XL Public House

Love it here! One of my go-​to spots when I just want to chill and socialize with my friends.

This place is awesome smelled like vanilla when I was in there everybody’s friendly just a great time

What’s there not to love? The best craft beer available in the entire county, one of the best beer tenders/​owners you can ask for… And perfect scenery. Bring some food, some friends, and good laughs. Don’t forget to go downstairs and play the 20 arcade games. When you get there, talk to James or Adam… Tell them everyone sent you!

A Beer snob’s heaven. And the home of the $ 99 Coors Light. Great selection of beer. Nice way to get a drink in before a flick at the Maya. Or any other time for that matter.

Unless you’re trying to play board games, this bar is not for you. The beer is good but the vibe is not. People come here to play board games (monopoly jenga) and not really to socialize. I was expecting more young, hip feeling but it felt like a retirement home with alcohol.

awesome staff, video games and beer!

I love whisky and this beer garden is still my favorite bar. Coolest staff. James is excellent at finding the perfect beer for the individual. They let you bring food in from other places and have board/​video games and other activities such as movie night! Oh yea and the music is always on point. Truly a XL public house.

We stopped in the XL Public House for a beer after visiting the Steinbeck Museum across the street. WOW! This is a powerhouse of beers and James, the owner and frequently the bartender, knows more than enough to guide you to what you like. My wife likes Belgians and I like IPAs. He taught each of us new things about beers we might try and we liked them. The Tacoria next door is good and will deliver. Their board games/​cards abound and we enjoy a game of cribbage making it a great night out all and all.

BEER BEER BEER! All you who can appreciate a great craft beer this is the spot to go to! Awesome crowd, great management, and tasty beers. A must have experience, wether you’re local or just visiting.

We wanted to visit the monterey cost brewery next door at 10 o clock but they were closed…
So we took a few steps to the left and fell into this little gem. first impressions were that the strange artwork and board games (monopoly, battleship, and chess) made the ambiance feel like a mixture between a daycare and an angry teenager’s bedroom. But we went to the bar and noticed they had The Bruery on tap. SUPER SCORE! We ordered a round of their Belgian… And it was easily the best beer I’ve had in a long time. Fresh, clean, highly carbonated, and crisp, they knew how to make a beer. We then walked over to the fridge and guess what they had, bottles of the stuff (no Mischief though) and the best part: no corking fee and 20% off any bottles to-​go.
Though interesting in décor and ambiance, they have a fantastic selection (Coronado, Firestone, Lambic), and in the end, that’s what really counts. By the way… They also make free pop corn. Please, hold back your excitement.

Great beer selection, can’t be topped in Salinas! James is always there with a great suggestion and fantastic service!

excellent spot in a shity town. Go here if you love beer, but if you think blue moon or shocktop are craft beers go somewhere else.

Great selection of beer. They do a great job of featuring local artwork. Very cool old salinas look inside. If your looking for a place to try some quality craft beers this is definitely the place to go.

We sit down and have our order filled. Pretty spot on service for a bar right. Well not only did he do that he talked with us about the different stuff he had available, and gave us a few tasters we didn’t even ask for to let us see what we thought without even having to ask.
Since we live in Marina we probably won’t be there too often, but when we are in Salinas and thirsty I know where we’ll be going.
Side note the mexican restaurant next door will deliver to the bar. Major perk.
The only issue we had was that the beers they had in the cases were pretty expensive, but the ones on tap were perfectly priced.

Crap Beer… I think not! If you’re an avid beer drinker or want to steer away from the norm then check out the XL Public House. James is an awsome guy who knows his beers. Let him know what your pallet is and he’ll show you a few samples to try for a flavor great tasting beer. Whatever it is you get weather IPA, Stout, Wheat or my personal favorite Sours you have to come check out the XL. They have chess boards to pass up the time as you enjoy your beverage. It can get pricy but hey your drinking quality not quantity. Enjoy your beer here at the Public House Craft Beer over Crap Beer.

Ever time I have out-​of-​town guest come, I like to take them here because it’s uniqueness. Here are some tips:
*XL Public House doesn’t serve food so order your food at XL Grindhouse (same family own business) and you can have your food served to you at the XL Public House
*They always have different styles of beers on tap so don’t be shy to ask for a taste test. You will end up having a beer version of a wine tasting experience.
* Come here if you like to socialize with people, view local street art, or just chill and play some chest without the distraction of a TV. But if you are in the mood for a sports bar experience no problem, go to the back bar of XL Grindhouse.
* I almost forgot, they have an awesome basement private room that you can rent for parties or any functions. Includes a private bar with beer taps.
* Don’t bother looking for parking on the street. They will validate your parking. So park at the parking garage (located behind the building)

Pretty good and strong beer. Great for chilling, eating food from next door, and playing chess or cards. The artwork they have hanging inside is great, and I enjoyed talking to the bartender about different drinks.

Loved this spot! Great beer, friendly patrons with speak easy ambiance!

I chose the XL Public House to hold my wedding reception, and it was a great success.
James set up the entire basement floor for the party and provided us with a staff that kept the drinks flowing. tables and chairs so everyone was comfortable, and he even offered to let us use his beer pong table for some drinking games.
It was a casual night that turned into an awesome and lively event, and I want to thank James and his staff for letting my wife and I use their facilities. The beer and wine were delicious — the apple cider, yum! — the atmosphere was fun, and James made sure we were well taken care of.

I finally got the opportunity to stop by and see the new place downtown. It has now been opened for about 3 weeks and I’m kicking myself for not going there sooner! The place is downright cool. Just what downtown and this area needs. I love beer and I love a great place to drink beer even better. Minimal but strategic décor. Plenty of space to sit around with friends, or stand up and mingle through the crowd. A very, as the owner puts it, «speak easy» feel to it! I counted 18 craft beers on tap aside from the two side refrigerators hosting all my favorites. Even better, if you get hungry you can order and pick up from next door (XL Grindhouse).
If you need to catch me, now you know where you can find me… Good job guys!
Location: a hop and a skip away from your downtown movie theater (Maya Cinemas), The National Steinbeck Center, The Monterey Coast Brewing Company, First Awakening. Plenty of parking (XL Public House validates parking at the parking structure, so don’t forget to ask for your voucher).
Pros: read above
Cons: only if you don’t go and check it out.
Price: Average is about $ 5-​$ 6 per beer.