Iconic Santa Monica bar brought back from the dead — with all the glory of its legendary edge

One of Santa Monica’s most legendary nightlife institutions has officially returned from the dead.

Circle Bar, the dimly lit Main Street haunt that reportedly served everyone from rock icon, Jim Morrison, to pioneering author, Truman Capote, finally reopened a few weeks back after nearly three years of sitting dark.

Circle Bar’s comeback arrives as Santa Monica continues to grapple with a wave of business closures that have reshaped the city’s commercial landscape.

Beloved local institutions 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 decades, confirmed its lease will expire July 31 and will be replaced with a Taco Bell Cantina.

Meanwhile, nearly three in 10 storefronts on the Third Street Promenade sit empty.

For decades, the dark dive-bar was famous for its oval-shaped bar, crowded dance floor and rotating DJ sets.

When the music stopped back in August 2023 following a sudden ownership shakeup, many feared the iconic institution was gone for good — until it roared back to life on May 22.

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 have absolutely no intention of stripping away the bar’s signature edge.

“Circle Bar isn’t just a bar,” Mark Van Gessel said ahead 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 word, the new owners have kept the venue’s 1949 floor plan, but revamped the place with some major production upgrades. A new QSC sound system and elevated DJ booth dubbed “The Halo,” and a digitally controlled lighting system.

The upgraded cocktail program features drinks 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 seems to announce a new closure every month, Circle Bar is bucking the trend.

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