Eating & Drinking in Los Angeles

There are grimy dive bars, and then there's this place. Little Joy looks like what my grandparent's dingy old basement would look like if it had been raided, vandalized and spray painted by band of punk rockers. But I think it'd actually be pretty cool to see what my grandparent's old basement would look like if a bunch of punks had trashed it and turned it into a bar. The drinks here are cheap, and the service a bit pretentious, but the people watching is top notch.

This tiny Irish Pub looks like it should be tucked away in New York City or Boston, not the touristy Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco. But it's that unexpected element that makes this place memorable. It's best to stay downstairs (even though it can get a bit cramped) and listen to the live music (usually a guy strumming cover songs on an acousit guitar). Considering it's location, I don't remember drinks being too pricey.

This cozy, unassuming shack near the Occidental College campus may look innocent enough, but the massive burgers they serve inside are downright sinful. Decadent to the tastebuds but surely damaging to the arteries. The menu in this joint, which has been around since the 1930, isn't big — it boasts less than a dozen items — but its simplicity is what makes it charming, as does the friendly staff and breezy atmosphere.

Perhaps the next frontier of trendiness in LA now that Silver Lake is becoming gentrified is nearby Highland Park. And of all the bars I checked out in the up-and-coming neighborhood, this place was definitely one of the most enjoyable. The staff was friendly (due in large part to the fact my best friend in LA practically lives there), and the juke box is one of the best I've ever seen.

I spent a year one winter in Coeur d'Alene, and I can say that this bar scene here is abysmal. With the exception of this place. I came here just about every other night for the awesome beer selection and friendly staff (that'll stay open past midnight on a weeknight if you're real nice).

This dungeon of a dive is pretty much what I expected a LA bar to look like at midnight on a Saturday; lots of attractive people that look much cooler than I do, sipping cocktails and playing loud music that most people have probably never heard before. Some might find it snobby, but I found it endearing. I like knowing there's a place out there that lives up to my expectations of what uber hip LA looks like.

Apparently this bar still maintains a direct phone line to the Los Angeles Times city desk across the street (back in the day it was a big reporter hangout). These days, it's a pirate-themed bar that often has pirate-themed bands perform on the weekend. So if you're into that sort of thing... It's also got some great pub grub and a hellacious jukebox filled with indie rock and post-punk.

I've wanted to visit this Los Feliz gem since 1998, which was the first time I saw Swingers. This throw-back joint is something straight out of a Rat Pack movie, from the 1960s decor to the old timers slinging cocktails. Back in the day, this was one of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau's favorite spots. About the only thing that's changed since then is that Marty and Elayne, the lounge act duo that's been performing there since the 1980s, have added an extra musician.