Like a dependable drinking buddy who at a moment’s notice is always available to catch a game and a couple of pints, so is O’Brien’s, an Irish pub as reliable as a Timex watch and about as stylish.
Similar to the neighboring bars, and there are many; O’Brien’s Irish Pub is seen through the prism of Santa Monica, where pints of Guinness share bar space with iPhones, sunglasses and scripts from soon-to-be-failed television pilots. But of the myriad wells that line this stretch of Wilshire, O’Brien’s is the only one to which I return.
The bartenders are fraternally friendly, if not, perhaps, in a state of extended adolescence, where conversation is still peppered with dorm room wise cracks and towel-snapping high jinx. A capable lot all, though in-depth analysis of Fantasy Football and the Xbox 360 is often about the highest level of “craic” to be heard in this pub.
Game days, both College and Professional can get rather enthusiastic, and crowded, with SRO capacity. Oddly, it has become a popular Saturday destination for many Cal Bear supporters, perhaps because they too have learned not to expect too much in the end.
The warm combination of dark wood and brick walls adorned with typical pub memorabilia helps you to momentarily forget the relatively close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, that is until one of the regulars bellies up in flip flops and baggy shorts. The long, coat hook-equipped bar and dinning areas are divided by a wooden partition with tables lining a back wall and side room, while the glow of omnipresent plasmas are within sightline of almost every seat.
As with most pubs, O’Brien’s serves food, but like most pubs, I don’t go there to eat, so I cannot comment on the fare. Nor for that matter should I comment on the unfortunate presence of Karaoke, which by definition would eliminate them from this list. While I have never witnessed it firsthand, I am aware of a karaoke night, so I recommend you call ahead. Unless of course your desire is to perform hits from the Neil Diamond catalogue. But I must believe no loyal reader of this website would possibly cop to such a desire, even if your rendition of Forever In Blue Jeans is legendary.
With all its faults, there is an undeniable charm to O’Brien’s. Perhaps it is simply I have always found it refreshing when a bar has a back door as O’Brien’s does. Its like having a friendly neighbor, who insists you let yourself in and grab a cold beer from the fridge, and sometimes we don’t need much more than that. – CSM