★ Est. 1905 · Downtown LA ★

Open Nightly 365

The oldest bar in Los Angeles

Liquor to go · Pool table · Vintage arcade games · Open-air patio

Open 3 PM – 2 AM, nightly 365 · Happy Hour 3–8 PM, every day

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Open since before
Hollywood made movies.

Opened in 1905 as the Golden Sun Saloon. Legend says Teddy Roosevelt himself helped secure the liquor license. A century later, the Gopher's rebirth kicked off downtown's nightlife renaissance.

That same grandfathered license is why the neon inside says Liquor To Go. This is one of the only bars in Los Angeles where you can buy a bottle on your way out.

The whole story

The Golden Gopher neon sign glowing red at night A golden gopher lamp, one of the original fixtures

Happy Hour,
five hours of it

Every day, 3 to 8 PM.

  • $5 beer options
  • $5 well drinks & shots
  • $8 cocktails
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A cold beer and the cocktail menu on the bar

Coming up

All events →

  1. Movie Monday

    Every Monday · Free

    Every Monday we pick a movie, put the sound on the patio, and pour a drink special themed to the film. New movie, new drink, every week.

    Details →

  2. Tattoo Thursday with @Mrdtattoos

    Thursdays (except the last of the month) · Free

    A real tattoo artist, tattooing in the bar, every Thursday night, except the last Thursday of the month. Get a drink, get some ink.

    Details →

  3. Halloween Extravaganza

    8 PM · Annual · Free

    The big one. Our Halloween blowout with a costume contest from 8 to 8:30 PM. The neon looks best in the fog.

    Details →

What you're walking into

The pool table under its hanging lamp, brick wall behind
The pool table Winner stays. Put a dollar on the lamp to call next game.
The patio at night, candles on the tables
The patio Plant-lined, open-air, candlelit after sundown. Smoking is fine out here, and there is a cigarette machine inside if you came unprepared.
A leather booth by the patio windows, lit by a candle
The booths Leather, nailheads, a candle, a window onto 8th Street. Get here early if you want one.
A vintage cocktail arcade table glowing in the dark
Vintage arcade Three vintage games, including the sit-down kind. Winner stays.
Crystal lamps hanging against the original brick wall
The room Chandeliers over original brick. Gopher lamps on the walls. Candles everywhere.
The liquor-to-go case stocked with bottles
The liquor store A bar with its own package store. Grab a bottle on your way out. It has worked this way since 1905.

Liquor to go

The license is from 1905 and it comes with a superpower: bottles, cans and wine to go, right from the bar. Stock the hotel minifridge. Take the party home. Follow the neon arrow.

Just ask the bartender. Bottles, cans and wine come straight from the case. No detour, no second line.

What the neighborhood says

4.4 from 676 Google reviews · Read them all ↗

"Great old school bar in LA. Stopped for a beer and the atmosphere is just amazing. Felt like I stepped into another time."
— Rob B. · ★★★★★
"Best happy hour in DTLA! Love going to chill and listen to music. Great place to disconnect and enjoy some good drinks."
— Mario E. · ★★★★★
"Divey vibe, the outdoor area is a must with the nearby deco-style buildings towering over. Heart of downtown LA — simply a different vibe."
— Daniel L. · ★★★★★

Friends of the Bar

Drink in good company.

Free to join. Earn points on every tab here and at every Pouring with Heart bar, redeem them for money off. Sign up and your first reward is $5 off your next tab.

Join rewards ↗

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