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Kenny, the Rock 'n Roll cab driver

An inside guide by longtime local experts to nightlife, bars, clubs and activities in Hermosa Beach, the South Bay.

Hermosa Beach/Redondo Beach Best Bars Guide
Locals Look to the Best Places to Drink, Eat and Party

The Hermosa Beach bar scene is friendly, casual and fun.

Hermosa Beach. [MAP]

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Once a hangout for hippies, Harleys and hang-loosers, Hermosa Beach has transformed itself into a South Bay social mecca. All these spots are within walking distance with many are within sight distance.

The one-block, pedestrian-only Pier Ave., possesses a plethora of places.

Because the places on the Pier were originally grocery stores, local bars or tiny t-shirt shops, they are small and lines form quickly.

Pub crawls are common on the Pier (top) and so is hanging at Sharkeez (bottom).

The ever-popular Sharkeez is the king of this beach town. Locals called Sharkeez the "Black Hole" because they go in for one cocktail in the afternoon and wind up staying all night. People go in for lunch, a Happy Hour drink (pretty much everything is 2-for-1) daily menu specials – the food here is quite good and even borders on spectacular for this type of establishment – or just to get down and par-TY! It's good any day of the week, pretty much any time of any day of the week.

Wednesdays are wild at Sharkeez; it's like going to a Hollywood dance club.

Have you been on Wednesdays? This place turns into a thumping club with a DJ playing club tunes, people dancing everywhere and incredible drink specials (how does $2.50 Bud drafts sounds!?)

New to town? Sharkeez is the place with the big line.

There's a reason Sharkeez is the 'Black Hole;' it's fun with a fun crowd.

Sharkeez has also been selected as PubClub.com's Best Happy Hour Bar. Click here for the Best Happy Hour Bars in the South Bay.

As good as it is, Sharkeez is hardly the only party place on the Pier. Start right next door, for example.

There was always a huge line on Friday and Saturday nights at Sangria, so many questioned why revamp it? Well, it needed a little afternoon boot and got it. Re-branded as American Junkie, it's an instant hit, and having $3 beers – that's all beers, even Stella Artois – on Saturdays until 7 is a great way to earn quick admiration from locals. There's now a big, full bar on the patio and nightly specials, such as goldfish racing on Wednesday. Check out the photo booth, too!

Patrick Molloy's is a clean Irish-looking pub that turns clubby on weekends with house music, lights and dancing. Daytime weekends are at a much more relaxed pace, especially on the patio when crowds gather for post-beach beers, cocktails, enticing appetizers and full lunches or dinners. A daily Happy Hour runs 3-8 with half-priced and food specials that go from $2,95-5.95.

Molloy's has plenty of plasmas, all-day Happy Hours on Mondays and hosts special events on a regular basis. And then it takes on a whole different personality at night.

By night and by day, they play at Patrick Molloy's.

The tiki hostess stand in front of Waterman'ssays it all: This is a Polynesian party palace. It has a bamboo bar, Hawaii's own Kona leading about 10 beers on draught, and a very "aloha" vibe that fits in with its surroundings the way surfboards fit in with the waves.

Waterman's has a good vibe anytime and live reggae on Sundays.

Waterman's is much more beachy than its predecessor, a place called Dragon that was like a loud Las Vegas lounge lost in paradise. Sundays here are particularly lively; there's a reggae band and a crowd of surfers and locals in shorts and sandals all hangin' very loose. It begins to rock on 4 on Sundays and goes until about 8.

This is just one of many things now happening in Hermosa on Sundays. It starts with Berry Bly's party at Ocean Bar (top of Union Cattle), 1-7 p.m. ($10 cover), continues at Waterman's, it's rocking at Cafe Boogaloo with live bands 'till 10, and starting in July the Spazmatics will be playing up the hill at Saint Rocke. In July and August (July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21) there are Sunday Concerts on the Beach.

Anyone still feeling the wave of pressure to stay out shold "surf" over to Sharkeez.

Beers go down easy – and frequently – at FFFF.

Get a bird's eye view of the Pier action from Fat Face Fenner's Fishack. Its second-floor balcony provides the only elevated view of Pier Ave and a rustic back bar has live music on weekends. The front has Juan, the Best Bartender in the South Bay. However, getting to Juan can be a challenge because the doormen, but locals should know to show their South Bay i.d., to get in with no problem.

Beautiful babes at Fiesta Hermosa, one of the city's many fun events.

The Best Tropical Drink in the South Bay is the mango margarita served at Cantina Real. It's frozen and delicious, best enjoyed in the daytime on the outdoor patio overlooking the Strand and pier.

This beachside booth is the best place to be inside Hennessey's.

The biggest patio is across Pier Plaza at Hennessey's Tavern, that also makes sitting inside on a sunny day not a bad thing with booths next to windows that open up to the Strand. It's also the only place (unfortunately) that has has an upstairs patio, tho it's small city rules dictate that people be seated to be served.

The best thing about The Mermaid is its refusal to change. And its sauteed mushrooms. This aging dive is of the Beach City's best restaurants. Those sauteed mushrooms are orgasmic!

Popping 'em open at the Poop Deck.

Another long-standing establishment is the Poop Deck. Directly on The Strand, this is a dirty dive. Its best during the AVP Hermosa Open and Fridays for 32-ounce Budweisers for $1 until the keg blows. At 7:30, people start positioning themselves to be first in line. By 8, a number of mid-20s girls and guys have gathered and upon reaching the bar, the acceptable behavior is to grab TWO Buds. So that’s 64 ounces of beer for $2! People then retreat to the back patio where they down their 64 ounces in a hurry playing beer pong.

Hermosa Ave. Bars & Lounges

There's a lively, fun vibe at the Chelsea Pub.

There may be no life east of PCH as longtime locals like to joke, but there sure is plenty of it east of Hermosa Ave. In fact, this two-block area around the bend from the Pier has become a party playground.

Led by the slick and sexy Establishment (formerly Blue 32), there are five bars, and that's not counting the sushi resturant on the corner. Crowds come in from Thursdays-weekends and anyone out on party patrol Tuesdays and Wednesdays won't be hurting for activity.

The seductive Establishment is Hermosa Beach's hip lounge.
Bottom photo: Rory Peters, LightscapePhotography.net

And here's a couple of great treats – buckets of 5 beers are just $15 all the time, and if you get the PubClub.com South Bay Party Report, bring in the printout or on your phone and get a 10% discount off a round of drinks. To get the Party Report, send us an e-mail.

While Establishment if for loungers and clubbers, the Underground Pub (the main entrance is actually behind Hermosa Ave., at 15th St.) is for pubbers. The Underground Pub is not underground as in an underground dance club, but underground as in the London subway system. This is actually two bars in one – a sports-themed pub with a pool table and plenty of plasmas one one side and a fun lounge lounge called the Chelsea Pub on the other.

The Underground is cozy but can get quite crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. Chelsea, with "the twins" behind the bar. has large booths and couches with dancing to hip Euro-style music that's subtle enough to be able to carry on a conversation. Thursdays are "pint nights" at The Underground; buy a 22-ounce mug for a buck and then get a Bud or Bud Light for just $3 or a Stella for $4.

Walk between the two bars for the true pubs and club experience without leaving the building! With its trio of huge plasma TVs, great food and hearty breakfasts, this "combo club" is a good place to start or finish the day. Both places have a casual attitude; Chelsea has more of a club feel to it with the music and even dancing, but it's hardly a club.

That roar by the shore just might be coming from The Shore.

That roar you hear is coming from The Shore, a new bar on Hermosa Ave., owned by longtime local Joe Middler. For years, his Joe's Band was known as the South Bay party band. Joe doesn't crank up signature songs like "Hot, Hot, Hot" in The Shore often, but his casual presence is evident. The one-room bar has a beach feel with in a lounge-type environment.

For live music – and killer DJs – hit up Cafe Boogaloo. This is a great place to go to get off the Pier that's also casual. And the champagne brunches on the weekends (free champagne for an hour, just order by 1 p.m.) are a good start to any Saturday or Sunday. There's much more on Boogaloo in our live music venues writeup (link below).

And there's pool tables, more TVs than you can see and more taps of cold draft beer than anyplace in the South Bay at Game Changers. Half the place is a billiards lounge. Note we did not say "pool bar." There's a different.

Just behind all this, on Monterey and Pier, is an elegant new restaurant and bar (with a bit of funky feel; Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise did some of the wall painting), called Abigaile. It's a remodel of Union Cattle and there's no mechanical bull anymore. But the bar is bigger. If you want to cut lose a little more, then go upstairs where Ocean Club remains unchanged. The views from either of the two patios are among the best in Hermosa.. Don't forget to check out its Happy Hour.

Farther north on Hermosa Ave. is a round building called The North End. This is fast becoming a hot hangout. Several people, tired of the downtown scene, are enjoying The North End's lack of lines, cheap drinks and super casual atmosphere. They are joined by neighborhood residents who want a few drinks but don't want to walk the extra blocks to downtown. Wednesdays feature $1 tacos.

Dance Clubs

Hermosa – and the entire South Bay, for that matter – does not have a true dance club, certainly not anything approaching to the mega clubs of Hollywood or Vegas. Instead, it has Sangria (Pier Ave.), Saffire (Pier at Valley/Ardmore, next to Von's) and the new Union Cattle Co., which serve to satisfy the clubbers.

There are not many dance clubs in Hermosa Beach, but those that do rip it.

Sangria attracts its share of the best-looking of the good-looking South Bay. The dress is certainly more upscale than many of the other places (which means guys might actually be wearing something other than shorts). It is the biggest of the seaside clubs with a large outdoor patio area and an indoor bar and dance floor. It makes an intoxicating sangria – ask for the "special" which is topped with spiced rum – and is not elbow-to-elbow crowded. There's a $10 weekend cover (no band). The lines are huge on weekends, so it's best to go for dinner or tasty tapas before 9.

NOTE: Sangria is undergoing a changeover and is temporary closed.

Live Music

South Bay's nightlife was originated around its live music venues. Back in the 1960s, the The Lighthouse Cafe was known thrhought the world as one of the top jazz clubs in the country.

But then live muisc here began to starve. But now, it's made a comeback and has become a major player in LA's music scene. Pennywise is from Hermosa Beach and the lineup of live music venues is so extensive now that PubClub has created a separate article on places that feature bands.

So click here to read about where to hear live music in the South Bay.

– BAR LOCATIONS ON LOWER PIER AVE (310) –
• Sharkeez, 52 Pier Ave. (310) 374-7823.
Website: Sharkeez.net
• Cantina Real, 19 Pier Ave., 372-3454
• At Face Fenner's Fishhack, 53 Pier Ave., 379-5550
• Hennessey's, 8 Pier Ave., 372-5759
• Mermaid, 11 Pier Ave., 374-9344
• Patrick Molloy's, 50 Pier Ave., 798-9762
Website: PatrickMolloys.com
• Poop Deck (1272 The Strand), 376-3223
• Sangria, 60 Pier Ave., 376-4412
• Waterman's, 22 Pier Ave, 372-4482.
Website: WatermansHB.com

– BAR LOCATONS ON HERMOSA AVE. –
• Cafe Boogaloo, 1238 Hermosa Ave. 318-2324
• Game Changers, 1220 Hermosa Ave. 798-3932
• Underground Pub (entrance in alley) and Chelsea Lounge. 1332 Hermosa Ave. (Entrance in the alley), 318-3818
• Establishment, 1332 Hermosa Ave.
• The Shore, 1320 Hermosa Ave. 376-0414
• Abigale/Ocean Bar., 1301 Manhattan Ave., 798-8227

Redondo Beach
About two miles south of Hermosa is the pier area of Redondo Beach. Hardly as happening as the northern neighbor and the crowd is not as polished and not nearly as young as the rest of the South Bay, but it does have a few places of note.

If you REALLY want to get a quick buzz, go to Old Tony's on the Pier. No, it's not the 360-degee view of the ocean from the upstairs bar that does the trick, it's the South Bay's Strongest Drink that's responsible. It's called a Fire Chief and while one of these rich rum mixtures will set your mood en fuego, two will set off the alarm

On the lower part of the Redondo Beach Pier is Naja's. It's a kick-back place, has a view of the boats docked in the harbor, regular appearances from a gypsy dancer and enough beers – 777 in bottles and 77 on draft, to be exact – to make the live band sound actually sound good. The Land Sharks, as they are called, play mostly ol' time R&R (and really, they are pretty good even without all the beer). The crowd is mainly middle-aged men out for a few brews but it can also haul in the much younger and livelier Hermosa-Manhattan revelers. It's best on Sunday afternoons.

If you're hungry beforehand or afterward, Lou E Luey's next door is an oustanding Mexican-style restaurant.Upscale offerings such as crab & corn bisque and sizzling sea bass make this a great find. (entrees $8.95-$14.95) . It's an excellent spot for Sunday brunch (menu items, not a buffett).

 • Harbor Drive, 655 North Harbor Dr., 379-2900
• Lou E Luey's, 160 S. International Boardwalk, 937-7044
• Naja's Place, 154 S. International Boardwalk, 376-9951
• Tony's, 122 Fisherman's Wharf, 374-1442

• South Bay Guide

• Manhattan Beach Guide

• Surfest Manhattan Beach (watch the video)

READER COMMENTS: FROM THE BARSTOOL:

• Nice! See you on the Pier!
– Melissa, Manhattan Beach

• Very accurate account. Been to every one of those places. Several times (ha, ha).
- Roberta, Hermosa Beach

• We had to move from Hermosa and this brings back so many fun memoris. Thanks PubClub!
– Kaycee, Boston

© 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. PubClub.com is a website covering nightlife in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles and throughout the world.

Next stop on the Party Bus: Manhattan Beach