As we continue celebrating Long Beach Last Call 2026—a 10-day, multi-event celebration of our city’s rich bar culture and the people who make it happen—we will offer a series of features that highlight events like this feature on the finest cocktail program in Naples, that of Marlena… All in order to lift a glass to a social and economic driver that rarely receives the love its deserves: our bar industry. For more information on Long Beach Last Call, tap here.
Marlena bar manager David Saenz has a task that no leader of the cocktail program has had before at the space: Majorly updating it. Former lead David Castillo opted for an almost academic angle where history was the centered focus: With drinks like the Pegu Club or Frank’s Special—deep cuts that are now becoming more and more common amongst casual drinkers—Castillo wanted to unearth the base.
For Saenz, there is reason to step away from that: Marlena, with Spanish and Italian influences, leads with Californian sensibility. And being in the center of one of the most ingredient-rich places on the planet, Saenz wants to dive into it.
And that is precisely reflected in Saenz’s succinct but stellar cocktail menu for Long Beach Last Call.
With Marlena’s menu for Long Beach Last Call 2026 and upcoming updates, freshness and minimalism take center.
“There are two different approaches to restaurant cocktail menus,” Saenz said. “You can take the road where you’re constantly looking at what pairs with the chef’s food—something we’ve done a lot here at Marlena. And then there’s just creating a cocktail program that is its own ecosystem. For me, there’s a way to meld the two.”
Marlena’s cocktail program has always been succinct—but it’s rarely had major updates a la Baby Gee, which does full takedowns-and-updates of their menus seasonally. I don’t mean to offer a direct comparison—major menu updates at restaurants are different than those at bars, where cocktails are the only focus—but Saenz is realizing there needs to be some refreshment.
His two cocktails for Long Beach Last Call take the latter part of his approach: They are approachable, well-made, fit-for-this-March-heatwave drinks that epitomize California drinking. First—and a personal fave—a Paloma on steroids via Sanez’s “Gran Palo,” a wondrously citrus-forward porch pound. And secondly, the equally refreshing, cucumber-mint-y “Made in Spain” that I am pretty convinced customers will be asking for extending into the summer months…
In the coming months, expect cocktails like these as well as cocktails that pair with the food to be sprinkled onto the menu. Not a deluge of newness but, rather, a concentrated effort at creating what will hopefully be Marlena cocktail staples like their much-loved Limonana.
The cocktails being featured for Long Beach Last Call 2026 at Marlena
Ever the historian, Dave’s two cocktail offerings are polar opposites in terms of taste: You have the aforementioned Mexican Firing Squad and then the El Viejo, a somewhat spicy, tequila-laden take on an old fashioned that is beautifully balanced and gorgeously orange.
Gran Palo: Blanco tequial | Gran Classico | Grapefruit shrub | Lime | Soda | Smoked salt
Made in Spain: Gin | Manzanilla | Cucumber | Lemon | Celery | Bitters | Saline | Soda
Wait–you mention Long Beach Last Call 2026. What is it?
Long Beach Last Call was born following the success of my restaurant week, Long Beach Food Scene Week, and serves as a 10-day toast to the bars, bartenders, and cocktail creatives that define Long Beach’s drinking culture.
Designed as both a celebration and a spotlight, the citywide event highlights the craftsmanship behind the stick—from meticulously built classics, like the special NOLA-centric menu at The Ordinarie this year, to boundary-pushing original creations, like those at Olive & Rose—while encouraging locals to explore neighborhood institutions and hidden gems alike.
At its core, Long Beach Last Call isn’t just about cocktails; it’s about community, storytelling, and honoring the independent spaces that give the city its distinct flavor after dark. And Marlena is a part of that—so go order a drink.
Marlena is located at 5854 E. Naples Plaza.
