Tom Bergin's Tavern Irish Pub / Restaurant / Tavern

MID-WILSHIRE, LOS ANGELES –

From the shamrock sign outside to the wooden benches, Guinness taps, and beer mirrors inside, Tom Bergin’s Tavern is every bit the Irish pub – something visitors won’t soon forget once they’ve seen the thousands of shamrocks bearing the names of regulars who have made the bar home since 1936.

The welcoming neighborhood bar’s authenticity and laid-back vibe attract dressed-down hipsters, local blue-collar workers, and young professionals alike, who saddle up to the horseshoe bar to have a pint of Smithwicks, watch some sports, and chat with the long-serving and unfailingly friendly bartenders.

While convivial groups of co-workers or birthday partiers spill out of oversized green leather booths, those looking for a more intimate space can make their way to the classic candlelit dining room, settle in by the fireplace, and enjoy Irish favorites and steaks.

A more low-key vibe prevails on weekdays, but the energy picks up considerably on the weekends when lively patrons will need to squeeze past chugging ex-jocks to pick up their pints at the bar or drop money into the jukebox.

Upbeat and outgoing, Bergin’s is said to have been the inspiration for the TV show Cheers, and it’s easy to see why – with hipsters chatting with older Irishmen and college co-eds flirting with white-collar types, this is truly a place where everybody knows your name.