LOS ANGELES HISTORIC BARS E-L

LOS ANGELES BARS E-L

Below you will find a number of excellent bars or restaurants that have nice bars. Remember DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. Unless you are staying at a hotel within walking distance - do as I do and enjoy the ambiance and conversation while drinking an O' Doul's or a Perrier. It's not worth risking your life or the lives of others! A few places listed are complete dives. I make no representations whatsoever about the safety of any place on this site. You need to check around before going into any bar (especially women) - look at reviews on the internet and talk to people who have previously gone there. I have visited everyplace on the site, but I often go at times early in the morning when there is no one there. Just because I had a good experience does not mean you will!

Embers Lounge, 11332 E. Washington Blvd. Whittier, California 818 348 2020

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Just when I thought I'd seen just about everything of value in Time Machines in Los Angeles Metro, I walked into this bar (on Ron F.'s suggestion). What makes this place unique are many oil paintings (two big one's behind the bar and several others around the place) of movies stars painted to look like devils. Given the "G" rated nature of this site, I debated giving you full shots of the pictures which are mildly risqué (PG -13), and the G rating won out. You'll just have to go there for yourself to see the full versions. The characters in the paintings are supposedly based on 1950's movie stars, although many were for me difficult to discern. The Buccaneer Lounge (70 W Sierra Madre, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 626-355-9045) has other painting by Frank Bowers. The artist's style is a cross between Tamara de Lempicka and Vargas I guess, in the art deco style.

The Vibe in the bar on a Saturday afternoon was friendly (very few people there) and the bar counter is old and well preserved. Can't tell you what it's like at night or what the area's like at night. A big added attraction is that there is another Time Machine in the same parking lot - Chris 'n Pitts (see the restaurant page). Also pretty close by is Clearman's Steak 'n Stein. Definitely worth a trip out to Whittier.

UPDATE: I recently discovered another bar that has paintings by the same artist. It's the Foc'sle Bar in Wilmington, CA. But read my write up of the Foc'sle Bar before visiting.

Ercoles, 1101 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach 310 372-1997

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Upon my first visit to Manhattan Beach and I thought it was a really nice city and beach, clean and upscale. Ercoles was no disappointment either. It’s well preserved with plenty of old wood and quite popular. This place makes a nice anchor to start with for time machine explorers to the beach area.

A nice day of exploring would include Sam’s Seafood restaurant (now reopened), the Crab Cooker restaurant, the Five Crowns restaurant, La Cave restaurant, Uncle Bill's Pancake House, the Bull Pen restaurant and bar, the Mermaid Inn bar and restaurant, the Harbor Room bar and time on the beach of course.

Fox Fire Room, 12516 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 818-766-1344

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Not sure how old this bar is, but it's old all right. Friendly place. Good for quiet conversation. What more can I say?

You can visit the Tonga Hut Bar, the Smoke House Restaurant, Dimple's restaurant, the Blue Room bar, Genio's Restaurant (now closed) and Bob's Big Boy Restaurant on the same trip.

Formosa Café, 7156 Santa Monica Blvd. 323.850.9050, (since 1929)

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I recently revisited this place and thankfully it is still in very good shape. Built in part out of a Red Car from the Pacific Electric Railway. It was darker than I remembered, but darkness is always a good thing in a time machine restaurant. If there's anything I hate, it is a very bright restaurant. You can't relax.

One person missing was the former owner, Lem Quon, who would often be sleeping at a table. He died in December of 1993 and apparently his grandson took over the reigns. Quon had started out as the chef here. The owner, at least in 1963, was originally a man with a very Chinese sounding name - Jimmy Bernstein, who used to have a free Thanksgiving Dinner each year for hundreds of underprivileged children. In the 40's it may have been called the Formosa Club and it was owned by Max Gold. A famous purported "made man" and associate of Mickey Cohen was arrested here in 1951 - Freddie Sica.

You can see the Formosa in the movie " LA Confidential " (the Lana Turner scene) and in the movie "The Majestic".

The rear of the restaurant was made out of an old railroad car. Lots of nice pictures of Hollywood stars. This place has survived at least one plan to tear it down. It is said that Elvis ate here and as a tip, he left his waitress a Cadillac.

Near Dan Tana's Restaurant and Barney's Beanery restaurant and bar, and not far from all the Hollywood Haunts, Musso and Frank's Restaurant, Miceli's Restaurant, Boardner's Bar and Restaurant, the Chinese Theater, the Egyptian Theater, the Pig 'n Whistle, the Power House bar, the Frolic Room bar, and the El Capitan Theater.

Foc'sle Bar, 400 N. Avalon Blvd, Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 834-7764

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Sorry for the sloppy edits necessitated by the "G" rating of this site. Wonderful Frank Bowers painting.

More on Frank Bowers

From the area and the way this place looks from the outside, there is no way in Hades I would normally have gone in here (see my comments on the Alhambra Lounge and my warnings page - they apply here as well). Keep in mind I'm a complete wimp from the boondocks of Maryland. However, a very nice gentleman from TC's Cocktail Lounge in San Pedro told me it was a very historic place with a long history for longshoremen, so I summoned up the little courage I have and went in. At least on the particular Sunday morning I was there, it was a very friendly place. Being fluent in Spanish helped but wasn't necessary. I did get a few questions from very nice locals about why I was there (probably because of my Nikon D-50 hanging from my side). The great discovery here is that the there are murals by the same great artist, Frank Bowers, from the Embers Lounge and the Buccaneer in Sierra Madre (he's a cross between Vargas and Tamara De Lempicka in the art deco style). Sadly, most of the mural behind the back bar is covered by bottles. All in all a very pleasant experience, but no promises it can be replicated for anyone else. I don't think obnoxious people (one of the few negative qualities I don't have - or a least no one is brave enough to tell me) would fair well here.

By the way Foc'sle is slang for "Fore Castle" - the forward upper deck region of a ship that goes to the bow. Undoubtedly a nod to the longshoremen clientele from the nearby harbor.

Frolic Room, 6245 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, 90028-5310, Phone: (323) 462-5890, (since 1930 or 1934 depending on the source!)

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Historic bar in the Pantages Theater Building. Great 1940s mural of Hollywood stars by Al Hirschfield. Simple interior but nice original elements. Also in "LA Confidential" (when Kevin Spacey leaves the $50 drink tip). Reliable sources list this as an Elizabeth Short / Black Dahlia hang out (and the exterior was used in the recent Black Dahlia movie, although another place was used in place of the real interior (a locale in Bulgaria!).

Near Boardner's bar, Miceli's Italian Restaurant, Musso and Frank's Restaurant, the Egyptian and Chinese theater, the Pig 'n Whistle restaurant, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Powerhouse bar.

Frank 'n Hanks, 518 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020 (since 1933)

(213) 383-2087

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This bar goes way back. A hidden gem, which probably accounts for the occasional celebrity visitor. The ambiance is a bit austere, but completely authentic. I haven't spent enough time here to get a real feel of the place, but everyone tells me it's ok. This place might have been Charles "Hank" Bukowski hangout (you can see it in the opening credits of Barfly), but no one here seems to know who he was. Great old wooden bar. You may see a few grandmother's here during the day whose language may open your eyes a bit!

Not far from the Brass Monkey bar, the HMS Bounty Restaurant, the remains of the Brown Derby Hat and the Prince Korean Restaurant and Langer's Delicatessen.

The Gas Lite bar, 2030 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica CA 90403. (310) 829-2382

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A clean, well kept neighborhood bar with a clientele one would expect in Santa Monica. An attractive bartender (I guess there is no word bartendress?) the night I was there, but not overly talkative (which is fine). This place started its life as a gas station, but you would never know it. I was in there too early at night to tell you much about the vibe. They have a nice Karaoke setup. All in all a pleasant place.

Gus's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, 808 Fair Oaks Ave. South Pasadena, CA 91030 626-799-3251

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The above is the original interior.

A viewer of this website recommended this place to me. Sure enough, it is very authentic, with counter seating, old booths, a nice neon and a bar in the rear similar to Taylor's Steak house, with a race horse theme. Apparently, it was remodeled after an earthquake, but they fooled me. Didn't have time to eat there yet, but the food looks good!

Not far from Monty's Steak House (now closed in Pasadena), Delacey's 41 Club, the Rialto, the Fair Oaks Pharmacy, the El Cholo Restaurant - Pasadena branch and the Freddie's 35er bar.

UPDATE: The place has been substantially remodeled. Time Machine effect is no more.

Hank’s Bar, Stillwell Hotel, 840 S. Grand Ave. , Los Angeles, 90017-4610, 213-623-7718 Open Hours: 11am-1am Sun-Thu; 11am-2am Fri-Sat, since 1959.

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Very old bar that many swear by. Founded by Hank Holzer in 1959, a former boxer who died in 1997. This place has a very loyal following and should be supported. A ton of Knick Knacks.

Not far from John's Ham and Eggs restaurant, the Original Pantry Cafe, Clifton's Cafeteria, the Yorkshire Grill restaurant and Cole's PE Buffet French Dipped Sandwiches restaurant and bar.

Harbor Room Bar, 195 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey, California 310 821 6550

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This place claims to be the smallest bar in the Los Angeles metro area. This place is even smaller than the Tiki Ti. Nice old ambiance right near the beach. The afternoon I stopped by was mostly older locals.

Worth seeing in a tour of the Beaches with the Mermaid Inn bar and restaurant, Ercoles bar and restaurant, Uncle Bill's Pancake House, the Bull Pen bar and restaurant, the Parasol (being remodeled to be a Mel's) and Sam’s Seafood restaurant (reopened).

Harvelle's, 1432 4th St., Santa Monica, 310-395-1676

(since 1931)

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Haven't been here in years. As I've said, I don't get out to Bay City much. It's not that I don't like Santa Monica. It's that I like to stay in classic hotels in Los Angeles's downtown core and although I've often headed out for Santa Monica determined to explore a new place, the battle on the 10 usually makes me give up by about the Fairfax exit. I guess if you are going to explore Santa Monica, you had better live or at least stay there. As to Harvelle's, nice blues music and I recall the bar had its original etched glass, which is a big plus. Bob Dylan mentions this place in his recent biography. Looks like they may have a new branch on the Redondo beach pier.

Not far from the Galley Restaurant, Snug Harbor restaurant, Casa Escobar Mexican Restaurant, Rae's Restaurant, Rick's Tavern on Main, the Gaslite, and Dolores's Restaurant.

HMS Bounty (bar and restaurant), 3357 Wilshire Blvd, 323-385-7275. Mon-Sat 11am-1am; Sun 2pm-12am (under this name since 1962 but interior is older. Building dates from 1924).

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This is old Hollywood nirvana with much of the attributes I previously mentioned for a time machine. In a historic area across the street from the Ambassador Hotel former site and right next to where the original Brown Derby used to be (now mummified on the third floor of the strip mall next door). The food is good and still has 1960’s prices. Plenty of free parking on streets in area after six (but see warnings section). For more info, see my restaurant page.

Near the Prince Korean (Windsor) Restaurant, Taylor's Steakhouse, the Brass Monkey bar and restaurant, Frank 'n Hanks bar, Lowenbrou ("Lowenbrau") Keller (now Medusa Lounge) and Langers Deli.

Indian Room, 952 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-3511

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See my write up on the Alhambra Lounge and my warnings page (the same comments apply here). I stopped in on a Sunday around 10:00AM and surprisingly the place was quite crowded. Very nice and pleasant bartender on duty who was happy to talk about the place. I could not verify a Bukowski visit, but you have to figure that in all those years in San Pedro, he had to stop by (but then again, I guess he had switched to wine by that time). While the back wall of the bar had been completely remodeled, the back bar and bar counter are in pristine 1930's shape. And you have to love the neon sign out front. A nice painting of a native American is rumored to have a bullet hole in it, but I was assured by patrons that it is decades old (hmmm?). Fortunately, I did not see any knick knacks or paintings that appeared to be offensive to native Americans. Given my status as a bohemian wimp, I would not trust my comments on any San Pedro or Wilmington bar. I'll leave it to you to check things out. Probably a good idea to read internet reviews about the place.

Joe Jost's, 2803 East Anaheim Street
Long Beach, CA 562-439-5446

(since 1924 - well at least the building)

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Another great find in Long Beach. Old wooden booths, pool and shuffleboard. Cheese sandwiches for $1.95 and very laid back friendly staff. Great ambiance (although a bit heavy on knick knacism). Highly recommended.

Used to be close to the dearly departed Long Beach branch of Russell's Hamburgers. Also not far from the V Room bar, the Reno Room bar and Clancy's bar and restaurant.

Kibitz Room (The), 419 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles open 10:00am -1:40am. 323-651-2030 (inside Canter's Deli)

(since 1931)

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Fairly standard old bar belonging to Canter’s Deli, albeit with quite a lot of musical history. No doubt Frank Zappa visited on a few occasions, as well as Jim Morrison.

Near Molly Malone’s Pub, El Coyote Mexican Restaurant, Tom Bergin’s restaurant, Dupar’s Restaurant (now remodeled), and the Farmer’s Market (Patsy D'Amore's Pizza).