NO LAST CALL!
° Home Page
° Sign up to be a "PubClubber"
° Party Events Calendar

Web PubClub.com

THE SOUTH BAY:
° Hermosa Beach
° South Bay Dining
° AVP Beach Parites
° Manhattan Open
° Surf Festival
° RB Lobster Festival

L.A. CITY GUIDE:
° An Introduction
° Party Bus
° Best In L.A.
° The Bartender.
° PreParty
° Post Party
° Dining in L.A.

CITIES IN THE CITY:
- Hollywood
- Long Beach
- Santa Monica
- South Bay
- Sunset Strip/Beverly Hills
- Venice Beach/MDR
- Orange County

While in the South Bay, ride with Kenny, the Rock 'n Roll cab driver:

SOUTH BAY SITES:
° Joe's Band – Download a FREE CD
° Real Estate
° Surfing Site

From nightly specials to Taco Tuesday, the best deals in the Beach Cities

South Bay Happy Hours
Best Bargains at the Beach Cities Bars

Being happy at Happy Hour is what it's all about in the South Bay,

Discounted drinks and diminutive dinners. A social setup mixed better than a martini.

Happy Hours have been around seemingly forever. It's just that now with layoffs, the recession and issues with the economy, professionals are having to live a little like college students again.

The South Bay has lacked a true Happy Hour destination since the demise of Tequila Willie's more than a decade ago. What the beach cities of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo now offer are a chorus of choices, each distinctive in its own crowd and atmosphere. It's more like a full-course menu rather than a single appetizer. But which spots have the best Happy Hours?

PubClub.com's criteria in judging the Best Happy Hours are simple: establishments that combine Happy Hour deals with a ripe social atmosphere that also has the staying power to keep people in the bar after the food and drink specials have expired. They combine the come-hither attraction of a sex symbol with the substance of a Super Bowl champion.

Most places are at their peak on Friday from 5:30-7. But that's not always the case and other popular nights are noticed and noted. Be sure and see the section on weekday specials, a look at who has what on given days of the week.

For this article, PubClub.com has examined four areas: Hermosa Beach, downtown Manhattan Beach, El Porto (or North Manhattan for you newbies) and what is referred to as the "Rosecrans corridor," the lineup of restaurants along or near Rosecrans just east of PCH.

In the future, PubClub will also investigate the Redondo Beach Pier for possible additions or adjustments to this story.

Generally speaking, the Hermosa Beach Pier gets the youngest crowd (20s to mid-30s), the Rosecrans corridor has mid-30s and up professionals and downtown MB and El Porto have a combination of both age groups and lifestyles.

Agree with these choices? Disagree? Have any thoughts, suggestions or comments? Send us an e-mail and we'll post it.

• #2 SALT CREEK GRILL

The best place to mingle at Salt Creek Grille is the couch lounge.

An elegant restaurant in the new El Segundo Plaza, the Salt Creek Grill is one many places along the Rosecrans corridor that attracts the true Happy Hour crowd – those who come in after work for a few cheap(er) drinks and food before heading home or elsewhere for the night. The largest of the Happy Hour bars, Salt Creek offers a soothing setting to set the weekend mood with a living room setting by a fireplace, a comfortable patio, spacious and classy bar area, and live music (though it's a bit too loud, making mild conversations challenging). There's free wireless Internet for those who want to get in a bit of business before the tables and barstools are taken. The mingling area is on the couches and the best nights are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-6:30 p.m.
Specials: $4 draft beers, Half-priced wines by the glass (Salt Creek has some excellent choices). Additional specials are 1/2-priced mini-bottles of wines (Monday, 4-close) and wines by the glass (Wednesday, 4-close) and $8 martinis (Thursday, 4-6:30). Food menu includes three mini Kobe burgers, shrimp stuffed with horseradish, baby-back ribs, $8.
Best Food Choice: The ribs. They fall off the bone and come with fries.

• #3 MUCHO

At $5 each, drinks and appetizers are good as Mucho, as is the bar.

The thing that impresses about Mucho is the food and the mood. Both are good. It's casual/upscale and so are the patrons. The tasty appetizers and cool "beached up" crowd make it quite tempting to stay past the expiration time of Happy Hour. As a result, a couple of drinks and appetizers can easily turn into a longer night than originally anticipated. And that is what makes a winning Happy Hour. The margaritas, which include flavors such as strawberry and mango, contain a lot of ice but also a lot of tequila. If Mucho was the size of Salt Creek, it would be a strong challenger for the #1 position.
Happy Hour Specifics: Sun-Thurs, 5-7 p.m.
Specials: $5 margaritas, beer, house wines and appetizers with free chips and salsa. The appetizer menu is limited but satisfying: chicken quesadilla, carnitas sliders and chicken toquitos,
Best Food Choice: BBQ Shrimp tacos (2).

• #4 SAINT ROCKE

Happy Hour ends at 8, but people stay for the live entertainment.

The place is so beautiful it's hard to believe it was ever an old dive bar, the Pitcher House. It's nice decor and live music bring in people for Happy Hour and keep them afterward. Some people say Saint Rocke is their top Happy Hour choice. The best nights are Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 5-8 p.m. (All night Tuesday.)
Specials: $3 draft beers, $5 wine, $7 martinis, 1/2 priced appetizers. Food menu includes Kobe beef slider ($5.50, full meal with shoestring sweet potato fries), Cajun BBQ shrimp ($6), tacos ($3.50 & $4) and calamari ($5.50),
Best Food Choice: The Kobe burgers are the most popular but the Cajun shrimp makes you want to order another round after the first one. Could use some bread on the side, fer sure.

• #5 BEACHES

Overlooking the Manhattan Beach Pier, the view here is certainly hard to beat. It needs more of a crowd to warrant a higher ranking, but it has great deals, one of the best Happy Hour food items in the South Bay and by far the longest Happy Hour in the South Bay, which boosts it up the list.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 5-9 p.m.
Specials: $2.50 domestic bottled beer and draft Bud Lite, $3.50 import bottles and drafts, $4 house wines, $2.50 Kamikazes and $3 Sex on the Beach shots. Food menu includes empanadas wings, quesadilla and chicken tenders ($4.95), nachos ($5.95), hamburger ($5.95) and a fried chicken sandwich ($6.95).
Best Food Choice: Taco salad. It's delicious, and contains a lot of meat. This is a full meal (chicken or steak, $6.95, shrimp $7.95).

– MORE HOT HAPPY HOURS – 

• BLUE 32

The friendly lounge by the sea has been getting grilled by the Hermosa Beach City Council but it won't get it from us for its Happy Hour specials. "Blue" as locals call it, has great food and a calm coolness about the place. What's best, arrive by 7 or 7:30, load up on the appetizers and drinks, and be set for when the place gets cranking by 9ish on Thursdays and Fridays. You're already in, settled, and on your way to a great night.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-8p.m.
Specials: Buckets of Bud, Miller and Corona (5 bottles), $15. Single beers $5 (this is not a Happy Hour special but regular price). Half-priced appetizers from a menu that includes blue crab cakes ($7), mac and blue cheese ($7), braised beef quesadilla ($8). and nachos ($10).
Best Food Choice: Nachos.

• COZYMEL'S

The third – well, fifth actually, if one counts Lido and across the street – of restaurant/bars within a two-block section of Rosecrans, Cozymel's is the only cantina in the area. Some Happy Hour regulars scoff at the place, feeling it's not as nice as the other places. But it has a great setup with an outdoor patio and fireplace. And of course, it has margaritas! The house ones are okay, a bit of a "corporate pour" but made with fresh lime juice and not a mix. Put this one under "plenty of potential."
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-7 p.m.
Specials: $3.50 house margaritas ($4.50 large size), $2.25 domestic beers, $3.25 imported. Food includes nachos and quesadilla ($6.25)
Best Food Choice: Shrimp Flameado. It's shrimp in a cheese sauce that's set on fire, and it comes with three tortillas ($5.25)

• DAILY GRILL

How many even knew that this place even has a bar, let alone a good Happy Hour? The bar is neither spacious or tight and its dark wood decor give it a feeling of class. The patrons may go here or McCormick's, depending on their mood for the night. It's not necessarily cranking but it has a good vibe and is definitely a place to park it for cheap food and drink. On one visit, The PubClub tab for two premium beers and two food item was just $11.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-7 p.m.
Specials: $3.50 drafts and $4.50 house martinis. The food menu contains many items for $2.95 (like popcorn shrimp) and a few, more filling items for $3.95. The chicken pot pie is a full meal.
Best Food Choice: Artichoke dip ($2.95).

• McCORMICK & SCHMICK'S

For a long time, this was the "happening spot" among workers in the Rosecrans corridor. It still gets a crowd but the problem is that there is little mingling going on between people at the tables and at the bar. The patio is a better place to hang. The food specials are the place's calling card and some local businesses receive $20 food and drink coupons. So you may see someone you know here. As an additional bonus, PF Chang's is across the street and while it has no Happy Hour specials, it makes for a nice change of pace to bounce between the two places. It's impossible to beat the cheeseburger bargain at McCormick's but the tab can add up quickly with drinks. For instance, during a recent visit the PubClub tab for two appetizers and three beers was $22.78.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-6:30 p.m. 9-11 p.m.
Specials: No drinks specials, only food. Menu includes quesadillas, wings and a Cajun chicken sandwich.
Best Food Choice: The cheeseburger. A 1/3 pound full patty with fries.

• PATRICK MOLLOY'S

It's location on the Hermosa Beach Pier and next to Sharkeez make this an ideal spot for Happy Hour. The small patio is popular on nice days and evenings (which are most of them) and the staff is always smiling. The drink specials are good and it has some of the food choices. But while the menu is extensive, only a few items are consistent good, so ordering the same three or four items can be a bit "routinish" after a few visits. It's also not quite the social beehive of its neighbor to the east.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-7 p.m.
Specials: Half-priced drinks (all but premium). The food menu has choices for ranging from $2,95-5.95 (note the $4.95 burger does not include a side). Request extra sauce for the pepperoni pizza.
Best Food Choice: Hermosa skewers ($5.95).

• SHARK'S COVE

There are two locations, on Hermosa Ave., and Manhattan Beach Blvd. PubClub prefers the latter because it has more of a cozy feel. The Happy Hour is combined with daily specials, a couple of which don't kick in until after 8 and go until closing, making it a welcome change from the rush to get in that order the minute before Happy Hour ends. The bar is a great place to sit if it's open because the bartenders are accommodating and readily engage in conversation.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 3-7 p.m., weekends open-7:30 p.m.
Specials: $3 beers, $3 wells, $5 house wines. The appetizer menu is limited with 30-cent wings and a $695 combo platter (wings, Jalapeno poppers, nachos, fries) but there are daily specials (see below for specifics).
Best Food Choice: Wings.

• SHELLBACK TAVERN

The legendary beach dive at the pier is an ideal off-the-beach bar. It is particularly popular in the summer months and when the volleyball classes end at sunset as many players make a stop in Shellback a priority. For some long-time locals, this a second home for Happy Hour regardless of the season or the reason.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 4-7 p.m.
Specials: $3.25 well, $2 of pitchers and $1 off all draft. Half-priced appetizers include wings ($3.50), crispy tacos ($3) and chicken quesadillas. ($4).
Best Food Choice: Chicken quesadillas.

• SHORE

The fun, friendly enviroment of Shore gets even better with its Happy Hour. The best thing about it are not even the specials but the fact it includes the weekends. It's a great way to start a weekend night, Friday or Saturday.
Happy Hour Specifics: Tues-F, 5:30-7:30 p.m., weekends open-7:30 p.m.
Specials: $3 beers, $4 wells and house wines. $6 martinis. Appetizers from $5-7, includes tacos (maui, shrimp or steak, $6), chicken and waffles ($7) and skirt steak sandwich ($7).
Best Food Choice: Mini tacos.

• UPPER MANHATTAN LOUNGE

The elegant martini lounge may appear to be stuffy because it looks so nice inside, but it's shorts-and-sandals friendly for Happy Hour.
Happy Hour Specifics: M-F, 5--9 p.m.
Specials: $3.50 beers, $6 house wines, $7 Stoli martini. Food specials: all-you can eat spaghetti and chicken & mushroom linquini (($6.95), cheesburger ($7.95).
Best Food Choice: Cheeseburger.

– DAILY FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS –

Taco Tuesday at OB's is a weekly ritual for many locals.

• MONDAY. Sharkeez: Fajitas, $4.50-6.49 (tri-tip to blackened Mahi), $2,50 cans of Medelo and Tecate. Manhattan Sharkeez: Karaoke with Soul Cole, $3 drinks and shots with songs. 8:30-midnight. Shark's Cove: 2-for-1 burgers ($10.95), $4 Jack Daniels drinks, $18 for a bucket of 4 beers. Salt Creek Grille: 1/2 price bottles of wine, 4-close. The Shore: Half-priced drinks to close. Brix restaurant: Recession Menu, three courses for $20, 5:30-9 p.m. M-F Happy Hour has additional appetizers $4-9, Stella ($4), $5 well and $7 martinis (2-6 p.m.)

• TUESDAY. Upper Manhattan: $4 draft beers and live entertainment with casual attire accepted and no cover. Plus food specials described above. Blue 32: Entire menu 30% off, 4 p.m.-midnight. Hennessey's: 2-for-1 burgers all day, 2-for-1 breakfasts until noon. The Shore: Half-priced bottles of wine to closing. Saint Rocke: Happy Hour menu all nite with live acoustic music. Brix: Recession Menu, three courses for $20, plus M-F Happy Hour.

• TACO TUESDAY. A Southern California tradition up and down the coast. OB's, Manhattan Beach and its sister establishement The Underground Pub in Hermosa:  $1.75 giant tacos (get the steak), $1.50 drafts, $3 margaritas. Sharkeez: Tacos $.,99-4.25 (chicken, tri-tip, carnitas, shrimp, lobster), $3 margaritas, $4 Cadillac margaritas, $1.75 tequila shots, $13 buckets of Coronas. Shark's Cove: 3 tacos for $5 (chicken, beef or salmon) and all-you-can eat for $5 after 8 p.m. Plus $4 margaritas ($6 Patron) and $18 buckets of Mexican beer.

• WEDNESDAY. Ercoles: Two-for-one burgers with the purchase of two drinks, from 6 p.m. These are the BEST burgers in LA. Sharkeez: Burgers $5.25-7.49, 32-ounce big beers, $5.99-7.50. OB's: $6.50 chicken stir fry (best in the South Bay!). Salt Creek Grill: 1/2 priced wines by the glass, 4-close. Shark's Cove: $4 Captian Morgan drinks, $18 buckets of Blue Moon beer. The Shore: Half-priced bottles of champagne. Brix: Recession Menu, three courses for $20, 5:30-9 p.m. plus M-F Happy Hour. Second Story (Belmar Hotel): 50% off glasses and bottles of wine, 5 p.m.-midnight

• THURSDAY. Sharkeez: Burrito night, $2.79-9.25. Mojitos $4.50. Salt Creek: $8 martinis, 4-6:30. Shark's Cove: $3 drafts and 2-for-1 180 bombs, 9-close.

• WEEKENDS. Sharkeez: Breakfast special $3.95. Free champagne and mimosas with food purchase, open-5 p.m. Bloody Mary bar, $7.50-8.50, open-2 p.m. Shark's Cove: $4 bloody marys, $4 mimosas open-1 p.m. Blue 32: Bottomless mimosas with breakfast (The Farmer's Daughter is recommended). 9 a.m.-noon. The Shore: $3 beers, $4 wells, $6 martinis and half-price on selected appetizers. Until 7:30 p.m. Brix (Sunday): Recession Menu, three courses for $20, 5:30-9 p.m. Second Story: Half-priced appetizers (filet migon tacos are on the menu), $4 wells and drafts, 5 p.m.-midnight.

© 2009. All rights reserved.

PubClub.com