How about a bit of liquid courage? It’s just what those regulars needed to move Tom Bergin’s Public House.
Welcome to Tom Bergin’s Public House. It is an iconic Los Angeles establishment with a rich history. This historic tavern is known for its Irish coffees and loyal regulars.
Tom Bergin’s Public House has been around for over 80 years. It has become a favorite for locals and celebrities alike. They all come looking to grab a pint and a bite.
The current owner Derek Schreck saved the bar from closure in 2013. He was drawn to its history and human quality. Tom Bergin’s Public House is more than just a place. It is a continuously operating institution.
Tom Bergin’s is affectionately known as “The House of Irish Coffee”. The signature drink was reputedly brought from Ireland. The Tudor-style bar is filled with green shamrocks. These shamrocks feature the names of regulars and cover the ceiling. Celebrities like Cary Grant and Bill Murray are among the fans. They have their names on the lucky placards. Grant even had his own reserved booth. Ronald Reagan received a shamrock while in the Oval Office. It was a nod to his many nights spent at Bergin’s as a young actor.
The shamrock tradition started in 1957. A regular named Bud Wiser suggested his name be hung on the wall. An impromptu shamrock was created. Now staff nominate upstanding regulars. The staff votes to determine if they are shamrock worthy.
Tom Bergin’s walls display sports memorabilia. The original 1951 Los Angeles Rams championship banner hangs here. Tom Bergin was friends with Dan Reeves owner of the Rams. The team celebrated their victory at the tavern.
Tom Bergin’s family has roots in County Kerry Ireland. They owned a wine and port company in Boston. Tom attended college but joined the Naval Air Force during WWI. After the war he finished his law degree. He moved to Los Angeles in 1927.
Bergin became friends with Bing Crosby and Pat O’Brien. They wanted a Hollywood hangout. Tom wanted to open a tavern like his dad’s. He received a liquor license in 1935. It was considered the second-oldest in Los Angeles. In 1936 Tom Bergin’s Old Horseshoe Tavern & Thoroughbred Club opened. It was located where LACMA now stands.
The tavern became a popular spot with the Hollywood crowd. Bergin focused on his tavern. In 1945 he bought the property where the bar now stands. It was conveniently located near homes and the Carthay Circle movie palace.
Bergin designed the new location to preserve the original bar’s features. Legend says that a group of regulars carried the horseshoe-shaped bar to the new location. They used poles for support.
Tom Bergin operated his tavern until 1972. He then passed it on to a pair of regulars. The bar has changed ownership a few times. It briefly closed for remodels. Today Tom Bergin’s is thriving. Some say that Tom’s presence lingers. When the bar is slow the “Tom” in the neon sign goes out. When they are busy it comes back on. Cleaning crews have reported hearing their names called out late at night.
Some people smell cigarette smoke near Tom’s old barstool. The staff leaves a shamrock-shaped ashtray as a superstition.
Tom Bergin’s daughter and grandchildren still visit regularly. It has become a true pub where old and new regulars get along. You can always have a great time at Tom Bergin’s Public House.
Tom Bergin’s is a Historic-Cultural Monument. The Miracle Mile Residential Association and the Conservancy ensured its designation in June 2019. Tom Bergin’s remains the same because it is a massive part of L.A. history.
So come on in. Enjoy the history, the drinks and the camaraderie at Tom Bergin’s Public House.