Johnny’s Bar & Grill

Hollister, United States

3.6

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 831-637-3683
Website:
www.johnnysbarandgrill.com
Address:
526 San Benito St, Hollister, CA, 95023
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Loud
Music
DJ, Live, Juke Box
Good For Dancing
Yes
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
Yes
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No

Today

Today 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Hollister) 04:39 Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 1:30 am
Friday 9:00 am – 1:30 am
Saturday 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Our burgers and steak sandwichs are so good I can’t talk my regular customers into trying anything else. We also have a great Philly Cheese Steak, French Dip, Club Sandwich and Patty Melt as well as our famous Fajita Chicken Salad. We offer daily specials that include home made soup. We serve great breakfasts from 9:00 — 11:00 Monday through Friday and 10:00 — 3:00 on Saturdays. Johnny’s is the «Cheers» of San Benito County. Our Karaōke on Thursday and Friday nights has won first place in the Pinnacle newspapers «Best Of «seven years running. On the Fourth of July weekend and all year long people come from all over the world to check out World Famous Johnny’s Bar & Grill. Come on down and enjoy a walk through history and an ice cold beer. Have your picture taken in front of our mural or next to the Wino Willie Monument. If you are looking for a good time with great people or just some darn good food Johnny’s is your destination.

History

Established in 1946.

Johnny Matalich bought The New Deal in 1946 and changed the name to Johnny’s Bar & Grill. Farmers and business men packed the place for the greasy cheese burgers and steaks at lunch time and afternoons were quite lively. The hard working farmers and cowboys loved the comradery they found at Johnny’s and sixty five years and roughly ten owners later it still exists. In 1947 Wino Willie and his Boozefighter’s came to Hollister for the Fourth of July Gypsy Tour Races. They cut loose in town after the races and one the guys drove through Johnny’s on his motorcycle. They were a little rowdy but the mayhem that was depicted in the July 1947 issue of Life Magazine exaggerated the event. The article inspired the 1953 movie The Wild Ones with Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin. The Boozefighters have made it a point to come back to Johnny’s for the fourth of July weekend ever since. I bought the bar in December of 1995. I’ve met a lot of great people and it’s been a wild ride.

Meet the Business Owner

Charisse T.

Business Owner

I’ ve been married to my husband Tom for 16 years and we’ve been together for 20. I’ve been in the bar business since my first cocktailing job when I was seventeen. Since I’m turning 50 this year that’s a really long time. We bought Johnny’s in 1995. I’ve been told by many customers including my old timers and Boozefighters that I brought Johnny’s back to what it used to be. I’ve owned it longer than the four previous owners put together. I love people and couldn’t be in a more lively place to meet all kinds of them from all walks of life. Our timing was great in buying the bar. We got to experience the 1996 pre rally our first year in business. The 1997 rally almost killed me. We had no idea what to expect. Every time I think I’ve got it dialed the Hollister City Council messes everything up. We look forward to a great Fourth of July weekend rally or no rally. The party will always go on at Johnny’s. With God’s grace and protection we will continue to thrive.

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20 reviews of Johnny’s Bar & Grill

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Hollister, CA
So I have become a regular here. I find myself here every Friday night. Something about that tall handsome bartender that keeps me coming back. Usually I order a beer and a shot of crown. Yes no sissy drinks for this gal. But I have to say Johnny’s serves up one incredible Blue Dolphin. Cold and refreshing. I normally don’t use a straw but this drink will getcha.
Place rating: 1
San Jose, CA
The food is absolutely delicious, the environment is good. The problem is the employees who harass you and talk bad about you to everyone and start gossiping because they don’t want you there. The attitude in this place sucks and when anything serious happens, the heads turn the other way.
Place rating: 1
Santa Clara, CA
This bar is one of the best bets in town. Or could be if all the bar tenders had the same smile or happy go lucky face and treated all patterns with respect but there is a grumpy pissed off unhappy mad at the who ever walks in the bar bartender in the bunch. This was the second time I have experienced the same attitude with Lindsey on two different occasions. I walked in she looked me in the eyes said hiand turned away to help other patrons. After helping other patrons she pretended like I was not there to do but if you don’t tell the owners son named Alan said something. She walked over very annoyed in with an attitude and said what do you want. I told her what I wanted for the snotty attitude she turned away and got some other patrons that had just walked in what he wanted. She then turned around and pulled out what I wanted and slammed it on the bar like I was A inconvenience to her. Luckily I had a great time with the owner son Alan and his Friends that I stayed and talked with them for a while. The regulars in the bar are always very Nice people and I have never had a bad experience with any bartender other than Lindsay in this establishment. I would like to give this establishment five stars but based on her Lindsey’s piss poor attitude today I can’t. The girl that used to close on Sunday nights was awesome I had always a great time when I went in there on Sunday afternoons with the old bartender she was fun smiling and always very attentive to all patrons and what they needed. I’m not sure what her name was but I wish she was in there this last time I was there
To Lindsay
When you’re behind the bar your job is to serve people and make their experience at Johnny’s a good one not be a rude opinionated out of line unhappy miserable unwilling to serve bartender. You are in the business of customer service if you don’t like it choose a different line of work if you can’t smile and serve your patrons and get a new job
Place rating: 1
Monterey, CA
We went to Johnny’s where we were going to meet up with 8 friends last night for a few rounds before a show. We were a bit early so went on in to find 6 people in the whole joint. cool we thought but after sitting at the bar for 10 minutes while the Blond gal running the bar stood at the other end drinking her drink and shooting the breeze with a couple of girl friends and never said boo to us, we left. We caught our party outside and went down the street to another place and got served.
Place rating: 5
Campbell, CA
Paolo from Los Gatos has entirely too much time on his hands. Reviewing the carpets dude, really? Find a partner, live and love… and learn to enjoy life… even when high price tags aren’t attached. This Place rocks! Staff, Patio, Bar. Boom!
Place rating: 3
Hollister, CA
I went to school in New Orleans, and this is by far the closest thing to getting that dive bar experience in Hollister. I had a chicken sandwich for lunch… greasy deliciousness.
Place rating: 5
Gilroy, CA
Fun place, friendly, relaxed atmosphere, great prices, and food. Great parking around back and excellent meet up.
Place rating: 2
Morgan Hill, CA
Johnny’s has always had great bartenders, and friendly patrons. Their food used to be some of our favorite pub grub. Not any more! The food has been steadily going down hill over the past couple years and has reached its all-​time low. Charise, the owner, is more into herself these days than into her establishment and customers. She has a truly bad young cook who is bored with his job and does not really understand basic burger preparation. In addition, Charise has recently changed her menu, and the prices are out of line for what you get. Where did the yummy fries go? What happened to the once FANTASTIC Patty Melt? Too bad, because it used to be a destination for us, but now is not going to be a consideration when we want food with our beers.
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
great bacon cheeseburgers and great ham and eggs. i do not drink so i cannot comment on their drinks. will go again when i am in hollister!
Place rating: 5
Pebble Beach, CA
The Famous Johnny’s Bar… Classic dive and beer patio. a Must stop in Hollister. Great steak sandwich as well.
Place rating: 3
San Jose, CA
Everything was cool and fun at Johnny’s until ALEX showed up! He was unbelievably rude to us, flexing his lack of authority where it wasn’t needed! The rest of the staff was awesome! ! He needs personality and customer service training!!! Otherwise would have been a 5 star rating! !
Place rating: 5
Capitola, CA
Stopped by here with the bf prior to jumping out of a plane at Skydive Hollister for his birthday. Gina the bartender was so welcoming and was so much fun to talk to! We had so much fun here we didn’t want to leave. I thought this place looked sketchy at first, but we walked in and felt welcomed! We wanted to go back after skydiving but we had other plans for the rest of the day. We will definitely stop by again next time we are in the area.
Place rating: 1
Pebble Beach, CA
Over priced drinks in a divey white trash bar.
Food is like an MRE… bland and luke warm.
Use the high star ratings to identify any white trash that you may know. This is not a bar for business lunches, the women’s club, PTA or other well heeled group.
Place rating: 5
Hollister, CA
Absolutely, a must stop every time I have been in Hollister for many years and now a destination when just out for a ride to grab a bite; meet up with friends or just relax on the patio. The food is always awesome and the service friendly! Not for locals only, most patrons are very welcoming and quick with a smile. I highly recommend Johnny’s!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Ok… Under 21? Fuggettaboutit … They check!
Awesome place, good home-​grown Hollister biker people. NICE!!!
Great drinks, cozy place! Bring it!
Place rating: 4
Campbell, CA
My boyfriend and I stopped in here prior to his jumping out of a plane for the first time at Skydive Hollister. A shot was in order. It was late morning/​noonish so not very busy. The bartender. I believe her name was Gina? greeted us promptly and was very personable. She wished my boyfriend well as wel left and we said, ‘maybe we’ll come back afterwards to celebrate”. We did end up coming back after and the bar seating was almost full. The locals/​regulars moved over some stools in order to accomodate us sitting together. Gina seemed happy that we returned. and I advised her that it was due to her being so nice… that we did come back.
We did not eat… but the food smelled good. For a local bar, it was very nice to stroll in somewhere and not be made to feel like we were intruding. Everyone was very nice.
We will be back next time we are in the area!
Place rating: 3
San Jose, CA
Very good bar downtown. The service depends on the Bartender. I love going here on Thursday night for Karaōke.
There is not very much to do in Hollister on any night but this place is pretty good.
Place rating: 5
Hollister, CA
Been going to Friday night karaōke for few years now. It’s always fun. Kat, the bartender is nice, and is always ready with my soda. It’s always fun to see who shows up. Love going to karaōke for Halloween especially. Karaōke is also on Thursday, but since I work on Friday mornings, Friday is my only option. I show up as often as I choose and it always proves to be fun, no matter how often I go. Overall, It’s always fun on karaōke night.
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
Spent Halloween here. It was karaōke night and our group pretty much took over the place. The karaōke MC/​DJ had the most amazing voice, he apparently is there every Thursday.
The drinks were cheap, the bartenders nice, it was a really fun night! We even won 3rd place in the Karaōke Costume contest! $ 15 for drinks — which bought us 3. Ha! The crowd here tends to be older, maybe 40s or 50s, I think it’s originally a biker bar — there was definitely a wide and varied mix of people that night. But we all got along, sang to each others’ songs, danced with each other, drank together. It was awesome. Shout outs to Stella and her friend, the Senior Center dance instructor, the guy who has a wife and kids at home, and the cougar who danced with Joe!
Place rating: 4
Mountain View, CA
I’ve only been for Karaōke, so I can’t speak to the rest.
My friends and I are a bunch of 20-​something ruffians who will inevitably do the Violent Femmes at least once over the course of the evening.
However, we get along just great with the girls who like to belt country songs and the old timers who do Johnny Cash.
Actually, we all like Johnny Cash.
Hollister is a cowtown, no bones about it. But our cowtown roots are so much more interesting than the bland suburban strip mall we’re in danger of becoming (See: Gilroy).
I love that generations and musical genres mix here. It’s a nice atmosphere. I think at first glance it might even seem cliquey because there are so many regulars. But if you come regularly, you’ll be a regular too.