in the bar kept changing. Two ladys finished playing pool and snatched the two available bar stools on my right. The room was filled now and getting busy and noisy. I couldn't help but notice the two young lady's next to me went from flirting to heavy petting! I love writing, so I always observe my surroundings and write about them. Five beers later and I was primed, now on to my original destination (Mama Rhumba's- that's another review). Guthrie's is an excellent no frills "dive" bar. If you want good drinks, a great bar tender, conversation and scenery, you cant' beat Guthrie's Alley Cat. I'm still blushing from the two lady's...LOL
Review Source:After a horrible day I decided to go with my cousin to Guthrie's Alley Cat for a couple drinks. After just minutes my whole attitude changed. The bartender Mitch somehow managed to create a fun, positive aura for everyone there even on a Tuesday night. I was really impressed by his customer service and genuinely positive attitude and sense of humor. Â I plan on going much more often. Drink prices were very reasonable along with beer selection. The jukebox and pool table got put to good use and it was a great time.
Review Source:This ended up being one of our stops of places downtown and it was surprisingly different from what I had expected. The outside isn't all that inviting, but the inside is actually pretty nice. There is a long bench seating area against the wall with tables and chairs. Then there is the stools by the bar, and there is a pool table. I didn't get drinks here but my friends did and they all seemed content with their drinks. Maybe cause we're not regulars we were lower on the pool table totem pole, but I think the people are supposed to share right? Friends liked the place so we'll give it another try.
Review Source:I used to be hesitant to stay at this place given that is really small and some of the people seem a bit shady. But, I've been coming here time to time and it's growing on me. The bartenders are always super nice and the service is fast. I love that they have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap & it's only 4 bucks! It's awesome! I think it's the only bar downtown that carries Sierra Nevada on tap. I will definitely be back.
Review Source:Definitely a dive bar. Bartenders and crowd are all friendly and having a good time. When I was here I didn't see any fights so either I was there at a good time or everyone is just there to have fun. My only two gripes about this place is that fact that they allow smoking inside which makes all my clothes stink and they only take cash at the bar so they get to rip you off at their ATM with a $2.50 ATM fee.
Overall not a bad spot but it's very small and is downtown which we all know can be shady.
My San Franciscan girlfriends came down to visit and yup this was the first place I took them. What an excellent way to shake up them city dwellers. Â They were just appalled and quite amused at the crowd: tatts everywhere, people of all ages, big drunk people bumping to awful old music. All I had to say was "Welcome to Bakersfield" =)
There aren't enough beers on tap however and it's cash only (ATM machine in the corner). I should be a little more forgiving given that Alley Cat is a dive but still... at least the mixed drinks are dirt cheap!
It's a great bar for cheap drinks! $2 for a pint of Bud Light. Not bad for this town, if I do say so myself. Coming from a college town where it used to be $0.75 for a pint of Coors Light and $3 for a pitcher, I'm always looking for a good deal on beer.
The place was hoppin' and everyone seemed like they were having a good time. The music was a bit deafening, so it was difficult to maintain a conversation but overall a good experience.
Someone's bagging on Mitch below: that's silly. Â Probably just caught him on a bad night: it happens to the best of them.
Alley Cat has been a great place to hang out, as it attracts a real cross-section of types: old dudes, wild chicks, young drillers, etc. Â Not really a trucker hang-out, from what I've seen (there's bars closer to the 99 which are easier for them to park their rigs). Â Downtown is way too upscale for long-haul truckers.
Mitch and Bubba are great, fast, and put on a good show. Â The ladies always enjoy the Bubbalicious and I'm partial to Jagerbombs (anyone see me down there, buy me one, please).
Here's a COOL YouTube interview with Ken, the owner of Alley Cat:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFKwlc8_mR6k&s=ac2f6a1a5eeaca7d9b5a42e3072ea295c6db15757bf2f39118f78362374312cb" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
Maybe I should spend less time getting drunk there, and actually look around at the stuff hanging the walls, LOL!
Horrible experience with bartender: "Mitch the B*tch". Â I was at Alley Cat on Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day and I understand that the bartenders had their hands fool but seriously???!!!! Â I mean this is Bakersfield and I come from the Bay, no matter how full you get you cannot compare! Â I waited over 20 minutes just to be seen, I climbed up on top of a stool and ordered then. Â The bartender got my drinks but couldn't remember who had ordered them. Â When I paid he took my 20 and I didn't get my change back. Â It took me a good while to flag him down and get my change. Â He whined and complained that he had already given me my change but ultimately gave me my money back. Â When he did he said "No tip?! Â Of course not!". Â In my mind I thought "I was still thinking about it but after this of course not", my friend and I had our drinks and took off. Â I should've listened to the nice guy I met there who warned me while I was waiting to order that the bartender at the right side of the bar was better. Â He also informed me of his nick-name, very appropriately so it is "Mitch the B*tch". Â He was very very rude.
It really sucks that my first experience at Alley Cats was with Mitch the B*tch, I hear good things about this bar and the other bartenders. Â How does someone like this even work as a bartender?
This is a decent dive bar for grabbing a quick drink and leaving. It's always very loud and the crowd consists of people I tend not to hang out with. The music is hit or miss and it's usually so loud you can't hear yourself think. A big plus is all the bartenders are friendly and the drinks are priced well.
Review Source:One of the greatest dive bars! Â My family's been from this valley since it was part of Mexico. Â So when visiting relatives, the Alley Cat is a must! Â It's dark with no windows, but not in a menacing way. Â Huge mural & a pool table.
Great internet jukebox- Tenacious D on a jukebox? Â Are you kidding me?
Great mix of people- drunks, younger crowd, older crowd, tattoos, John Deere baseball caps, etc. Nice bartenders too.
Most importantly: cheap stiff drinks!! Â They have Jager on tap!
My husband (So Bay boy) & I were on our way to the Alley Cat when my mom told me my Grandma & Grandpa used to have beers here. Â That made it even cooler for me.
If you are spending the night in Bakersfield and like a good stiff drink, this is the place! The crowd is mostly regulars and usually really friendly. The cocktails are strong and cheap but they don't have the greatest beer selection. I think it used to be a speakeasy and it definitely still feels like one.
The music is always loud and the crowd is always good and drunk.
This is a dive, by anyone's standards. But, it's a really nice dive.
Great tunes, a pool table, and some decent beer.
I had some SIerra Nevada and spotted Widmer Hef and some others.
I might have been the only one drinking beer on the night I visited though, cocktails were the predominant libation. I assure you that the bartender knows how to make Jager bombs, it seemed like every couple minutes he was pouring another 3 for some folks down the bar. This was on a Monday.
So yes, I recommend the Alley Cat. Especially because it is the type of place where you can listen to Rush and drink a dozen Jager bombs on a Monday.
Its cash only but they have one of those tiny ATMs in the bar.
When I lived In Bakersfield between 1992-1998, I went here every weekend. After a night of alley walking, Bottoms Up, Wing Wah (sp), Jelly's, Jerry's Pizza and another bar between Jerry's and Bottoms Up that I cant remember, we always ended up at Guthries. It never failed. This is as good as it gets for typical dive bar. It's old, it's has that musty bar smell and it has the best jukebox west of the MIssissippi. A landmark for the west coast as much as it is for Bakersfield. You have to go for a drink there. You have not lived the life of a bar goer until you get drunk at Guthries. Have someone drive you home. That is all. 5 Stars for all that you have offered and will offer. I miss this place.
Review Source:Before I moved to Bako, one of my future co-workers took me here, to get the flavor of what I was gettin' into...it was great then. When I lived in Bako, I went here for Thurs/Fri nightcaps...it was better, because I enjoyed the people watching so much, plus the stiff drinks and great juke box... Now when I pass thru Bako and stay the night, I stop in for a cold one or two, smile, enjoy the crowd, drinks and marvel that my youth survived this chapter of my life. I still see CSULB geology students, patrons that are tattooed and not, young teachers, oilfield workers, lushes, and my old Von's checker... Â If you can't go to the airport, this is the next best place to people-watch...
Review Source:It's a smokey, shady kind of bar with stiff drinks that still gives me the creeps. Â The Alley Cat is a little to dinge-y for its own good. Â It attracts a rough around the edges punk, tattooed, trucker crowd. Â It's one of those types of bars where everyone turns around and stares at you when you walk in, hehe.
I suppose it keeps all the wrong elements out. Â But for some reason it has a strong following as a Bakersfield institution - it's been downtown in Wall Street Alley for years, and probably will be there for many more.
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