Barney's Beanery
- Diner & restaurant
- In West Hollywood, California
- On Route 66
Barney's Beanery is a bar and restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, CA, at the same spot since 1927. In 1935–36 the boulevard became part of Route 66's last run to the Pacific, and the Beanery now bills itself as the original Route 66 roadhouse. Old license plates cover its walls and bar, and its long list of famous regulars runs from Clark Gable to Janis Joplin.
What is Barney's Beanery?
It is a roadhouse-style bar and restaurant near La Cienega Boulevard. Inside, old license plates cover the walls and the bar, mixed with vintage signs and photos.
West Hollywood's tourism board counts it among the city's Route 66 landmarks, along with the Formosa Cafe and Tail O' the Pup. This is the original Beanery; four more now operate around Los Angeles.
History of Barney's Beanery
John "Barney" Anthony, a Navy veteran of World War I, opened the first Beanery in Berkeley, California, in 1920 as a small chili and hamburger stand. In 1927 he moved it to Santa Monica Boulevard, which became part of US 66 only when the highway was extended to Santa Monica in 1935 and 1936.
The story goes that Anthony took out-of-state license plates from hard-up travelers in return for meals. Clark Gable and Errol Flynn were regulars, and in the 1960s Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin made it a hangout; Joplin is said to have had her last drink here shortly before her death in October 1970. Artist Edward Kienholz based his 1965 walk-in work "The Beanery" on the bar, and scenes for Body Double and The Doors were filmed here.
There is a darker chapter too. For decades a sign Anthony put up behind the bar told gay people to stay out. In January 1985, soon after the new city of West Hollywood passed an anti-discrimination ordinance, Mayor Valerie Terrigno unscrewed it herself, with owner Irwin Held's agreement.
Visiting Barney's Beanery: tips
The Beanery stands right on Santa Monica Boulevard, the old Route 66, so there is no detour. Leave a few minutes before or after your meal to look over the license plates on the walls. The Formosa Cafe, on the same boulevard, makes an easy pairing.
Practical info
- Address
- 8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
- Website
- barneysbeanery.com
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapBarney's Beanery with the 6 closest stops and other places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Barney's Beanery
All of California
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More places to eat nearby
All diners on Route 66 →.jpg/250px-Carney's_II_(11456653744).jpg)
Questions about Barney's Beanery
Is Barney's Beanery on Route 66?
Yes. It stands on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, which became part of US 66 when the highway was extended to Santa Monica in 1935 and 1936. The Beanery itself is older: it opened on this spot in 1927.
How old is Barney's Beanery?
It began in 1920 as a small chili and hamburger stand in Berkeley, California, and has been at its West Hollywood site since 1927.
Is the West Hollywood Barney's Beanery the original?
Yes. The West Hollywood restaurant is the original; four more Barney's Beanery locations now operate in Burbank, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Westwood.
Own or run Barney's Beanery? Send us a photo or a correction.