Strange Beast

Strange Beast is a contemporary cocktail izakaya situated in the historic Bank of Italy building in Downtown Ventura. The cocktail menu by the creative geniuses of Good Lion Hospitality celebrates Japanese flavors and is best paired with the Japanese tapas prepared by the Michelin Bib Gourmand chefs of Sama Sama Restaurant Group. The space was inspired by the dive bars of Tokyo with an American rock-n-roll edge. It's a little bit street with a nod to fine craft in both design and cuisine. Dark, moody materials with interesting texture are a salute to Japanese craftmanship and set the stage for perfectly paired cocktails and bites. Intriguing textiles, pops of color, and brass are layered in for a bit of glam, while Kaiju inspired Godzilla and King Kong characters create graphic pop art and wall decor that speaks to the Strange Beast inside each and every one of us.