Little Branch

Whoever was working late night on 8/13 is just painfully rude. Was simply looking for friends and got the biggest attitude. She said, "ummm sooo can I help you?" When I politely responded, "I'm just looking for friends" she got annoyed with me and told me to go to move out of the section. All I did was walk along the bar and around the space. Disappointing when people don't know how to show an ounce of courtesy. Last time I visit this muggy basement bar. If your attitude is that bad, just don't bother people.

The best part about this place, is that you tell them what type of booze you like and what flavors and they just make a cocktail for you. It's kinda dark in the bar but the atmosphere is nice. Cash only, though but most places like this are.

The whole speakeasy thing - yaaaawn. Of the two cocktails I had, the Aviation was a disappointment - despite reassurances they had creme de violet, it was barely evident in the finished drink, and how could you tell based on the colour given how dark it is in here? The Negroni that followed it was decent enough I suppose.

From Swingers:
For some reason the cool bars in Hollywood have to be hard to find and have no sign. It's kind of like a speakeasy kind of thing. It's kinda cool. It's like you're in on some kind of secret, you know? You tell a chick you been someplace, it's like braggin' that you know how to find it.

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This may not be Hollywood, but the quote still applies.

From the outside, it looks like a run down building. If you walked by it, you probably would not even know it was a bar. But you step inside and go down the stairs and its like you stepped into a 1920's prohibition era speakeasy. There is great jazzy music playing (sometimes live), no current pop music junk. You order real cocktails made by real mixologists. These are real drinks. No vodka cranberries here. You can get a Dark and Stormy with real homemade ginger beer. There is a menu of drinks, but the real treat is to have the bartenders choice. He just tell the bartender or the waiter some things that you like and they will make you a drink. There are many secret drinks as well. Ask for a Torchlight (its not on the menu and its fantastic).

Plus, the ice cubes are big blocks. No chipped ice here. Huge cubes that fit the size of the glass your drinks comes in.

This placed has amazing drinks. They bartenders are knowledgeable add great at suggesting the cocktail of yourself dreams. This is a good place to start the night off.