Finn McCool's

\r Our favorite place to hang out. Good staff and we love the Harp, wings and chips. Sounds good now! more

Finn McCool?s has been my local for well over a year now and as a direct import from Ireland myself, this alone is testament to the authenticity and quality of the Irish bar. The fact that 98% of the staff are directly from Ireland gives this pub a genuine Irish feel that you will be hard pressed to find in many other places this side of the Atlantic. Always friendly and up for a bit of ?craic?, their charm and efficiency makes your drinking/dining experience that wee bit more special. The vast menu offers everything from the original and unique Celtic Quesadilla and Irish Boxty (large, stuffed potato pancakes) to the ever popular (and for very good reason), Fish and Chips and Corned Beef and Cabbage. Not only does the Guinness flow like water, but Finns also offers on tap Harp, Smithwicks and Magners Apple Cider- all exclusively Irish, as well as many more imported and domestic beers. With live music Tuesday through Thursday, a DJ on Saturdays and a live Traditional Irish folk session every Sunday afternoon (can you tell I?ve spent some time here?), no matter what day of the week, there?s entertainment for everyone. Whether you?re alone or part of a group, you are guaranteed to have a brilliant time here. They say everybody?s Irish on St.Patrick?s day. Well whether that?s true or not, you are guaranteed the 100% Irish pub experience 364 days of the year at Finn McCool?s!! more

Ever dream of going to Ireland? Well, you can come just as close, without taking the overnight plane ride, by visiting Finn McCool's. The atmosphere is authetically...Irish! The food is nothing like any other place out here. Good ol' Irish home cookin', yum! There is a vast variety of drinks, from their beers to their wide array of hard alcohols. Speaking of wide variety, you'll always find a mixed group of patrons on any given night You have your regulars, like Park Meeke (don't be surprised if he asks you to give up your seat) and Art, who won't bother anyone. He'll just sit in the corner and do his crossword puzzles. Also, there's always a good group of friendly, young people who visit the pub. All in all, it's an awesome experience.\r \r Come one down, cheers!\r Pros: Good food and drinks, authenticity Cons: Only that it gets packed on the weekends more

LA can be overwhelming in the best way possible. The sun, the sights, the shopping. So while perusing the boutiques on Main Street in Santa Monica, we were delighted to find a little bit of home away from home where we could sit down and reflect on our fabulous holiday. Finn McCool?s offers all the warmth and character of a proper Irish pub but with the space and airiness only an LA restaurant and bar could afford. We only had time for drinks; my friend and I had a lovely wine and my dad was very pleased with his pint of Guinness (he was also very tempted by their impressive whiskey selection), but I?ll definitely be back for a meal on my next trip. The menu is extensive and totally authentic right down to the full Irish breakfast and the curry chips! If you?re looking for a proper Irish experience: good beer in a friendly atmosphere, then Finn?s is the place to be. more

If I feel like eating a healthy, tasty burger, I think first of Finn McCools pub on Main Street in Santa Monica. The burger here is even better than the highly rated Father?s Office burger, in my opinion! The chef at Finn McCool?s, Hector, is a highly trained expert in fine cuisine, having learned his skills at the tender age of 16 years of age, prepping at Gilliland?s Restaurant, an upmarket, highly successful restaurant opened in 1984, attracting Hollywood stars like Madonna, Lauren Bacall, James Garner and even Shirley Temple...or Mrs. Black. This ?pub? food is well beyond ?pub? expectations. \r \r There?s music and fun, and people laughing, and people talking with Irish accents. This pub is genuine! There are big comfy wooden booths to sit in, and startling beautiful stained glass art to be seen. There are bodhrans and pewter pitchers and whiskey and Guinness and best of all, a hearty piping hot cup of Irish tea, if that is what you prefer.\r \r This is where I go to have great food, and a laugh, or a bit of craic as we say in Belfast.... and to remember that it is fun to be Irish! Pros: A chat and a laugh... Cons: It is hard to resist the ""Gilliland"" style homemade Irish desserts..... more

Stopped by for lunch with a friend and her baby-plenty of space for a stroller and the nicest wait staff who let us take our time choosing from the large menu. I had the fish and chips which was so much better than that at a British pub in the area and we also had the Irish combo plate which gave 3 items to sample. Don't know which was better out of the shepherd's pie,Guiness beef stew or the boxty with Chicken and basil-definitely all worth trying again the next time we visit-but as I am reliving the meal I think the sauce with the boxty was the best..We unfortunately didn't have room for dessert. more

It's not the excellent service, the beer, or the fantastic menu that have kept me returning to Finn's for so long... it's the rhubarb crumble. Can't find good rhubarb crumble any where else, and this is even better than my gran's back home. Is Eugene back from Ireland yet? The staff make you feel welcome, but Eugene is truly a gem. more

\r Hello There,\r \r Just wanted to thank all of your staff at your bar on my recent visit there. Having beeon on the road and away from home in Ireland for a long time, your girls behind the bar really made me feel welcome. It's a great establishment and the food and the entertainment was top notch. And Iloved my time there. A special thanks for helping me get a cab back to Hollywood at the end of the night. That was a life safer!\r \r Again Many Many Thanks and best wishes to all at Finn Mc Cools Barry from Ireland\r more

We stopped into Finn McCool's for a late lunch on a weekend day, and loved it. The place has an authentic Irish pub feel with antique furniture and an enormous center bar. We started with curry chips (yum) and fried calamari (yum yum). I usually am disappointed by salads when I order them in bars or pubs, but the Cobb salad at Fin McCool's was so fresh and big and delish. Cravable. My huband's BLT was super tasty too. Service was warm and friendly. Mmmm ... I think I want to go back this weekend. more

Need I say more, very sad day!!!! No more Boddingtons, no more Stella- Great this place is turning into a dump.\r \r I know it's a bit more then Bud and Miller, but c'mon! It's a freakin pub...bring it back damn it!!! more

I just want to compliment Finn's for bringing Stella back. Very fast turnaround. \r This continues to be my favorite bar, I highly recommend it!\r Thanks again guys! Pros: The Staff Cons: Parking more

When I think Irish, I think of Finn's. Friendly staff and clientelle, great service, and I actually really enjoy their food, which is somewhat unusual for a bar. The bangers are great. The selection of beers are O'so good. They have just gotten better and better over the years, and I am glad it is within walking distance. Pros: Good food, reasonable prices, fun spirited times. Cons: Too crowded more

I use to love this place and have for since their opening a few years back...before it was Jake and Annies. It's become a college bar now, so if you are into that then great. It use to be ""where everybody knows your name"" type of place, since they changed the manager- which was a BIG mistake. The warmth of the IRISH is no longer there. It's now like any other bar on Main st.\r \r Most ofthe staff is there, but once you change the management, things change. Changes are good, but this one took a turn for the worst. Catering to LMU students it what they wnat, now it's likea Thursday night Turtle race"" Brennens"" every night. Too bad Finns. Most of the ""regulars"" are not there anymore, except the old guy in her tan blazer and jeans drinking a glass of merlot. Finns we miss what you should have been!!!! \r \r If you are visiting from out of town, go to O'briens across the street, the Owners and managers ARE IRISH (First generation)and really know how to treat their patrons. And you will always run into groups of people from all over Ireland who have now ""immigrated"" over from Finns to O'brien. Pros: Boddingtons and Murphys Cons: It's a 20 something place more

I've been here a number of times and love their extra large booths! I've never sat at the bar as the booths are perfect. Their chicken strips and buffalo wings were fantastic. I like their beer selection. Warning: this place gets VERY loud during sporting events. more

This is a very clean and upsacle irish bar, has alot of good choices for beers and some nights has live music. My only gripe is that there isn't any darts?? Cons: No Darts more

Great Irish pub in Venice. Recommended for drinks and appetizers after work. more

It looks like Finn Mc Cools has made a big committment to the diverse clientele that infiltrates Santa Monica on Saturday nights. Since the new year 06, a live DJ has taken over Saturday nights by storm. His set is from 10pm to 1am and the playlist is as diverse as the crowd. No real dance floor exists but people dance wherever they find space. The DJ is definitely crowd friendly and plays a little bit of everything from classic rock, alternative rock, top 40, and R&B. Requests are welcomed too. It is a definite must see if you like great music and great beer. No cover charge on Saturdays and the doorman and bouncers are great. Servers are friendly and the people are beautiful. Enjoy. Pros: Very Authentic, Nice People, Great Music Cons: Parking is Tough more

On Sunday night at 8:00 they have a live Trivia Pub Quiz hosted by an MC. You form a team of 2-6 people and compete against the other teams for prizes. Arrive 20 minutes early as tables go fast. Its loads of fun and gets very competitive. It is a great way to pick up on the ladies. Pros: Excellent Food, Fun Trivia, Good People more

I usually like to go late on Sunday Afternoons when they have Irish Music jam sessions. It's a hike from Burbank, but I also love their Cornbeef and Cabbage -cheap meal! Pros: interior, music more

Good Irish pub to go to with some friends.They have a large selection of beers but unfortunately the place smells too much like beer.Always crowded but it's not that hard to get a table there. Pros: parking in rear, good beer selection, lively more