The Sharkeez Touch Comes To Downtown MB
I’m almost hesitant to write how great the bar Shark’s Cove in Manhattan Beach is for fear that some do-good citizen or city council member will rise up and say “oh NO, alcohol and fun is BAD. We need to curtail this kind of activity!”
But the heck with it and them. I’m writing about it anyway.
Shark’s Cove is the South Bay’s answer to Cancun on Spring Break, a pin-the-ears back, forget-your-worries, life-is-good, hey-we-live-at-the-beach fun.
I knew Sharkeez had taken it over and the very second I walked into the door, it had those unmistakeable Sharkeez touches: a fun and lively crowd wearing bikinis and board shorts displaying no worries at all while living completely in the moment, a DJ playing not hip-hop and that “hey I’m cool” nightlife music but fun party tunes (just a small town girl…), girls lined up against one of the walls dancing on an elevated platform (the bench of a table booth), free munchies (here, popcorn instead of chips and salsa) and a staff so attentive that the second I dropped some popcorn on the table it was instantly cleared by an employee.
It was hot – sweaty hot – and happening. People all dressed in beach attire were jumping up and down on a makeshift dance floor, the girls were going non-stop standing on the booth bench, the music was great and, well, what can I say, it was a fun come-as-you-are beach bar party scene.
It reminded me of the old Sharkeez, the original one in North Manhattan Beach – not the current, more sedate version in the former Harry O’s – which was one of the best bars in the history of the South Bay.
Now there is an asterisk to be placed here. I went in during the 6-man, a whacky beach volleyball tournament at the pier. All the team members wear costumes and because of its history as being one of the biggest party happenings in the South Bay, people are in a more cut-loose mode than on a normal weekend. Plus, with the strict no-alcohol-on-the-beach policy of today, everyone was busting out ready for some booze by the time they got to Shark’s Cove (and, it must be noted, Shellback Tavern too).
So it’s not always this wild, but it’s good to know it has it in it. I also suggest is as a lively game-watching party place during football season for all those transplanted college alumni and NFL fans.
My biggest advice is to enjoy it while you can, because come November it’s going to be an upscale Mexican restaurant and cantina. It will still be owned by Sharkeez, but the bikinis and board shorts will be replaced by Manhattan’s version of Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila, which is in neighboring Hermosa Beach.
So get in there now and join this party.
Cheers!
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