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Best Bars In The San Gabriel Valley

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(credit: Spirit House)

You may not think the San Gabriel Valley is the place to go for watering holes, but it does have its fair share of unique lounges. Here's a list for 626ers too exhausted to bear the traffic over to the west side.

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(credit: Spirit House)

Spirit House

123 S Lincoln Ave, 2nd floor
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(626) 872-0353
www.spirithousebar.com

Spirit House is a watering hole located on the second floor of the Lincoln Hotel. Don't be deterred by the run-down facade of the hotel -- walk up to the second floor and be sure to take notice of their craft beers and Asian-inspired concoctions. There's an outdoor fire pit and happy hour too!

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(credit: 38 Degrees Ale House)

38 Degrees Ale House

100 W Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-2038
www.38degreesalhambra.com

The main takeaway from 38 Degrees is their craft beer selection. Owner Clay Harding has his roots at Crown City Brewery in Pasadena, which was co-founded by his stepfather. Located in Alhambra, the watering hole is known for their beer flights and IPAs.

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(credit: Rabbit Hole)

Rabbit Hole

24 W Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 458-2039
www.therabbitbar.com

Step into the Rabbit Hole Bar for an Alice-in-Wonderland themed experience. Happy hour is every day and they serve fancy cocktails made to order. Favorite drinks include "The Inkwell" with Bombay Gin, lillet blanc, fresh lemon, orgeat, and cream de violette, as well as "The Real Dill" with Beefeater Gin, St. Germain, fresh lemon, homemade simple syrup, cucumber water, and organic dill sprigs.

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(credit: Uncle Yu's Indian)

Uncle Yu's Indian

633 S San Gabriel Blvd., Suite 105
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 287-0688

Commonly known as the Taiwanese version of Hooters, Uncle Yu's Indian features Chinese waitresses dressed in Native American garb. It's a quirky sports bar where you can order beer by the pitcher. Food includes Taiwanese favorites like stinky tofu and offal like duck tongue and pig intestine.

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(credit: POP Champagne and Dessert Bar)

POP Champagne and Dessert Bar

33 E Union St
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-1295
www.popchampagnebar.com

Located in Pasadena, POP Champagne is the idyllic date spot for a sexy night out. They have an extensive champagne selection, sparkling wines and artisanal beers. Pair your concoction of choice with dessert and cheese. Don't forget about the daily happy hour specials from 5 to 7 p.m.

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(credit: Jurassic Restaurant)

Jurassic Restaurant

15301 Gale Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91745
(626) 336-5899
www.jurassicrestaurant.com

It's exactly what it sounds like. Jurassic Restaurant is modeled after the 1993 sci-fi movie Jurassic Park. Expect a plethora of cheesy decorations. Food is Taiwanese and the alcohol selection is impressive. Like Uncle Yu's, waitresses are scantily clad and there's a good selection of draft beers and mixed soju by the pitcher.

Clarissa Wei is a freelance writer who specializes in food and Asian culture. Tweet at her @dearclarissa or find her on her website, clarissawei.com.
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