A Weekday Guide To This L.A’s South Bay Beach City
If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in Hermosa Beach, standing at the surfer statue on the pier, hands on hip and suddenly declare “well we’re here, NOW what to we do!?,” then this article is for you.
This is a guide from a local about what to do, where to do, where to eat and drink, Happy Hours and, of course, where to go for that long-standing Southern California beach town tradition, Taco Tuesday.
It’s broken up into activities, Happy Hours & Taco Tuesday. The primary starting and hang-out spot is the Hermosa Beach Pier.
Hermosa Beach Activities
Unlike some beaches – particularly in comparison to Florida and Europe, there’s actually limited activities in Hermosa. There’s no parasailing, Jet Ski rentals, etc. So much of the activity here involves people watching, which here is pretty darned good.
And the sunsets are spectacular.
1.) Lay Out On The Beach
That’s a given, right!? Note the sand here is really wide and also the water is pretty cold; it’s in the 60s much of the year and reaches only the low 70s in the summer. Sharks are not an issue..
2.) Go Up And Down The Strand
Walk or rent a bike and explore the entire South Bay!
3.) Watch Beach Volleyball
There are all kinds of tournaments on the weekends and people – even the pros and Olympic Gold Medalists – playing from 1st Street to 35th Street. There are classes Tuesday and Thursday nights just south of the pier and a kickball league on Wednesdays (both followed by beer nights at Sharkeez). To join a league, go to SmackfestEvents.com.
4.) Rent A Bike
Hermosa Cyclery (behind the Mermaid/Deck/Good Stuff) off the pier rents bikes.
5.) Take A Bike Tour
Why ride where you don’t know where you are going or what you are seeing along the way? Plus the guide recommends local restaurants, bars & more “inside” things about the South Bay. Two-hour ride covers Hermosa and neighboring Manhattan & Redondo Beach, $50 for groups up to four. Contact: Beach Cities Bike Tours. Text or call: (310) 990-4020.
Hermosa Beach Tuesday Happy Hours
Nearly every place on and around the pier has a Happy Hour. You can simply walk around and see the signs but here’s recommended highlights for the most popular places:
• American Junkie – 3-7 p.m., $3 all draft beers & well cocktails.
• Mermaid – 3-7 p.m., and 10 p.m.-close. The deals: $4.50 wines, $5 select drafts and the “Drink of the Week” plus food specials (the fish tacos and bowl of clams are the most popular items). This bar can get lively around Happy Hour with locals and the bartenders make the best cocktails in the South Bay.
• Patrick Molloy’s – 3-8 p.m., Half-priced drinks (beer, wine & cocktails), food specials from $3 appetizers to $6 pizzas.
• Sharkeez – 3-7 p.m. Buy one drink get the next for a penny (2-for-1, essentially). Appetizer specials.
• Waterman’s Safe House – 3-7 p.m. Half-priced wine, beers & drinks drinks ($3-6).
Hermosa Beach Taco Tuesday Specials
• Best Deal: American Junkie. $5 all-you-can-eat tacos. Includes the sides rice & beans, plus chips & salsa. 5-close.
• Most Likely A Party Will Break Out. Sharkeez. $1.99 “street” tacos (you’ll need at least 4) or $3.25 regular tacos. Margaritas $4-7:50, shots $3 & 6.50)
• Best View Of The Strand. Waterman’s. Four “street” tacos for $5 (extra tacos $2 each).
• Live Music: Patrick Molloy’s. Two-for one-tacos and burgers. $5 mini-domestic pitchers & live music starts at 9. Half-priced tequila all day.
Hermosa Beach Location & Map
• Hermosa Beach Pier, Pier Plaza & The Strand
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