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Little Joy Cocktails

3 star rating
based on 140 reviews

Category: Dive Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Echo Park
1477 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 250-3417
Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Good for Groups:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Music:
DJ, Live, Juke Box
Best Nights:
Tue, Thu, Sun
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
No
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140 reviews for Little Joy Cocktails

Review Highlights   

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"This is where Hipsters head when they can't get into Short Stop." (in 19 reviews)
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"…and old country), talented DJs, fun pool tables, and a decent selection of…" (in 14 reviews)
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"and there will always be PBR flowing like the Nile." (in 16 reviews)
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Photo of Dustin V.

 

2

4

Dustin V.

CA

4 star rating
11/4/2009

How you can you not like this place?

well, for starters you might not like shitty dive bars. Ok, but if you like shitty dive bars this place is it, kinda. The drinks are cheap, I heard they have food but I would be more inclined to eat gum off the floor than to give it a shot. Reason being, this place is a good place to come and drink with your buddies. What it's not is a good place to (just because of the way it looks) eat, pick up girls (I'm in a relationship, but my buddies are single, I think?), or shit (nasty bathrooms).

On the other hand, if you wanna drink, hear good cliche music (90's hip hop ala snoop dogg, tupac, etc.), play pool, and get away from all things hollywood then this is the place.

Sure, there are douche bag hipsters, art babies, and misc whatever-the-fuck-they're-going-for types, but the glory of this place is that it's right down the street from the short stop.

This means that:

a) you can get cheap drinks here first or

b) hang out here if the line for the short stop is riDICKulous [because it's usually a cockfest for all the interested parties]

Also, its like this place is the ugly, clubfooted, and feral stepchild of the short stop (sorry if I offended anyone, but I hope you get the picture). Personally, I root for the underdog so this place is it. Go there, have cheap drinks, fuck around, listen to descent music, and have a good time.

Highly recommended if your with a group, own that shit, and you'll have a great time. If your looking for a "Swingers" night with the beautiful babies, go back to blockbuster, rent the movie, and go to sleep.

One major plus, the hallway to the bathrooms is cool. I love graffiti and the hall is saturated with tags. If your aiming for cool pictures, this spot will definetly add bonus points to your FB picture albums.

Cheers!

Photo of Nathan W.

 

15

118

Nathan W.

Redondo Beach, CA

4 star rating
9/9/2009

Little Joy is automatically sweet for being the bar where the band found their name. That being said a place where the Strokes drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, would hang out would be one covered with hipsters, located in Echo Park no less. I actually enjoyed myself there amongst nice, unpretentious folk. Pabst Blue Ribbon was like $3 a glass, and there was pool. Also the walls are covered with patron graffiti. "WEAPONS OF MASS CREATION"

One should feel free to find a spot and contribute, but there isn't really much room. Highlight was probably getting smashed on cheap beer and then eating a bacon wrapped hot dog outside. I don't speak Spanish but I think I made some real connections with a handful of words and many gestures and facial expressions. Place was packed out the door practically on Friday, I hear that is pretty standard.

Photo of Lil' D.

 

5

35

Lil' D.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/7/2009

It was the last stop of the night, so my memories are a little fuzzy. All I know is my cocktail was way stronger than the one from Footsie's and there was a nice place for me to park my ass and have a good, drunken conversation with my dude.

The jams weren't too loud, and I think they played something that I was way into at some point. Did I mention the drink was really strong? I'm pretty sure that's what put me over the edge. Weird hipster crowd, but it didn't seem too awful or hipstered out. I'd definitely go here again.

Photo of Cat M.

 

25

55

Cat M.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
8/23/2009

I feel like the scenesters who get stuck here, or Yelpers partial to dive bars romanticize this place. Let's not pretend this is anything more than a forgettable pit stop or that it's "hipper" because it's trashy as all hell.

That said, it can be fun.

This is a decent enough place to get liquored up before you head over to Short Stop or other places in the area. The sketches/writing on the walls can be cute at first but they start look trashy after awhile.

There's a scenester crowd that likes to play pool, probably to while away time before they head over to the Gold Room or Short Stop.

Little Joy is not only dive, but deep, deep sea diving so you need to make sure the crowd you're with is down for that. I wouldn't spend the entire night here, it's not that kind of place, though the music is good for revving up your night.

The other night when I was there, this older man at the jukebox shouted to our table "Choose a song! Hurry up! Choose a song!" We didn't know how to react, until one of us replied "Um SWEET HOME ALABAMA." And the guy just stared at us and said "No. This is Mexico. Don't you know you're in Mexico?" And he chose his own song. We fail.

So, in closing--

PROS: Super cheap drinks, wait out the line/get liquored up before heading out to nearby places, good music. That gets them the +1 star.

CONS: Gotta select the crowd you bring here; can't play "Sweet Home Alabama." Bummer.

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Photo of Kyle W.

Elite '09

41

119

Kyle W.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
9/25/2009

This is an interesting bar. It's about as divey as dive bars get, although judging by the pictures on here, it looks like they've actually done a little rehab. Well, at least painted the walls. From what I could tell there was about zero socialization between groups of people during the night. With the exception of the guys playing pool, just about everyone seemed to be keeping with the group they came with. However, that was cool with me because there wasn't even a remotely attractive female in sight and I honestly don't need to make any more dude friends.

Events that made this one "interesting" night at the bar:
1. None of us got ID'd. And at 24, we don't really look that old. I'm pretty sure just about anyone could walk in here and get a drink.
2. A couple friends ordered Long Islands. I don't know why you'd order that drink at a bar like this, but maybe that's just me. I don't know what drink they were served but it sure as hell wasn't a long island. It pretty much just tasted like Gin and simple syrup. Nasty.
3. There was a line for the Men's restroom but not the Women's. We discovered why: after waiting for about 5-10 min, 3 dudes piled out of the one tiny stall looking all wild-eyed and anxious. Coke party? Gay sex? Both?
4. Countless people dumped over drinks, broke glasses, etc. and no one working the bar seemed to notice or care.
5. Unbeknownst to us, this drunk girl my friend brought with us had sneaked one of those 375ml plastic bottles of Capn' Mo in her purse. Classy broad, I know. She poured it's remaining contents into one of her "Long Islands" and preceded to leave the bottle on the floor next to me. Once again, no one working the bar seemed to notice or care.

Long-story-short, this appeared to me on my one visit that Little Joy is one of those do whatever-the-fuck you want type of bars. I like this. I'd definitley come back if I lived in the hood.

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Photo of Dennis R.

 

8

29

Dennis R.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
7/13/2009

I'd heard so many good things about this place. So one night I took the opportunity to duck out of line at the Short Stop, intent on grabbing a quick drink at Little Joy, only to return later and reclaim my spot next to my friends (see: cut in line).

Even for a dive, this place is deep sea. Like, nitrogen narcosis deep. I like dives, grew up on them when I was sixteen with a fake Israeli ID in San Francisco, but this place is a hole. Sparse furniture, ugly doodles in sharpie on the wall, harsh unflattering lights shining on the harsh, unflattering faces of the clientele...

PLUS: Good way to beat the line across the street.
MINUS: I spent too long in there, missed my friends going in and had to wait in line anyway.

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Photo of Denise L.

 

28

86

Denise L.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
8/2/2009

I used to frequent this place back in 2007-2008 with a former acquaintance.  There were always scenesters, hipster kids and indie rockers.  I don't know about now.

You can't beat $1.50 PBR, no cover and music.

This place is a mess but everything is cheap.

Photo of Daniel K.

 

5

153

Daniel K.

Brooklyn, NY

4 star rating
8/3/2009

My friend spent all evening chatting up a very forthcoming young lady. After they had been talking for about 3 hours which included lots of touching and shared drinks I went over to see if he needed me to crash with our other friend. The girl intercepted and she said "get lost can't you see we're trying to hook up" so I made myself scarce only to have my buddy tell me that later when he went to make "the" move she said she had a boyfriend. Its that kinda place.

Cheap beer and good tunes though.

Photo of Stephanie S.

Elite '09

187

191

Stephanie S.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
5/16/2009

Where the hell am I ? Seriously...never...ever again.

What a weird..weird place. If you're a hipster/against the establishment/all that jazz...I'm sure you'll like its...unconventionalness.

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Photo of Beth R.

 

0

7

Beth R.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/22/2009

This place is a fun, mellow, friendly little dive bar - or at least it has been when I've been there.  

Early on (before 11) it's quiet, just a couple of dudes sitting at the bar.  It gets progressively busier, especially on the weekend, but I've never seen it uncomfortably packed.  

For those complaining - come on, this is just a BAR.  A place where you can go have a drink, maybe play a game of pool, and chat with your neighbors.  As the sign above the bar says, the purpose for which the place licensed is "Assembly."  (Love that.)  

Eh, so the pool tables are crap (even if they are level).  The cues are better than expected and it's only $0.75.  (And then you get to play for free all night if you're any good - no pool sharks that I've seen.)

The beers are cheap ($3) and the mixed drinks are strong for the price ($5).  Door guy is cool, DJ is okay.  

When you're looking for a chill, dirty, divey place to have a drink without dealing with any crap and without getting dressed up, this is it.

Photo of George L.

 

44

63

George L.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
7/10/2009

Ok guys I've been to this bar for many years.

I've even tried to buy this place a few times but the owner never budged.

Some time ago it was a cool dive and catered mostly to the gay community in Echo Park.
I ran across this place because Mari lived on Portia across the street . Here I met some wonderful people and here is where I lost my homophobia. I actually made some cool friends there.

Now, as I predicted, Echo Park has been taken over by white folks who have invested a lot of time and money in the neighborhood.
I, myself have invested there.

This is a perfect example of a white and Latino integration.

This place is a total dump; it smells like piss and you can see many health code violations there.
The new patrons are trendy white folks and I get a feeling many are anti government, anarchists perhaps.

One day I walked in wearing my navy whites and I found the American flag posted upside down and backwards. I explained that peopIe like myself risk their lives for the liberties we take for granted. Liberties which allow lazy worthless fuckups to talk shit about the government and protest their petty causes. While they collect unemployment, food stamps, welfare and avoid paying taxes.

Even going as far as desecrating the American flag, a simple action that can get you killed in any other country.

I persuaded the management to place the flag correctly or face my wrath... hehe!

They complied!!!

The place is cool, if you're looking for cheap beer and drinks. The place is not nice at all, nothing has been done to it in decades.

I just feel sorry for you if you have to take a shit....

Check it out and experience this transformation of a "cholo homeboy" neighborhood to a trendy "West Hollywood" type, eventually.

I just regret not having more houses there......

Gl3

Photo of Liz R.

 

7

23

Liz R.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
7/15/2009

Eew.  Once was one time too many for me.  I got taken here by hipster friends who assured me it was a dive on par with The Gold Room.

LIES!

Okay, so the drinks are pretty cheap and there isn't a cover.  But on Sunset in Echo Park there are a lot of places to get cheap drinks with no cover.  The place looks like they set up shop in an abandoned building and I spent my entire time there trying to touch as little as possible for fear of contracting something.  I know that sounds super prissy, but I'm not too hard to please.  This place is just incredibly gross.

Photo of Justin M.

 

50

75

Justin M.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
4/17/2009

I used to DJ here once in awhile with a rotating group of friends, and ever since the changeover, none of us have done so. The new management has apparently hired DJs that play the sort of bullshit that is obvious as fuck and boring as hell.  

One time I went with a couple of friends, one of whom I DJed with, on a night where we had previously DJed. That night there was no DJ, but the place was not nearly as full as it would have been before and the walls were painted an incredibly nasty color which made me feel like I was in a cheap thrift shop and not a dope dive bar which had furniture from a thrift shop. Everyone there looked a little miserable, like it was a party that was awesome four hours before, but everyone fun had left and now they were going through the motions because they couldn't think of anywhere else to go.

Here's the thing: the previous incarnation of Little Joy was divey and strange, but it had personality. They had some incredible DJs, and I'm not even trying to toot my own horn here. They had DJs who humbled me with their taste and skill and clear love of music.  The scene was cool but not at all unfriendly, once you got past your preconceived notions.  The guy who was the manager is a great, smart guy, one whose ties with the artistic community on the east side allowed a certain artistic sensibility to flourish in the space.

Now that's all gone. I dunno, I'm pretty disappointed. The owners of this place really have no clue what they're doing, I'm guessing.  It's a disaster right now. And anyone, I repeat, ANYONE who says this place is better now is dead fucking wrong and I will argue with them to the death and I will will emerge victorious.  It's just a goddamned crying shame.

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Photo of Rachel D.

 

0

9

Rachel D.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
6/24/2009

Let me preface this review by saying that I had not been to Little Joy before the fabled change in management, so if that qualifies my review in any manner...  well, that is your warning!

Anyway, I had incredibly low expectations for this bar, after reading all of the recent horrible reviews.  However, I recently moved to the neighborhood, and we were exploring the bars in the area.  I love the Short Stop, and admittedly we were on our way to the Short Stop and only stopped in Little Joy to see what it looked like inside.  At first I wasn't sure what my opinion was, given the commissioned graffiti and all, but you know what...  I actually like it here!  So there!

Pool tables (which I personally don't care about, but I do like how they make a place look aesthetically), chill fun young crowd from all different backgrounds, some definite "lookers" (as in quite attractive people, for those not familiar with the term) (but also some definite "butt-ugly-ookers" so don't hate me if you go there and find yourself face-to-face with a deformed chimp), dirty floors, jukebox, local DJs depending on the night...  I think I'm rambling.

Point is, we stopped by to peek in on the way to the Short Stop, and then never actually made it to the Short Stop because we were enjoying the vibe so much.  Crazy, but true.  Also, I noticed that they are involved in the art community, they hosted an art co-op, and other interesting sounding things I should get around to checking out.

And it is cash only, so make sure you bring your dolla dolla bills yo.

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Photo of the s.

 

3

26

the s.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
6/18/2009

No longer a cool bar, not even a decent bar ,more of an uncomfortable bar where the anti-gringo sentiment will be to there demise.
Cleaning ladies do not run bars, escpecially if you are an unfriendly one with zero charisma.
All the local gaffitti won't save you. The gangbangers who have returned don't tip the bartenders, who aren't trusted by the new owner.
The creepy old guys that have returned won't bring in any cute girls nor will the creepy husband who works the door.
Good business model, way to waste perhaps one the geatest locations for a really successful bar.

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Photo of Esme W.

 

17

10

Esme W.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
Updated - 5/12/2009

If you believe in art, in a bar's ability to subversively or overtly provide a haven and support to an artistic community, do not set foot here, do not patronize this bar, do not put any more money in the pockets of the new management.

Never setting foot back into this place again for more reasons than one but,

RIP Sunday Night Open Mic.

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 1 star rating
    3/2/2009

    If you were bitching before about the sketch-factor of the Little Joy, I am happy to report, you got… Read more »

Photo of Champ M.

Elite '09

49

234

Champ M.

Irvine, CA

5 star rating
8/28/2009

Not for the uninitiated.

Photo of Martina Z.

Elite '09

46

71

Martina Z.

New York, NY

3 star rating
4/5/2009

Don't be misled by its frivolous name. Little Joy Cocktails is the archetypal urban dive with white walls and shabby black sofas treated with duct tape.
Two wobbly pool tables and the affable bartenders draw a steady crowd.

Don't forget to check out the obscene words scribbled in the ladies' room ...    Totally worth the trip.

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Photo of Sarah K.

Elite '09

69

322

Sarah K.

New Orleans, LA

3 star rating
4/12/2009

The king of all dive bars is actually a giant restroom; a sui generis bar, even for Echo Park, where every wall is a canvas for you to make your mark. Where else could you find a fine mix of grunge-y hipster kids, Dodger fans, and washed-up punk lesbians dancing to bad "Now That's What I Call Music!" 90's rap/pop?

I also heard Lindsey Lohan came here. I'll let you guess whether I added or denied a star as a result.

Cheap drinks, creepy dudes, and a feisty crowd of inconspicuous regulars make Little Joy a fun place to drink.

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Photo of Benjamin A.

 

2

10

Benjamin A.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
8/1/2009

Seeing the Little Joy from the outside I was thinking the building was a liquor store, not a dive bar... walking in I was kind of into the writing on the walls. But once inside the aww disappeared and I was reminded of a broken down garage that felt it was squatted on for a while. The only good thing was the cheap drinks. But being down the street from the short stop I also means that parking isn't easy to find. So if you only have a bucks and a itch to drink I would say swing by. But if you want to have a drink in a bar that doesnt look squatted on I would say pass this bar and try the short stop or the gold room down the street.

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Photo of Aysia N.

 

2

5

Aysia N.

Glendale, CA

4 star rating
10/5/2009

Excuse these reviews that bash on this place, they must not be locals and if they are? stop going to Little Joys and go to the Short Stop or the Gold Room, you know where they are! This place is NOT that bad. To sum it up- they DID repaint the walls an olive green with red borders, the pool tables are small but the people that play them aren't hardcore pool sharks so  conflict is not a big worry. The bartenders are a sweet couple that don't know how to make drinks for squat so just stick to the 3 dollar PBRs and other beers. When there's a DJ, the music is great! The jukebox isn't that bad either, sometimes it eats change though. It's usually dead during the week but on Weds., it's on and poppin! Everyone goes after their drunkscapades at Barragan's Margarita Night then heads to the Shortstop . They rarely check IDs and when they  do, they just want to see an ID so pretty much anyone can walk in. Oh! and bring a marker! Writing drunk messages on the wall with friends can be quite the place! Think of it like the little step sibling that gets the hand me downs haha. Check it out if you're in the area whether its for a game of pool or a brew. Either way, you'll leave with some memories of a good ol' Echo Park time.

Photo of Jessica G.

 

4

33

Jessica G.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
5/29/2009

so i came here with a girlfriend. It was such a relaxed vibe pool table and music you forgot existed.

its super divey. super. so its not a date bar.
They have a pretty good beer selection and the bar tenders are really nice.
i'd come back

CASH ONLY!

Photo of Laka C.

 

4

8

Laka C.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
1/7/2009

Last stop for losers.

If you want to meet your new meth-head boyfriend or contract Herpes, look no further!

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Photo of Luis R.

 

141

60

Luis R.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
7/10/2009

This place is a complete mess , actually its kinda disgusting...smells like piss & other horrible things. However, it's actually a pretty cool places to get drinks for a few reasons. No Cover, Cheap Drinks, No Lines. Ever.  Ok so it's not that bad there is a wide selection of beers : Amstel Light, Pabst , Stella Artois, Sierra Nevada, New Castle, MGD , Tecate, Corona, & other domestic beers. There is always a lot of hipsters getting drunk off their ass and a few thugs, but don't worry the thugs aren't much of a threat.

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Photo of Duffy D.

Elite '09

167

134

Duffy D.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
12/11/2008

Dear Pretentious Fucks:

This place is a joke. 5 Stars? Who are you trying to impress?

This is a
crappy
bar.

Lets go over the reasons:
1. Looks like a grenade was thrown in here. (Decor: done!)
2. It smells.
3. SO packed.
4. Bathroom induces vomiting.
5. Bartender hates you.
6. Whole place hates you.
7. Not cheap, which is the whole draw to a dive bar in the first place.

Get over yourself and stop telling yourself this place is cool. It's a fucking shithole with an Urban Outfitters sign on the outside.

Love, Duffy

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Photo of j b.

 

0

38

j b.

Long Beach, CA

3 star rating
5/3/2009

It's three dollar Pabst.  The pool table's rusted.  The line's out the door, but not overcrowded, and you can find hipsters dancing by themselves to the Eurythmics.  

If you're gonna go out in Los Angeles, this is probably the place to do it.  

I also think the women here are beautiful, albeit snorting lines in the bathroom and equipped with too much makeup.  I have never actually seen Uma Thurman in-person, but I suspect if that scene in Pulp Fiction had any resonance in real life, it would have been here.  A tad too much flannel for my taste--like all of Echo Park--but it certainly beats Hollywood, or the grim joints of K-Town.  My only qualm: some weird ceiling fan in the middle, but at least it lifts skirts up.

Come for the Pabst, stay for the remembrance of bars that never were.

This is where Hipsters head when they can't get into Short Stop.  But the DJ here's better, the music is retro, and it really does have that country feel to it, minus the smell of ge-ge-ge-gentrification.  At least the girl selling empanads is happy.  Avoid the potato.

Photo of shannon d.

 

10

26

shannon d.

Washington, DC

1 star rating
Updated - 4/3/2009

OK this is my SECOND update for little joy, she has been going through a lot of changes and im afraid my old stand by, my once true love has.....

Jumped the Shark...

sad face

the new management, the new Dj, the new paint, the new crowd... things have changed and not for the better.

nows a good time for someone to open another dive bar to take little joys place cuz it aint the bar it once was.

2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    12/10/2008

    who ever reported the "cockroach" or whatever made the health department  shut them down and paint… Read more »

Photo of Armando O.

 

2

108

Armando O.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
3/13/2009

I drove to this side of town after being in the Atwater area. I dunno. I felt like being in a David Lynch movie. The bar looked strangely like a bar in Twin Peaks. The music was ok and there were plenty of women, but there was something.
 The bathroom walls were scribbled with really really lame things. I mean it looked like people were advertising past movies. Then I was told that the place used to have a lot of cool stuff until it got a new owner. I guess the owner thought that getting rid of the ghettoness would actually help, but I doubt it. I might check it out again when I am in the area. One a happy note 3 dollar tap is not a bad deal.

Photo of William S.

Elite '09

569

114

William S.

Santa Clarita, CA

3 star rating
9/9/2008

Cheap booze, seemingly classy women, and late night infomercials with Tony Robbins have all been responsible for keeping me up late on certain nights.  I'm not an insomniac, but I've lain restless in bed, while pondering state regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and why "Miss Guided" was unceremoniously canceled on T.V. without a whimper by its fan base.  Things in life concern me, even at late hours of the night.  One thing that doesn't concern me, however, is my consistent desire to hang with locals at inconspicuous dive bars in-and-around the LA area.  If I'm not getting in touch with nature -- or in my bedroom reading, writing, or putting on a movie that I've seen a million times so that I won't feel bad neglecting it late at night -- a homely bar would be where I'd hang my hat.

The Little Joy is an interesting play on words, because while it is little, there is nothing joyful about it.  It's niche is that it's broken down and looks time-tested and weathered.  For some, this has become the "new Short Stop," -- which, incidentally, is located barely a block to the right of it -- while for others this has been their clubhouse for quite some time.  As with all things, however, time has caught up with that, and this has become a first-choice destination for many.

Although the interior decor is anything but aesthetically pleasing to the eye, perhaps that's its charm -- a place that defies traditional comfort, and goes the complete opposite direction.  In some ways it's as if it stares right into the face of conventionally hip design and says "Screw you! Our aim IS to look shitty,"   And, in other ways, it reminds me of how messy my bedroom can get.  I don't want to get into the details, but you could imagine the symbiotic relationship I have towards it.  Still, when I leave my pad, I want to go someplace different, not to another establishment that has a semblance of my natural habitat.  

(At this very moment, I can picture a myriad of people -- some friends -- clearing one extra contact space on their cell phones upon reading this.)

In all honesty, you'll have to create your own joy in this gloomy hole-in-the-wall.  In discussing walls in a literal sense, you know how you go to certain family-style restaurants and they'll have the paper table mats so that your child can color on them with crayons?  This is how their walls look.  Well, in a way.  It's too dimly lit for me to actually see what kind of graphics are on there.  However, I can now understand why they serve PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) on tap for about $3.  Not only is this like candy for the typical "hipster," but drink up, and your ability to use creative licensing to re-create your surroundings is amplified.  And for the way it goes down smoothly, I'm an appreciator of cold watered-down beer such as PBR.  

As most people have previously pointed out, this is one of many spots where you would find the much overused term le "hipster" hanging out at.  It almost seems like a prerequisite, but I assure you that you will not feel an overwhelming amount of pretentiousness from them.  People seem to have this crazy notion that if you do not look like a hipster, while being surrounded by them, you are instantly shunned.  In my observation, a good conversation transcends any difference in appearance.  This is how I got through being stuck in Tijuana with limited Spanish speaking skills and an "I Spent a Night in a Mexican Jail and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt" on my back.

I'd prefer to not talk about the bathrooms, because words would not do it justice.  Just make sure you're careful in distinguishing the men's and the women's, for they look almost identical.  Perhaps the same table mat artiste paid equal attention to both facilities, before nibbling on his chicken fingers.

When I designate Little Joy with my 3-star rating, it's not implying that it's bad.  It just seems apropos of the "A-Ok" status.  Really, although this place is comfortable when you can actually find a seat to sit in, it's just much ado about nothing.  And if that's exactly your thing, this might be the best place to do "nothing" in.

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9

63

Tony G.

Anaheim, CA

1 star rating
7/9/2009

This place was the worst. It looks completely rundown. The walls are covered with local graffiti but it is not that good. There was too much light for such a crappy looking place. You would think that with such an awful decor you would want the lights to be as dim as possible.

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18

36

Buffy V.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
Updated - 3/2/2009

I'm sad to report the little joy appears to be dying. No more writing on the walls. New jukebox (really ugly one). Wha happen?!?!?!?!?!?!?

It's like Nick Belane died all over again, I can't take it!!!

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    3/10/2008

    My favorite local place--overrun on the weekends but mostly with pretty cute dudes, nice consolation… Read more »

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13

8

Lucinda M.

Canoga Park, CA

3 star rating
1/15/2009

I have a friend named Chris. Ever since I was here and saw "CHRIS .....[last name]......IS A FU**ING LIAR" (or something like that) scrawled in black sharpie in the ladies' room, I have had a deep affection for the Little Joy.

Bummer bout the new paint and evil lighting. I'm sure the locals are hissing and retreating to the darker corners.

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8

21

Jonathan H.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
1/10/2009

Piss on the floor, and add to the ambiance!

If Man Ray and the Mona Lisa from LHOOQ decided to go drinking in Los Angeles, Little Joy would be the place.  

It's noisy, gross, and hardly charming, but the grenade dropped inside this bar left enough joy behind to make this bar an agreeable alternative on nights when you don't want to slog around the huge crowds at Shortstop.

Don't give certain people the wrong look, bring cash, and play Country Joe's "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" on the jukebox.

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7

100

J B.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
2/20/2009

I used to really like this place. Probably because :

a ) i was young(er) and (more) stupid.

b ) all of my friends liked it.

c ) it didn't suck as bad then.

A lot of the charm has worn off for me, but if you're looking to score some coke, catch a disease, and pay 7 dollars for a Jack on the rocks have at it...

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Elite '09

151

103

Jason M.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
9/15/2008

I drink for free here (Gawd knows how much longer that's gonna last for.)  But none-the-less I'm not giving this boner any more then 3*s.  

Know those people who try to hard?  Well this is where they come to drink.

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1

12

Joe M.

Long Beach, CA

1 star rating
5/31/2009

I don't want to get too sentimental, but Little Joy has really fallen off. White-washed in pepto pink this place has really lost its charm. Gone are the days of cheap beer, stiff drinks and good music. Apparently new management has taken over, oh well. A former hipster haven, I recommend you walk on by.

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69

107

Joe D.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
8/19/2008

Do you know how most twilight zone episodes have sort of the " be careful of what you wish for" theme?  

For example: the world finally dies off so you can find time to read but then your reading glasses break.  

just call me Burgess Meredith because it happened to me.

I love dive bars.  Some of my favorite dive bars in America have drifters, drunks and characters drinking right along with strippers just getting off work.

One day, I looked at the sky and said, "Please Sweet Spirits! Give me a dive bar in my neighborhood.  Some place where there is graffiti on the walls and the drinks and the women are dirt cheap.  Make the walls feel like they are going to fall down when you lean against them.  Make this bar walking distance from my house"

I was given the Little Joy.  I started coming here as soon as I moved into the neighborhood and I gotta admit, it was fun.  

It was a gay bar by day and friendly-to-the-local-straights-bar at night.  The jukebox had Mexican music, disco and punk rock.  It was a cool little spot.

The girls at the bar didn't know how to make a drink in a good way.  They would just make them all real strong and that way no one would complain.

On my fourth visit, all of a sudden patrons started giving me attitude.  People would openly make fun of me for what I was wearing (usually a t-shirt and jeans).  

Some chick from Kansas would say, "what are YOU doing here" and I'd yell, "Bitch, I'm born and raised in Los Angeles.  What the eff are you doing here"

Guys would try to pick fights with me.
Girls I had no interest in would try to mace me for bellying up next to them at the bar to get a drink.

So the spirits gave me a dive bar and filled it with a bunch of dried puckered little assholes who just come here to score coke rather than want a drink.  This place is just the low (low low low low) rent version of the Ivy in the sense that people come here to be seen and make a scene rather than escape their troubles at the bottom of a glass.

The only reason that it isn't getting a one star review is because this is Rachel Detroit's spot and her ubiquitous presence is practically the only cool thing about the place

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5

3

tina b.

Los Angeles, CA

1 star rating
6/28/2009 1 photo

r.i.p.

the cleaning lady rips off the till!!

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42

102

Lauren B.

Beverly Hills, CA

3 star rating
9/3/2008

I grew up in the Bay Area, living in the city of San Francisco for 7 years mainly in the Mission District. I've spend a lot of time in New York City going to places like Monk's Kettle in the Lower East Side. And STILL Little Joy shocked the hipster out of me.

It was graffiti-skinny jean-mustache overload. Dozens of road bicycle's out front and my four block walk through Echo Park still could not prepare me for what was inside. What did bring me back down earth was when I commented that the bartender looked like Harry Carrey, following with a sharp "Cub's Win!" chant and the young white kids laughed along and shared my sentiment. You can take the kid out of the cul-d-sac (and stop feeding them) but you can't take the cul-d-sac out of the kid.

Re-review and additional stars to come when I have enough time pound as much PBR needed to make me hip.

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35

stan s.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
5/4/2009

This used to be one of the best bars in town, but saly, no longer.  They were forced to add horrible lighting due to code violations or something.  Now it just kind of doesn't have that dark, dirty and mysterious vibe that made it amazing from 2002-2006-ish.  Still, the crowd here can be cool, the drinks are strong and you could do worse if you just want a dive with good looking people (in general) and decent music.  But it is hardly as fun here as it once was, sadly.

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