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Magazine highlighting the historical downtown Los Angeles drinking scene and the revival of classic drinks
Citation preview
Perfecting the
* 15 oz. Bulleit Bourbon (25 oz. per bottle) * 30 mint leaves * 1 cup sugar * 1 cup water
* Wash mint leaves, pat dry and put them in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of Bulleit Bourbon and let soak for 15 minutes. * Remove mint, then place them in a clean cotton cloth and wring over bowl, bruising the leaves. Dip back into bourbon and wring again. Repeat several times to create mint extract. Set extract aside for 1 hour. You can also put the leaves back in the extract for a more concentrated mint �avor. * Combine mint extract (leaves included, if pre-ferred) with simple syrup (1 cup sugar and 1 cup water) in a covered glass container or jar and refrigerate overnight. * Fill julep cups (10-12 oz., traditionally silver but glass will do) with crushed ice or shaved ice and insert a fresh mint sprig. Add 1 oz. of Bulleit Bourbon to each cup. Add marinated julep mixture to taste. * Enjoy on a warm afternoon * Makes 12 delicious servings.
Mint Julep
1
Gin Joints & Whiskey Bars
7th
olympic
figuer
oa LEGENDSEVEN GRAND515 w. 7th st.
COLE’S118 E. 6TH ST.
BROADWAY BAR830 BROADWAY
GOLDEN GOPHER417 w. 8th
CASEY’S IRISH PUB613 S. GRAND AVE.
grand
“Broadway Bar has the mysterious aura of a place with a glamorous history”
There’s a Beverage Here Man!A DRINK BEST SERVED NEAT
3-6
9-12
13-14
Perfecting the Perfecting the
* 15 oz. Bulleit Bourbon (25 oz. per bottle) * 30 mint leaves * 1 cup sugar * 1 cup water
* Wash mint leaves, pat dry and put them in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of Bulleit Bourbon and let soak for 15 minutes. * Remove mint, then place them in a clean cotton cloth and wring over bowl, bruising the leaves. Dip back into bourbon and wring again. Repeat several times to create mint extract. Set extract aside for 1 hour. You can also put the leaves back in the extract for a more concentrated mint �avor. * Combine mint extract (leaves included, if pre-ferred) with simple syrup (1 cup sugar and 1 cup water) in a covered glass container or jar and refrigerate overnight. * Fill julep cups (10-12 oz., traditionally silver but glass will do) with crushed ice or shaved ice and insert a fresh mint sprig. Add 1 oz. of Bulleit Bourbon to each cup. Add marinated julep mixture to taste. * Enjoy on a warm afternoon * Makes 12 delicious servings.
Mint Julep
2
What �rst attracts you to a good whiskey bar?
I am drawn to a whiskey bar
by the diversity of products, the
ambiance, and the price... �nding a
good balance is crucial
What keeps you coming back?90% of the time I am drawn back because of the
bartender and patrons. The other 10% is because I am
thirsty.
What is your price range for a drink?A good whiskey should not cost you less that $8 and
no more than $15 in my opinion.
What’s your brand?Makers Mark...
That was a quick response, I guess you’re pretty loyal to a brand.
Well, yeah. I know what I like.
What is it about Makers Mark that
you enjoy?The full �avor and aromas. The
price doesn’t hurt. Everything
about it is just right.
How do you take it?On the rocks... I like ice
Do you have a preference for whiskey or whisky? I actually prefer Glenlivet 15yr. neat.
Can you explain the difference between the two?Generally whiskey refers to Irish or American whiskey
and whisky is for pretty much any other country.
Which country has the best?
Scotland... they have a bit of a head start on us
What do you think of the snobbery in the whiskey scene?I think it’s unavoidable. Every scene has them...
Although I do think it drives up price.
“Broadway Bar has the mysterious aura of a place with a glamorous history”
There’s a Beverage Here Man!
3
What �rst attracts you to a good whiskey bar?
I am drawn to a whiskey bar
by the diversity of products, the
ambiance, and the price... �nding a
good balance is crucial
What keeps you coming back?90% of the time I am drawn back because of the
bartender and patrons. The other 10% is because I am
thirsty.
What is your price range for a drink?A good whiskey should not cost you less that $8 and
no more than $15 in my opinion.
What’s your brand?Makers Mark...
That was a quick response, I guess you’re pretty loyal to a brand.
Well, yeah. I know what I like.
What is it about Makers Mark that
you enjoy?The full �avor and aromas. The
price doesn’t hurt. Everything
about it is just right.
How do you take it?On the rocks... I like ice
Do you have a preference for whiskey or whisky? I actually prefer Glenlivet 15yr. neat.
Can you explain the difference between the two?Generally whiskey refers to Irish or American whiskey
and whisky is for pretty much any other country.
Which country has the best?
Scotland... they have a bit of a head start on us
What do you think of the snobbery in the whiskey scene?I think it’s unavoidable. Every scene has them...
Although I do think it drives up price.
“Broadway Bar has the mysterious aura of a place with a glamorous history”
There’s a Beverage Here Man!
“Broadway Bar has the mysterious aura of a place with a glamorous history”
There’s a Beverage Here Man!
4
What is the most popular drink? Does
it change frequently?Whiskey is always popular because
it's classic. Other than that the old
traditional drinks are always popular: vodka
tonics, Old Fashioneds, martinis, whiskey sours and
the like. Frilly fussy drinks are kinda over.
What makes downtown LA a better place to drink and visit than other cities like NY?It’s soooo much cheaper! I love New York, but the price
of alcohol there is obscene. New York may have more
history, but LA is working on it.
Why should we drink at bars with history instead of new hip places?I don't think you should pick one over the other, but
you just can't beat the ambiance of a restored LA
building. The magic is in the walls: the brick, the gilded
�xtures, and the original wood bars. Maybe it sounds
sentimental but I don't think the fun of the past has
ever left these buildings. Plus, it’s refreshing that in an
industry town where trends rule and newness is king
that history and tradition are having a renaissance.
How long have you been at the bar?
about 8 months
What would you recommend for a �rst timer?
First, and very practical: READ ALL STREET
SIGNS!!! Don't let a good night go sour with your
car being towed or getting a ticket. Second,
Downtown is new again. Embrace that spirit and
visit a few places that you usually wouldn't to see if
you like something new. If you're a punk go to a
hip-hop club. If you're a straight guy, go with your
girlfriend and her gay friends to a gay club.
What is the crowd like? Does it change from day to night and from weekday to weekend?
The crowd always changes. Everyone �ocks to
downtown because they're disillusioned with expensive,
polished and co-opted scenes in LA.
On any given day rich kids, punks, gays, straights, old,
young, they call mingle together. It’s really cool.
What do you think is the best part of the downtown bars?The fact that there's not an established client base is a big plus. You can try new things and be free.
No one expects anything so a new club will pop up in an old club out of nowhere! You can't always
keep up with what's happening so its great!
What needs to change in downtown to create more of a drinking destination?It just takes time. People are just discovering the nightlife aspect of downtown. When I was a
kid Downtown was a dirty place where you could see a good punk show and then pray that
you wouldn't get beat up for being a weirdo on your walk back to the bus. In ten years it's
become so much friendlier, clean and fun.
Is there anything else you want to add about the 213 nightlife? Come on down! Bring all your friends! Poke your nose around and learn about what's
hip before anyone else does. Just think how clever you'll look when you take your
friends out to some old brick building with a rad bar inside.
A DRINK BEST SERVED NEAT
5
What is the most popular drink? Does
it change frequently?Whiskey is always popular because
it's classic. Other than that the old
traditional drinks are always popular: vodka
tonics, Old Fashioneds, martinis, whiskey sours and
the like. Frilly fussy drinks are kinda over.
What makes downtown LA a better place to drink and visit than other cities like NY?It’s soooo much cheaper! I love New York, but the price
of alcohol there is obscene. New York may have more
history, but LA is working on it.
Why should we drink at bars with history instead of new hip places?I don't think you should pick one over the other, but
you just can't beat the ambiance of a restored LA
building. The magic is in the walls: the brick, the gilded
�xtures, and the original wood bars. Maybe it sounds
sentimental but I don't think the fun of the past has
ever left these buildings. Plus, it’s refreshing that in an
industry town where trends rule and newness is king
that history and tradition are having a renaissance.
How long have you been at the bar?
about 8 months
What would you recommend for a �rst timer?
First, and very practical: READ ALL STREET
SIGNS!!! Don't let a good night go sour with your
car being towed or getting a ticket. Second,
Downtown is new again. Embrace that spirit and
visit a few places that you usually wouldn't to see if
you like something new. If you're a punk go to a
hip-hop club. If you're a straight guy, go with your
girlfriend and her gay friends to a gay club.
What is the crowd like? Does it change from day to night and from weekday to weekend?
The crowd always changes. Everyone �ocks to
downtown because they're disillusioned with expensive,
polished and co-opted scenes in LA.
On any given day rich kids, punks, gays, straights, old,
young, they call mingle together. It’s really cool.
What do you think is the best part of the downtown bars?The fact that there's not an established client base is a big plus. You can try new things and be free.
No one expects anything so a new club will pop up in an old club out of nowhere! You can't always
keep up with what's happening so its great!
What needs to change in downtown to create more of a drinking destination?It just takes time. People are just discovering the nightlife aspect of downtown. When I was a
kid Downtown was a dirty place where you could see a good punk show and then pray that
you wouldn't get beat up for being a weirdo on your walk back to the bus. In ten years it's
become so much friendlier, clean and fun.
Is there anything else you want to add about the 213 nightlife? Come on down! Bring all your friends! Poke your nose around and learn about what's
hip before anyone else does. Just think how clever you'll look when you take your
friends out to some old brick building with a rad bar inside.
A DRINK BEST SERVED NEAT
What is the most popular drink? Does
it change frequently?Whiskey is always popular because
it's classic. Other than that the old
traditional drinks are always popular: vodka
tonics, Old Fashioneds, martinis, whiskey sours and
the like. Frilly fussy drinks are kinda over.
What makes downtown LA a better place to drink and visit than other cities like NY?It’s soooo much cheaper! I love New York, but the price
of alcohol there is obscene. New York may have more
history, but LA is working on it.
Why should we drink at bars with history instead of new hip places?I don't think you should pick one over the other, but
you just can't beat the ambiance of a restored LA
building. The magic is in the walls: the brick, the gilded
�xtures, and the original wood bars. Maybe it sounds
sentimental but I don't think the fun of the past has
ever left these buildings. Plus, it’s refreshing that in an
industry town where trends rule and newness is king
that history and tradition are having a renaissance.
How long have you been at the bar?
about 8 months
What would you recommend for a �rst timer?
First, and very practical: READ ALL STREET
SIGNS!!! Don't let a good night go sour with your
car being towed or getting a ticket. Second,
Downtown is new again. Embrace that spirit and
visit a few places that you usually wouldn't to see if
you like something new. If you're a punk go to a
hip-hop club. If you're a straight guy, go with your
girlfriend and her gay friends to a gay club.
What is the crowd like? Does it change from day to night and from weekday to weekend?
The crowd always changes. Everyone �ocks to
downtown because they're disillusioned with expensive,
polished and co-opted scenes in LA.
On any given day rich kids, punks, gays, straights, old,
young, they call mingle together. It’s really cool.
What do you think is the best part of the downtown bars?The fact that there's not an established client base is a big plus. You can try new things and be free.
No one expects anything so a new club will pop up in an old club out of nowhere! You can't always
keep up with what's happening so its great!
What needs to change in downtown to create more of a drinking destination?It just takes time. People are just discovering the nightlife aspect of downtown. When I was a
kid Downtown was a dirty place where you could see a good punk show and then pray that
you wouldn't get beat up for being a weirdo on your walk back to the bus. In ten years it's
become so much friendlier, clean and fun.
Is there anything else you want to add about the 213 nightlife? Come on down! Bring all your friends! Poke your nose around and learn about what's
hip before anyone else does. Just think how clever you'll look when you take your
friends out to some old brick building with a rad bar inside.
A DRINK BEST SERVED NEAT
Irish WhiskeyCanadian Whiskey Bourbon Whiskey Scotch Whisky
Whiskey Varities 6
to the next bar. Cole’s French Dip Restaurant. Cole’s has
been through many incarnations, naturally, as it is Los
Angeles’ oldest bar, dating back to 1908. It had suffered
through prohibition but bounced back with a strong loyal
client base that included hardworking locals, the business
crowd at lunch and a �esty night life. Familiar faces kept a
comfortable home-like atmosphere especially with a
bartender that had worked their for 65 years! After a 1.6
million dollar facelift Cole’s is still lookin’ pretty. The
restoration team was
The Broadway Bar is striking! It is legendary as Los Angeles’
premiere stop for traveling entertainers and the old
Hollywood crowd. The 50 foot multi-tiered circular bar is an
elegant study in the most sophisticated art deco. Its décor
includes charming cherub mini lamps and a smoking patio
enclosed by earthly shrubs. It’s not hard to imagine
Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker feeling completely at
ease in this posh atmosphere. The aesthetic is the same but
the crowd has changed. The young hip struggling art type is
the current �avor of the bar. The circular bar and wide
window opened unto Los Angeles’ busy Broadway
Boulevard make for excellent people watching. After a Seven
and Seven that didn’t pack as great a punch I decided to go
Amidst the buzz of afternoon shoppers, honking cars
making their way slowly through narrow streets and
beligerant beggars threatening passerbys, I made my tour of
the Downtown Los Angeles Bar scene. The energy of the
streets, although bustling, was exciting and alive. Historical
buildings towering above peered down through the stoney
eyes of countless gargoyles, cherubs and eagles all atop the
grecian pillars of lush buildings. One can easily imagine a
Downtown that was populated with three piece suits, derby
hats, high button shoes and parasols. The rows and rows of
theaters under renovation tell a story of a culture in the past
excited by the new: theater, �lm, vaudeville and with all the
renovated bars, a culture excited about drink.
About twenty feet below street level is the unsinkable
generous enough to keep many of the same charms such as
the orignal bar, some original tiles and the same low-light
atmosphere enclosed in velvet-covered walls. The
sandwhiches are just as lucious. Simple, unpretentious,
cheap and rich in �avor, the sandwiches paired with Au Jus
are irresistible. Spicy pickles and fries paired with an Old
Fashioned made for a good hearty mid-afternoon meal. I was
tipsy enough after one drink to walk merrily out of the
restaurant, leaving a healthy well-deserved tip, and headed
A Drunken History
Gin Joints & Whiskey Bars
for a Mint Julep in celebration of it being such a warm day outside. The
Julep exceeded my expectations. A complex, handcrafted, and down right
beautiful drink; it de�nitely packed a huge wallop! Getting up wasn’t easy
after that one! So struggling to walk to the exit I bid farewell to the
charming doorman and made my way to the next bar.
I decided to tread off of the trendy revival circuit and walk aimlessly to
�nd a bar with less elegant fare. And boy howdy did I �nd it! Hank’s is
a narrow dark bar populated by dedicated drunks, an amiable bar
tender with a black eye and a polite old bar maid whose always happy
to ask if you’re feelin’ alright. Hank's is located adjacent to the lobby of
a run down hotel. I could hear a woman arguing for one more free day
in her �op-house room while I made my way through the lobby for the
bathroom. The drinks were cheap, cheap, cheap and delicious! Quite
honestly, I don’t even remember what I drank. By this point I was
feeling pretty good! A broken out of tune piano was an ample tool for
pounding out a bad, old bar tune. A friend tickled the ivories as best he
could without anyone giving us any grief. Plenty of colorful patrons and
dark corners made for strange lively conversations and interesting stories.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
9
to the next bar. Cole’s French Dip Restaurant. Cole’s has
been through many incarnations, naturally, as it is Los
Angeles’ oldest bar, dating back to 1908. It had suffered
through prohibition but bounced back with a strong loyal
client base that included hardworking locals, the business
crowd at lunch and a �esty night life. Familiar faces kept a
comfortable home-like atmosphere especially with a
bartender that had worked their for 65 years! After a 1.6
million dollar facelift Cole’s is still lookin’ pretty. The
restoration team was
The Broadway Bar is striking! It is legendary as Los Angeles’
premiere stop for traveling entertainers and the old
Hollywood crowd. The 50 foot multi-tiered circular bar is an
elegant study in the most sophisticated art deco. Its décor
includes charming cherub mini lamps and a smoking patio
enclosed by earthly shrubs. It’s not hard to imagine
Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker feeling completely at
ease in this posh atmosphere. The aesthetic is the same but
the crowd has changed. The young hip struggling art type is
the current �avor of the bar. The circular bar and wide
window opened unto Los Angeles’ busy Broadway
Boulevard make for excellent people watching. After a Seven
and Seven that didn’t pack as great a punch I decided to go
Amidst the buzz of afternoon shoppers, honking cars
making their way slowly through narrow streets and
beligerant beggars threatening passerbys, I made my tour of
the Downtown Los Angeles Bar scene. The energy of the
streets, although bustling, was exciting and alive. Historical
buildings towering above peered down through the stoney
eyes of countless gargoyles, cherubs and eagles all atop the
grecian pillars of lush buildings. One can easily imagine a
Downtown that was populated with three piece suits, derby
hats, high button shoes and parasols. The rows and rows of
theaters under renovation tell a story of a culture in the past
excited by the new: theater, �lm, vaudeville and with all the
renovated bars, a culture excited about drink.
About twenty feet below street level is the unsinkable
generous enough to keep many of the same charms such as
the orignal bar, some original tiles and the same low-light
atmosphere enclosed in velvet-covered walls. The
sandwhiches are just as lucious. Simple, unpretentious,
cheap and rich in �avor, the sandwiches paired with Au Jus
are irresistible. Spicy pickles and fries paired with an Old
Fashioned made for a good hearty mid-afternoon meal. I was
tipsy enough after one drink to walk merrily out of the
restaurant, leaving a healthy well-deserved tip, and headed
A Drunken History
Gin Joints & Whiskey Bars
for a Mint Julep in celebration of it being such a warm day outside. The
Julep exceeded my expectations. A complex, handcrafted, and down right
beautiful drink; it de�nitely packed a huge wallop! Getting up wasn’t easy
after that one! So struggling to walk to the exit I bid farewell to the
charming doorman and made my way to the next bar.
I decided to tread off of the trendy revival circuit and walk aimlessly to
�nd a bar with less elegant fare. And boy howdy did I �nd it! Hank’s is
a narrow dark bar populated by dedicated drunks, an amiable bar
tender with a black eye and a polite old bar maid whose always happy
to ask if you’re feelin’ alright. Hank's is located adjacent to the lobby of
a run down hotel. I could hear a woman arguing for one more free day
in her �op-house room while I made my way through the lobby for the
bathroom. The drinks were cheap, cheap, cheap and delicious! Quite
honestly, I don’t even remember what I drank. By this point I was
feeling pretty good! A broken out of tune piano was an ample tool for
pounding out a bad, old bar tune. A friend tickled the ivories as best he
could without anyone giving us any grief. Plenty of colorful patrons and
dark corners made for strange lively conversations and interesting stories.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
to the next bar. Cole’s French Dip Restaurant. Cole’s has
been through many incarnations, naturally, as it is Los
Angeles’ oldest bar, dating back to 1908. It had suffered
through prohibition but bounced back with a strong loyal
client base that included hardworking locals, the business
crowd at lunch and a �esty night life. Familiar faces kept a
comfortable home-like atmosphere especially with a
bartender that had worked their for 65 years! After a 1.6
million dollar facelift Cole’s is still lookin’ pretty. The
restoration team was
The Broadway Bar is striking! It is legendary as Los Angeles’
premiere stop for traveling entertainers and the old
Hollywood crowd. The 50 foot multi-tiered circular bar is an
elegant study in the most sophisticated art deco. Its décor
includes charming cherub mini lamps and a smoking patio
enclosed by earthly shrubs. It’s not hard to imagine
Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker feeling completely at
ease in this posh atmosphere. The aesthetic is the same but
the crowd has changed. The young hip struggling art type is
the current �avor of the bar. The circular bar and wide
window opened unto Los Angeles’ busy Broadway
Boulevard make for excellent people watching. After a Seven
and Seven that didn’t pack as great a punch I decided to go
Amidst the buzz of afternoon shoppers, honking cars
making their way slowly through narrow streets and
beligerant beggars threatening passerbys, I made my tour of
the Downtown Los Angeles Bar scene. The energy of the
streets, although bustling, was exciting and alive. Historical
buildings towering above peered down through the stoney
eyes of countless gargoyles, cherubs and eagles all atop the
grecian pillars of lush buildings. One can easily imagine a
Downtown that was populated with three piece suits, derby
hats, high button shoes and parasols. The rows and rows of
theaters under renovation tell a story of a culture in the past
excited by the new: theater, �lm, vaudeville and with all the
renovated bars, a culture excited about drink.
About twenty feet below street level is the unsinkable
generous enough to keep many of the same charms such as
the orignal bar, some original tiles and the same low-light
atmosphere enclosed in velvet-covered walls. The
sandwhiches are just as lucious. Simple, unpretentious,
cheap and rich in �avor, the sandwiches paired with Au Jus
are irresistible. Spicy pickles and fries paired with an Old
Fashioned made for a good hearty mid-afternoon meal. I was
tipsy enough after one drink to walk merrily out of the
restaurant, leaving a healthy well-deserved tip, and headed
Gin Joints & Whiskey Bars
for a Mint Julep in celebration of it being such a warm day outside. The
Julep exceeded my expectations. A complex, handcrafted, and down right
beautiful drink; it de�nitely packed a huge wallop! Getting up wasn’t easy
after that one! So struggling to walk to the exit I bid farewell to the
charming doorman and made my way to the next bar.
I decided to tread off of the trendy revival circuit and walk aimlessly to
�nd a bar with less elegant fare. And boy howdy did I �nd it! Hank’s is
a narrow dark bar populated by dedicated drunks, an amiable bar
tender with a black eye and a polite old bar maid whose always happy
to ask if you’re feelin’ alright. Hank's is located adjacent to the lobby of
a run down hotel. I could hear a woman arguing for one more free day
in her �op-house room while I made my way through the lobby for the
bathroom. The drinks were cheap, cheap, cheap and delicious! Quite
honestly, I don’t even remember what I drank. By this point I was
feeling pretty good! A broken out of tune piano was an ample tool for
pounding out a bad, old bar tune. A friend tickled the ivories as best he
could without anyone giving us any grief. Plenty of colorful patrons and
dark corners made for strange lively conversations and interesting stories.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
10
to the next bar. Cole’s French Dip Restaurant. Cole’s has
been through many incarnations, naturally, as it is Los
Angeles’ oldest bar, dating back to 1908. It had suffered
through prohibition but bounced back with a strong loyal
client base that included hardworking locals, the business
crowd at lunch and a �esty night life. Familiar faces kept a
comfortable home-like atmosphere especially with a
bartender that had worked their for 65 years! After a 1.6
million dollar facelift Cole’s is still lookin’ pretty. The
restoration team was
The Broadway Bar is striking! It is legendary as Los Angeles’
premiere stop for traveling entertainers and the old
Hollywood crowd. The 50 foot multi-tiered circular bar is an
elegant study in the most sophisticated art deco. Its décor
includes charming cherub mini lamps and a smoking patio
enclosed by earthly shrubs. It’s not hard to imagine
Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker feeling completely at
ease in this posh atmosphere. The aesthetic is the same but
the crowd has changed. The young hip struggling art type is
the current �avor of the bar. The circular bar and wide
window opened unto Los Angeles’ busy Broadway
Boulevard make for excellent people watching. After a Seven
and Seven that didn’t pack as great a punch I decided to go
Amidst the buzz of afternoon shoppers, honking cars
making their way slowly through narrow streets and
beligerant beggars threatening passerbys, I made my tour of
the Downtown Los Angeles Bar scene. The energy of the
streets, although bustling, was exciting and alive. Historical
buildings towering above peered down through the stoney
eyes of countless gargoyles, cherubs and eagles all atop the
grecian pillars of lush buildings. One can easily imagine a
Downtown that was populated with three piece suits, derby
hats, high button shoes and parasols. The rows and rows of
theaters under renovation tell a story of a culture in the past
excited by the new: theater, �lm, vaudeville and with all the
renovated bars, a culture excited about drink.
About twenty feet below street level is the unsinkable
generous enough to keep many of the same charms such as
the orignal bar, some original tiles and the same low-light
atmosphere enclosed in velvet-covered walls. The
sandwhiches are just as lucious. Simple, unpretentious,
cheap and rich in �avor, the sandwiches paired with Au Jus
are irresistible. Spicy pickles and fries paired with an Old
Fashioned made for a good hearty mid-afternoon meal. I was
tipsy enough after one drink to walk merrily out of the
restaurant, leaving a healthy well-deserved tip, and headed
for a Mint Julep in celebration of it being such a warm day outside. The
Julep exceeded my expectations. A complex, handcrafted, and down right
beautiful drink; it de�nitely packed a huge wallop! Getting up wasn’t easy
after that one! So struggling to walk to the exit I bid farewell to the
charming doorman and made my way to the next bar.
I decided to tread off of the trendy revival circuit and walk aimlessly to
�nd a bar with less elegant fare. And boy howdy did I �nd it! Hank’s is
a narrow dark bar populated by dedicated drunks, an amiable bar
tender with a black eye and a polite old bar maid whose always happy
to ask if you’re feelin’ alright. Hank's is located adjacent to the lobby of
a run down hotel. I could hear a woman arguing for one more free day
in her �op-house room while I made my way through the lobby for the
bathroom. The drinks were cheap, cheap, cheap and delicious! Quite
honestly, I don’t even remember what I drank. By this point I was
feeling pretty good! A broken out of tune piano was an ample tool for
pounding out a bad, old bar tune. A friend tickled the ivories as best he
could without anyone giving us any grief. Plenty of colorful patrons and
dark corners made for strange lively conversations and interesting stories.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
11
to the next bar. Cole’s French Dip Restaurant. Cole’s has
been through many incarnations, naturally, as it is Los
Angeles’ oldest bar, dating back to 1908. It had suffered
through prohibition but bounced back with a strong loyal
client base that included hardworking locals, the business
crowd at lunch and a �esty night life. Familiar faces kept a
comfortable home-like atmosphere especially with a
bartender that had worked their for 65 years! After a 1.6
million dollar facelift Cole’s is still lookin’ pretty. The
restoration team was
The Broadway Bar is striking! It is legendary as Los Angeles’
premiere stop for traveling entertainers and the old
Hollywood crowd. The 50 foot multi-tiered circular bar is an
elegant study in the most sophisticated art deco. Its décor
includes charming cherub mini lamps and a smoking patio
enclosed by earthly shrubs. It’s not hard to imagine
Marlene Dietrich or Josephine Baker feeling completely at
ease in this posh atmosphere. The aesthetic is the same but
the crowd has changed. The young hip struggling art type is
the current �avor of the bar. The circular bar and wide
window opened unto Los Angeles’ busy Broadway
Boulevard make for excellent people watching. After a Seven
and Seven that didn’t pack as great a punch I decided to go
Amidst the buzz of afternoon shoppers, honking cars
making their way slowly through narrow streets and
beligerant beggars threatening passerbys, I made my tour of
the Downtown Los Angeles Bar scene. The energy of the
streets, although bustling, was exciting and alive. Historical
buildings towering above peered down through the stoney
eyes of countless gargoyles, cherubs and eagles all atop the
grecian pillars of lush buildings. One can easily imagine a
Downtown that was populated with three piece suits, derby
hats, high button shoes and parasols. The rows and rows of
theaters under renovation tell a story of a culture in the past
excited by the new: theater, �lm, vaudeville and with all the
renovated bars, a culture excited about drink.
About twenty feet below street level is the unsinkable
generous enough to keep many of the same charms such as
the orignal bar, some original tiles and the same low-light
atmosphere enclosed in velvet-covered walls. The
sandwhiches are just as lucious. Simple, unpretentious,
cheap and rich in �avor, the sandwiches paired with Au Jus
are irresistible. Spicy pickles and fries paired with an Old
Fashioned made for a good hearty mid-afternoon meal. I was
tipsy enough after one drink to walk merrily out of the
restaurant, leaving a healthy well-deserved tip, and headed
for a Mint Julep in celebration of it being such a warm day outside. The
Julep exceeded my expectations. A complex, handcrafted, and down right
beautiful drink; it de�nitely packed a huge wallop! Getting up wasn’t easy
after that one! So struggling to walk to the exit I bid farewell to the
charming doorman and made my way to the next bar.
I decided to tread off of the trendy revival circuit and walk aimlessly to
�nd a bar with less elegant fare. And boy howdy did I �nd it! Hank’s is
a narrow dark bar populated by dedicated drunks, an amiable bar
tender with a black eye and a polite old bar maid whose always happy
to ask if you’re feelin’ alright. Hank's is located adjacent to the lobby of
a run down hotel. I could hear a woman arguing for one more free day
in her �op-house room while I made my way through the lobby for the
bathroom. The drinks were cheap, cheap, cheap and delicious! Quite
honestly, I don’t even remember what I drank. By this point I was
feeling pretty good! A broken out of tune piano was an ample tool for
pounding out a bad, old bar tune. A friend tickled the ivories as best he
could without anyone giving us any grief. Plenty of colorful patrons and
dark corners made for strange lively conversations and interesting stories.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
When I was �nally done, I walked outside and was
confused that it was still day time! It was de�nitely
time for a nap. The Downtown Los Angeles bar scene
was inviting. I �owed from one bar to the other with
joy and ease, happy that I could now count myself
among a history of people for the past hundred years
getting tipsy in the heart of the City of Angels.
A Little History Lesson1908
Jack Garlinghouse, Cole’s house chef, dips bread in Aus
Jus to soften it for a customer with bad gums. Thus, he
originates the French Dip sandwich, a universally
beloved Los Angeles Culinary invention.
1933
Cole’s sells a record �fty-eight 38-gallon kegs; or 19,000
gallons of beer the �rst day California lifted the ban on
beer, signaling the beginning of the end of Prohibition.
1974
Cole’s is designated by the City of Los Angeles as
Historical Landmark Site #104 and a State Point of
Historical Interest not only for its location, but also for
recognizing Cole’s to be the true Originator of the
French Dip sandwich.
2008
213, a driving force in Los Angeles urban revival,
reopens Cole’s after a $1.6 million year long restoration.
2009
Cole’s is named a 2009 recipient of the Los Angeles
Conservancy’s coveted Preservation Award recognizing
outstanding achievement in the �eld of historic
preservation.
12
7th
olympic
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oa
grand
13
LEGENDSEVEN GRAND515 w. 7th st.
COLE’S118 E. 6TH ST.
BROADWAY BAR830 BROADWAY
GOLDEN GOPHER417 w. 8th
CASEY’S IRISH PUB613 S. GRAND AVE.
14