My husband and I are staying at the hotel so we have visited this location several times.
I always find the staff at this bar to be the most engaging. They are helpful, friendly and are good at recognizing repeat customers.
Their appetizers need an overhaul in my opinion. But the bartender Luis went out of his way to get my husband and I some snacks from the Mexican Resturant next door.
Luis and Fernando are the best bartenders in the place. Both make great mixed drinks, my favorite was a white sangria.
If my husband and I lived here we would come back to this location for drinks hands down.
This is a tough review for me to write, because I LOVE the Mission Inn. Â But I have gotten drinks at this Mission Inn Presidential Lounge before and been very dissatisfied every time. Â The only reason I am giving this 3 stars is because of the ambience and wait staff. Â If I had to give stars on just the drinks, it would be a single star. Â When I came back around the holidays, my boyfriend and I ordered one of their seasonal holiday drinks. Â They seemed fun and tasty and came with some sort of candy topping. Â And for the amount each drink was, I expected the most delicious drink of my life. Â I was gravely mistaken. Â The drinks were not candy topped as advertised, and just didn't taste good. Â It's obvious they use very cheap liquor, and it tastes like it. Â So last night I ventured to the Mission Inn Presidential Lounge again. Â Live music was great. Â They allowed us to grab our drinks and take them outside by the fire which was greatly appreciated (especially since they were obviously cleaning up for the evening). Â My group all ordered 2 drinks each, some were your regular drinks (dirty martinis, ginger and jack) but we also ordered a number of specialty cocktails. Â And, again, what a disappointment. Â I ordered a mexican coffee to end my evening... blech. Â I highly doubt there was a dash of cinnamon in my drink. Â For the price of these drinks, you'd think they would taste incredible. Â But they're awful. Â In regards to the food, I've only ordered food a couple times and I've been pleased with it. Â Either find new bartenders, or allow your bartenders to do their job without restrictions to costs.
Review Source:Bar is small but a nice place with great A/C. Â Bar staff was nice and the happy hour specials were great! Â They have two happy hour-hours one that ends at 6pm the other starts at like 9. Â It wasn't overcrowded and the atmosphere was good. Â Not a place to go every weekend but if you are looking for a place to have a cold one this is the place to go!
Review Source:A classy place, good for a date, but as with most bars, don't make this a destination, just a stopover. Quick in, quick out, don't try to wring more out of this place than it can offer. Just a few nitpicks hold it back from five stars;
-The decor and atmosphere are great, but not always consistent. They removed the carpets and put in a tile floor that doesn't go with anything; I'm guessing they wanted to cut back on the sound dampening to make it seem more lively. The jazz nights are hit and miss; some of the pianists are great, others just play cover songs, sometimes it's smooth jazz on saxophone. Bleh. Still, live music that isn't amped, with no cover, is a good deal.
-Despite looking like it should be upscale and dressy, most of the hotel patrons and locals are content to hang out in tank tops, shorts and sandals. The patrons also lean toward an older demographic; I've seen maybe three girls under 35 that aren't waitresses. Old women drunk on wine is a very sad thing.
-Don't even try to go during December. The seasonal drink menu sucks, and that's assuming you can find parking, get inside, and get a table.
-The bar staff is great, but the bar is a bit small and understocked; they didn't know how to make a Rusty Nail, and didn't have Drambuie anyway. The house martinis are pretty good, and they keep at least one excellent Packinghouse beer on draft. The drink prices are slightly on the high side, but worth it for the atmosphere.
Holy Hell! Â Juan's Head is Vibrating!
SITREP
On our training-work trip to Riverside, we stayed the week in the Mission Inn. Â Well, the Presidential Lounge is an enjoyable stop inside the Inn that has some of the best libations.
SETUP
At the end of the of the main training week, we celebrating on Thursday night by getting Berry Margaritas. Â The bartender must have been in an especially good mood since we were knocked off our asses.
Great sequence of pictures I captured showing Juan's various phases of having the wind knocked out of him with the margarita.
THE LOWDOWN
Great times in the Presidential Lounge! Â Oh Hell To The Double-Yeahz! Â ;)
The Mission Inn Presidential Lounge is a pretty legit looking bar. Very old school looking and classy. It's located in the Mission Inn on the entrance across the Public Library. I usually go here during the Festival of Lights, but I go here occasionally for a good drink. Interesting quick history about this place is that it has been a host for a few American Presidents during its time. There's even William Howard Taft's big chair right in front of the lounge.
The Drinks: The drinks at the bar are really good. Especially their signature "California Dreamin'" which is Malibu rum, midori, amaretto, pineapple, and cranberry juice. They also make really good Midori Sours.
Some of their Christmas drinks were alright, but a little too strong.
This place isn't too busy during the weeknights, but it's really good for dates at the bar. Drinks are alright in price, but the bartenders make them really good.
Came here for a night out with my wife and decided to try appetizers and drinks at several spot. Nice atmosphere here. There was a piano man playing and singing, had some TV's on with games and a short menu. Over all I would be back as long as it is not over crowded. There were just enough people to fill the seats but we still had attentive waiting.
Review Source:Just to know that presidents have sat in these chairs I was passing by  or possibly touched the walls I was touching is cool. Kind of like, "Yes, I AM fancy like that."
Park: Free at Old Spaghetti Factory, but I don't know if they tow.
Service: Fancy and attentive.
My review is limited since I just got drinks. :(
If you can get in during the holidays, cudos! If not the lounge is open to the public all the time. Come in for food or drink, they are good for groups or small intimate parties. There is art and history all around you... but you are here to get drunk. Haha.
They had a very creative 12 days of Christmas Menu which my friends liked, but the only one that appealed to me was #12. Forgive me, but I've forgotten what it was exactly, but try it next year!
Definately a place I would like to visit again after taking a tour of this awesome Mission!
Fiver star service.
I asked if they had bleu cheese olives, server said no, but he could make some. Sure enough he brought a bowl of bleu from the kitchen and I watched him stuff 4 delicious olives.
Was a perfect martini.
Live music and was able to watch the football game.
Great place to relax.
Expensive drinks but they do their job!
I love their holiday specials (12 days of christmas) but when it is not the holiday I would stick with a marghertia.
I have not branched out to other drinks yet... a bit scared. Their wine selection is pretty decent.
I would sit by the bar or the seating area by the piano. if you end up sitting by the lobby the cocktail waitresses takes longer to get to you. But they will get to you no worries! just depends on how badly you want your drink.
Their happy hour only applies to beer ): sadness!
-------------------------------
Service:
depends on the day/hour/what you're wearing.
I came one time all dressed up and they were quick and super friendly
I came a second time with some friends (right after finals) so i look... like a student. the waitress was a bit rude and standoffish.... yeah.
I am familiar with the restaurants at Mission Inn, but never had the occasion to have a drink at the lounge. Â I went at 4:15 pm on Friday to see what they had. Â I can see the biggest complaint will be the service wait time. Â There were only 3 waitresses while there were 50+ customers (yeah seats were all filled). Â Waitress came 20-30 minutes when I sat down, but I didn't particularly mind and I was reading the news during that time. Â I ordered two of the "12 days of Christmas" drinks and an appetizer. Â Nice place to relax, but I wouldn't recommend if you are in a hurry.
My summary of their 12 days of Christmas cocktails ($9 each)
1) Partridge in a Pear Tree: Â variation on a Caramel Cement shot (Pear vodka, lime juice, Bailey's, and caramel)
2) Turtle doves: Â Adult chocolate milk (chocolate vodka, milk, creme de cacao, and reese's garnish)
3) French Hens: Cognac with Champagne w/sugar rim
4) Calling Birds: Â Orange Manhattan (whiskey, sweet vermouth, orange juice, and soda)
5) Golden Rings: Â Hot Apple Pie variation (goldschlager, tuaca, and apple cider)
6) Geese a Laying: Jack Daniels eggnog
7) Swans a Swimming: Â Chambord and Champagne
8) Maids a Milking: Â Fudge Slide (chocolate vodka, baileys, kahlua, and chocolate syrup)
9) Ladies Dancing: Â Candy Cane martini (peppermint schnapps, vanilla vodka, and creme de cacao)
10) Lords a Leaping: Â Gin and Tonic
11) Pipers Piping: Â Buttered Rum (hot water, rum, butter, honey, and cloves)
12) Â Drummers Drumming: Â Mocha Cream pie (kahlua, creme de cacao, milk, and hot chocolate)
Happy Hour: Â Mon-Fri 4-6 pm
Late Night Happy Hour: Â Sun-Thurs 9-11 pm
20% off @ happy hour
The Mission Inn's Presidential Lounge, like the Inn itself, is steeped in history and has a thousand stories to tell. Â The Lounge used to be the old Presidential Suite which actual Presidents have stayed in, and even hosted President Nixon's wedding. Â Many years ago, the suite was remodeled into what is now a sumptuous lounge/bar.
Sumptuous is a very fitting word, as the place is appointed with rich dark woods, stained glass windows and fine furniture. Â A wrap-around bar completes the ambiance.
The wife and I have spent about half a dozen evenings or so here to enjoy a few drinks and some of the sights. Â The bar itself is very well stocked with an impressive variety of libations, and their list of wines and tequilas is equally impressive. Â The only challenging thing about the bar is it can sometimes be a challenge to reach and belly up to. Â With the variety of events the Inn hosts, the Lounge is often a social gathering point for all kinds of people, and so the bar can busy and full very quickly. Â
The selection of food that's available here tends to be a bit sparse, but then the Mission Inn itself has four restaurants to choose from. Â They have live jazz on the weekends...real jazz...not that smooth jazz stuff that plays on The Wave. Â It can really be a fun, happening place on the weekends!
What subtracts the 5th star from my review is the service. Â It can be a bit spotty. Â I understand the place can be quite busy, but at a place as service-oriented as the Mission Inn, there really can be little room for bad attitudes. Â Whereas the majority of the time we have received good service here, there are two instances that come to mind that left the wife and I with a sour taste.
Once when asked for a list of their wines, the waitress said she was busy and said she would get to it "when she got around to it.". Twenty minutes later she passed by and slapped the menu down as an afterthought. Â We left without ordering.
The second time we were at the bar and the the bartender kept trying to insistently trying to up sell the larger, more expensive version of the drinks we were ordering...even when we informed him one of us was driving and wanted a clearer head for such. Â This was not only rude but highly unprofessional.
Overall however the Presidential Lounge is a fun place for adults to come and hang out. Â It can be laid back and chill at times or noisy and happening. Â Pretty much something for all tastes.
One of my favorite bars in Riverside located in the historical Mission Inn hotel which I just love to visit. It's so charming and classy. With either soft music or live piano playing in the background and reasonably priced drinks. Great place to visit and look at the old photos of the mission inn & the presidents that have visited before. Everytime I visit here and order my martini it feels like I'm in a mad men episode Haha.
Review Source:Very reasonably priced drinks for such a classy bar in a classic hotel.
Enjoyed before dinner drafts during a business one-one and wasn't too noisy nor service intrusive. Â Expect mileage to vary depending on which topplers are partaking at any given hour.
Great excuse to enjoy the rest of the premises, in particular the talking parrots via main entrance!
If you live in or near Riverside, and haven't stopped in for a drink at the Mission Inn Presidential Lounge, you're missing out!
This is such a cool hotel, and the bar has such a vintage vibe. Â I love coming here with a date, and having a drink before dinner at the Mexican Restaurant (Las Comapans) on the outside patio.
I've enjoyed some wonderful live music there, with a piano and stand up base player. Â I don't know their exact schedule, but I believe weekend nights you can expect to hear them.
Don't bother valet parking at the hotel, because there is lots of free street parking near by and also several parking structures with free parking, evenings and weekends.
The presidential lounge is nestled into a nook of the Mission Inn lobby. It's an intimate jazz bar with presidential theme throughout to honor the presidents who have stayed there. Great happy hour prices and solid service with a presidential themed martini list. Since I'm not huge into martinis, I went with the beer. There is a decent beer selection but nothing to write home about.
The best news is the Mission Inn is definitely a reprieve from the cruel realities of the IE and this lounge is one of a handful of options within the Inn.
Well the bar sure is nice looking.....  Bar staff is lacking in training in mixology  and customer service. Â
 If you don't know the menu, or how to make a drink it is not the customer's fault.  Maybe it was just the guy who was working Nov 2nd around 4:00 PM.
I was not the only customer having a hard time with this guy. Â More training, customer service and this could be a nice place.
So if you are like, me you are looking at yelp to help you find a nice place... Â Keep looking. Â They really don't want you to come here. Â I am doing you and the bar a favor by writing this.
Interior design is cozy with dark wood and dim lighting. That's pretty much the only thing I liked about it. They have stereo speakers throughout but the music is barely audible. Sat in the lounge next to the bar and waited and waited. Ticktock Ticktock ... hmm do we order drinks directly from the bar?
Checked in w/bar staff inquireing as to whether there are servers working in our section. Staff member answers with a "Yeah, they'll get there when they get there" attitude. Eventually someone did show up but I wish they hadn't since this person's attitude equalled that of the bar staff as well.
This place might be a hit with locals that are recognized as such and given the respect customers deserve but forget about it if you're just a visitor.
To sum it up, we couldn't get out of there fast enough while being held hostage waiting for our check.
What a beautiful facility. The minute you walk into the Mission Inn you are enveloped in sweet aromas and beautiful treasures. It's a real feast for the senses and you feel if you have stepped back in time. This bar is incredible but don't forget to take a stroll throughout  the Inn as there are hidden nooks and stairwells all over the place! I think this lounge is the epitome of class and the portraits of Presidents who have visited and relaxed in the Lounge are mind boggling!
Review Source:When you want to visit a quiet, classy bar in Riverside, visit the Mission Inn Presidential Lounge. You will not find a young group of college students so if you plan on getting hammered, this is definitely not the place for you (I once went with a group of dozen rowdy college students...we felt very awkward...).
The drinks are reasonably priced and the atmosphere is very relaxing. I highly recommend this place if you want to just sit down with a friend while enjoying a glass of martini.
The only reason I am giving 2 stars is that the Asst Mgr tried to make things right... not only for us but for many others who were equally disenchanted (to put it mildly) with their service.
They only offer 2 choices for breakfast 1) a $40 (yes, that is not a typo) brunch buffet and 2) within the past 2 weeks or so, a smaller menu in the president's lounge.
We chose the smaller breakfast but there was a wait. Â We got a table 30 mins later, although they had empty tables but were entirely inefficient. Â They also had another section of seating that they could have utilized. Â After an additiional 30 mins we hailed the manager to see what happened to our food as others who came after us had already been served. Â The server should have been well aware of this and should have taken action long before this. Â However, we also noted, that as the servers brought food to serve, they didn't know where it belonged. Â
Needless to say this was a terrible experience and we would have thought an institution such as the Mission Inn would have had it together much more than what we saw. Â It is not like they didn't have enough staff but it was obvious that the staff was not trained properly. Â
We appreciated the efforts that the asst mgr took to right things but I'm not sure I will rush back there anytime soon. Â The food was fine but not noteworthy by any means.
This is a great place to have a meet up...the seats are comfy and you can hear yourself think...unlike 54 Degrees outside of Duane's...don't look for bargain prices---but enjoy the ambiance...sit outside of the lounge, on the raised seating (up a couple of steps from the rest of the interior traffic flow and behind a railing) Â and people watch.
If you are lucky enough to score a small table outside the bar at Christmas---it is GREAT fun to drink and watch the people as they walk up and down inside the Inn looking at the tree and all the decorations and ENVY you with a table!
This place is old and somewhat run down. But we love it! The bar is obviously part of the whole Mission Inn Experience. High backed leather chairs with old World Decor. What's not to love?
Good service and strong drinks. Also have live music that can be pretty good. I suggest the Long Islands here.....OMG! They also have a wonderful New Year's package that my Wife and I did several years.
Pros: We just love this place....
Cons: Can get very crowed but always a fun place to hang out
Great place to show up mid-day and have a few drinks and get silly with the on you love.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, and I'm just a freaking moron. Man every year we go to this bar during the holiday time and every year it is the same.
Sit down and the table and wait. Server comes over and we ask for the wine list and then wait... wait... and wait some more.
Server comes back, and learning from last time, we order more wine than we need only to wait... wait ... wait... and wait some more before it arrives.
Drink the wine and need the check. You got it, wait... wait... wait... wait... and wait some more.
I'm not sure what is more confusing. That the service sucks here, or that I insist on coming back each year.
Ambiance and staff = A+
The bar chairs are in dire need of replacing... they are worn and uncomfortable regardless because of the poor design. Switched to the lounge area halfway through our visit which is a much nicer seating area and they give you snackz!
Bartenders were a lot of fun and both were very friendly. Â Waitress in the lounge was nice also, and handled our under-temperatured appetizer (chicken wings, which were otherwise good) really well.
Where the turnaround times lack, the ambiance and history of the place compensates. Â Hadn't been to the Mission Inn in years and its preserved the grandiose atmosphere. Â Would definitely return!
3 drinks for 22 bucks = reasonably priced liquor. If I do say so myself.
I was here for a convention in October 2011, and Luis was a bartender extraordinaire. Â He was personable and made great drinks, fast, and noticed promptly when you were nearly empty. Â No wait for a cocktail here. Â He was entertaining and social, all great traits in a barkeep!
(I did not eat here, so the review is a comment on the drinks and the service at the bar.)
The short: Kind of dark, kind of classy, definitely pricey.
The long: This is the bar attached to the lobby of the Mission Inn, and it's prices reflect that. A round of drink for your friends could easily cost $100+, and, as of writing this review, I'm not sure why this bar is not classed as 'pricey.'
They sometimes have lounge music, mostly jazz. The bar area has a deck that looks into the mission in lobby.
Like the rest of the Mission Inn, the staff (bartenders) are not very friendly.
We go to this place after another bar when we want to sit around and chat with each other. I wouldn't kick off the night here, myself. But, this is one of the few places down town that's not totally crowded. We can actually talk to each other here.
That said, it's a standard bar that offers standard drinks at high prices. It has a standard Riverside crowd, where you'd expect it to be a little classier.
Awesome place in Riverside for an array of martinis and drinks + live jazz on the weekends. It's also traditional jazz - think Oscar Peterson, early Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, etc. For those of you looking for "smooth" jazz, this isn't it so leave the seats for the rest of us.
Often it can feel like Riverside and the IE is devoid of much culture, though the Presidential Lounge does its part to add panache to the area.
Great place to check out before or after dinner for a cocktail and conversation with friends or special someone. The volume level of the music is comfortable enough to carry on a mellow discussion.
Depending on who your server is, service can be slower than desired, though for the most part, it's acceptable and a fun place for the area.
There aren't too many places in Riverside I would hit up Riverside for to lounge around and enjoy good drinks with good company. Â The Mission Inn Presidential Lounge is the exception. Â I love coming here because it seems like you're stepping back into a time where being classy was the norm, where wearing nice clothes is a must and where people treat each other with respect.
Drinks are expensive here however once the first sip is taken, you can start pretending you're playing out a scene from Mad Men, talking about Sterling Cooper's next big client, whether Draper will ever be faithful and why Campbell is a knucklehead. Â Definitely my kind of place, chill, rustic and legit in any era.
Only been here a few times but each time has been amazing. Beautiful decor and awesome leather seats. It gives it a very intimate atmosphere, which is excellent for a couple or for several people.
The beer selection (at least they had Sam Adams!) is limited but the atmosphere and the food make up for it.
Overall this place is really relaxing and a great place to share with a few friends.
The atmosphere in the Presidential lounge is just amazing. Beautiful wood decor. Leather seats. It takes you back to when the Mission Inn was a little newer.
The drinks are somewhat expensive, but once you have your first drink, you won't be disappointed. Every drink is mixed beautifully and made strong enough to make up for the hefty price tag.I can't think of a better place to just relax and have a few drinks.
I'm a huge fan of the Mission Inn for its architecture, aura, beauty, elegance, and charm. So when I read about the Presidential Lounge, I was more than excited to drive out to Riverside to try it out. After having dinner at nearby Cabin Sushi with friends, we walked over to the lounge, grabbed some seats, and ordered drinks.
In terms of ambiance and decor, this place deserves five stars. Live music (piano and strings) and crowds from the hotel and beyond really gave the place the character it deserves. Considering just how beautiful the lounge is, and its location inside the Mission Inn, prices were reasonable, at about $7-12 per drink.
However, I can't speak too highly of the drinks themselves. There's quite an extensive drink menu, with plenty of cocktails named after presidents, but everything was so strong in its own way! My "Theodore Roosevelt" was basically 98% vodka, 2% lemon juice. My friend ordered a mango blended drink, which was so sweet that she couldn't finish. It seems the only solid bet was the Sol beer one of us ordered.
Still, the Presidential Lounge makes up for its poor drink quality with its location at the Mission Inn, the live music, and the lounge's decor. I can't believe I've lived here for so long and just heard about this place! Â If you've never been and you live close by, you should definitely check it out.
The Presidential Lounge is one of my favorite little secrets about Riverside. I love to pull it out of my hat when I have Riverside haters in town looking for a good time that doesn't involve a club or keg atmosphere. I love to relax, listen to the wonderful Jazz, and soak in an era I wish was still around.
The mixed drink menu is quite scrumptious with my favorite drink being the strawberry shortcake, it tastes just like a slice of cake! I also love the coco loco colada. The decor is so groovy, such a nice change from the sports bar, pub, or any other bar staple in Riverside.
I highly recommend it!
Stunning. Â Five stars. Â No place like it in the Inland Empire.
Sophistication, comfort, service, culture and history all combine for a perfect experience at the Mission Inn Presidential Lounge.
My sister, her husband and I were itching for a place to enjoy some cocktails on Christmas night, but were miffed after several bars in the area were unexpectedly closed. Â A blessing in disguise as it turned out. Â Apparently, others came up with the same sage idea as this place was packed.
After our arrival, we marveled at the throngs of people meandering through the lobby enjoying the Festival of Lights, the general Christmas decor and the historical relics - portrait paintings of the 10 U.S. Presidents who have stayed there, and the tapestry carpets of all 20-something California missions.
From the mahogany paneled walls and crown moulding to the high-backed leather chairs to the fantastic piano and cello jazz players, this place is impressive. The cocktails were CHEAP for a place such as this. Â An Absolut /Tonic? Â $5.75. Â Highway robbery, I tell you. Delightfully thorough and attentive service. Â We were checked up on every 10 minutes.
The wine list is decent. Â Perhaps, two dozen wines by the glass, including a (cringe, gag) white zinfandel. Â Other than that, this place is outstanding.
I highly recommend it for residents and tourists alike.
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