Where to go when you’re craving beach babes and gallons of beer
By Sophia Kercher, Special to Metromix
Hermosa Beach is like an eternal spring break, where beer flows as liberally as it does at a frat party. Come to think of it, the barhoppers along the Strand act like they never wanted college—or at least the parties—to end. As day turns to night, the mellow beach town comes alive with cuties riding their cruisers and drinking games that bring rowdy crowds.
At this slick Miami-style bar, flip-flops are a no-no, but bare shoulders are encouraged. Sun-soaked scenesters get down on the small dance floor, but if it’s your birthday you can dance on the tabletops in the VIP area.
Mom and dad in town? Bring them here for Bloody Marys and pub grub. The rooftop bar is the best spot in the house, especially since it gives prime view of the action on the Strand.
Deadheads, visitors from the nearby hostel and beach bums can all be spotted busting a move or getting their swerve on at this rockin’ red brick venue. There’s live music every night, from head-bobbing reggae to karaoke.
This bar and lounge may be old, but it's not tired. Loads of locals and beach riff-raff dig the 1960s decor, complete with antique cigarette-vending machines—you know, from when it was still considered cool to smoke.
Located smack in the middle of the pier, Patrick Molloys is a decked-out Irish pub that knows how to get you “buckled” (as the Irish say). The pub stays poppin' at night, but locals know to flock to the booze house for breakfast, when unlimited Mimosas are offered for an hour. Breakfast too early for you? Mimosas remain $2 until 2 p.m.
As you may have guessed from the giggle-inducing name, this beachside dive is where to get away from trendy cocktails and the dressed-up folks that come with them. Open for more than 50 years, Poop Deck is practically a Hermosa institution. It’s known for cheap drinks, a Budweiser-only tap and bathrooms that live up the bar’s name.
Beach bunnies, volleyball dudes, dance-floor divas and Torrance club kids all line up to get into this Mexi-Cali restaurant that morphs into a dance club at night. There are always a few skeezies, but you won’t notice them after a few glasses of the house drink.
Locals shun this upscale club for trying to be like Vegas, mainly because it enforces a strict dress code and charges a cover Friday and Saturday. But the Shore’s elegant lounge is still one of the most popular places to boogie in town. The jaw-dropping decor includes a gigantic red jellyfish light fixture, a blue-lit bar, plasma TVs and pearl-colored shell chandeliers.
This multilevel upscale cowboy club attracts a see-and-be-seen crowd for whiskey drinks and rides on the mechanical bull. Things get even more heated on the rooftop, where there are fire pits. Still not feeling the buzz? Union Cattle brews 17,000 gallons of its own beer annually; we’re fans of the Drunk Beaver brown ale.
Stay tuned for: Sharkeez Though it burned down in May 2006, Sharkeez Hermosa lives on in the hearts (and livers) of every local. But don’t dismay: The popular hangout is slated to make a comeback in May or early June this year. Sophia Kercher is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
