The Best Bars, Cocktails & Happy Hours
A local provides information on the bars, where to get the best cocktails and all the Happy Hours, some of which are seven days a week.
The first thing to know is that the main area of activity is Pier Plaza, a pedestrian walkway that contains six of Hermosa’s top bars. Most of them are small and there are big lines at four of them on weekend nights after 10 p.m. – Sharkeez, American Junkie, Patrick Molloy’s and Tower 12.
However there are other places to drink a couple of blocks away along Hermosa Ave, among them the locals spot Barnacles (9th Street), Chelsea Lounge/Underground Pub (14th Street) and for live music the rockin’ Standing Room (13th Street).
THE BARS IN HERMOSA BEACH
Here’s a rundown of the most popular bars in Hermosa.
The “King of the Beach” is Sharkeez. This is Hermosa’s “go-to” bar, the one that always has people in it, morning noon or and especially night. PubClub.com calls it “The Black Hole” because you may go in for only one or two drinks, but wind up staying until last call. By that time, this beach bar has turned into a pumping Las Vegas-type club.
Next to Sharkeez is Patrick Molloy’s, which is an Irish bar in name only. It’s a bar that becomes kind of like a club at night with a DJ. It is the most popular bar in the South Bay on Sunday nights.
The biggest bar – twice the size of the others – is American Junkie. It has sports in the daytime and has bands and DJs at night. It has a great and very popular country music/line dancing event in Wednesday nights.
Tower 12 is sometimes like being in a beer commercial. This is a semi-upscale beach bungalow with a good-looking crowd. Score a seat on its upper-deck patio and you have a great view above Pier Plaza.
Standing Room is the best live music venue in the pier area; it has fun bands, a lively mostly locals crowd (late 20s to late 30s, primarily), no lines and no cover.
The Deck is right on The Strand and is always worth a peek; it’s getting pretty good crows on Friday and Saturday nights and has live music.
HAPPY HOURS IN HERMOSA BEACH
Every bar at Pier Plaza has a Happy Hour. Here’s a quick rundown. Many of them also have food specials different days of the week.
Hey, we’re talking the singles scene here!
The most happening spots are Tower 12 Sharkeez and sometimes Molloys.
• American Junkie – M-F 3-7 p.m., Friday extended until 10 p.m. $3 all beers & well drinks plus appetizer specials.
• Patrick Molloy’s – M-F, 3-8 p.m., all day Mondays and Sundays after 5 p.m. $3 domestic & $4 draft beers, half-off liquor. Food specials.
• Sharkeez –M-F 3-7 p.m., and Sundays after 5 p.m. 2-for-1 drinks of all shapes and sizes (plus most beers) and specials on appetizers
• The Lighthouse – M-F 6-9 p.m. $5 drinks and appetizers. Live bands Tuesday-Friday (no cover).
• Tower 12 – M-Friday 3-6, large drinks for the price of a regular drink (beers are 32 ounces). Best Happy Hour food in the South Bay $5-8. Best singles scene in the South Bay on Thursdays and Fridays. Home to PubClub LIVE, a live social media show, on Thursdays, 5-6. For a Happy Hour review, click here.
• Waterman’s Safe House – M-F 3-7 p.m., Wines (good ones) as cheap as $3.50, half-priced good draft beers.
WEEKEND BRUNCHES IN HERMOSA BEACH
Why wait until the evening or even the afternoon to start drinking, right? In Hermosa, you can do at breakfast as three places offer bottomless mimosas.
• American Junkie – 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Bottomless mimosas for $10 with purchase of breakfast.
• Patrick Molloy’s – 9 a.m.-noon. Free mimosas for one hour with purchase of breakfast.
• Sharkeez – 9-11:30 a.m.. Bottomless mimosas for one hour with any breakfast purchase. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Bloody Mary bar, a 32-ounce glass, $8.50-14. Rise & Shine breakfast is the best deal – $4-6 including bottomless mimosas (till 11:30).
• The Deck – M-F $2 off drafts & bottles. Wine Wednesdays, half off all bottles . Thursdays, Ladies night, $2 off everything.
• Tower 12 – $12 bottomless mimosas with breakfast till Noon.
LIVE MUSIC IN HERMOSA BEACH
Standing Room (Fridays and Saturdays), The Deck (Fridays and Saturdays), The Lighthouse (seven days a week; there are often small $5-10 cover charges), Patrick Molllys (Sunday nights), Waterman’s (Sunday afternoons) and there’s often a guitar or small band at Hennessey’s Tavern.
Away from the pier is Saint Rocke (2nd & PCH), which gets in popular local and touring bands (cover charges vary) and across the street from that bar is the dive Hermosa Saloon with bands on weekends (no cover).
CLOSING TIME IN HERMOSA BEACH
It’s ridiculous we know, but last call is at a shockingly early 1 a.m., drinks have to be out of your hand by 1:30 and you’re being tossed out the door by your ear if you’re in the bar past 1:45.
At Standing Room the band can’t play past midnight.
Hey, we’re just the messenger!
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