1. Tom Bergin’s
840 S Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90036
(323) 936-7151
The oldest Irish establishment in Los Angeles was founded in 1936 by Tom Bergin, a former lawyer turned publican. Since 1949 The Tavern has been located just east of Beverly Hills in a quaint Irish style cottage.
Tom Bergin's Tavern is one of Los Angeles' most popular watering holes, and is so rated in Zagat 2008/09 L.A. Nightlife Guide, because first it is a saloon and secondly a great restaurant. And for the third year in a row, The Tavern has garnered even more prestigious award when it was named, by Tom Horan's Top 10 Clubs - the #1 Irish Establishment in America for 2010!
When you walk through the "Kelly Green" oak wood doors you will see the renowned "Horse Shoe Bar", the inspiration for the television series "Cheers". Here you can slide onto one of the 17 bar benches all attached to the bar railing, and order anything from a pint of Guinness to a shot of Jameson 12, a dry martini or one of our world famous Irish Coffees, which on St. Patrick's weekend, over 5000 Irish Coffees have been served.
While enjoying your libation, poured by one of The Tavern's five professional bartenders, some who have been here for over 30 years, you may chat up a conversation with a pinstriped executive, an off duty LAPD detective, a pretty college coed, and/or a true Irishman, and enjoy a sporting event on one of our eight HD TVs. You can peruse the walls where the original Los Angeles Rams 1951 Championship banner (the forerunner of the Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy) hangs with many more sports and Irish memorabilia, along with thousands of Shamrocks, all embellished with names of faithful customers from the present to way back when Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien and Cary Grant were regulars.
If you are in the spirit for some great food, order at the Bar or have lunch or dinner in the seven Booth Alcove, or continue onto the gem of The Tavern...a cathedral ceiling, fireplace, candlelit, white table clothed dining room paneled in rich wood decor with curtained windows...and order one of our original Irish entrees such as Gaelic Beef or Chicken or Shrimp Erin or from our Mesquite Charcoal Grill, a U.S.D.A. Prime New York Steak or the best 8 oz. Burger in town.
In 1973 Tom Bergin sold The Tavern to T.K. ("K" is for Kelly) Vodrey, former newspaper and magazine publisher, who as the current proprietor along with his wife, Margaret Kathleen (Peggy) O'Hara, has kept alive the camaraderie of the Bergin tradition, where grand people enjoy great spirits, delicious food and fun times.
T.K. and Peggy are ably assisted by their very experienced General Manager Lesa Parsons and their award-winning Chef Said Lopez.