From the Author: I live in Southern California and have been country dancing for over 7 years. I love line dancing and enjoy dancing every weekend. I have visited many of the best places to find country dancing and live music in So. Cal., Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Please comment below with any questions. I usually respond quickly.
New to country dancing and wondering where to start? Orange County has many great spots that are perfect for beginners looking to learn line dancing or just have some fun on the dance floor. From THE RANCH Saloon in Anaheim, the premier country bar in SoCal, to the lively Swallow’s Inn in San Juan Capistrano, to small, low-key places like Lone Wolf Brewing in Yorba Linda, there are many places to find people dancing and to join in. Below are 19 of the best country bars for line dancing in Orange County–all wrangled up for you to choose from! No experience needed—just bring your boots and a good attitude!
ORANGE COUNTY Country Dance Venues in 2025 (19)
- THE RANCH in Anaheim
- Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano
- The Station in San Juan Capistrano
- InCahoots in Fullerton
- High Horse Saloon in Fullerton
- Lone Wolf Brewing Co. in Yorba Linda
- Buena Park Elks Lodge in Buena Park
- Hangar 24 in Irvine
- Sammy’s Original in Lake Forest
- Big Shots in Lake Forest
- Whoop Axe Throwing in Lake Forest
- Whoop Axe Throwing in Mission Viejo
- Sea Salt Beachside Burger in Bolsa Chica
- Bruno’s Bar & Grille in Huntington Beach
- Sand Bar Cocina & Tequila in Huntington Beach
- Westwood Coast in Costa Mesa
- Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente
- The Ranch Sports Grill in Ladera Ranch
- StillWater Spirits & Sounds in Dana Point
1. THE RANCH Saloon in Anaheim
THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon in Anaheim is the premier venue for country music and dancing in Orange County. Located on the first floor of the Extron building on Ball Road in Anaheim, you can’t miss it! As you walk up, you’ll go to the right for the Saloon!
This great country bar has been hopping for 10+ years now and happens to be my favorite “home bar” for dancing and hanging out with good friends. If you are new to the whole country dancing thing, this a great place to come, observe, and begin to dip your feet in, especially on Friday & Saturday nights with the free early evening lessons! Read on for the important details…
THE RANCH Saloon
1025 East Ball Road Suite 101B,
Anaheim, CA 92805
Website: www.theranch.com/saloon
Facebook: TheRanchSaloonAnaheim
THE RANCH is generally open 3 nights a week (Thurs.-Sat.). Thursday night is “Line Dance Thursday,” a night where the serious line dancers come out to mainly dance line dances, sometimes a little on the advanced side.
On Fridays and Saturdays, there is a live band, always beginning at 8:00. Come early to find a great bar stool seat at the rail, and jump in on the lessons at 6:30 & 7:15 (typically a partner & line dance). This is the best night for new dancers!
They have also begun to feature a Sunday family night occasionally, which they used to have every week. If you are interested in the Sunday night event, check the website schedule or their Facebook page to see when that is happening. For what the lessons will be for any given night or what band will be playing, click here for their calendar.
Also, for a deeper dive into more information about THE RANCH, check out my article here!
THE RANCH Country Night Dancing Details
| Days | Hours of Operation | Lessons | Instructors | DJ | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 5:30-1 pm | 6:30 & 7:30 pm | Kerry Kick | Lauren | 21+ |
| Friday | 5:30-1 pm | 6:30 & 7:15 | Dev Edwards | Lauren | 21+ |
| Saturday | 5:30-1 pm | 6:30 & 7:15 | Shelly Graham | Lauren | 21+ |
| Sunday (occasional only) | 3-9 pm | 3:45, 5:30, & 7 pm | Kimberly Gautney | Lauren | 10+ |
2. Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano
Swallow’s Inn in San Juan Capistrano is a very well-known dive bar with great eclectic decor, open 7 days a week. There is live music 4 days/nights (Thursday-Sunday), including their “Sunday Funday.”
While there’s no cover charge, the bar is cash only. Please note that Swallow’s Inn is your go-to country hangout if you need a place to go on Monday nights! While there’s country dancing here 7 nights a week, they specifically advertise their “Country Mondays” with their basic Two-Step lessons from 6-7 pm and then dancing ’til 10 pm.
Also, for line dancers, DJ Marie Kelly has beginner line dance lessons on their Taco Tuesdays!
Note: Swallow’s Inn is one of two places for country dancing in San Juan Capistrano. The Station (formerly Paddy’s Station) is a short walk away down Verdugo Street! Click here to see the info below!
Swallow’s Inn
31786 Camino Capistrano,
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Swallow’s Inn Hours of Operation & Cover Charge
| Days | Hours | Cover Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Monday-Wednesday | 8 am-Midnight | None |
| Thursday | 8 am-1 am | None |
| Friday-Saturday | 8 am-1:30 am | None |
| Sunday (Sunday Funday) | 8 am-10 pm* | None |
Swallow’s Inn Country Dance Details
| Days | Music | Dance Lessons | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday (Sunday Funday) | Live Band | – | – |
| Monday | DJ | Two Step Lessons | Debra |
| Tuesday (Taco Tuesday) | DJ | Line Dance Lessons | DJ Marie Kelly |
| Wednesday (Karaoke Night) | DJ | – | – |
| Thursday-Saturday | Live Band | – | – |
To learn some other interesting things about Swallow’s Inn and hear what I discovered about it in person, click here to read my more in-depth review.
3. The Station in San Juan Capistrano
The Station, formerly known as Paddy’s Station in San Juan Capistrano, is one of two places in the area for country dancing, the other being Swallow’s Inn. These are very close together–a 3 min. walk according to Google–just walk down Verdugo Street and then to the right at the Trevors on the Tracks sign and go down a little farther.
The Station is another haunt of DJ Marie Kelly–Champaign Cowgirl. There’s a great little group of eager dancers here on Wednesday nights, and also Sundays, some dancing as well with live country music on tap. Check out their website or Facebook for the latest event news.
The Station
26701 Verdugo Street Suite B
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Website: www.paddysstation.com
Facebook: paddysstationirishpub
The Station Country Dance Night Details
| Night | Hours | Dance Lessons | Instructor | DJ | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 7-11 pm | 7:00 pm | Marie Kelly | Marie Kelly | $10 |
| Sunday* | 6-8 pm | – | – | – | $10 |
4. InCahoots in Fullerton
As a resident of Fullerton, I’ve known about InCahoots for many years. InCahoots is one of 2 places for country dancing in Fullerton (also see High Horse Saloon).
InCahoots, one of the two spots in Fullerton, is far and away the hot spot for line dancing and country dancing! InCahoots has a big dance floor and a great line dance community. It is a great place for young people since it is 18+, and that big dance floor is actually the largest in Orange County!
This bar is at the east end of the Orangefair Mall in Fullerton near the intersection of Orangethorpe and Lemon.
InCahoots
1401 S Lemon St,
Fullerton, CA 92832
Website: www.ocincahoots.com
Facebook: OCIncahoots
InCahoots Country Dance Night Details
| Night | Hours | Dance Lesson | Instructor | DJ | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedneday | 7:30 pm-2 am | 8 pm | Kendall | Kevin | 18+ |
In Cahoots Cover Charge: $15 (18+), $7 (21+)
5. High Horse Saloon in Fullerton
As a resident of Fullerton, I noticed when this place opened up a few years ago. I wondered if, besides being a western-themed bar, there might end up being some dancing. Well, turns out there would be!
Thursday nights see some line dancing here from 8-10 pm. Alex Logan Jung & Maggie Johnson, two great instructors, rotate to bring you the lessons between 8 & 10 pm. DJ Jimmy G spins a great Country & Hip Hop Mashup from 10 pm to close.
High Horse
102 N. Harbor Blvd,
Fullerton, CA
Website: www.highhorseoc.com/calendar
Facebook: highhorseOC
High Horse Line Dancing Night Details
| Night | DJ | Instuctors | Time | Age |
| Thursday | Jimmy G | Alex Logan Jung Maggie Johnson | 8-10 pm | All ages ’till 10 pm 21+ 10 pm-close |
6. Lone Wolf Brewing Co. in Yorba Linda
As this new explosion of country dancing and line dancing continues, the addition of local small breweries is one of the places where dancing has arrived! The Lone Wolf Brewing Co. in Yorba Linda is just one of 4 breweries on the list! The other 3 are: Tarantula Hill Brewing Co., Pedals & Pints Brewery, and Hangar 24 Craft Brewing.
There’s a lot of energy and just a great new small community of dancers coming out on Tuesday nights to Lone Wolf. Be sure to check out their Country Night every Tuesday from 6:30-10 pm! But check their Facebook page to confirm it’s happening.
Catch the lessons from 7-8 from Miranda Mitchell, Katie Robinson, and Trinity Fike.
Lone Wolf Brewing Co.
18210 Yorba Linda Blvd #404,
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Website: www.lonewolfbrewingco.com
Facebook: LWBrewingCo
Lone Wolf Brewing Co. Country Dance Night Details
| Night | Hours | Dance Lessons | Instructor | DJ | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:30-10 pm | 7-8 pm | Various | Justice Donini | 18+ |
7. Buena Park Elks Lodge in Buena Park
Another great place for dancing on Tuesday nights is the Buena Park Elks Lodge. This dance crew is led by DJ Goodtime Gordie. This great DJ is a legendary fixture over at Cowboy Country on the weekends, but has been keeping things going at the Elks Lodge on Tuesday nights for years now.
Enjoy Taco Tuesdays and join this fun dance crew to dance all your favorites.
Buena Park Elks Lodge
7212 Melrose St,
Buena Park, CA 90621
Website: www.elks.org/lodge2046.com
Facebook: Gordie’sPosts-FB
Buena Park Elks Lodge Line Dancing Night Details
| Night | DJ | Time | Cover Charge | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Goodtime Gordie | 5-10 pm | 7.00 Cash | 21+ |
8. Hangar 24 Craft Brewing in Irvine
Another great place for dancing on Tuesday nights is Hangar 24 Craft Brewing in Irvine. Every 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, from 5-9 pm Dev Edwards with DJ Dave on hand will teach a couple of line dance lessons and the evening may even extend a little when there’s an eager crowd that can’t get enough line dancing!
Hangar 24 Craft Brewing
17877 Von Karman Ave, Unit 110
Irvine, CA 92614
Website: www.hangar24brewing.com
The line dancing takes place under a covered outdoor space across a courtyard from the actual brewery, so just walk past Hangar 24 as you walk in from the parking and then a little to the right to meet up with the dancers.
This line dance night is enjoyed most in the warmer spring & summer months when the days are longer, but dancers have been known to keep dancing here into the night even when its raining!
9. Sammy’s Original in Lake Forest
Sammy’s Original is a restaurant and bar that hosts line dancing with a DJ every Thursday night from 7-10 pm. For the dancing, they just clear out some tables next to the bar and have enough room to dance!
Carrie Wojo, an Orange County mainstay among its best line dance instructors, will teach a couple of line dances through the course of the evening, and they’ll even fit in a couple of partner dances as well!
Carrie has always been a great teacher with her boundless energy and fun attitude, and has been leading a great little dance community at Sammy’s for many years now. If you want to follow what she is doing (she’s everywhere!), and get to some of her classes, go here!
Sammy’s Original
23221 Lake Center Dr,
Lake Forest, CA 92630
10. Big Shots Billiards Bar & Grill in Lake Forest
Big Shots in Lake Forest has been growing in popularity as a great spot for line dancing for some years now. There are now 4 nights that are featured in this small but fun Orange County bar.
Check it out and get in on free lessons and when you need a break from dancing there are great drinks, food, and of course the pool tables! Saturday features a live country band to go along with the dancing and entry is for 18+!
Big Shots Billiards Bar & Grill
23512 El Toro Road, Lake Forest,
California 92630
Big Shots Billiards Bar & Grill Dance Night Details
| Night | DJ | Lessons | Time | Cover | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday | Country Nights with MovinBoots | Kendall | 8 pm-1 am | 5.00 | 18+ |
| Saturday (live music) | Champaign Cowgirl Marie Kelly | Marie Kelly | 8:30 pm-12:30 am | 5.00 | 18+ |
11. Whoop Axe Throwing in Lake Forest (El Toro)
As line dancing grows in popularity, more people are looking for fun new places to dance. Smaller venues, like breweries with extra space, are joining in, which is exactly what Whoop Axe Throwing did! They now host dance nights and, at times, lessons as well!
Whoop Axe Throwing actually has two locations! The locations are Lake Forest, which they refer to as their El Toro location & Mission Viejo, which they call Kaleidoscope.
Their dance nights at times feature lessons as well–just check out their Facebook page to see if it is planned. I took a Country Swing lesson from Adia Dance there once and had a fun time. Axe throwing isn’t my thing, but if you’re into it, you can do both. It’s a great spot for a fun night out!
Whoop Axe Throwing El Toro
24400 Swartz Dr,
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Website: www.whoopaxe.com
Facebook: whoopaxe
Whoop Axe Throwing El Toro (Lake Forest) Dance Night Details
| Nights | Time | Lessons | Cover | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday | 8 pm-12 am | Varies (check Facebook) | 15.00* | 14+ |
12. Whoop Axe Throwing in Mission Viejo (Kaleidoscope)
Whoop Axe Throwing Kaleidoscope is their 2nd location, so if the Lake Forest spot doesn’t work for you, check out their Mission Viejo location at the Kaleidoscope Mall.
Whoop Axe Throwing, Kaleidoscope Mall
27741 Crown Valley Parkway,
Mission Viejo CA 92691
Website: www.whoopaxe.com
Facebook: whoopaxe
Whoop Axe Throwing Kaleidoscope (Mission Viejo) Dance Night Details
| Nights | Time | Lessons | Cover | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday & Friday | 8 pm-12 am | Varies (check Facebook) | 15.00* | 18+ |
13. Sea Salt Beachside Burger in Huntington Beach
During the warmer months, usually starting around Memorial Day weekend and going through the summer, there is line dancing, including free lessons, at Seasalt Beachside Burgers at Bolsa Chica Beach right along the boardwalk!
Thanks to Cindi Massengale, another great, well-known line dance instructor in the L.A. & Orange County area, there’s always a great Sunday opportunity at the Beach under the sun for some country dancing!
12-6 p.m. Country Summer Sundays
12:00-1:30 pm Line Dance Lessons and Dancing with Cindi
1:30 pm DJ OPEN DANCING with DJ Cindi Massengale
2:30-5:30 pm LIVE MUSIC
There is no cover charge, all ages are welcome, and it is even pet-friendly!
Seasalt Beachside Burgers
18751 Pacific Coast Hwy Unit #3,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Besides summer Country Summer Sundays at Bolsa Chica Beach, if you want to follow what else Cindi is up to, and get to some of her classes, go here!
14. Bruno’s Bar & Grille in Huntington Beach
Bruno’s Bar & Grille is right on Main Street in Huntington Beach and is one of a couple of new opportunities to go dancing at the beach! Meet up with your friends here in Huntington Beach on Tuesday night to dance!
Another opportunity is just a short walk toward the beach at the Sandbar Cocina & Tequila (see below) restaurant on Wednesday nights! Two nights in a row on Main Street, you can now go line dancing!
Bruno’s Bar & Grille
301 Main St #101,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Bruno’s Bar & Grille Line Dancing Night Details
| Night | Lessons | Time | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Colleen or Cindi Massengale | 7 pm | 21+ |
15. Sand Bar Cocina & Tequila in Huntington Beach
The Sandbar Cocina & Tequila restaurant in Huntington Beach is just a short walk from the other new Huntington Beach place to go dancing mentioned above (Bruno’s). So now there are two opportunities on back-to-back nights, just steps away!
Meet up with your friends to line dance on Tuesday, Wednesday, or both!
Sand Bar Cocina & Tequila
221 Main St,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Website: www.sandbar.net
Facebook: SandbarHB
Sand Bar Cocina & Tequila Country Dance Night Details
| Night | Hours | Dance Lesson Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 9 pm-12 am | Gabrielle Tenney |
16. Westwood Coast in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square is a noticeable landmark near the beach where Harbor Blvd. ends at Newport Blvd. (55 Fwy.) and is a fun spot for dining and entertainment in South Orange County. But it recently got way better with the addition of Westwood Coast!
This new steakhouse is a “country music ultra lounge,” and is billed as the place “Where Country Music Meets Orange County,” and a “Modern Take on Classic Country Entertainment!”
For sure, go and check out this beautiful country haven for the live music, but of course also the dancing! They provide free lessons throughout the week for beginners. The floor is a little on the small side, but there’s a great vibe to this new spot!
Complimentary instruction is provided throughout the week, Things kick off on Tuesdays with a family night (but check out their guidelines), and beginning at about 9 pm every Thursday for 21+. Follow their Instagram @westwoodcoastoc for the latest updates and events!
Westwood Coast
1870 Harbor Blvd Suite L1-108,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Website: www.westwoodworld.com
Instagram: westwoodcoastoc
Recently, I checked out Westwood Coast on a Saturday night with some friends. It was a great night with a packed house waiting for the Chris Lazano Band to start at 10 pm. There was a young crowd on hand and a lot of freestyle dancing, but Chris played a good set of line dance favorites like American Kids, Country Girl Shake, etc., that got us on the dance floor fast!
| Night | Hours | Line Dance Lessons | Cover | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesdays | 6:30-9:30 pm | Family Night | $15.00 | 10+ |
| Thursdays | 9 pm-12 am | Free lessons at 9 pm | 21+ | |
| Fridays & Saturdays | 10 pm | Live Entertainment | None | 21+ |
17. Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente
Another great place near the beach for some mid-week dancing is Goody’s Tavern in San Clemente. Every Wednesday night, the iconic Goody’s becomes a hot spot for local line dancers. Drink specials are featured, and a DJ is on hand to keep everyone dancing.
Goody’s Tavern
206 S El Camino Real,
San Clemente, CA 92672
Website: www.goodystavern.net
Goody’s Tavern Country Line Dancing Night Details
| Night | Time | Lessons | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 7:30 pm | Christi | 21+ |
18. The Ranch Sports Grill in Ladera Ranch
The Ranch Sports Grill in Ladera Ranch is a new place to line dance on Thursday Nights!
DJ & line dance instructor Marie Kelly–Champaign Cowgirl–has recently started coming here and gives a free lesson at 7 pm.
The Ranch Sports Grill
27412 Antonio Pkwy R1,
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
Website: www.theranchsportsgrill.org
Facebook: theranchsportsgrill
The Ranch Sports Grill Country Dance Night Details
| Night | Hours | Dance Lessons | Instructor | DJ | Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 7-11 pm | 7:00 pm | Marie Kelly | Marie Kelly | None |
19. StillWater Spirits & Sounds in Dana Point
StillWater Spirits & Sounds in Dana Point is a great fun spot for hanging out with friends, a date night, and some dancing.
The bar offers inviting outdoor dining areas, complete with beautiful gas-lit fire tables that set the perfect mood. It’s a great place to catch up with friends or take a date for a fun night out. After dinner, head inside for live music and dancing! You’ll hear a variety of musical styles throughout the week, but Wednesday nights are reserved for Country!
The dance floor is small, but big enough for some country Two Step!
StillWater Spirits & Sounds
24701 Del Prado,
Dana Point, CA
Website: www.danapointstillwater.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/danapointstillwater
