Hey dance friends. today's post is about The Bungalow—tucked right off Long Beach’s PCH—is the newest dance spot curated by Nicole Gil, and honestly, she did not miss. With a 50/50 Salsa/Bachata split, plenty of swag, and a strong dancer turnout, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
The Bungalow sits deep in Long Beach, just before Huntington Beach. If you’re local to the area, this is amazing news. If you’re coming from literally anywhere else in California… this is the farthest Latin dance venue since Legacy in Newport.
We’re West-Siders who usually stay closer to home (or venture to the Valley), so making the trek past Long Beach is definitely a commitment. But—worth it.
Since it’s located inside 2ND & PCH, a big outdoor mall with a multi-level parking structure, parking is abundant. They validate 2.5 hours of free parking, a rare and beautiful blessing in SoCal.
During the initial 4-week trial period, entry was totally free—an easy yes.
Because The Bungalow already has a well-known restaurant/bar reputation and Nicole’s name is attached, you get a great mix of Long Beach locals, OC dancers, and even the occasional West-Sider or Valley traveler.
The age range is broad, the vibe is friendly, and people seemed genuinely excited about a new weekday option.
If you’ve never been to The Bungalow, picture this: a stylish chain restaurant/bar with a whimsical, multi-room layout and a huge patio—giving “rich house party” energy.
Because the music plays through the entire venue, the dance floor is literally wherever you want it to be. People were dancing in multiple rooms, hallways, corners—you name it.
The main dance floor is the outdoor patio, where the DJ is set up. The patio floor is a textured stone tile, but surprisingly easy to spin on for an outdoor surface.
Food and drinks are super accessible with multiple bars inside and outside. Bonus: the outdoor bar stays open late.
• Salsa: classic, fun, crowd-pleasing.
• Bachata: lots of urban and traditional; not our fave selection overall. Very few good sensual tracks in the rotation.
Overall, you truly cannot go wrong with a Nicole Gil event. As a weeknight bar social, this one is top tier.
It’s giving The Victorian of the South Bay, and we’re thrilled to have a new gem added to the weekly rotation.