WHY CELEBRITIES LOVE BARNEY'S BEANERY & WHAT THEY'RE ORDERING

Photo Credit: @barneysbeanery/INSTAGRAM

WHY CELEBRITIES LOVE BARNEY'S BEANERY & WHAT THEY'RE ORDERING

Barney's Beanery has become a celebrity destination. In the last year, readers have spotted Taylor Swift, Amy Adams, Selena Gomez, Fred Again, Kyle Richards, KJ Apa, and Rob from Love Island at this gastropub. We also hear A Walk To Remember's Shane West stops by "all the time" and the Queen of the Dragons herself Emilia Clarke has also been in. 

But this dive isn't exactly new – it's one of the oldest bars in Hollywood. Originally founded in Berkeley, California over a hundred years ago, it's been nestled on the border of Boys Town on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood since 1927. Today, there are five other LA locations (Santa Monica, Westwood, Pasadena, Burbank, and even LAX). But if you want the history with a side of a possible celebrity sighting––you'll want to go to the flagship location in WeHo. 

Barney's is right next door to the members-only Holloway House, which opened in 2022 and might explain why celebrities have recently been coming here when they're over the scene at Soho House's second West Hollywood location. You don't need a membership or even a reservation at this historic haunt where you'll find Jim Morrison's barstool, Janis Joplin's ceiling signature, Marilyn Monroe's signed chili receipt, and now the booth Taylor Swift sat at with friends back in April.  

Depending on when you stop by, Barney's can feel like two different bars. There's the low-key crew, from when they open at 11:00 AM to before happy hour at 4 PM. ($2 off some appetizers, well drinks, and most drafts until 7 PM on weekdays). Here you'll find mostly locals watching sports while discussing Soderbergh, shooting pool, and or having a late breakfast or lunch after hiking Runyan. Dating app dates start to roll in around Happy Hour to flirtatiously play foosball. "Club Barney's" kicks off around 9 PM, where depending on the day you might see a line around the block and TikTokers/ reality dating show contestants pounding shots while playing arcade games in the back. 

Despite the line, there's no bottle service or even a dress code. It's a dive bar with Fiona Apple on the jukebox, colorful newspaper menus, beer in pitchers, license plates on the wall, bathroom mirrors framed with bottle caps, tables collaged with tabloids, trivia on Thursdays, and karaoke on Fridays. There's no VIP section, just an open floor plan with vinyl booths not high enough to hide in –– which is probably why celebrities get spotted here. Just ask Taylor Swift and her now famous booth. 

So why do celebrities go to Barney's?

"It's very laid back, you come in here and you're just another customer. I think celebrities appreciate that," a source told us. It's true, Barney's is like West Hollywood's Cheers, but no one knows your name unless you're a regular. It's no-nonsense. The bartender who's been here for 27 years isn't exactly your best friend will make sure you get another round in before Happy Hour ends. 

"Whenever famous people come here, they came here before they were famous. And then they come back because it didn't change. This is a place they sort of cherish because it wasn't like they had to be famous enough to get in," another source told us. Barneys does feel like a '90s time capsule with flatter TVs and higher prices (damn you, inflation).

As for the celebrities who started going to Barney's after fame, our second source thinks it's because of the history and authenticity of being able to sit in the same booth Humphrey Bogart or Marilyn Monroe once sat in. 

LA is a city made up of transplants, famous or not, who all get homesick as they follow their dreams. Our second source added Barney's "feels very familiar if you've never been here before…like a bar where you're from wherever that is in the world" which is emphasized by the license plates on the ceiling from Louisiana to London.  

Okay… So What Are Celebrities Ordering? 

Unlike most dive bars, the food and drinks at Barney's are not only edible it's actually pretty good. Here's what some celebrities have ordered according to our sources.  

Taylor Swift 

Taylor sat at a (now famous) booth with friends where they ordered beer and pizza. So we tried their Johnnie's Favorite Pizza (10" pie for $23 and no relation to Dear John) topped with pepperoni, mushrooms, jalapeno, cilantro, mozzarella, and their homemade sauce. This is obviously not the best pie in Los Angeles (nor is it trying to be) but it's up there when it comes to dive bar slices. It's mellow, a little tangy, and gives your stomach the perfect pizza hug that even a tortured poet craves after a couple of rounds.   

Selena Gomez

Any time Selena is here she orders a "ton of appetizers" according to our sources. We love how our girl started on Barney and now goes to Barney's. Selena is known to get their Barney's Big Tenders ($18) tossed with sauce. We got ours plain (more photogenic) these are some *JUICY* chicken fingers with the crispiest crust. It's funny how so many places in town brag about having the best-fried chicken when this just so unassumingly slaps. Selena + Chef knows what's up. 

Selena will also get their Nashville Style Hot Wings ($17 for 6 wings) which are tangy, perfectly cooked, and for lack of a better word moist (sorry). They have a kick but not in a can't-eat-these-are-numbing-my-mouth way. These wings are not too fried so you can actually get some good bites of meat which is great because protein is so in RN. 

And another appetizer favorite of Queen Selena is their Half Time Nachos ($17.50) smothered in cheese their famous chili, black olives, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and sprinkled with lettuce. A great way to try Barney's famous chili without weirdly eating a bowl of chili at a bar on a hot day…  

Justin Bieber  

Maybe Justin used to come here with Selena back when they were together, but now he comes with his wife Hailey. Our sources say he "always gets a sandwich," specifically Barney's Reuben on marbled rye ($18) since Greenblatts up the hill closed, there are not a lot of other spots in the neighborhood to grab this classic pastrami deli sandwich (aside from Canters which is honestly just mid, sorry). This is *Yummy*, Justin — each bite has the perfect ratio of cured meat, melty Swiss, pockets of tangy sauerkraut, and 1000 island. This is probably the only Reuben in town that comes with a side of tater tots that will take you back to your high school cafeteria (in a good way). 

Rob From Love Island 

Recently Rob from Rob – sorry –– Love Island was seen here, without his overalls and with Tara Yummy (millennials and up, she's a big influencer pronounced TAR-UH, who was also linked to Kourtney Kardashian's stepson Landon Barker at one point). Anytime influencers or reality stars pack the bar, we hear they are always ordering Barney's signature shots which we sipped on at 2 PM on a Tuesday just for you.  

Our favorite was Mexican Candy ($11), this blend of Tequila, watermelon liquor, hot sauce, and a Tajin rim tastes exactly like a watermelon Jolly Rancher plus add a little spice…. and nothing like a Tequila shot, so be very cutesy, very mindful and very demure when taking these…

Then there's the Crack Whore ($12) a mix of Stoli strawberry, Triple Sec, fresh lime juice, and cranberry juice which tastes just like college or Minute Maid Pink Lemonade. We'll stick with the Cosmos which were decent! 

There's also Green Tea Shots ($12) – these taste exactly like Snapple's Diet Peach Iced Tea with notes of a hangover – but it's actually Jameson, Peach Schnapps, lemon juice, lime juice, and club soda. 

We can't wait to go back for some Tenders, Trivia, and the Taylor Swift booth – likely before the line because we don't do lines…