Great bar! Check this place out because its a great place to be to have a few beers with friends.. Two pool tables and shuffleboard!!!! they just got a new jukebox in and its great! the bartenders are cool and hilarious! and the prices are good too... worth a visit but definitely hang out in the second room because the bar with the green lights make me dizzy... i dont know about you but all bars should be red, not green! read more

So i was reading back and my reviews chuckling at how clever i was... when i realized i have not reviewed O'connells yet. No reason. just slipped my melon. The bar is a bar is a bar. What makes it different is the set up. It works. bar. then tables, then in a SEPARATE room are two pool tables. I love that the tables are separate. I get to play pool w/o you f'n bumping me in your inebriated stupor and you get to drink w/ out my ass or my cue in your drink! deal? thought so. It's a good bar, good selection. good guy behind the bar, Internet juke.. which is great.. as you know. but also expensive as you know... .50 a song? well hell. if it keeps the tables at .50 then charge a 1.00 a song. i don't care. oh. and they have Chartreuse my favorite liquor. stellar. all i ask? is can we PLEEEAAASSSSEEE get those tables re-felted!!! even FERNS has fresh felt!!! read more

Came in on a Sunday around 11am after a long and fantastic brewery tour the day before. Needless to say, we needed some drinks to finish off the weekend and to help ease the insane headache! Bloody marys, the hungover cure of used for hundreds of years...ok, not true, but they are a great brunch staple. Could not be the price! $4.50 for a super tasty bloody mary. It was strong, tangy, spicy, salty, basically everything you want in one. Friends got mimosas, beers on tap, and while it is a CASH ONLY bar, they do have awesome prices and an atm on site. read more

I got in a car accident in front of this place once. Totaled my car. It was like, 9:30 in the morning and all the drunks hanging outside said they'd be witnesses for me. I was found to be at fault by the insurance company. Maybe cause I was, but still. read more

O'Connell's is full of professional drinkers, CSULB frat boys, and neighborhood folks just tryin' to get a cocktail. You can get food from Shillelagh next door (the sweet potato fries are perfect bar food). You can also get a whole lotta attitude from the bartenders (depending on the day of the week and current dispositions) on down to the patrons (god forbid you put an ass cheek near some dude's barstool while trying to get a drink). O'Connell's is what it is...a neighborhood dive. Just don't come with any high expectations and you'll be fine. Plus, they have pretty freaking good Bloody Marys--$4.50 for a double that's poured more like a triple, made with real horseradish, and stirred with a couple of spicy green beans. That alone can make a trip to O'Connell's worth it once in awhile. read more

Saying "O'Connell's" is a dive bar is like saying the Pope is Catholic. It's a good spot as long you remember you're in a dive bar and not some full-service chain restaurant with a bar attached to it. The bartenders serve up decent drinks and throw in their words of comedy, along with the locals who inhabit the bar next to the TVs. Between having drinks, talking with my friend, and the 'tenders and locals, it was a good time to be had. read more

ok so i have finally figured out that most sports bars/pubs dont ever have really high ratings for a variety of reasons. Mostly I guess because the folks who traipse in are a varied and sundry sort with the same types of expectations of these type of establishments. I am not sure what the def of a dive bar really is but it seems that folks are summing OConnells up as such and so if that's the case then I say its a mighty fine dive bar by me. But really this is my neighborhood go to spot. Never had a bad moment here....not with staff, not with crowd, not with nothin. I like the bartenders - some new blood is starting to enter the fold (one of our all time fave's - Rocket has gone on to the great party in the sky "R.I.P. Rocket"). All guys who work here are cool; I am not usually there during super busy crowded times but they have a good handle on things and nothing has ever gotten out of control. Crowd is always mixed with various generations, regulars and new folks but everyone mixes it up and does their own thing with no real beef at all. Drinks are basic at good prices (their bloody mary is a standout) Pool tables are cool, Sports Viewing is great, Juke Box good variety. I just like the laid-back general ebb and flow of this spot and if you are hungry and want good food; Shillaleagh is on other side of pool table area and can hook you up (at least until a certain time). After that you can step across the street to Kafe Neo for really delish burgers and greek feta fries. read more

It's an ok place but if you order a drink the bartender doesn't agree with, your order is met with lame jokes and lame looks. How about you pour the drink I'm going to pay for and let me be on my way if you want a gratuity. read more

It's a dive bar, nothing special nothing that makes this place any better than any other dive bar. I've literally lived 100 yards from this place for about 5 years but have only stepped foot in here probably 4 times. I have actually walked into the bar as a shortcut to get to MVPs haha. It's not a bad place and the drinks are always, always, always strong and cheap. It's a great place to start the night before going somewhere any paying $12 for a drink. The only reason i didn't give 5 stars is because the clientele this place attracts, Ive never been harassed or anything of that nature BUT there are some very obvious frequent flyers and they will give you a stare down and judge not only you but the people you're with. And some of these people are super sketchy looking, just be prepared to have drinks at a bar that doesn't feel 100% welcoming. read more

Man... This place does NOT mess around. It's the type of place that definitely caters to the regular/local crowd. You know--the type of patron who is already knocking back a few by 3pm and sticks around well after last call. Except don't stick around after last call--the bartenders call it like it is, and if they don't want you around, they'll bully you right back out onto 4th St. read more

I am not sure I can officially rate this place for the dive bar it is....because we walked over in the wee hours of the morn to see if we could get a Bailey's n coffee and some breakfast. We were pretty stoked to find out that the restaurant next door opened in 10 minutes, so we took a seat at the bar. This is definitely one of those places where the same people like to get together on Sunday morning and have beers with their coffee. Looking around though, the place was nice and spacious - not how I pictured it from the outside. There are several pool tables and lots of places to just sit and watch whatever sports event might be on any of the various televisions. This is the kind of place I can see coming to a lot, mostly because it's so close and there's something to do (pool) and pretty good music playing all the time. But, alas, this can be a dangerous combo when you're on a budget and trying not to become an alcoholic. You can tell from the interaction between the bartender and the regulars that their main mission is to kind of rib each other constantly. Overall, I was impressed with everything (except the bathroom...please clean the fan/vent...please) and will likely return for a cool bud and some tasty waves...wait, that line's already taken. I meant pool. :) read more

My friends and I went here for the Game 7 of the Lakers and Celtics. They got there early and there was plenty of tables a half hour before the game. There are a ton of nice, flat screen TVs, so no matter where you sat you get an aweosme view. The food here is amazing! I had one of the daily speicals, which was blackend tofu and mushroom enchiladas. It came with a side of long grain mexican-style rice and beans. It was amazing. I also tried some of my b/f's fish and chips and the fish wasn't dry and their homemade tarter sauce had a nice touch of dill in it. There is a resturant attached, so if you want to eat, but not be in the bar, you can sit in there. Beer was decently priced, $16 for a pitcher of premium beer. Good selection. Bar tender was attentive and quick. The bar is CASH ONLY, while the resturant accepts credit cards. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great cheap food (most dishes were under $10) and good drinks. read more

O'Connell's isn't my favorite place to pull up a seat at the bar and have a few brews at, but it's not the worst spot around me either. It's a dive bar with plenty of TV's, two pool tables, and a jukebox that is usually playing some crappy music. If you come here often enough you are bound to see some locals (a sign of a solid dive bar). The drinks are cheap and the cocktails are strong enough to put even MORE hair on my chest. The pool tables are located in a separate sort of room which I kind of like so you aren't bothering people by asking them to move out of your shot. The people here are friendly enough but you can also keep to yourself and drown your sorrows in peace too. I haven't had the food from next door but I hear good things. It's a typical dive! So have a drink or five and have a good time. I'm just lucky enough to be able to walk home after my nights here. Oh yeah and it's cash only! They have an ATM inside though if you need to grab a few bills to cover your tab. read more

I love this bar! It's so easy going causal and I come here to shoot pool at least once a week. Sean is the best bartender ever. We always get good service from him. Wish they had more house specials but other than that. Environment is awesome. Never any trouble here. read more

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Never in my life have I meet so many bartenders that hate their job. Why is it such a big deal to make bloody Mary's? If they all hate it then stop offing them and take down the giant bloody Mary drink special sign. Or better yet how about some customer service? I'm one of 5 people in the bar on Sunday around noon. Ask for a bloody and get nothing but attitude. Then the bartender make me explain why I want it before he makes it. WTF is wrong with these guys. It is one of 3 posted drink specials and every bartender that work here acts like an ass when asked to make one. Do you job with a smile or get another job bunches of cry baby bartenders!!!!! And I would complain to the owner but he is a bigger cry baby than all the bartenders together. If it wasn't for MVP's next door I'm sure they would go out of business!!!! Saddest bar in all of Long Beach. read more

This is my new spot. For one, it's insanely cheap, at least as far as SoCal goes. Two, the bar tenders are human, down-to-earth guys. Another reviewer said this is Cheers, and she's right. You really do a get sprightly bunch of regulars here, all of whom could pass for George Wendt. I also happen to think it's the best place to watch football in LB, since the flatscreens show everything and you don't have to deal with the fraternity crowd at Gallagher's, plus the price is about half. Beerwise, it's cheaper than buying at the store--go for the pitchers--and the mixed drinks, while unspectacular, are $3-5 a piece, which is what you want in a dive. Peoplewise, this also has a nice and incredibly eclectic mix of geezers, hipsters, folk-types, homemakers, and run-of-the-mill serial killers. Highly recommended for women. Seriously. You won't get hit on here like at Red Room or the Pike--come to think of it, has anyone ever gotten hit on at the Pike?--and you don't have to worry about getting stabbed, like at Alex's. Plus the music doesn't puncture your ears, like at Prospector, or the collective garbage disposal unit commonly known as Fern's. The one downside to O'Connell's is that the ceiling looks like somebody's basement--again the serial killer thing pops into mind--but the pool table's cheap, and the place is probably the most all-around friendly bar I've seen in Long Beach, apart from Hooters. read more

Walking distance to me, Pros: Photo Hunt, Pool, Darts, Shuffleboard, and a great Jukebox. Cons: mostly a guys bar, cash only. read more

I have been coming here for over a year. I love this place. Except when they run out of Grey Goose (it only happened once). Sean the Bartender, makes wonderful drinks. Wonderful place. Go for Monday Night Football, you will love it. Another nice thing, No douche bags. Thumbs Up. read more

It's a dive bar Irish Pub. The $16 pitcher of Blue Moon and cash only is a bit of a turn off. They have TV's everywhere and plenty of room to relax most nights. They have one of those Internet Juke boxes which has tons of songs to choose from. I don't hate this place, but it's never my first choice. read more

I really love this bar! As do most people who live around the block from it.. which I think accounts for about 99.9% of its patrons, no? Let's get this straight... $0.50 for pool. That is FIFTY CENTS for pool. What else do you need to know?? The bartender can be an ass, as previously mentioned in reviews, but that is only because he's drunk.. which has far more advantages (stiff drinks) than disadvantages (rude asshole). read more

Super dive! Everyone's cool if you're cool, standard bar etiquette... Cash only. Can order food from MVP's and eat in the bar! read more

I love this place. This is a great place for lady's to let there hair out and drink. Cheap drinks, good people. Clean bathroom.

Friendly staff, good food and always Fun fun fun! Hung out for a couple hours, not too crowded for a Saturday evening which was nice. Def coming back. read more

I completely love this Bar!!! It has Swagger, it has character, and it has some great drinks at great prices! The bartenders make me laugh and they usually have a sharp sense of wit. They know when to just let me drink my drink too. I feel welcome and safe at this establishment. Sure, this bar may only take cash. There's an ATM in the corner. Sure, this bar has some patrons that rival Mickey Rourke in Bar Fly. I like that feature in my bar crowd and I like that movie. Sure, the bartenders may get strict about ID.'s, but you should have identification. If your I.D. is good then there is not a problem. That said, there's great food next door and across the street. The Greek restaurant across the street delivers food and the Irish restaurant next door brings your food to the bar. The menu's are at the bar. How cool is that? An awesome place which is friendly to my pocketbook. Did I mention they have wall to wall television, FREE shuffleboard and two .75 cent pool tables? The only thing missing is IPOD music night!! (Or something like that) Although, they do have an internet jukebox. Long Beach, I have found a great neighborhood bar.... read more

It's a dive, but it's so good. Not flashy or hipster infested, drinks are cheap, but strong.

Hell no I won't go....... to O'Connell's. I used to go to O'Connell's all the time because it was our local bar and I really liked the bartender "rocket" well the last couple of time I have gone in it took 20min to get a drink and the bartenders attitude was shitty. I was really upset come New Years '09 when my husband and a friend got there about 1:15; I was the designated driver all night and all I wanted was a nice cold Guinness which would have taken 2min to drink. ...well the fucker behind the bar was too busy counting his tips and finally told me 10min later that the bar was closed and it was at that point only 1:25...ON NEW YEARS!! REALLY? There were about 20 people still in the bar drinking. What the fuck! Same thing happened on St. Patrick's Day, closed the bar at 1:25. Are you kidding me? I will NEVER, EVER go back again. So very disappointing. They have lost some local business for sure; we have a lot of bike rides (20 People) we would always stop in...WELL NOT ANYMORE. BYE BYE O'CONNELL'S Also, I used to LOVE the restaurant next store and gave it rave reviews. Well the last two times I went in the morning the service was horrible and the food was disgusting. Not sure what happened. read more

I onlt give this place 2 stars because I used to love it. I came here while Johny Rocket was still bartending. He would know my drink the second he saw my face. He was just an awesome guy! The crowd......I would always know at least 2 or 3 people in the joint. I used to come in 2 or 3 nights a weeks and have a few drinks and shoot some pool. It has been difficult since Johnny's passing. I came in tonight fo the 1st time this year, All I can say is.... I AM NEVER COMING BACK, Despite living minutes away... this place can suck a $&#@, I came in tonight after a long long break and the new staff just blows. Unwelcoming, rude and rods up their nasty asses. So sad. Used to be a place that made me feel welcome and relaxed. Came here for 3 years. Whoever is running this joint.....check yourself and your nasty and incosiderate useless staff. I honestlty used to call this my bar...just a few months ago. Shove it. I hope you go under. F U. K read more

I gotta go with Andrya H. on this place...not very welcoming AT ALL. The one and only time I went there was an impromptu celebration of my best friend getting into med school--why we chose to step into this place, I dunno. (I think we were planning to go somewhere else but needed instant gratification?) Anyway, I ordered us drinks and we proceeded to drink them while being stared at by all 3 patrons inside. Feeling a little uneasy, we decided to leave. We walk outside and I see a cop parked across the street--whatever, I'm not worried. I didn't even finish my drink. As we get into my car I see one of O'Connell's creepy patrons pointing me out to the cop!! (NO JOKE) Well, you can guess what happened after this.....yes, I was pulled over. The cop used the excuse that there was a "robbery in the neighborhood and somehow I fit the description". (YEAH RIGHT) Nothing ended up happening bcuz A) I was completely fine to drive and clearly NOT the thief and B) my friend ended up having a 10min convo w/the cop about getting into med school. So yeah, it would be a cold day in hell before I ever go back into that place. I know when I'm not wanted & that's fine with me! O'Connell's can suck it! read more

I come here a lot because I live next door. There's not a gun to my head but they have the best bartenders and the drinks are cheap.

I have enjoyed this place on many an occasion. I love dive bars and playing pool and shuffleboard and loading the jukebox while drinking dive bar cocktails, but I have never had an establishment tell me "this is not a gay bar." I left shortly before my friends were told that and I am mortified by it. We have had great experiences prior with Sean, and even with the bartender this morning. We're not expecting fast and friendly, but homophobia in such a gay friendly town is pretty much unacceptable. read more

Warning! Don't go here unless you want to feel dirty and unwelcomed! The place is gross and disgusting. A complete dump. I don't think they do a good job washing their glassware. And the bartenders are rude (not in the fun novelty restaurant sorta way). Seriously, I think the only people who give this place high ratings are their regulars. I went here to grab a quick drink since I love dive bars but this place was an utter disappointment. The bar counter was sticky, the place smells like a ripe locker room, and the glass my drink came in was filthy! Worst part? I witnessed them being racist to a group of hispanic people! You should avoid this place at all costs. read more

Worse place ever because the so call bouncer they have for lame excuse of.. Is an asshole n rude .. I had just got there n I was sitting on a stool n yank it off me.. I will not be returning read more

I have been going to O'Connell's for 7 years. It's a great neighborhood bar. There is pool tables and free shuffle board. The bartenders are good to you if your good to them. The same goes for most of the clientele. Cheapest Jameson in town. read more

Just moved to LB and looking for a fun sports bar to watch football. So I get it...my team played the Rams....who were originally from LA. But the people there were rude and pretentious, very snotty. It was obvious my Wilson and the Lynch jersey I threw on my friend were not welcome there. My friend was also told to leave when she said she thought she jinxed the game. I have never felt so unwanted in my life. read more

In response to the review posted by ann a. on 3/18/2014: Ann was asked to leave O'Connell's due to her extreme level of intoxication and her inability to handle her alcohol. No one working at the bar that evening made any sort of physical contact with her. Her slanderous review features unconscionable and preposterous accusations about the bouncer, who was simply doing his job by asking her to leave. Using Yelp to make such serious and defamatory false accusations against someone should not be permitted. Yelp is a forum to review businesses and services, not to personally attack someone a reviewer has a grudge against. read more

Try and am stay as far away as possible from this bar. Nothing but Horrible service from the guy with the semi long hair.

Having lived around the corner from this place for most of my adult life, i have a certain respect for its divey atmosphere and surly local clientele. As with most dives it is what you make of it and who you are with. I've never really had a problem with any hostility here as others have, and on the contrary find the personalities of the bartenders to be strong but not overtly anti-social. The booze is cheap and if you go on a monday night when a game is on you may be lucky enough to get free 1/2 lb chili dogs. Plus you can now order beer munchies from Shillelagh, nothing tacks on unnecessary calories like a pitcher of beer and a plate of irish nachos. read more

So this weird freaky guy who we met in a bar in Palm Springs last weekend was paying for our drinks and bragging about his money, then he says, "Just go down to O'Connell's in Long Beach and tell 'em to put in on Kelly's tab." So there you have it folks, free drinks on Kelly! Pretty cool bar too! Once I ordered a shot of jack and a beer there, it was like 4 bucks! The bartender informed me that this was the happiest place on earth and that Disneyland could eat shit. read more

Everyone is so friendly here. Patrons and bartenders alike. It's a great place to go alone or with friends. If you go alone it won't be hard to strike up a conversation with someone and join their game of pool. It's like one big happy family! Tilley was the best, Sean makes his own ginger ale and Doug is a teddy bear. Go! read more

It's a sad time for O'Connells patrons... Johnny Rocket has passed away this week. I've known him for almost 20 years, and not only was he a great bartender, but a great friend. Erin go bragh, go Jacksonville, go Gators, and if there is a God, and he needs a drink, let Johnny serve him... read more