Proof Bar

Nightlife in downtown Santa Ana has been perking up in the past few years with the opening of restaurant bars like Memphis Cafe, Original Mike's and Pangea. Now there's Proof, the area's first martini lounge with cushy leather seats, opened by Joey Mendes and Pangea owners Justin Reuter and Brad Romoff. Customers can order food even though Proof has no kitchen, and waiters bring Pan-American cuisine from Pangea's kitchen two doors over. Live bands play acid jazz, experimental soul, Latin Jazz music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays. (Jit Fong Chin, SqueezeOC)