Mervyn’s Lounge

Update: All alcoholic beverage licenses on the property are currently suspended by the state licensing board «for violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act,» according to the official notice posted in the front (236 Castro St.) entrance. The suspension is effective from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4. (The official notice contrasts somewhat with the story of «having a winter break» posted here by Una L. And maybe this is just coincidence, but that Unilocaler’s photo looks like an employee I’ve met there named Una.)
If you weren’t already aware, Mervyn’s ceased its food operation in the front a few months back
and the bar hours currently shown here are very wrong (the lounge bar has been opening around 3PM and the front Mervyn’s bar later — but neither will open at all, until the license suspension ends).
It’d be extremely helpful if this business, once it reopens, could post its hours of operation SOMEWHERE (there are three entrances, altogether) because they’ve fluctuated, and some longtime drop-​in customers found it closed at unexpected times. Without any posted hours or explanation whatsoever, that creates the impression that Mervyn’s is defunct.

**ATTENTION :) Mervyn’s is having a winter break! The bar will be on holiday starting ¹⁄₂₆ Tue and will open on ²⁄₅ Fri… it’s definitely the GO-​TO spot for SuperBowl wkend! There will be SuperBowl specials for that weekend… They have 2 bars open on the weekends, back (cool diviest bar in MV) and front (a great cocktail lounge bar), and they do Karaōke at the front on Sat nights! Awesome!!!

I USED to LOVE this place. Best part was the CHEAP drinks (and funky dive bar atmosphere). Well SUR-​PRISE!!! I went in for a couple of martini’s and it cost me $ 24 (YES, for two drinks!)…WHAT!!! When I mentioned the price increase the bartender said «Well how long ago has it been since you’ve been here?». I wanted to say that I’ve been coming longer than you’ve been alive, but didn’t. I told her it had been 6 months or so (big deal, right?) and she responded, «Well we have ‘regular’ prices and ‘new customer’ prices. WTH? NO MORE MERVYNS FOR ME! Good luck to the new owners. :(

Ok… this is a watering hole and/​or dive bar in every sense.
You don’t come here to lounge or mingle… this is the type of place you come to drink. The seats are holy (not like a church), and it smells like a dive bar.
Bartender is always attentive and takes very good care of us… every visit.
The drinks are strong and priced very competitively… when in MV, we start the night and sometimes end it here at Mervyns…

This is one of the few dive bars left in Mountain View! It has been around for decades and still attracts many types of people because of their down to earth and friendly staff, cheap prices, and great chances for people watching.
I will say this is also a great place for a date because there are spaces that do not have extremely loud music so you will be able to hear conversation.
If you are looking for a low key place where you can be a regualar, this is definitely a great spot in downtown mountain view.

They claimed they were closing at 1:30 AM, but actively started kicking everyone out around 1. When trying to kick me and friends out around 1:20, I pointed out that we still had some time before they closed. They responded by actually taking our drinks (unfinished but fully paid) physically and suggesting violence.
Being relatively quiet and having a decent beer selection, Mervyn’s Lounge would have been a decent recommendation for someone looking for a good Mountain View dive, but even after being good patrons and tipping well they physically accosted us for wanting to stay until their own advertised closing time and finish our drinks. Absolutely awful. Would not recommend.

Do not look for a sign with «Mervyn’s Lounge». Instead look for the little sign that says «Lounge» with an error. Yeah, it’s that divey and awesome.
Drinks are a steal. There is a general drink list on the inside of the entrance door — all less than $ 6 all day!
Cash only

This place is the definition of dive bar. It’s literally in a hallway of downtown Mountain and not the easiest place to find. Only recently has it had any type of signage. Good place to go if you just want a drink in a small bar with no extra frills attached. The drinks are reasonably priced and the place is pretty no nonsense. Don’t expect anything fancy or some type of elaborate mix drink. But that’s also why I like this place.

A quite nice place for friends to chill at weekend.

Our 4^th stop of the day/​evening. This bar is a small place kinda like Cheers. Where everybody knows your name! Not my name since it was my first time. However the bartenders were so friendly and made us feel right at home. Nice place to grab some drinks and listen to some music.

This is a cheap bar open till late in the night! If you are want to have cheap drinks, this is your place. Definitely I will go again.

This is a little dive bar in an alley in downtown Mountain View– sounds appealing, eh?! Someone in our party was a huge fan of the place so we stopped by, and it was fun. It’s tiny and gross and smelly, but that gives it more character.
Would I come back? Sure, why not!

Highly disturbed right now. Used to LOVE coming here. Tonight we walked in about 10:15 and headed to the bar. There was a group of Japanese people and one guy was super drunk. The older white gentleman bartender was agitated when we arrived and said ‘this is america,’ upset the guy was drunk. He kept looking at the table in disgust, and then kicked them out. I’m ok with kicking drunks out, but I’ve been here a lot when white people were passed out. After they left he then said ‘fucking Asians.’ My friend asked what the problem was, and the bartender said to ‘to mind your business’ and was an ass. I couldn’t finish my drink and left. I am appalled and hope the management addresses this. I’m Black and Japanese, and pissed.

Mervyn’s Lounge is a straight up dive bar in downtown Mountain View, so don’t come here bringing your date or friend out of town that’s expecting a fancy lounge.
They have one of the best bang for your buck prices in the South Bay!
*This is a cash only bar, but they have ATM access*

Had to do a double take on to get in, as it’s in the alleyway, not a typical front entrance type of place which felt a little sketchy at first when you’re not familiar with the area on a Friday night.
Pretty chill place. Cheap drinks are always a plus. It’s small so it gets crowded easily. Sat with my girl at a corner table at first right next to the juke box, and the music started playing and WOW it scared the hell out of us. The only thing I’d say that really needs fixing up would be that — music blasts at the start of the song from time to time and needed to be turned down manually. Bartender was friendly and funny. Had quite a few drinks, and the bartender noticed my girl liked cherries (she ate hers and I was giving her mine), and he brought over a few extras. Next time we get out drink on, we will be back.

If you’re looking for a hip, crowded bar with fancy mixed drinks, you should probably look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for a nice, quiet bar to hang out at and grab a few cheap drinks, this place is perfect!
It’s a bit dark, but what bar isn’t? The drinks taste fine and are fairly cheap (~5 $ for a well drink) and all the people inside seem like the know each other (which is always a good sign IMO).
Not exactly a party spot, but a great lounge to hang out at with friends (bonus points for being able to easily hear your drinking companions’ stories).

Mervyn’s: The Quintessential Dive Bar. You remind me of home.
I didn’t think dive bars existed around here, but if they were easy to find, they wouldn’t be as cool.
Prices are great and the drinks are strong. The bartenders are friendly and cheerful and the crowd is easy going. What more could you ask for?

Cheap drinks, hole in the wall vibe.
If you want to drink in MV, this is the place to do it.

This place is dope. Next time I go to a show at the Shoreline, this is homebase.

There are two types of bars in Mountain View: the ones where young engineers chase the ladies (and vice versa), and the ones where the locals go for a stiff drink. Mervyn’s Lounge is definitely the latter.
For a while, I thought there were closed for good as the restaurant it shares a restroom with had closed up. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see the lights on through that old, familiar unmarked door in a hallway on Castro St. If you don’t already know, this is all you need to know about Mervyn’s:
— Cheap drinks. Stiff ones, too.
— Low key, divey atmosphere. If you’re going there expecting a ‘Turn Down For What!!’ kind of night, go somewhere else.
— It’s tiny. Capacity around 40ish people.
Still, on a weeknight, if I need a cocktail and a little peace, this is where I’m heading.