March Madness is over, and baseball season is upon us. And what goes best with baseball, besides peanuts and crackerjacks? You guessed it: Beer. There are tons of crappy sports bars all over LA that serve their purpose, but wouldn’t you rather go somewhere exotic for the afternoon? How about Boston! (Yankee fans, you can go to Yankee Doodle, because you are not welcome here)

The interior is almost entirely dark wood, with a two rows of beat up bar stools and tons of crap on the walls. Beer mirrors, autographed sports memorabilia, inflatable Sam Adam’s bottles, California license plates that commemorate the Red Sox, old toboggans. They’ve got everything.

Sonny McLean’s may not have all the fancy-pants beer that Father’s Office and the Otheroom keep on tap, but what they lack in obscurity, they make up for in selection. Sonny’s has plenty of crowd-pleasers on tap, about 25 in total. Boddington’s, Guinness, Pilsner Urquell, Stella, Bass, Harp, Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Redhook IPA and ESB, Newcastle and Smithwick’s to name a few. Interestingly enough, they have Anderson Valley’s Boont Amber Ale on tap. It seems strange that this is their only beer whose brand is not widely saturated. Why Boont?

There are many reasons (besides beer reasons) to go to Sonny McLean’s :

1. Darts
2. Air Hockey
3. Pool
4. A ton of TVs
5. Decent Jukebox
6. 2 Golden Tee machines
7. Basketball arcade game

If that hasn’t sold you, they also have terrific food. Their turkey avocado sandwich is delicious. Their fries are winners too. I have not tried their burgers, but have witnessed my friends enjoying them.

Expect to pay between $4.75 and $6 for a pint. A bit pricey, but hey, this is Santa Monica, you’re used to it.

SONNY MCLEAN’S
2615 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-449-1811