There has been a rebirth of The Whaling Bar, La Valencia Hotel’s iconic cocktail lounge in La Jolla Village.

The latest iteration of The Whaling Bar, closed for a decade, reopened for dinner service on Feb. 15 at 1132 Prospect St. Originally opened in 1949, the nautical-themed cocktail lounge regularly played host to star-studded parties. Notable regulars included Theodor Geisel of Dr. Seuss fame, novelist Raymond Chandler, and Gregory Peck, Hollywood luminary and founder of the La Jolla Playhouse’s famed summer theatre.

The new Whaling Bar offers a food menu created by SDCM Restaurant’s corporate chef Brian Redzikowski. Expect modernized versions of The Whaling Bar’s once-popular dishes, including a version of liver and onions and a “Twinkie-style” steak tartare. There will also be new dishes like a prime grilled New York strip loin.

From the bar, expect the return of longtime favorite “The Whaler’s Grog” cocktail, as well as a variety of old-school martinis.

Commemorating the return of The Whaling Bar, La Jolla Village News held a Q&A with Troy Longwith, general manager at La Valencia Hotel, to give guests of the storied establishment an idea of what to expect from the new and improved cocktail lounge.

LJVN: What role does the revamped Whaling Bar play in the whole scheme of operations at LaV?

LaV: The return of The Whaling Bar, in a sense, makes La Valencia whole again. It was a legendary venue that was extremely missed by locals and visitors alike. Although the new iteration is not an exact replica of the former Whaling Bar in terms of menu and decor, we worked to capture its essence and spirit, and are hopeful it quickly again becomes the quintessential spot for La Jollans and visitors to socialize, do business, and make new friends.

LJVN: What are the updates folks can expect to see in the new and improved Whaling Bar?

LaV: The 1,500-square-foot space has been redesigned in terms of layout, with an open kitchen, a U-shaped bar in the center of the room, which provides more bar seating, and an updated design that seamlessly blends old-world charm with contemporary sophistication. Those who remember the previous Whaling Bar will be greeted by comfortable, intimate booths and the famous ‘Whales Last Stand’ mural by artist Wing Howard adorning a dark green wood panel wall that will set an intimate and familiar feel.

LJVN: Tell us about The Whaling Bar’s new food and cocktail menus. 

LaV: The menu was designed by SDCM  executive chef Brian Redzikowski, who has created a menu that will pay homage to the original Whaling Bar with his take on the likes of liver and onions, and on the cocktail side, the famous ‘The Whaler’ cocktail makes a return,  complete with cognac, coffee liqueur, and homemade ice cream. The menu is rounded out with some of Redzikowski’s favorites from other venues such as the award-winning duck meatball.

LJVN: Tell us about the re-imagining of The Whaling Bar, and how it was done and carried out.

LaV: In 2021, LaV’s ownership group Pacifica Host Hotels conducted an opinion survey around its food and beverage offerings, and it was clear from the 600-plus surveys returned by locals, that the Whaling Bar was missed greatly, so an exploration of its return began. Ultimately ownership moved forward with a partnership with SDCM group to operate the venue, maximizing their expertise in the market for high-end, sophisticated food and beverage service. Ownership also partnered with Schoos Design out of LA which is renowned for designing stunning restaurants and was up to the challenge of designing something so important to the community.

LJVN: Is it a brand new concept, or polishing the previous concept?

LaV: It’s new in the fact that the previous space layout was a half bar, half Cafe La Rue restaurant, and now all space is dedicated to operating solely as the Whaling Bar. It would be impossible to recreate the Whaling Bar exactly as it was, which had matured from 1949 to 2013 to the venue people fondly remember. Our hope is that people not only come to experience the new Whaling Bar, but get absorbed into the iconic charm and energy of La Valencia Hotel, and enjoy its other dynamic food and beverage options, which includes ocean-view dining in the Mediterranean Room, La Sala Lounge, which we will also be renovating this year, and Ocean View Terrace. It really is an amazing and unique destination for all tastes and likes.

The Whaling Bar

Where: 1132 Prospect St.

Info: lavalencia.com/dining/the-whaling-bar.