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    Shellback Tavern

    3.6 (394 reviews)
    ModerateDive Bars, American
    Closed 11:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Shellback Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    SHELLBACK TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Juke Box
    Divey
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Shellback Tavern

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    Ohhh to be in our 20's again
    Matt G.

    Love the nostalgia of going to a place we frequented 20 years ago. Friendly staff, great view and fun trucker hats. Keep the bathroom gamey! jk

    Lucy N.

    Fun place! Good selection of drinks and food. I snagged a spot by the window to watch the sunset, and also watch a baseball game. Great view of sunset. Good and quick service. Popular place. Fun decor. You must check it out if you are in town!

    Fanta shots!
    Leo B.

    Stopped in after walking to the pier after spending the day at the beach. After downing the famous Fanta shots, we had beers and hung out, people watching and ocean watching. Did not eat, but maybe next time as food looked and smelled pretty good. lots of local vibe charm and old school beach/sport decor.

    Beer
    Stephanie K.

    We stopped in after a walk on the beach. The bartenders were very welcoming. The food looked good. Wish I was hungry. It's a very cozy atmosphere.

    Terrence Y.

    Been coming here since my days at UCLA and it never disappoints for its atmosphere and location. Shellback's is the definition of an old school bar. It also happens to be steps away from the pier and beach so it has great views and is always packed. Everyone here has a good time and the bartenders and servers do a great job of getting food and drinks out quickly so you can keep enjoying. Drink up my friends!

    Our Famous Chicken Tenders
    Carly C.

    Was visiting for work & told to check this place out. Everyone deserves to try these chicken tenders at least once in their life. They are famous for a reason! Ranch was also 10/10.

    Nachos
    Amy F.

    If you're looking for a good local dive this is your spot. I love that a good portion of people are even wearing shellback hats! Which you can buy from the bar. I wouldn't say to come here for the food but vibes are high and drink prices are decent. Although we did have their chicken wings and those were pretty good. Now the nachos I would pass on next time and I'm a huge chip feen.

    Dave W.

    At the bottom of a steep Avenue overlooking Manhattan Beach is Shellback Tavern. The exterior of this building was pretty photo worthy. Inside it looks like everything a beach bar should look like and you certainly know you're at a beach by being in there....open air breeze and all. If you start a tab, they automatically hold $100 on your card and have a sign saying so. I personally think this is a schmuck move and unnecessary. It's not that i am not going to spend that much anyway, but if someone else wants to have half of that, they now have an extra hold for the unspent portion for multiple days. They don't even do that here in Vegas nor did they do that anywhere else we went in Hermosa Beach area. Annoying concept. The bartender had a fun personality and the burger i had was simply okay add $2 extra for fries with it which was a little nickel and dimey of them. It was a cool divey beach bar i guess but I encountered much better options during my visit.

    a man sitting at a bar
    Maren B.

    My SO has a history with this place so I grudgingly agreed to have a few drinks here. My first impression was a combination of horrified and curious. This place is definitely divey and its last update was IDK, 1972? I did not have the greatest attitude at first. That started to change after our drinks came and our exceptionally cool and friendly server helped us find an outlet to charge our phones. Drinks were quite good and despite staying for over two hours, we were never neglected or made to feel unwelcome. Everyone here seemed to be having such a good time and I realized that I was too. I think the original concept for this bar was tiki and there is still a little of that but it's mostly a dive bar if you ask me, and a damn good one at that. Yes, the bathrooms are truly terrifying but it's a fun, friendly, relaxed place and they know exactly what they are, have embraced it and are very much in on the joke. I've even joined club beach trash. Cheers, and see you at Shellback, fellow beach trashians.

    Old Fashioned cocktail with an ocean view!
    Angel G.

    Came here with a couple friends as it was recommended by some colleagues at my office. I really love this bar, the staff, drinks & ambiance are amazing with views of the Manhattan Beach Pier! Mikey was our bartender, he was extremely nice and attentive and served up our drinks quickly with a big smile. Mikey is one of the nicest bartenders that I've met in a very long time, he was very genuine and made us feel right at home. He's super funny and very welcoming, I love that he always remembered what we were drinking and he kept the drinks flowing all day long! Shellback is now my new favorite bar in the South Bay! I would highly recommend you visit Shellback & if you want the best service from one of the nicest bartenders in town, make sure you ask for Mikey!!! If I could give Shellback & Mikey 10 stars I totally would!!! I can't wait to come back this weekend!!!

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    9 days ago

    A good small bar for those post-dinner drink cravings. It's what you expect for a bar in Manhattan beach. Buy a hat for the memories

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    5 months ago

    Great beach bar after a day bumming it on the beach . Nice locals and you know da rulz.

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    10 months ago

    The vibes are everything, food is decent it's just typical bar food but it's good, service is also great!

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    Ask the Community - Shellback Tavern

    Do they accept cash?

    Yes

    Does anyone know if they still have the "famous" chicken tenders?

    Yes it's still on the menu!

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    Purple Orchid - Inside the bar

    Purple Orchid

    (400 reviews)

    $

    So glad I found this place! I was looking for somewhere to hang out and grab a drink before heading…read moreto Cinema West, and Yelp pointed me to Purple Orchid. This spot checked all my Tiki-bar boxes: moody lighting, fun kitschy décor, and seriously great drinks. I started with a Mai Tai--perfectly strong but still super tasty--then switched to a glass of Chardonnay so I wouldn't be completely blitzed for the movie. We still had time to spare, so I finished with a virgin Piña Colada and oh my gosh, it was delicious. Loved the jukebox and pool tables, too. Huge thanks to Lindsay for the excellent service. We'll definitely be back!

    Wish I could leave zero stars.. This was the absolute worst…read moreMai tai I have ever had. It tasted like sour/rotten juice with some sort of fermented swill floated on top. No mint on top, zero lime flavor, but a cherry on an umbrella. I literally took one sip and pushed the glass back to the edge of the bar. Not one bartender or bar back came to check on my party after sitting our drinks down. After about twenty minutes of being ignored someone came and grabbed my husbands empty glass but left my completely full glass sitting on the bar mat. Another ten minutes or so of still not being checked on and we finally decided to leave. I'm out the twelve bucks for my drink but I consider it a twelve dollar lesson in not coming back here again. Sadly, the only reason we chose to get drinks at this bar was because I insisted I wanted a drink before heading home.

    Simmzy's - Pork Belly Sliders... with Bao buns!

    Simmzy's

    (1.6k reviews)

    $$

    Simmzy's in Manhattan Beach delivered an excellent dining experience. Perfectly located in downtown…read morenear the pier, the restaurant has a lively yet comfortable beachside atmosphere that works well for families and casual dining. The service was fast and efficient, and the entire staff from the manager to our server who was friendly, attentive, and professional. Everything we ordered was well prepared: the kids' grilled cheese with fries was simple and satisfying, the Simmzy's nachos were flavorful and great for sharing, the crispy crunchy vegan salad bowl was fresh and well balanced, and the Lil' Simmzy's burger was juicy and delicious. Overall, great food, excellent service, and a welcoming environment. Highly recommend if you're in Manhattan Beach. we'll definitely be back.

    This place is always packed to the gills. I figured it had to be good…read more We came at a good time, when it wasn't too busy. It was a Tuesday, so it was Taco Tuesday, of course. They have a good selection of beers. The seating is packed, but it's fun and festive. We got the 15 minute wings. I have to say, they were just okay. For the price, I'm not sure they are worth it. The sauce is a little sweet, and no one at my table thought it was as amazing as they claim. Don't get me wrong, they have good crunch and all that, but they end up being almost $3.00 a wing. I got the simmzys burger that's kinda like a smash burger. I didn't love the texture of the meat. I don't know what grind they are using, but it felt like a cheaper grind. It had some bits that were chewy. My husband had the other burger and he thought the same. Didn't love the meat. The fries are thin and you can mix with sweet potato fries which is fun. The tostada was a great deal for the price. I liked the place. I just wasn't blown away. They do a good job. But I've had better wings and burgers. Worth a try. I'd come again and order differently.

    Grunions Sports Bar & Grill - Grunion Club Sandwich

    Grunions Sports Bar & Grill

    (247 reviews)

    $$

    Went here for lunch time for a working social. There was already alot of people posted around the…read morebar with drinks in hand and food in front of them. Waited a good 15 minutes before someone attended to us. The person that attended to us was the bartender. Realizing he is playing host, bartender and waiter. He handed us a menu and stated he will be back to take our orders. Another 15 minutes goes by and we finally order adult beverages. 10 minutes goes by which he delivered our drinks. I received my Michelob ultra which was like a cold slushy! I said perfect! Thats the way I like my drink. Super cold and icey. We ordered on the spot. Another 15 minutes goes by. Recieved our food. Wings, zucchini, hamburgers and tater tots. I have got to say.. the food here is exceptionally delicious! No complaints on the food. All was satisfying. The place has a ambiance like a tavern. Dark and cozy. Parking is a hit and miss. We came in a good time. Parking may be difficult on peak hours. If you use Google maps.. be aware, sometimes Google maps is retarded. As a first timer, Google maps got us driving around and around. Just remember that the bar is on Sepulveda and parking is in the back. Alittle frustrated. Lol Overall it was a good experience. They can work on their staffing for lunch hour. Maybe add one waitress to cover lunch time.

    Grunions has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the South Bay. The hot wings are legit some…read moreof the best around, and the beer selection is always on point. Honestly, everything on the menu hits , you really can't go wrong. A huge shoutout to Kelsey and Marissa, two of the funniest, friendliest servers you'll ever meet. They always bring great energy and make the experience even better. If you're looking for a place to catch football on Sundays, this is the place. Just a heads-up: get there early if you want a good seat, it fills up fast, and for good reason. Awesome food, great drinks, and even better people. Highly recommend!

    The Strand House - Exterior

    The Strand House

    (2.8k reviews)

    $$$

    An incredible dining spot right near the pier, with truly stunning ocean views, especially at…read moresunset. The food was just as impressive as the setting. The fries are a must-try, perfectly crisp and flavorful. The ahi tuna salad was fresh and beautifully balanced, not overpowered by vinegar (as it usually happens) and the sea bass was cooked to perfection with lots of flavours. For dessert, the truffle hazelnut treat is an absolute standout, rich, indulgent, and reminiscent of a Ferrero Rocher. Parking in the area can be a bit challenging, with mostly metered spots nearby. There is some free street parking in the surrounding residential areas if you don't mind a short walk.

    Stopped by for dinner and drinks with my hubby and a friend this place is definitely a vibe and…read moresuper close to the ocean. Best time to go is for happy hour before sunset. Our reservation wasn't until 8:30, so we hung out downstairs for about an hour first. Met a lot of people who were clearly locals and regulars, which always says a lot about a spot. Once we sat down for dinner, we ordered a few things. The bluefin tostadas are a must if you're into seafood. We also had the scallops delicious doesn't even do them justice, just wish there was more than one . My hubby ordered the lamb, which was probably our least favorite since it was a bit dry. The rigatoni though? Unbelievably good. Honestly, I'd come back and order the exact same items minus the lamb lol. Shoutout to Griffin for keeping us going all night . And the buttermilk bread? So good I almost cried. Parking is pretty easy, but definitely come early on a nice day. There are a couple of metered lots nearby with up to 5-hour parking. Fridays they've got a DJ after 9:30 PM... how swayyy See you next time!

    Shellback Tavern - divebars - Updated May 2026

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