MacLaren's Pub. The scene of all the best stories in How I Met Your Mother.

But did you know it's actually based on a real bar?

This is McGee's, the inspiration behind HIMYM's MacLaren's, the characters' favourite bar.

Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas used to drink there while working for Letterman on The Late Show

Sidenote: Recognize them? It might be from this Season 1 scene

MacLaren's was named for an Associate Producer on the show, who also gave his name to the bartender, Carl

But McGee's! It has a bar...

Booths...

And a fireplace!

Originally, it was this mural that they wanted to include in the show

Recognize that in the background?

You can order HIMYM food

They have HIMYM drinks

They'll even turn off sport for half an hour on Mondays

The actors have been through a few times as well. Here's Josh Radnor at McGee's.

Cobie Smulders

Alyson Hannigan

Barney Sti- Neil Patrick Harris at McGee's

Fans do occasionally try to copy the series

And there's some How I Met Your Mother swag around the place as well

But most of the time, it's an Irish bar, with beer...

Atmosphere (especially around St. Paddy's day)...

And a really decent burger.

Which is why they based MacLaren's on it in the first place!
