The 14 Best Bars in Arts District
Wurstküche
Wurstküche on E 3rd St is a beer hall known for exotic sausage links, including rabbit and snake, alongside fries and imported beers. It's a genuinely fun spot that handles high volume without losing its character, and you can order ahead or get it delivered.
Arts District Brewing Company
A large, lively brewhouse on Traction Avenue pouring house-made drafts alongside specialty hot dogs, burgers, and games. It's one of the busiest spots in the neighborhood and has been for a while, with takeout and delivery available too.
EightyTwo
Retro arcade games and pinball machines share space with a full craft cocktail bar at this E 4th Place spot, and it draws a reliably good crowd. It is genuinely fun for people who grew up on those games and for people who did not. One of the more consistently busy places in the Arts District.
Far Bar
A gastropub on 1st Street that splits the difference between American bar food and Asian flavors, with burgers, sushi, beer, and cocktails all on the same menu. It's a reliably chill spot in the Arts District, and the combination works better than it sounds. Takes reservations, and you can order delivery if you'd rather stay in.
Everson Royce Bar
A dependable cocktail bar on E 7th Street with a backlit bar, comfortable banquette seating, and a menu of bar bites that runs from burgers to bao buns. It is polished without feeling precious, and the broad number of happy regulars backs that up. Reservations and takeout are both available.
Eat Drink Americano
A gastropub on E 3rd Street with craft beer, boutique wine, and a kitchen that leans on locally sourced ingredients for its food. It is the kind of neighborhood bar that also happens to feed you well, and reservations, takeout, and delivery are all options.
Wolf & Crane Bar
A late-night bar on 2nd Street built around imaginative cocktails and a solid selection of Japanese whisky. It has the kind of atmosphere that earns a place its regulars, and the crowd it draws reflects that.
Death & Co
The LA outpost of New York's celebrated cocktail bar, settled into East Third Street with a speakeasy feel and a New American food menu alongside its creative drinks. It has earned its reputation, and the crowd tends to know what they came for. Reservations are available and smart to grab.
Tony's Saloon
An old-school saloon on E 7th St that has quietly grown into a neighborhood bar with craft cocktails, beer, pool, Ping-Pong, and regular music nights. It holds onto its dive-bar bones while offering enough to keep people coming back.
Max Karaoke Studio
Private-room karaoke with a song catalog that leans heavily into K-pop and J-pop alongside the usual standards. A reliable pick in the neighborhood if you want to sing with a group without an audience.
The Mermaid
This woman-owned cocktail bar on 2nd St keeps things relaxed, with fruity drinks and small bites that lean seaside in spirit. It's a low-key neighborhood option that punches above its size.
High Tide
This Arts District bar pairs cocktails and tapas with a funky patio and an in-house art gallery, and it also runs glassblowing classes if you want something to do beyond drinking. A solid option when you want a bar that has a little more going on.
Flamingo Bar
A bar on Industrial Street with a small but decent following. Details are thin, so it's worth a visit to form your own opinion.
Skid Row Drifters
A low-key bar on E 7th St with a small but generally appreciative following. It's a straightforward neighborhood drinking spot in the Arts District, and the vibe seems to suit regulars just fine.