I recently moved to LA from the east coast and I’m on a hunt for the best Irish Pub type bars on the west side, any tips? Thanks.
Pete – Brentwood
Hey Pete,
I moved out here from the east coast a couple years ago and I was on the same pub hunt. Lucky for you I did a lot of research. Here are some standouts:
Sonny McLean’s – This is my fav, but I’m biased having grown up a Red Sox/Patriots fan. Located on Wilshire in Santa Monica, it’s as Boston Irish as you can get in the LA area, and everyone there welcomes a new bad accent (as long as it’s not from New York.) They don’t have a full liquor license, so they can only serve beer and wine, but you can run across the street to The Shack for a shot and then return for your next round of beers. The food here is pretty awesome too, and you can get New England standbys like Clam Chowder, Maine lobster, and even Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. This place gets packed full of Patriots fans on Sundays though, so if you’re interested in catching a game, make sure you call for a reservation the Tuesday before.
O’Brien’s – Another great place to pick up a pint o’ Guinness, O’Brien’s is located on Main Street in Santa Monica. You can catch live music here in the back room, or sit out in the front courtyard area on a nice night. This place fills up on the weekends, to the point where you’re literally squeezing your way to the rest room. The crowd here also skews a little younger, so if you’re a new pub crawler, you may find a home here.
Finn McCool’s – Also located on Main Street in Santa Monica is Finn McCool’s. Finn’s (as some locals call it) is one of the nicer Irish pubs around town and attracts pub fans of all ages. On some nights an Irish seisiun will break out in the corner table, adding to Fin McCool’s authenticity. The food is pretty good here too, lot of potatoes.
Tom Bergin’s Tavern – Located on South Fairfax near the Miracle Mile, Tom Bergin’s looks like it was picked up and sent here directly from Dublin. The best draught Guinness in Los Angeles is here, and so is the best selection of Irish whiskey and a full menu. Grab a booth and settle in for the night. Cabs frequent the area so leave the car at home if you’re planning on making it a long night.
Molly Malone’s – Located just up the street from Tom Bergin’s on South Fairfax, Molly Malones caters to the younger crowd. The standout at this pub is the live entertainment, which usually leans more toward Americana than Irish folk, but after spending enough time in the main pub room, does it really matter? Molly’s has a luncheon sandwich menu featuring grilled cheese, fish sandwiches, BLT’s, and the Molly Burger. Molly’s beer list covers everything from Guinness to Fat Tire and a full list of whiskey.
My ideal nights include pregaming at Tom Bergin’s and heading up to Molly’s for a show, or Starting off at Finn’s for dinner, walking down to O’Brien’s for drinks and entertainment, and then cabbing it to Sonny’s to close out the night. Adh mor!
