Legendary Circle Bar reopens on Main Street in…
One of Santa Monica’s most legendary nightlife establishments has formally returned from the useless.
Circle Bar, the dimly lit Main Street hang-out that reportedly served everybody from rock icon, Jim Morrison, to actors Sean Penn, Robert Downey J., and even pioneering writer, Truman Capote, finally reopened a few weeks back after almost three years of sitting darkish.
Circle Bar’s comeback arrives as Santa Monica continues to grapple with a wave of business closures that have reshaped town’s business panorama.
Beloved local establishments just like the softly-lit gastropub Misfit Bar and Restaurant shuttered after 15 years in April, and beloved Britannia Pub, a fixture on Santa Monica Boulevard for three a long time, confirmed its lease will expire July 31 and can be changed with a Taco Bell Cantina.
Meanwhile, almost three in 10 storefronts on the Third Street Promenade sit empty.
For a long time, the darkish dive-bar was well-known for its oval-shaped bar, crowded dance ground and rotating DJ units.
“Circle Bar isn’t just a bar,” Mark Van Gessel said forward of the grand reopening. Instagram/@circlebar_sm
When the music stopped back in August 2023 following a sudden possession shakeup, many feared the enduring establishment was gone for good — until it roared back to life on May 22.
For a long time, the darkish dive-bar was well-known for attracting an eclectic crowd, recognized for its oval-shaped bar, crowded dance ground and rotating DJ units. Instagram/@circlebar_sm
The bar reopened under new possession on May 22. Instagram/@circlebar_sm
Historic ‘Circle Bar’ once visited by Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. reopens on Santa Monica’s Main Street. Instagram/@circlebar_sm
The Van Gessels have made it clear that while the space has been deeply refreshed, they’ve completely no intention of stripping away the bar’s signature edge. Instagram/@circlebar_sm
Mark and Addie Van Gessel, the masterminds behind Venice’s Hinano Cafe and Santa Monica’s Tavern on Main, stepped in to save the day.
The Van Gessels have made it clear that while the space has been deeply refreshed, they’ve completely no intention of stripping away the bar’s signature edge.
“Circle Bar isn’t just a bar,” Mark Van Gessel said forward of the grand reopening. “It’s part of Santa Monica’s cultural DNA. Everyone has a Circle Bar story. We want to honor what made it special while bringing fresh life into the space, keeping the focus on great music and drinks, and a fun atmosphere so a new generation can create their own Circle Bar stories.”
True to their phrase, the new homeowners have stored the venue’s 1949 ground plan, but revamped the place with some major manufacturing upgrades. A new QSC sound system and elevated DJ sales space dubbed “The Halo,” and a digitally managed lighting system.
The upgraded cocktail program options drinks just like the “Pacific Cooler,” which pairs yuzu and pamplemousse with either tequila or mezcal, and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” which mixes gin, Aperol, St. Germain, mango, and lemon.
At a time when Santa Monica appears to announce a new closure every month, Circle Bar is bucking the development.
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