Broadway Bar

Most people go to Broadway Bar to say they've been to Broadway Bar. It's the type of place that has an air of sophistication and a lot of history. It's one of those places you talk about going to, plan a weekend to go, and, when you get there, make sure you're seen. It doesn't have the strictest dress code, but you should go dressed like you would for a club. It just feels better when you match the decor of the place you're drinking. Which, at this place, is pretty good. The service here is not necessarily bad, but it is crowded. There are two bars one upstairs and one downstairs, and the service time is consistently slow at both. Be prepared for long wait times between drinks and make sure to bust out all your tricks to ensure you get served quickly (introduce yourself to the bartender, tip well, etc...). Both upstairs and downstairs tend to have dancing, but the bottom floor is definitely where you should be if you're looking to dance. The upper floor is more of a lounge, complete with a smoking balcony. If you go in with reasonable expectations, you'll have a good time. Broadway Bar is worth a visit, but it's not somewhere you go every weekend for a guaranteed good time.

v\\\\Ridiculous service! My sister and gf asked for an LA water but were sort of baffled by the drink they got. Obviously, if you've ordered a drink more than once you have an idea of what its supposed to look and taste like. So they politely asked the bartender girl what she had made, and told her that it might be missing something. This bartender, a blonde, snobby white girl, says she made the drinks they ordered. When they ask her to pour in blue curacao, she spills the liquor on both my gf and sister's hand and sarcastically says she's sorry. I guess she was offended that they questioned her but we were paying customers so at least make an effort to accomadate. We were there early in the night so it wasn't as if it was busy either. We paid for our drinks but didn't feel the need to tip after such horrible service. She checks for a tip and rudely exclaims "unbelievable" and then goes over to her bartending mate and points us out. After that, only one other bartender came over once to take our order. The rest of the night turned out decent after we were served by another bartender doing his job right (he did get his tip). What's "unbelievable" to me is how someone can give such awful service and expect to get a tip after. No one should have to experience that when they're out trying to give someone their business. Pretty unfortunate because the place itself was nice and we did have a good time upstairs, but I won't want to go back to a place where they'll allow that type of shit to go down. It's LA, there's lots of other places for drinks and music. I'm willing to pay LA prices but I'll have to do that elsewhere, because I'm not willing to do it at this mockery of a place.

This place is actually the oldest running licensed bar in Downtown LA! Who would have thought? Anyway, the decor here is gorgeous. From the circle bar downstairs, to the old paintings on the wall, the dim lights and the beautiful staircase. The crowd here depends on the time and day. I've been here on weeknights during rush hour, and usually find there is an older more relaxed crowd, mainly white collar colleagues; then there are times like friday nights when you have a huge crowd of twenty something year olds. The service here is a hit or a miss for me, but to be honest I really don't care about it so long as I'm with good company. It's not a dive bar, so don't expect cheap drinks and cheap prices. Keep in mind, if you're looking to get shit faced, the walk downstairs will not be fun; the ironic part is that the more mellow crowd is downstairs and upstairs is where people let loose!

Walking into this Broadwar Bar you're met with a staircase that leads to the second floor (more on that later) and a big circular bar crowded by people looking to get their liquor fix. The bar can get crowded and ordering a drink may take a while specially since every time I go they seem to have 2 bartenders despite the relatively large size of the bar and amount of people surrounding it. Next to one side of the bar is a patio and on the opposite side are some large couches next to the DJ booth. The DJ tends to spin a good mix of music that will get you in the mood to dance. Walking up to the second floor you'll find a louder crowd and maybe some people dancing. This place is a lot smaller and tends to get crowded. It also has its own bar and patio. The bar itself is very small but sometimes I feel like I'm able to get a drink faster upstairs then downstairs. This is also probably why I usually find the crazier, rowdier, wilder crowd. I saw a dance off one time. People were doing the worm and other dance moves with names I don't even know.

Those who aren’t attention hungry, who don’t prefer the egos, the pounds of make-up, or the posh of Hollywood, will find refuge in Downtown Los Angeles. Broadway Bar draws a young and mellow crowd that is seeking social interaction or a genuinely good time on the dance floor. The location feels seemingly random, as it pops up on an ill lit street of Downtown LA but the interior compensates for the somewhat sketch perimeter as it is decorated with paintings, statuettes and furnishings that alludes to a baroque classical period. The bar is two stories, bringing breath to an otherwise small venue. The DJs featured here are usually fairly serious about their craft--those who like good music will not be disappointed. The main dance floor is on the bottom level, but people here aren’t concerned about rules or an image and will dance freely throughout the venue. Broadway Bar is at it best when it is hosting a thematic night. Prom Night for example, invites people to be playful and nostalgic while dressed in the formal attire which is probably rotting away in the back of a closet. People are not required to dress up to get in, but doing so adds to the excitement of the evening. There are times when Broadway Bar can be a hit or miss. There are nights where there is a small line outside the door, and there are times when the bar can seem practically vacant. A goodtime depends entirely on the mindset of the people who are going.