Why you should experience Old Tony's in Redondo Beach, California.
Old Tony's, Redondo Beach is a pier-top institution where seafood, history, and panoramic ocean views come together in a setting that feels inseparable from the South Bay coastline itself.
Perched directly on the Redondo Beach Pier above the water, Old Tony's sits at one of the most visible and iconic positions along the harbor, surrounded by boats, crashing waves, and constant foot traffic moving through the boardwalk. The moment you walk up the stairs, the perspective shifts, windows opening out to the Pacific, the marina stretching below, and a dining room that feels suspended between sea and sky. It's not subtle or modernized, it's classic, a place where the view is as much a part of the experience as the meal.
What you didn't know about Old Tony's.
Old Tony's, Redondo Beach has been a fixture of the pier since the 1950s, evolving into one of the most recognizable waterfront restaurants in Southern California.
Founded by Tony Lauria, the restaurant became known not just for its seafood but for its identity, including the famous “Fire Chief” cocktail, which has become part of its legacy. The space itself is layered, multiple levels, bar areas, and dining rooms that each offer slightly different vantage points of the ocean. What often goes unnoticed is how much of the appeal is tied to continuity, generations of visitors returning to the same tables, the same views, and the same experience. It's not chasing reinvention, it's preserving what people already associate with the pier.
How to fold Old Tony's into your trip.
Old Tony's, Redondo Beach works best as a centerpiece along a pier visit, something you build into the natural flow of the waterfront.
Walk the pier first, take in the shops, arcade energy, and ocean air, then head up for a meal when you're ready to slow down. Try to time it around sunset if possible, when the light hits the water and the entire space takes on a different tone. Pair it with a drink upstairs or a longer walk along the harbor afterward, letting the experience extend beyond just the table. By the time you leave, it won't feel like you just had dinner, it will feel like you participated in one of the South Bay's most enduring coastal traditions.
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