From Dockside to Shoreline

Four Harbor Restaurants Worth Visiting at Happy Hour

By Gretchen Williams, Columnist

Long summer evenings are perfect for alfresco dining and drinks. Across the harbor, happy hour is the happiest time of day.

For handcrafted cocktails and exceptional seafood snacks, Trani’s Dockside is a must-visit. The Trani family cocktail tradition dates to the 1930s at the original Majestic Cafe on Seventh Street. Legend has it that when Humphrey Bogart and his sailing party stopped in for Manhattans, Filippo Trani called the Norwegian ship chandler next door to mix the drinks because the Majestic typically served only beer and boilermakers.

Today, Dockside continues that tradition with a polished cocktail program that pairs perfectly with its impressive raw bar. Fresh oysters are shucked daily, including varieties such as the aptly named Summer Love from Prince Edward Island. Baja ceviche features fresh Alaskan halibut, while the bluefin tuna tostada combines green apple, radish and ponzu for a bright, crunchy bite.

Delicate stuffed squash blossoms offer a true taste of summer. Trani’s signature “New Style” calamari showcases local squid with Thai aioli, purple basil and sesame for a distinctive take on a classic appetizer.

Located on the waterfront across from the Municipal Fish Market on 22nd Street, Dockside offers one of San Pedro’s most memorable happy hour settings.

Trani’s Dockside
311 E. 22nd St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-833-1188

The Whale & Ale is the neighborhood pub everyone wishes they had — warm, cozy and welcoming. Its handsome bar features an extensive selection of spirits alongside rotating draft beers that satisfy every beer enthusiast.

The menu celebrates classic pub fare. The restaurant’s legendary fish and chips feature flaky fish paired with crisp pub potatoes. Tuna tartare, topped with scallions, is a refreshing choice on a warm afternoon, while Mum’s Blooming Onion is a fun, shareable favorite that’s even better with a cold pint.

The Whale & Ale salad combines fresh greens, mandarin oranges, feta cheese and candied pecans with the house’s creamy ranch-style dressing. Traditional New England clam chowder is rich, comforting and loaded with clams.

The Whale & Ale burger remains one of the Harbor Area’s favorites, featuring Angus beef on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and onion. Every neighborhood should be lucky enough to have a pub like this.

Whale & Ale Pub
327 W. Seventh St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
424-264-5115

Parker’s Lighthouse sits at the heart of Long Beach’s waterfront entertainment district, overlooking Rainbow Harbor, the Catalina Landing terminal and the Queen Mary.

The harbor views are reason enough to visit, but the weekday happy hour, offered from 3 to 6 p.m., is equally enticing. Cocktails and wines are $10, while craft draft beers are $7.50.

Happy hour appetizers are all priced under $20 and include favorites such as crispy calamari, shrimp scampi, Manila clams, Brussels sprouts, garlic cheese bread and a half-pound Angus burger. Sushi rolls and sashimi round out the menu, but the hidden gem may be the lobster or shrimp taquitos — a standout choice.

Parker’s Lighthouse
435 Shoreline Village Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-432-6500

22nd Street Landing

Twenty-Second Street Landing is a San Pedro classic overlooking the sportfishing docks near Cabrillo Beach. With Olympic sailing events set to take place nearby in 2028, the restaurant’s waterfront setting is poised to become an even more popular destination.

Long a gathering place for fishermen, sailors and generations of waterfront workers, the Landing evokes the feel of San Francisco’s North Beach with its tile floors, ceiling fans and tall windows overlooking the harbor.

The appetizer menu is equally inviting. Classic Oysters Rockefeller are expertly prepared, while seafood-stuffed mushrooms arrive filled with shrimp and crab, lightly topped with cheese and broiled until golden. Maryland-style blue crab cakes are generously packed with crab and sautéed to a crisp finish. The lobster bisque is velvety, rich and full of flavor.

The menu also features an abundance of fresh seafood, including clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp cocktail, seared ahi tuna and the day’s catch. Whether you’re stopping in for cocktails, appetizers or a sunset view, 22nd Street Landing remains one of the harbor’s enduring favorites.

22nd Street Landing
141 W. 22nd St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-548-4400