With direct ocean views, you will hardly notice the memorabilia covered ceiling or the 20+ televisions. This is a great place to enjoy a perfectly cold beer in-between the waves or during a beach side pub crawl.
Sometimes it really pays off to heed your mother's old advice: "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.†This is one of those times. Looking a little dilapidated and worn around the edges, the faded yellow building that is the Shellback Tavern can appear like a total dive bar to the untrained eye. But, to those in the know, this mustard colored concrete building (tucked inside a side alley) is a veritable beachside oasis. Sure the shutters may be a bit unhinged, but it's what's inside that truly counts. A diamond in the rough, this Manhattan Beach spot is always crammed with locals enjoying a cold beer just a short walk from the glittering beach outside its doors. When you walk in you'll notice also sorts of weird beach stuff that was absentmindedly hung on the ceiling or plastered to the walls. (You might encounter a smiling inflatable shark, for example, or a huge oversized flip flop.) Among their felt jester crowns and Bud Light surfboards you will see countless people enjoying this anything-goes atmosphere that indulges people from all walks of life. If you are lucky enough to snag a seat by the window, you will also be treated to some pretty awesome views of Manhattan Beach. This is the type of place people tend to stay at for a long time, so if you happen upon one of these spots guard it with your life. Amid all their other wonderfully strange knick knacks you will also see a Shellback Nation sign in the vein of the California Bear Republic flag. After just a few minutes here, you'll know exactly why people are eager to count themselves as one of the happy residents of this faux country.