HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES BARS, DIVES, PUBS,
SALOONS & TAVERNS OF THE 30's, 40's, 50's &
60's (Q-Z)
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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! |
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Rebel's Cocktail Lounge,
2216 S Pacific Ave
San Pedro, CA 90731
T T T

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See my write up of the Alhambra Lounge and
my warning page (the comments apply to this
place as well). I went in here early
on a Sunday morning and the place was
packed with a lively crowd. Pretty typical working class
neighborhood bar (definitely NOT upscale! -
I'm not an upscale fan).
Really nice neon sign out front. Fairly old
feel. The star attraction here is an ancient full
sized shuffleboard (the real wooden kind -
not the dumb game played on the floor).
These are extremely hard to find in bars
these days. Probably also a good idea to read the
reviews of this place on various sites on
the internet before checking it out. |
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Red Lion Tavern, 2366 Glendale Blvd. Los
Angeles, 90039-3209, 323-662-5337, since
1959. T T T
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Green leather booths, an old German bar and
restaurant, where people are known to
actually speak German on occasion. I have
not actually eaten here yet, but it’s on the
to do list. Interestingly enough, this
place once had the same owners as Cole's
Pacific Electric Buffet downtown - Ted
Mandekic and Edward Pagliano. During that
period, the Red Lion Tavern was an English
Pub with darts and all the fixings! It took
on its German theme in 1963.
Not far from the Roost bar, the Tam O'Shanter
restaurant,
Club Tee Gee bar, the Astro Family Coffee
Shop, Dinah's Fried Chicken and the former site of Algemac's
restaurant. |
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Redwood 2nd Street Saloon, 316 W. Second St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213-617-2867 (since
1943 - 1970-2005 for its present location)
T T T


Photos of the original Redwood Bar and
Restaurant. |
Very historic bar, although it has moved
over the years. Long time hangout for
Los Angeles
Times staffers. Past
visitors include Richard Nixon, John F.
Kennedy and Mickey Cohen. Various pay
parking lots in area. Good place to get the
inside scope on what's going on in Los
Angeles politics. Not far from Cole's Pacific
Electric Buffet, Clifton's Cafeteria, the
Yorkshire Grill, the Original
Pantry Cafe and the Bradbury Building. UPDATE :
The original Redwood pictured here had been
closed for a while. A great loss to downtown
and Los Angeles Times history. The "Redwood" reopened in September 2006
by means of the folks who reopened the
Golden Gopher (I think).
I hear they have a fun new Pirate theme, and
from pictures it looks like some of the
original wooden bar is still there. At least
downtown is coming alive again at night. Los
Angeles Times staffers still hang out here! |
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Reno Room Bar, 3400 E Broadway, Long
Beach, CA 90803 562 438-4590 (since
1950)
T
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Another place I know nothing about. I
was driving by and liked the sign, so I
stuck my head in and took a picture. Seemed
like it only had a few traces of its
original interior.
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Rick's Tavern on Main, 2907 Main
Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310)
392-2772 T T
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A nice upscale place with remnants of a much
older joint. Nice old back bar. Professional
staff. Lot's of nice pressed tin on the
ceiling. In a pleasant area to stroll
around and observe the very fashionable
Santa Monicans. One would swear that
many people from Santa Monica are
genetically altered to look perfect.
Maybe that's just the view of someone who
spends a lot of time in cheesier Las Vegas
(although there's a more limited, but
abundant type of bodily alteration going on
there as well!). Near the Circle Bar, Chez
Jay's bar and restaurant and
the Galley Restaurant. |
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The Roost Bar, 3100 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles,
CA 323 664-7272 (since 1930) T T T
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A admirable old bar. It's dark, it's cheap
and it's got a hypnotic red glow inside. Sort
of rustic. Peaceful place in the afternoon.
Friendly staff. All in all a nice place. Not far from the Tam O'Shanter
restaurant,
The Astro Family Restaurant, Club Tee Gee
bar,
the Red Lion Tavern and the former site of
Algemac's restaurant.
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Rustic Lite Bar, 14019 Hawthorne
Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250 310-973-5454.
T T T
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Don't know anything about this place. I was
driving down Hawthorne Blvd. on a weekend
afternoon and saw the great neon signage -
had to stop. At least in the early afternoon
it seemed like a friendly working class
neighborhood bar. Very polite bar
tender. Not a lot of older places in the
area, so this was a happy surprise. They
advertise themselves as over 50 years old.
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Short Stop Bar, 1455 Sunset Blvd.
213-487-4942
(since 1940)
T T T T T


You've got to love a
place with an exterior this subtle. |
I've driven by this place many times,
noticing the nice neon "cocktails" sign.
There is no other indicator outside as to
what lies behind the door (probably not very
good for business, although admirably hip -
I guess this is the big trend these days). This is a
classic old bar in really great shape and
nicely very dark. A young crowd. The
bartender the day I went in was very
friendly and quite an expert on other old
bars in Los Angeles and country music.
Very friendly crowd as well (one patron very
generously brought in homemade Guacamole).
The place obviously has a lot of history
connected to baseball and police (while no
longer a "cop" bar - it still has gun
lockers). Why baseball players do not
hang out here is beyond me, given the
proximity to the stadium. Highly
recommended, although I went during the day.
Near the El Cid dinner theater, the El Chavo
Mexican Restaurant, Millie's Restaurant, the Brite Spot
Restaurant, Taix French Restaurant, and the
Tiki Ti bar. |
The Snake Pit, 7529 Melrose Ave, Los
Angeles, CA 90046-7417 (323) 653-2011
T T

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Not really a dive. Kind
of an old feel. I did appreciate that
the bar tender didn't grimace when I ordered
a diet coke (and didn't charge $3.75 for it
- like some other places!). The day I
was there a strange looking forlorn cowboy
walked in, sat at the bar, but refused to
order and soon left. Almost ghostlike
- but I don't believe in such things. Given
the Melrose Ave. location and the sort of
hidden status of the place, it brings in a
few celebrity's now and then. It's kind of
nice that this place hasn't sold out and
become phony. A nice refuge if you
become overwhelmed with the cutting edge pop
culture that surrounds the place. Melrose Ave. at certain
times of the day and week makes for a great
anthropological site to study Los Angeles
pop culture and fashion.
Now gone is the nearby great Italian
restaurant Chianti, which was so dark,
waiters had flashlights to escort you to
your table. I hope the interior of the place
is still in tact and someone buys it and
reopens it. I think I saw it gutted however
when driving by. |
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Maui Sugar Mill Saloon,18389 Ventura
Blvd, Tarzana, CA 91356 818-344-0044
(since 1976)
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I'll break my 1970 rule here because this
place has a great interior. I haven't been
here yet, but from talking with the owners
and looking at the pictures they sent me,
this looks like a great place. The new
owners are very aware how important the
original interior is and with the exception
of restoring a few elements of the original
interior, nothing is being changed.
According the owners Tim & Linda
this
place has a "very cool hammered copper bar,
with pennies inlaid. Carved Indian
elephants, goddesses and cherubs throughout
the bar area and fireplace. Stained glass
entry area. Older but enthusiastic crowd.
They know they have a hidden treasure here."
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Tamarack Inn, 9257 Slauson Ave., Pico
Rivera 562-949-1668 established 1962.
T
T T T

These pictures do not do the place
justice. You'll have to see for yourself. |
Talk about a hidden gem, this was quite a
find. You would not expect much from the
exterior, but it has a fantastic rustic,
dark wood interior. Very unique.
Super-friendly staff and regulars (and a
beautiful bartender the last time I went
there) with great American
comfort food. I don't know much about the
history of this place, but you must check it
out. You may become a regular yourself. Not far from Dal Rae (and you can visit the
nearby incredible "exterior" of
remains of Harvey's/Johnie's
Broiler -(recently destroyed except it's
large sign), as well as the world's oldest
McDonald's (in its original Googie form),
both in nearby Downey. You can probably
check out Bahooka Ribs and Grog, Goody's
Coffee Shop and Clearman's North Woods Restaurant on the same
trip. |
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Tattle Tale Room, 5401 Sepulveda
Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230 310-390-2489
T T
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This place was endangered for a while by
eminent domain but the bartender told me
that the problem has been solved.
Popular local spot with Karaoke. Not
far off the 405 in Culver City.
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T C's Cocktail Lounge, 694 W 9th St,
San Pedro, CA 90731 (310) 514-1691
T T T T
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Beautifully preserved wood and cork curving
bar. Original antique cash registers.
The vibe was quiet on the afternoon I went
in, with a very friendly owner and clientele.
Don't know what the vibe is like at night.
Undoubtedly the most beautiful bartender
I've ever seen (bartendress?). The place was
originally called Mirrors. Looks like
it dates from the forties or so. Would be an
excellent locale to film a period piece.
Unless things change quite a bit at night,
this sure seems like a real "hidden gem".
Surprisingly little mention of it on the
internet. Interior designwise probably one
of the most beautiful retro bars in
the U.S.
LOS ANGELES TIME MACHINES AWARD -
Best "hidden gem" bar south of "the 10"
Highway.
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Three Clubs, 1123 Vine Street.
Hollywood CA. 90038. 323 462 - 6441
T T T T
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I passed by this place a thousand times
without noticing it until a reader of this
site pointed it out to me. No sign
with the name (required for hip places)
other than a classic neon "cocktails" sign.
Before 8 o'clock you have to knock on the
door and just like a 1930's speakeasy, the
bartender opens a slot on the front door and
checks you out first (got to love that!).
Really beautiful and well preserved
interior. In the 60's this was Knight's
Restaurant. It looks like
it dates from the 40's or 50's. Of
particular interest to me, the Mad Men
series was filmed here twice. One
scene was from the "Maiden Form" episode
where Peggy joins "the guys" at a stripper
club. It was also used as the bar
where Betty first cheats (revenge is sweet)
on Don in an elegant bar. I need to go back
and take pictures. A little loud for
old farts like me once the music starts
playing later at night. Plenty of parking in
the area (and a good idea to park close by -
be streetwise). |
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Tiki Ti, 4427 W. Sunset,, Los Angeles,
90027-6017, 323-669-9381, since 1961
T T T
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[This was once a garage - wrong - see
below]. It started out with six bar stools.
Still small but extremely authentic Tiki
bar (one of the only really authentic one’s
still existing in Los Angeles that is not a
re-creation, along with the Tonga Hut), and
still run by descendents of the original
owner, Ray Buhen, who was perhaps the
greatest Tiki bartender at Don the
Beachcomber (or anywhere else) in the 1940’s. I hear that
Disney's California Adventure has a new Don
the Beachcomber. Would someone inform me is
it pronounced Tiki "Tee" or Tiki "Tie" (I
usually hear Tiki "Tie"). Next door to El Chavo Mexican Restaurant. Not far from Taix
French Restaurant, the Short Stop Bar, El
Cid
and Millie's restaurant for a nice Sunset Blvd tour.
You can continue on Sunset to the Coach and
Horses bar, the Hollywood Athletic Club, the
Crossroads of the World, the Sunset Grill, Greenblatt's Deli, the former site of the
Garden of *****, the former sites of the
Trocadero Cafe, the Mocambo and La Rue,
Myagi's (Players) the Chateau Marmont,
Mel's Drive-in (Ben Frank's), the Rainbow
Bar and Grill, the Argyle Hotel, Duke's
Tropicana coffee shop, the Bel Age Hotel and the Beverly
Hills Hotel.
Update - My source indicating this was
once a garage is dead wrong. This is what
an associate of the Tiki Ti points out:
Sorry guys, I don't know where you got
your info, but the Tiki-Ti was never a
garage, it may only be big enough for two
cars, but it was never a garage. It stated
off as a family owned Violin Repair Shop
that was built in the 1930's and owned by
the father in-law of the original owner, Ray
Buhen. Ray was originally going to open a
Bar-tending School in
the old Violin Repair Shop, that had been
previously rented out as a meat pie
manufacturing shop,
and Republican Head Quarters in the 1950's.
Fortunately he listened to his
wife and opened a real bar instead. And the
rest as they say is history.
Gil A.
tiki-ti web master |
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Tin Horn Flats, 2623 W Magnolia Blvd,
Burbank 91505 818-567-2470 T T T

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Quirky and pleasant old bar with a Western
theme. Friendly place with yummy food
as well. Sort of the last of the old West in
the Los Angeles Metro area (although I don't
believe statements like "Howdy Partner"
would be welcome here). Not quite as rustic
on the inside, as one might imagine from the
swinging old Western doors. On the
Magnolia Blvd. tour with Tony's Bella Vista
Italian Restaurant,
Monte Carlo Deli and Pinocchio Restaurant, Sitton's North Hollywood Diner and the Fire
Fox Room bar, and near Chili John's
Restaurant, Frank's
Steakhouse Restaurant, Genio's (now closed), the Smoke House
restaurant and the
Safari Inn. |
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Tom Bergin’s, 840 S. Fairfax Ave. Los
Angeles, 90036-4421, 323-936-7151 since 1936
T T T
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Nice bar and restaurant. Very historic. Moved in 1949 from Wilshire
Blvd. Bing Crosby was once an owner. It was
originally known as the Horseshoe Tavern.
When they changed location, they not only
changed addresses, but they disassembled and
reassembled the place at the new location.
Great idea.
Lot's of extremely loyal fans of this place.
Love the neon sign. Not far from Molly Malone's pub, the El
Coyote Mexican Restaurant, the
Farmer's Market (Patsy D'Amore's Pizza) and Canter's Delicatessen.

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The Tonga Hut, 12808 Victory Boulevard,
North Hollywood, CA 91606, (818) 769-0708
T T T T



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Quite a good Tiki find. I could be wrong
but I don't remember this place mentioned in
"The Book of Tiki" or "The Tiki Road Trip".
Very well worn dive - definitely not
remodeled - although shockingly, I might not
be opposed to some careful restoration here
(removing some knick knacks and repairing
the fountain behind the bar). During the
afternoon the place was pleasant enough and
the bartender and patrons very friendly
(although the neighborhood looks like you
should use caution).
UPDATE: There are rumors
that this place has new owners who realize
what a unique property this is. It sounds
like they may do the careful restoration I
suggested. Someone let me know the current
status of the place.
Not too far from the
Smokehouse Restaurant, Dimples Restaurant, the Blue Room
bar, Frank's Restaurant, Chili John's
restaurant, Genio's Restaurant
(now closed) and Bob's Big Boy restaurant. |
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The
Townhouse, 52 Windward Ave., Venice 310-392-4040
(since 1915)
T T
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This place was fairly crowded the night I
poked my head in. It has a nice old tiled
floor, apparently from an older place that
occupied the site. Not far from the beach
and the famous Venice columns. Very large
bar in wild and wooly Venice beach - one of
the most interesting areas of Los Angeles
metro. One of the oldest bars in LA metro if
their 1915 date is accurate.
UPDATE: Stopped back during the middle
of the day. The place was empty but the bar
was much more attractive and interesting
than I had remembered. Will have to check it
out again some day. Right off the
interesting cement "boardwalk" area of
Venice Beach.
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V Room Bar, 918 E 4th St, Long
Beach, CA 90802 562 437-4396 (since
1940)
T T
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Don't know much about this place, but the
bartender the day I went was extremely
friendly (always a plus when you have to
order a Seven Up!) She would occasionally pick
up a harmonica and join in on a blues number
while donning a security guard hat. The
place has not been maintained with history
in mind, but there are still some traces of
the past here. Pretty typical of old
Long Beach bars. Don't know what the place
is like at night.
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Ye Rustic Inn, 1831 Hillhurst Ave. Los
Angeles, CA 90027, 323 662-5757 since 1971
T T


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I'm breaking my pre-70 rule here. This place
is generally packed like sardines. Very
dark. Generally a young crowd and nice
owners. Plenty of parking in the area.
This dive
bar is highly recommended for the under 40
crowd (and the very young at heart for any
age). There are a number of good bars and
restaurants in the area to go hopping
around.
Not far from the Dresden Room restaurant, and
the Derby (the former Brown Derby). |