Notorious Hangout for Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, and a Peanut that was Smuggled into Space

Chez Jay is an eclectic dive bar with a nautical theme full of Christmas lights and has not changed much since it opened in 1959

The interior has an unique and cozy atmosphere, with red leather booths, wood-paneled walls, and a nautical theme and serves seafood and steak dishes, along with a wide selection of cocktails.

Chez Jay has also seen its fair share of scandals and celebrity drama.One story involves Frank Sinatra, who used to frequent the bar back in the 1970s once got into a fistfight with a fellow patron over a woman! Another celebrity scandal involves Dennis Hopper, who famously got drunk at Chez Jay and went on a rampage, throwing bottles and breaking glasses.

One of the most infamous stories involves a notorious mobster named Mickey Cohen. Back in the 1960s, Cohen was a regular at Chez Jay and even had his own table. One day, he got into a heated argument with a rival gang member, and the two ended up having a gunfight right in the restaurant! Luckily, nobody was hurt, but the incident made headlines all over the country.

The Beatles came to Chez Jay for a drink in the 1960’s after their concert in Los Angeles. They ended up sitting at the bar, chatting with the locals and signing a few autographs.

There is a no photograph policy in the bar that dates back to the days of Marilyn and JFK’s secret rendezvous here in the 60’s!

Chez Jay has also been a popular filming location for movies and TV shows. It was featured in the classic film "The Graduate" and has appeared in many other productions, including "Mad Men" and "The West Wing."

Chez Jay is known, among other things, for the complimentary peanuts it puts out on its bar. One of the Chez Jay peanuts actually went to the moon. The Astronaut  Alan Shepard smuggled a Jay Chez peanut above Apollo 14 and took it into space. He called it the first Astro-Nut. The peanut now resides in the owner's family safe.