Manhattan Beach Casual Hangout Is Crowded Day and Night On Weekends
If you’re looking for a lively place to party in the Los Angeles SouthBay Beach Cities, then crank it up Shellback Tavern.
That’s because it’s cranking.
In the summer of 2012, Shellback Tavern at the Manhattan Beach Pier is the South Bay’s most happening bar.
It’s been going off both day and night on weekends, making it the king of this beach. Shellback has long been popular, especially with the off-the-beach locals and beach volleyball players, and at night it’s been a hot hangout for casually dressed young singles. But now it’s happening almost without a break, particularly on Saturdays.
Even owner Bob Beverly is even a bit miffed by all the all the attention.
“We’re just doing what we always do,” he said, Bud Light in hand, looking at the crowd as a Saturday afternoon evolved into Saturday evening. “And that’s providing a place with cold beer and a relaxed atmosphere.”
It’s certainly relaxed. The juke box jams with tunes, impromptu flip cup competitions break out, the occasional pub crawl runs through the place and people are arriving in shots and flip flops to drink beers by the pitcher. It’s been so busy on Saturday afternoons that Shellback has had to station a guy at the door to count heads, something normally reserved for the nights.
The beers are also cheaper than across the street at the beautiful and fairly new Strand House, $5-6 instead of $9. Even the well-heeled customers of Manhattan Beach won’t be doing a lot of their heavy drinking at the swanky spots; they prefer the volume they can receive at the kicked-back Shellback, as well as Ercoles around the corner.
Strand House remains Manhattan Beach’s premier place for the upscale atmosphere and big views of the sunset, ideal for a few drinks with business associates or a new date. If you take a first-time or new date to Shellback, you had better be convinced she prefers sandals to stilettos. Shellback is trendy only because that’s where the trend is going this summer, not because it has any fancy decor (oversized checks from past Manhattan Open winners is more like it).
In the summer of 2012, the simple formula of Shellback is bringing a summer of success to this longtime Manhattan Beach bar.
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