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 storefront on 8th Street, neon lit at dusk A golden gopher lamp, one of the original fixtures

Happy Hour,
five hours of it

Every day, 3 to 8 PM.

  • $5 beers and well shots
  • $6 well drinks
  • $9 cocktails
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Coming up

All events →

  1. 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 →

  2. 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 →

  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 glowing red under its hanging lamps, brick wall behind
The pool table Winner stays. Put a dollar on the lamp to call next game.
The patio: a brick-paved alley strung with lights, stools along the wall
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 black leather booth in the corner, lit low
The booths Leather, nailheads, low light. Get here early if you want one.
A vintage arcade cabinet in the back corner under the old Golden Gopher sign
Vintage arcade Three vintage games, including the sit-down kind. Winner stays.
The photo booth, a gold-trimmed cabinet with PHOTOS across the top and a black curtain
The photo booth A real one, curtain and all. Squeeze in with your people and take the strip home.
The Liquor To Go counter under its neon sign
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

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