Tim Herlihy’s national Irish pub trek began February 16th 2016 at a grand and historic site for the Los Angeles crowd. Essentially, Tim was there for the 80th anniversary of the opening of Tom Bergin’s — the second oldest licensed bar in Los Angeles County. 

On February 11, 1935, shortly after the end of Prohibition, Tom Bergin, a lawyer for such Hollywood luminaries as Bing Crosby and Pat O’brien tacked a liquor license to the wall of his place on Wilshire Boulevard. It became known as the Tavern & Thoroughbred Club — or just Tom Bergin’s. 

Yes, despite a law degree from Boston University, Bergin found beer was in the blood. 

The call of opening a pub proved irresistible. His blue blood, high brow Boston family owned the Commercial Brewery as well as the very famous Old Horseshoe Tavern in Haymarket Square, established 1806. So after serving in WWI as one of the country’s first naval aviators (pilot #232) and hanging up his attorney’s shingle in Los Angeles in 1921, Bergin decided to open a pub just like his father’s, and Tom Bergin’s Old Horseshoe was born.

Drawing on his family roots (from County Kerry), Bergin created an authentic pub and it has always stayed that way, buoyed by the regulars who have run it with and for the owners.

Tom Bergin’s is defined by warmth, great food, and exceptional hospitality. Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien would make the Old Horseshoe their regular haunt, and soon after, the rest of Hollywood followed. Names such as John Wayne, Kiefer Sutherland, and Julia Roberts can be found nestled among the thousands of shamrocks affixed to the ceiling commemorating friends and loyal regulars. Cary Grant had his own booth (his shamrock sits framed above it to this day), President Ronald Reagan received his Bergin’s Shamrock in a ceremony in the Oval Office on St. Patrick’s Day, 1983, and regular patrons the Charles brothers utilized the famous Horseshoe Bar as inspiration for their TV show Cheers.

Far from just an industry hangout, Bergin’s has long been a nexus for the Los Angeles community. Sports fans gather to watch their teams play under the myriad vintage pennants which adorn the rafters. Or to visit the original 1951 Los Angeles Rams World Championship banner, which was gifted to Tom Bergin by Dan Reeves as thanks for hosting the Ram’s championship dinner.

Say hello to Schreck and Delp who run the place now with passion that old Tom would be proud of. 

Yes, Tim was there last night. You missed him, but we didn’t. And that is why American Bars will not allow you to miss another day of Tim’s epic tour. 

Today he is in Hawaii…

Check the next post to find out more.