Main Street, Santa Monica nightlife | Metromix Los Angeles

Main Street, Santa Monica nightlife

A four-block stretch of bars, microbreweries, cantinas and Irish pubs in Santa Monica

By Amir Kenan

Special to Metromix
May 1, 2008

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Main Street, Santa Monica nightlife
(Credit: Beach Cities-LA)

For Angelenos unfamiliar with the term, ‘walking’ is kind of like driving—except you can connect your iPod directly into your ears. For those interested in pursuing this latest fad (pronounced WAH-king), Santa Monica is in no short supply of walkable stretches. Main Street is a four-block stretch of bars, microbreweries, cantinas, Irish pubs, and the ubiquitous late-night taco stand (charmingly named Holy Guacamole).

Here’s a compendium of must-hit Main Street bars and clubs; bonus points for hitting these nightspots on foot.

O'Brien's Irish Pub

O'Brien's Irish Pub

2941 Main St., Santa Monica
310-396-4725

With a name like O’Brien’s, you know there’ll be Guinness on tap, Celtic music in the air, and a pot o’ gold at the end of every rainbow (OK, two out of three ain’t bad). Sure, the fish ’n’ chips are yummy here, but it’s O’Brien’s signature drink, the Car Bomb—a clever concoction of Guinness with a shot of Jameson and Bailey’s chucked in at the last minute—that’ll have you feeling beer-battered by the end of the night.

Rick's Tavern on Main

Rick's Tavern on Main

2907 Main St., Santa Monica
310-392-2772

Chock full of tchotchkes, kitsch, and—why not?—a deer head with a sailor's cap, Rick’s is a charming local watering hole that gets bustling in the wee hours of the night. A white neon sign boldly boasts the "best damn burger in L.A."; at less than a five-spot for a burger and fries, that’s a bet you can afford to take.

Circle Bar

Circle Bar

2926 Main St., Santa Monica
310-450-0508

Though the line to this perennially packed bar and dance club can be daunting (as can the no-nonsense bouncers), it moves fast. Once inside, you’ll find (surprise!) a circular bar stocked with the usual libations, and enough shiny Express for Men shirts and cologne to feed a small country.

Barcopa

Barcopa

2810 Main St., Santa Monica
310-452-2445

It’s "Cheers" meets the Batcave: Main Street’s darkest, sleekest nightclub is surprisingly also one of its friendliest. DJs spin hip-hop and R&B into the night as, in an odd case of role reversal, bartender Nick spills his guts to fellow patrons.

Finn McCool's Irish Pub

Finn McCool's Irish Pub

2702 Main St., Santa Monica
310-452-1734

Brazenly flying in the face of the well-established rule that if something's got the word "cool" in its title, it’s anything but [see: “Cool World,” “Cool Runnings”], Finn McCool’s is an unpretentious Irish pub that’s one part brewpub, two parts corned beef, and a heaping teaspoon of cool.

Main on Main

Main on Main

2941 Main St., Santa Monica
310-396-6678

Located in the former Mor Bar space, which was formerly Fro Bar, this contemporary nightclub still manages to pack the hot pretty things getting their party on in the desert of sports bars along Main St. in Santa Monica. The heavy-handed bartenders keep the crowd lubed and ready to boogie to the nonstop beats spun by a bevy of local DJs, as does Main's inventive selection of specialty cocktails, which includes the Bellini Cosmo and the Espresso Martini. Dress to sweat and don't forget your toothbrush—there's no telling where you'll end up after a night here.

Library Alehouse

Library Alehouse

2911 Main St., Santa Monica
310-314-4855

At Library Alehouse, beer is the main attraction, with over two dozen microbrews available for guzzling and a veritable shrine to vintage beer bottles erected overhead. Best of all, when someone asks where you were the next day, you can tell them you spent the night at the Library.

World Cafe

World Cafe

2820 Main Street, Santa Monica
310-392-1661

It’s all about fresh air and fresh drinks at this fresh joint. Sit under the stars in World Café’s expansive, heated outdoor patio, and order a Pearmo—a pear-flavored cosmo.


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