The Dress Code: Big Bar
Our beloved Los Feliz is beloved for many reasons — $4.75 sushi at Mako on Vermont, two old-school movie theaters within walking distance of our house and less reality television personalities per square mile than in other areas of the city. But one thing that we don't always care for in our picturesque little enclave is the nightlife. Beyond a restaurant happy hour, wine with dinner and a mind-altering evening at Ye Rustic Inn, Los Feliz nightlife tends to be a bit blah. Which is why we smiled with glee when Big Bar, a new drinking outpost connected to Alcove Cafe & Bakery, opened a few weeks back and gave us another neighborhood spot to hang our hat.
We love Alcove for brunch. And now we love it for a charming, quiet, nighttime cocktail, too.
This is why.
The Buzz: Those who frequent Alcove, the cozy indoor-outdoor Los Feliz cafe that has become the East side's less-hyper answer to Urth, know that something "big" has been brewing for awhile. For the better part of a year, a small room off the restaurant's entrance has held signs promising expansion. The whole thing was taking so long that we thought they were lying. Glad to see they weren't.
The scene: Expect to find a crowd of mostly 30-something creative types enjoying glasses of wine, girlfriends catching up over cocktails and couples — lots of couples. Big Bar is definitely a good date spot.
The visuals: With hardwood floors, marble tables, brass and leather stools and a grand, antique in-wall wine cellar, Big Bar blends pretty seamlessly with the rest of Alcove's decor. The bar space itself is tiny but made to feel more expansive with doors that open to the bakery counter and to the twinkling light-filled patio outside. In terms of lighting, expect a low, perfect glow that enhances the overall experience as well.