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The Swallow's Inn is a dive bar of dive bars, small but full of character and characters! The decor ranges from redneck license plates and hanging bras to obscene T-shirts and neon beer logos! The bartenders, servers, and staff, are all great and very welcoming. But be sure to bring cash, as it is an all-cash-only bar. There is an ATM if need be. The Swallow's Inn is a world-famous dive bar with a small dance floor and live entertainment four nights a week. Great country dancing in San Juan Capistrano with friendly people, good food, and cheap drinks. Capacity crowds overflow once the live music begins. Everyone seems to be having a great time and maybe a little too much fun! If you can shoe-horn yourself in, it's something to see! Location The Swallow's Inn is located at 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano just about one block south of Mission San Juan Capistrano on Camino Capistrano and Ortega Hwy. Less than 1/2 mile west of the 5 Freeway after you exit at Ortega Hwy. It is near the Los Rios Historic District, very close to the train station. This very cute downtown area on Verdugo Street is full of great restaurants, wineries, and bakeries as well as the Regency Theater and of course, there is the Mission about one block away from Camino Capistrano. Some of the enticing other places include Trevor's at the Tracks, the Rancho Capistrano Winery, Bueno Bueno Mexican Kitchen, and Five Vines Wine Bar among many other interesting offerings. Swallow's Inn is across the street (Camino Capistrano) at Verdugo Street. Days Open/Hours/Admission Swallow's Inn is open 7 days a week. Sunday – Monday: 8 am – 10 pm, Tuesday – Wednesday: 8 am – 12 am, Thursday – Saturday: 8 am – 2 am Lessons - Monday Night Only As I mentioned in another blog post where I gave a summary of the Best 15 Country Bars for Dancing in Orange County, Swallow's Inn is a rare venue open for dancing on Monday nights. And oddly enough, for Swallow's Inn, it's the only time in their weekly schedule when they offer free dance lessons. Every Monday night there are free Two-Step lessons given from 6-7 pm. The lessons are offered by Debra and DJ Patrick. Afterward, the bar is open until 10:30 pm. But no line dance lessons, just Two-Step. Bands that Play at Swallow's Inn So many things to look at! Years of adding a little bit of everything to the walls and ceiling. https://youtu.be/vTj9F2EisFs Three Cord Justice playing at the Swallow's Inn. This comprehensive list of bands that have played at Swallow's Inn has been taken directly from their site. The long list is a testament to how long the bar has been entertaining. The Bands in Bold are some that play in other venues in the OC that I'm aware of. Please comment if you've seen some of these bands. The video included above features Three Chord Justice who have a great country sound. The video also has some great shots and pans of the bar. Check it out! To see the band schedule and the bar's daily events for any given month click here. American Made BandAnthony Rivera and Raining HorseshoesBig Fat Steve BandBoyz and the BeezBrant Cotton & The OutliersBrant VogelBrian Lynn JonesBuck McCoyCalifornia RangersChancey Williams & The Younger Brothers BandChris Daniels ProjectCity LimitsCopper Mountain BandThe CreepersDupp BrothersDalton GangDawson’s GangDoo-Wah RidersEli LockeFamily StyleFlock of 80’sThe FreightshakersThe FulltonesGrand JunctionGrant Langston and The Super ModelsHeartlessHelicopterHell Bound GloryHELP-Beatles Tribute BandHollywood HillbilliesHonky Tonk KingsJack Brand & The Big Circle RidersJann Browne JD CrawfordJeffrey Michaels BandJimi Nelson BandKevin Cameron and The Pale RidersLee RoyJD CrawfordLightning TrainMichael MandellaMichael Monroe GoodmanMissiles of OctoberNeil MorrowNitro ExpressPam Lyn KingPatty BookerPee Wee MoorePhil Vandermost & TelesoundRoad Kill KingsRob Staley BandRodeo RevivalPaul JustinRye BrothersShawn JonesShotgun WeddingSouthbound and CompanySouthbound JonnySwing ShiftThree Chord JusticeTijuana DogsTrevor McSpaddenOC VertigoWest Coast StrayzWhiskey RidgeWhiskey TangoWorking Cowboy Band A Week-At-A-Glance at the Swallow's Inn The Swallow's Inn is open 7 days a week and the typical weekly calendar events are as follows: Sunday:Live Entertainment (2-6 pm) Monday:Country Dancing & Free Two-Step Lessons with Debra & DJ Patrick. Lessons from 6-7 pm. Dancing till 10:30. All Day Happy Hour Steak Dinners only $14.00 (open 'til 11 pm)Tuesday:Taco Tuesday with Stevie. $2 Macho Tacos & $2 Bud/Bud Light, $2 Drink Specials. (open 'til 12 am)Wednesday:Karaoke with Bobby & Joel. Free Popcorn & Free Shuffleboard (6:30 pm - 12 am)Thursday:Live Entertainment (7-11 pm) Friday:Live Entertainment (9 pm - 1 am) Saturday:Live Entertainment (2-6 pm) Live Entertainment (9 pm - 1 am) My Night Out at the Swallow's Inn The night I came by I realized I got there too early. The Saturday afternoon band (the Dalton Gang) was done and loading up, but the night band wouldn’t start ’till 9 pm. I got a beer and just took in the decor for a while. Yes, there are bras hanging everywhere! There is also a back patio for further seating. I decided I'd just come back later when the Band, Chris Johnson, and the Hollywood Hillbillies, got there. By the time I got back, the night was going strong. The Hollywood Hillbillies have a very traditional crusty country feel to them, which seemed to fit the tight Swallow’s Inn venue well. In comparison with other country dance venues, Swallow’s Inn is unapologetically unique. The floor space is just too small to see an organized counterclockwise Two-step flow. With no dance being called out anyway, people dance however they like. There was Two-Stepping, West-Coast Swing, and at times modest attempts by some to do a Power Jam or other line dance. Chris Johnson & the Hollywood Hillbillies play for the packed bar late into a Saturday night. When I asked a lady to dance and tried to show her the Two Step, it worked to a point, but it was hard to traverse the floor without crashing. Better to stay put. It's a constant chaos of countrified freestyle dancing. When the Band played Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker I thought we’d all do the "Rock Me" line dance! But no, the chaos continued! Three ladies knew Rock Me, but the chaotic country partner dancing continued smashed all up against them. The band did call the 10-Step later, and to my surprise, there was a good amount of people 10-stepping on the tight dance floor. That was a fun moment and made it all worth my drive to check out the Swallow's. For a great peek into what it's like at Swallow's check out the video below (but ignore the title, there's no line dancing!) https://youtu.be/9tFrethGKis Typical partner dance crowd at Swallow's Inn. History of the Swallow's Inn Swallow’s Inn opened in the 1920s as “El Traguito” which is a Spanish play on words meaning little swallow and little drink! It became Swallow’s Inn in the 1950s when it changed owners. It moved locations in the 1960s to where it is today. It has changed ownership many times, and just less than two years ago the long-time owner Steve Nordect passed away at 76 years of age. He was a “larger-than-life” beloved man in the community and had run the bar since 1993. Cal Grimes now runs the Swallow's in his absence. In 1986 when Clint Eastwood was filming the war movie Heartbreak Ridge there was a need for a scene in a tavern with a rough crowd. The Swallow’s reputation for the lively crowd of cowboys, bikers, and local Marines from Camp Pendleton made it just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy the YouTube video of the scene below! https://youtu.be/55f9j6irUsU Heartbreak Ridge Clint Eastwood Scene Filmed at Swallow's Inn in 1986.