About two miles south of Hermosa Beach and eight south of LAX is the community of Redondo Beach. It has the biggest pier in the area and a botique shopping and dining area called Riviera Village.
Because it appeals to families, both local and visiting, ‘Dondo as locals sometimes refer to it, is hardly as happening as its northern neighbor. The crowd is not as polished nor nearly as young as the rest of the South Bay, but it does have fun places of note. This is a rundown – written by a local and not using AI – of the best and most fun bars and nightlife in Redondo Beach.
If you want to get a quick and entertaining buzz, go to Old Tony’s on the Pier. No, it’s not the 360-degree view of the ocean from the upstairs bar it so intoxicating but the South Bay’s Strongest Drink. 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. In addition to the mental healing the Fire Chief provides, Old Tony’s is also a great –and popular – spot for sunset. All the tables and seats are usually full and a guitar player adds to the atmosphere.
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, rock and reggae bands and enough beers – 777 in bottles and 77 on draft, to be exact – to make the bands actually sound good. The Saturday band, the Land Sharks, play mostly ol’ time R&R (and actually, they are good enough, especially after a some cold ones). The crowd is mainly middle-aged men out for a few brews but Naja’s also occasionally hauls in the much younger and livelier Hermosa-Manhattan revelers. This will most likely happen on Sunday afternoons.
There’s more beer and music along the somewhat comically named International Boardwalk (it lacks the polish to have such a posh title and a proposal to upgrade the pier was voted down by residents) at Project Barley, run by a local band leader. The place has its own beeer and food. The Slip Bar & Eatery is a PubClub.com favorite run by a lot of our friends. It’s a very comforable small bar with rotating beer specials, very good food for the price and local musicians. There’s also a small tasting room for King Harbor Brewing.
There’s a couple of other spots along the Pier but this is hardly the party mecca of the Hermosa Beach Pier.
PubClub sometimes likes to slip over to BALEEN Kitchen at the Portofino Hotel in King Harbor for it’s marina views in it’s cozy Living Room Bar. The bar at Shade Hotel is certainly spectacular. The latter is something of a hotspot for locals, especially or its sunset views.
Riveria Village Redondo Beach Bars & Nightlife
Most of the upscale local residents spend their drinking and party time at places in Riviera Village. The cornerstone spot is HT Grill, a bar and restaurant owned by Hennessey’s Tavern. The best spot here is the patio; grab a beer and a chair by the fireplace if a seat is available. It’s more relaxing than wild, so singles should instead seek out Hennessey’s just up South Catalina Ave., in Riviera Village, or Rebel Republic Social House. For beer, there’s the long-standing Redondo Beach Brewing Company, which at one time could boast Rod Stewart as a regular customer. There’s also Shaft Brewery and Select Beer Store has a small tap room.
For wine, girls absolutely love going into Friends Of The Vine, a very cool wine bar.
For a kick, and certainly a change of pace as well as the patrons, pop into the Bull Pen. The crowd is mostly 50+ singles, earning it the lovable nickname “The Wrinkle Room” from locals. Now don’t be too quick to judge; it has great steaks (perhaps the best in Redondo, in fact) and don’t be surprised to see it packed with a lot younger singles on a Friday or Saturday night, for it’s a somewhat regular stop for the fun and popular Rolling Stones cover band, the Rolling Clones.
More Redondo Beach Bars Worth A Visit
Now if you’re looking for a real dive with live music, just out the Dive’s door is Starboard Attitude. It’s a small place with mostly “the more you drink the better you sound” bands. But this is L.A., and you just never know who might pop in on occasion. On one such occasion, it was Jay Spell, a blind keyboardist who was an original member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band.
A spot that is bringing in a crowd (mainly for its many beers on tap and huge burger menu) is Hudson House. Located just south of Herondo Ave., in Hermsoa Beach is (514 PCH), it barely sticks its toe in Redondo, but packs ’em in on weekends. It’s not really a wild and crazy place but it certainly good for friend out for food & brews, or dates. Getting a seat to try that burger on Fridays and Saturdays requires 1.) Getting there fairly early; 2.) Patience.
So while Redondo may not offer the wildness of Hermosa or the sophistication of Manhattan, it does have its place in the party sun.
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