Red Cove

My definition of a «dive bar» is a place anywhere in the world where you don’t need to go looking for trouble, because trouble has absolutely no problems finding you! This place meets and exceeds that in spades… and clubs… and diamonds and hearts, for that matter. Actually, most of the clientele probably spells trouble as «t-​r-​u-​b-​e-​l,» and if you try to correct them, you’ll wind up regretting it to various degrees. My buddies used to call it «The Drove Cove,» for good reasons, namely because everyone in the place seemed to be drove or driven, or well on the way. People just out of jail or prison. People going right back to jail or prison for something they’ll do later tonight. I used to live a few blocks away, well within staggering distance, and for a while it was good for drinking and checking out bands, and even the occasional bimbonic hookup, but I found out the hard way that overall it was a very dangerous and treacherous place for meeting new people, in a tragicomic way; in a roughly three-​week period, I had: A woman ask me to dance, only to make her drunken psychotic boyfriend jealous, which was successful (not the first time this has happened to me… women seem to love pulling s%^t like that!); said «Hi» to a woman who said the same thing to me while looking dreamily into my eyes, which prompted an assault from two punks for reasons that are mysterious to me to this day; verbal abuse for several non-​reasons; a drunk chick bumping into me and spilling my drink, only to scream at me for being in her way, and underneath her feet, which also summoned her equally drunk and misguided paramour and his henchmen. Are we having fun yet? When you’re going out to a night spot and you start to consider what kind of body armor goes with your outfit, and if your pistol matches your lighter, belt buckle and switchblade, it’s time to re-​evaluate what having a good time actually is supposed to mean. Not one to bear a grudge, I consider all of the above par for the course. I moved to the other side of town a few years ago and avoid the place these days, mostly for insurance purposes, but if you like classic dive bars, you usually can’t go wrong here; avoid going there without adequate backup, or going there alone… otherwise, it’s no better or worse than many places whose signature drink is called «Satan’s Piss.»

This used to be a classic Dive Bar… it has gone down hill fast… over priced, watered down drinks… we each had three mini drinks, sold at higher end prices, and not even a buzz… the whiskey was almost clear. the band was 50 something year olds, that weren’t even good enough to be a garage band. the bathroom was filthy… it is just an over all decay and sadness that greets you here… I gave an extra star for three pool tables. if you go. get beer… in a bottle.

I went in around 12 on a Wednesday night. There were like 3 people in there. They had free pool that night so that was pretty cool. I just couldn’t believe how dead it was. Beer was fairly cheap, I bet this place would be fun if there were people in there. I may try it again to see and update later

I freaking LOVE The Red Cove! Bartenders are awesome, and always make you feel welcome. There’s tons of room… They have 3 pool tables, a punching bag game, and local bands on the weekends. It’s a bar where «Everybody knows your name» ;)

Super big inside. area to smoke. Room for live music. Nice dive

Used to have a PA system. But no more. Just shuffling more burden onto your local musicians. What good are you?

This place is a joke. Went there once to watch a friends band play. The bartender was slower than a week in jail, not to mention blasted. She also kept flashing customers, which to me, is totally trashy and belongs in a strip club, not a bar. Wish I could give no stars. Never Again!

I agree with Pat R. and Mike S. This dive is definitely an ignorant ass-​hole magnet. I got one nasty, flat, watered-​down cocktail from a rude indifferent bartender and that was the last time I spent my money there. Steer clear unless you own a motorcycle or lack a high school diploma.

Sure, it’s a dive. If you’re looking for someplace to sip yer Pinot Grigio and nibble on yer antipasti, don’t go to the Red Cove. But being the punky chick that I am, I love this joint! It’s clean enough and rough enough all at the same time. Great selection in the jukebox, good beer, comfortable squishy leather booths and bar stools, and the bartender gal was friendly.
I can see where the «skinhead element» and reputation that Patrick R. talked about comes from. There were quite a few bald, tattooed white guys playing pool there that fit the label. I caught one of them staring at me in a semi-​creepy way, but I didn’t overhear any racist or offensive conversation. It was pretty dead for a Saturday — only about 10 people in the bar total. But I wasn’t looking for a hopping nightclub, so it suited me just fine.
They have live music sometimes and there is a little stage/​pit area. I’ll go back to see what kind of bands they bring in.

This is a great little dive bar to go to, where drinks come cheap and the bartenders can pour a mean cocktail. A word of warning, though: There is commonly a skinhead element to this bar, so minorities might want to avoid the Cove. It has this reputation around town, and I’m actually shocked to see that nobody else has mentioned it up here.
There are three pool tables and a jukebox, along with a smoking area outside. Pretty cool place for a night out with some friends.

Only bar in VTA that you can go in to at 7am and not feel like a derelict. hell– it’s probably the only place open! Decent bloody mary. Have a couple there and stagger out into the sunshine after a rough night. Then smoke a cigarette and go next door to the Warmer. Be careful in the Cove at night– I’ve read about some nastiness in there in the local police blotter.

Wow this place was not what I was expecting LOL. This is really a dive bar, I went on a Friday night and there were only five people in the bar. Not saying that was a problem but I didn’t really know the neighbor hood so you can only imaging what a person can think walking into a run down bar in a dark liquor store, gun store, liquor store, gun store type of area.

The only reason I go to bars is to watch my LA Clippers hopefully win.
This place had an interesting mix of folks but the music was very loud.
They do have three pool tables though.

Five Stars for Travis handing out thousands of free Satan’s piss shots (151 mixed with Tabasco). This is the dive bar that I compare all dive bars to. How many other neighborhood bars have free pool, free shuffleboard, decent indy bands, blacked out bartenders, $ 1.25 beers, a dice pool and old school hardcore/​punk in the Juke Box.

I was first drawn to the Red Cove to see a band… but have a returned a few times since out of sheer curiosity. The night the band played it was super crowded with young-​ish people. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the old men at the bar grimacing into their drinks seeming to wish for a better time when Ventura’s dive bars weren’t the conquests of youth. I went back on a Monday night (for research) and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was nearly empty… with a few older men at the bar and the pool tables open for use. I was scoffed at when
I ordered a flavored vodka… the bartender insisted I try something else… her favorite drink: a Black Russian made with Stoli. :-) We left after the men next to us started a very loud discussion on the inferiority of women and minorities. Seeing as I have plenty of bars at my disposal that will happily serve me a Pomegranate martini… I have no desire to see this particular bar move in that direction…