do any bars still have decent, cheap drinks??

[tastycakes]

we dropped about $100 at malo last night on 6 drinks and though we did try some expensive tequilas and a mezcal, that was far too pricey. are there any places in the hollywood-silverlake-pasadena area that have unique bar drinks and premium liquors but don't charge an arm and a leg?? damn i could have bought two bottles of casa noble....

[tooth]

I love the 3clubs on vine north of santa monica it's a bar plain and simple with good drinks and at very reasonable prices with a great staff and a solid juke box. They have all the top shelf as well as the mid shelf and the no shelf. Its kind of an all purpose bar for me.

[spotonjane]

I went to a place in Sierra Madre just past Pasadena off the 210 called the buccaneer a few weeks ago that might fit the bill. I went on a weekend and the atmosphere was so-so, definately a locals place with a vaguely pirate-ish theme and a not-so impressive band playing. The plus side. The drinks were fantastically cheap and extremely stiff. A jack and coke (strong) weighed in at $3 and a tumbler filled to the brim full of Glenlivet was $6.50. Definitely a great place to go it you want to get happy for under $15. One note is that the bar is cash only.

[oro3030]

If we are including the Buccaneer - which is definitely a locals hang-out- than we should also include the Rancho in Altadena which is also cheap, stiff and local heavy. Very Cheers-like in that people have their own stools and such.
But I think the OP was looking more for hip and trendy bars that serve more high quality cocktails (fresh juices, ingredients, etc) than necessarily stiff ones.

Also in both Sierra Madre and Pasadena is Lucky Baldwins for a good beer selection.

[cls]

First drink, $20 tip, rest of the drinks free, tip after.
Works plenty of high end places.

[love2eat]

Seriously, it works not only at bars but at a lot of high end restaurants. I tip very well when I like a restaurant. They will remember you and will usually comp things on every future visit. Usually cocktails which saves a bundle.

[cincyn]

very savy. We work that way as well. kudos

[oro3030]

The HMS Bounty in K-town has pretty cheap cocktails that are made pretty well.
Alot of the bars around Echo Park/Silver Lake/Downtown have $3 Dewars specials somewhat regularly.
Footsie's in Cyrpess Park is OK priced.
But it's true that in the neighborhood you want, you are going to get what you pay for generally.

[SilverlakeGirl]

I'll second the HMS Bounty.

[yogachik]

The Shortstop is the only bar that comes to mind.

[Chowpatty]

There's a lot of cheaper bars than the Shortstop. Last time I had a drink there it was at least $8. Even next door at the Little Joy, they have a half price happy hour or sometime, in any case, I think I got two vodka gimlets for about $5.

[JeMange]

I'm surprised they even mixed you a gimlet at LJ! Their usual policy, unless you're a regular (not saying that you're not one, pardon the double negative), is to refuse to mix anything more complicated than a scotch and soda.

Short Stop is a better call for a real cocktail - the bartenders there actually know how to make cosmos, any sort of 'tini - even the kind that aren't really martinis, manhattans and the like. A vodka drink w/Ketel One should set you back $7 at SS, add another dollar for the ridiculous Grey Goose.

[love2eat]

Yeah, even Little Joy is outrageous now. Stopped in after the Dodger game last night and was charged 8 bucks for a gin and tonic! Oh well, it was better than a 10 dollar beer at the stadium.

[paigeharrison]

According to LA Magazine, the Edison downtown serves martinis on Thursdays for 15 cents. I have not sampled said drinks, but I would be wary. The problem with cheap drinks is that they are usually made with cheap alcohol.

I do recall friends talking about Damons in Glendale, supposedly they pour a good drink that is pretty inexpensive.

[yinyangdi]

The Edison has a red-velvet-rope-policy, a dress code, a line down the block, a cover charge ... and a 15¢ martini? that's kinda funny ;-)

[paigeharrison]

Like I said, this is from LA Magazine, so I can't vouch for the accuracy, but according to their story on cheap stuff in LA, you can go on Thursday nights and get a martini for the price offered in the 30's. I think this issue came out close to the beginning of the year.

[Wolfgang]

My friend went on a Thursday before a Dodgers game about a month ago and they had this $0.15 gin martini deal.

To the OP, this is a great question. I know a place on the westside where you can this but I'm not aware of any places in your neck of the woods.
I think it's come down to getting to know the bartender.

[mollyomormon]

Where on the westside?

[Wolfgang]

The Cozy Inn in Culver City. It's on Washington place about a block east of Tito's on the opposite side of the street. Very stiff drinks at bargain prices--I think it's $3.50 or $4 for a well drink and a Maker's and ginger is $5 or $5.50.
Plus, they have the best shuffleboard table in town. It's fast and not warped.

It's not a fancy place by any means.

[mollyomormon]

Thank you!

[Servorg]

Molly, you might like Lost and Found. It's in the little mini mall with the Block Buster across the street from the Whole Foods Market on National and Barrington.

Lost & Found
11700 National Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064-3600
Phone: [phone]

[hrhboo]

I love the Cozy! I go there quite a lot. They have a great jukebox, pool tables and $4 mind erasers. Good times.

It's directly across the street from Metro Diner. The owners have lost their lease and the Cozy will only be around until September or October, I'll be sad when it's gone.

Sports Harbour on Washington is pretty cheap too.

[Wolfgang]

Several months ago, I heard that a martini bar was going in the Cozy space.
Do you know if this is the case?

[DanaB]

I think you are going to have a hard time finding "decent" and "cheap" at the same place. Even the Bigfoot Lodge is now charging $8 for a cosmopolitan. Drinks are much cheaper at places like the Roost or the Drawing Room, but I'd hardly call them "decent." I'd try somewhere like Taix, which is known for it's extensive and affordable wine list. An old school place like that might still pour decent drinks at a decent price.