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Hit this spot on A Friday night with a large group for a friend's B-day. I've not been out to very many places in Downtown LA, so this was a pretty cool surprise. Got there about 10:30 and there was no line at all. Things got busier later in the evening, but it never seemed so packed that entry would be an issue. And no cover is great - though the drinks seemed pricey to me so it's not like this was a bargain. Of course, I live in Sacramento so I'm used to paying less for drinks on the norm.
It's very dark as you descend down to the bar and lounge formerly a bank lobby & bank vault. There are several a bunch of small areas to sit and lounge at, and an open area by the bar to stand and mingle. The website has an excellent photo gallery that you can scan if you're not into the whole delayed gratification thing...
They had a DJ spinning some pretty low-key electronic music, as I recall, though I think it picked up a bit. The whole vibe was conducive to drinking & socializing with your party or date.
One word of advise though, while there are plenty of secluded areas where you and a date could whisper sweet nothings to each other in, don't mistake those areas for 'Private'! According to some of my friends there, a couple not in our group took some liberties in one of the small, glass-walled booths in one of the hallways, which the other patrons were able to see from down the hall...scandalous!
The bank vault is pretty cool. Drinks are nice and stiff. I had their Crocker Hopper which was a yummy martini. No cover and quick line so that was good. This is by the same owners as the Edison so kinda has a similar vibe.
My only complaint was the music could have been better. People are pretty dressed up too.
Great decor, I mean the high of being in a bank vault is just unmatched.
The drinks hit the spot and they have a gr8 variety.
The food menu too is def top notch.
Gotta dress to impress & get there early too.
The only downer to the night was the music...started off great but the last hour just went back to the 70s and i wasnt feeling that
I'm writing this while standing at the front of the line right now. Been waiting for about 1 hour and it's already 11:50. The bouncers have also been letting in a slew of middle aged men and overweight women. I guess my friends and I do not fit this profile. Seriously what kind of place is this. Leaving.
Dress to impress. No cover at the door. On the outside, the joint looks like any other DTLA building. Low key with the words, "Crocker Club" above the doorway. Take the L stairs down and bring out that check card because you are now in a bank.
If you are claustophobic, then you might feel uneasy sitting in the vault room. It's a narrow path with sofa/tables on the side. The sterdy vault door makes you feel like you can be trapped for eternity if they ever choose to close it. Not too worry, there are other places to mingle and socialize. They have these little cages, about the size of 3 females or one couple with a table. It's about the same size strippers use when they take you for a private dance (not that I personally know of course).
Drink prices are about standard, almost club priced. Bartenders are all generally cool and upbeat but the heaviness of your drink will vary between each of them. Learn who makes it weak and strong and stick by the one who gets you drunk faster.
I like the vibe and the feel of the place. People are dressed nice and everyone seems like they're having a good time. The entire theme of the establishment makes you feel like you are in another time and place. Now where's my tommy gun and John Dillinger suit at?
Somehow I got in here on the night that Vibe Magazine was throwing a party. I spent half an hour trying to find my friends before realizing that they were never able to make it in. They called and texted, but since this place is underground and literally in a vault, zero cellphone reception.
The bar itself is really cool. Lots of space, but for large groups and for more intimate surroundings. The bar tenders seem really nice and there's no problem getting to the bar. What else can you ask for?
I've been to much better lounges and bars. So, I'll start out by saying that I probably won't return to this place.
There is a small bar with only 3 or 4 bartenders. I had to wait 15 minutes for each drink. The drinks weren't cheap, but they also weren't abnormally expensive.
There are lots of nooks at which to sit and hang out. It's definitely a place for groups, not for singles looking to mingle. Also, I thought it was a bit too dark inside, and the music from the DJ was not anything to write home about.
When it comes to happy hour in posh lounges I have very few requirements:
1. Glenlivet 15 or 18
2. A more than adequate DJ
3. Adequate seating
4. Appropriately-sized restroom
Check off 3 of the 4 for Crocker. A better DJ is in order, or at least a suggestion for the current DJ to play better music. Glenlivet 15 was not available but the 12 and 18 were. There was plenty of seating for those that didn't go the private party route, and of course more than enough that did.
Drink prices at Happy Hour are reasonable. I didn't sample any of the culinary fare, mostly because of my abhorrence of mixing business with pleasure. The crowd wasn't too large for a Thursday, which surprised me a bit.
My first trip here was on a Friday night. There was no cover and the door guys were chatty and friendly. It wasn't overly crowded either, which meant not a lot of talent. I'm sure there was a dress code during the weekends because there was a dress code for happy hour.
I invited a friend to have some drinks with another group of friends during the happy hour visit. He's not so accustomed to having to "dress-up" to get into places. I think his idea of getting dressed up would include a Lacoste knit, khakis, and some black or brown Lugz/Sketchers disaster. Needless to say, he wasn't allowed in.
I thought Crocker was ingeniously laid out, except for the smallish bar. It seems even smaller when every stool is taken and the wait gets 2 or 3 deep. But I would definitely go again.
You're either in or you're out...
Banks should be turned into bars more often. My friend had her birthday here and I really liked it!
The bar gets pretty crowded so it can take a while before you get your drink. I didn't get a chance to go inside the vaults but they looked really cool. The couches and chairs are really comfy and look great. The crowd was pretty chill so that was nice too. Worth checking out!
This place is stunning! Another feather in the cap of the dowtown renaissance. All of my recent out of town guests have been getting my historic downtown nightlife tours and Crocker Club has been added to that list.
What's more the happy hour truffle fries (peach remoulade is not vegan) are delish and a mere $4. One note for the guys- look sharp- athletic attire is not allowed.
Drink prices are about the same as the Varnish.
Also one note for the veggies who eat cheese the grilled cheese here has PROSCIUTTO in it, beware.
Loves it!
OK, so I wrote the paragraph below before I found out that this place made a fraudulent charge on my credit card. After a couple attempts to contact them (phone and email) and never getting a response, I decided to just dispute the charge with my credit card company. They found out that someone there manually entered my credit card information to make a second charge that I never made! Not cool and totally inappropriate and wrong on their part!!! My credit card company had to cancel my card and they're sending me a new one...what a hassle! This is really disappointing because I liked this place before this happened...I had given them four stars. Because of this incident, I totally do not recommend this place to anyone unless you plan on paying cash! good luck!
this was the second stop on our night-o-fun! there was a line, which i thought was kinda lame, but we didn't wait long, so it was ok. i love the inside of this place! it's an old bank vault with "rooms" and it made me feel like i was in the 20's. it's a nice place with the nicest bathrooms (that have the fancy paper towels) at any bar i've ever seen (and there wasn't a bathroom lady either, which was nice!) =) they also have cute, charming bartenders wearing their cute little vests! drinks were $11 each - not bad for a place like this. they also had a DJ playing some pretty good music, but sadly, no one was dancing! =/ would come back here for a vault "room" cuz it looked kinda cool...and maybe i'll dress up in my 20's outfit next time! =P
You know, I always feel like a social outcast amongst my internet friends. I feel as tho I'm the only one who likes to talk food and talk about food some more. For me, finding new people and recruiting them to play in my Magic the Gathering guild is not so important.
So, for those times when I just wanna be, wanna be different, and wear skinny jeans and carry a big purse with a latte in hand, I come here.
This place makes me feel like I'm living 2nd Life, I happen to have found it one night while stumbling around, sober with a fellow internet friend, also sober. I have seen a lot of normal people here. Lookin all trendy and smellin good. This kind of annoys me, but you know the world can't be filled with anti-social personalities like myself...also known as being artsy or as I call em', artistes. C'est la vie. So if coming here and paying for overpriced drinks, makes me one with the lesser people (by lesser I mean those who clearly do not know the difference between battlestar gallactica and stargate) than so be it. Btw, the bouncers suck, not because they gave me grief but because they are delusional, they can't seem to answer a simple question..."which way to get upstairs...?"
Excuse me I have to go now, I have a date with an Ewok tonight. Did I mention this place's interior was suuuuweeht? No? Oh well, it totally is, just read the other 9,000 reviews that are "helpful."
Visit number two 6 months later and I am still a fan. Some things have changed, and some are the same, but I'm still reppin this place.
The room is still gorgeous, private bank rooms, a giant vault, and great, beautiful couches. It is a lot more crowded now that it has been around a bit longer, but the wait line (20 minutes) is STILL significantly less than at the Edison and there is NO ONE telling you where to stand (like at the Edison) every five seconds. Point!
People here are also gorgeous. I met lots of guys and girls who were super attractive and extremely friendly. Not a person in the bunch who was just too good for everyone else. Point!
No cover! POINT! I'm so much more likely to spend bank on alcohol when I don't have the dirty aftertaste of a cover in my mouth.
The bank lounge is now for private parties on Saturdays. Sad. I love the vault. But I found that if you meet someone in it...you're good to go ;)
Golden yen drinks still strong and tasty as ever. Crocker Club, I love you.
COMPLETE SUCCESS.
And I'm not going to tell you anymore because I don't want you to go, make it…
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***4.5 Stars***
THIS is the Place that Downtown has been waiting for, I tells ya.
-DECOR/DESIGN/LOCATION is STUNNING. That downwards-winding entry stairway sets the mood. The Bank Vault Room is cavernous yet intimate, deliciously dark and sexy. There's a wide variety of booths and nooks (most, reservation only) spread out across the joint which are great for small, medium, or large size groups. I mean, from 'Let's Get it On, Party of Two' to 'We're Having A Wrap Party of Hella Many,' they've got you covered. Ask Giovanni (the manager) to take you on a tour and you'll be shown another hidden room in the back that's set aside for private functions only, with its own bar and self contained Prohibition-era panache. Yes, I just said 'panache' :OP
--DRESS CODE?
Not overly pretentious or unreasonably strict. I think the no t-shirts policy for guys (tho t-shirt with a coat/blazer is a-o-k) sets the mood that, hey, let's get creative/funky with the threads but still be classy (p.s. 'designer sneakers' are more than fine as long as the whole get-up makes sense). As for the ladies, well, pretty much anything you throw on is gonna look great--no need for laying down the law on that one. no shortage of stunners here.
--THE VIBE
Most places that have Happy Hour tend to be pretty crowded during HH, then there's not much of a drop-off before the later-nite crowd begins to stream in. In fact, it's usually a seamless morph from HH to late nite club-dom.
Not so my experience here. I arrived at 6:15p on a Friday (HH runs 5-7:30 pm, Wed-Fri, the joint is not open Sun-Tues) and nary a soul lurked inside. A party of 5 sat at the bar to my right, not Casual Fridayed out enough to foul on the dress code. In fact, i noticed loosened ties and frilly blousy pant-suits which gave little hint of casuality to this particular Friday!
7:00 pm, two young lasses wander in and take up residence as the only inhabitants of the cavernous Bank Vault room.
I tried a HH appetizer (Grilled Cheese--too much bread and too little cheese, and what's that--chorizo?---inside?)--yea, not so much. tho they do serve appies til midnight, i heard thru the grapevine their food is more incidental than crucial here.
Anywhoo, things were REALLY quiet and I was gettin' a bit concerned that my scouting (for a B-day the following evening) was gonna be a bust-- my orders were:
1. chill loungey space and nice ambience--check check and triple check
2. DJ (yes i heard they have DJ on Thurs-Sat)--check
3. Wild, Varied, and Sexy Crowd-hmmm, this seemed dubious, but i was jus' gonna hafta wait it out!
THE STAFF
--David the early shift bartender was a really great guy and passionate about all things mixologies, As he headed out past 9-9:30 or so, Marc and crew came in and were equally friendly and cool guys--ladies take note that, as of this writing, the peeps behind the bar are predominantly doods.
All the while, I was making frequent trips up to street level as my phone had no service in this subterranean lair. This gave me a great opportunity to chat and muse about the ways of the world with the three door guys--Henry, Vince, and Cario. GREAT guys. who kept insisting with supreme confidence that, despite the ghost-town down below, the place would swell to capacity faster than a Testarossa accels from 0-60. hmmm. tick tick...it's almost 10pm. dead.
THE VIBE, PART DEUX
Well, maybe not THAT quickly, but I did detect a perceptable trickle of peeps around that time at the door, so I meandered on down to my bar-side perch for another cocktail. Within the next 30 mins, the DJ was spinning, the main room was swelling with attractive and seductive peeps, sofas and private rooms were being filled, and the prophecies of the staff became reality.
Three hours later, I found myself finding it hard to leave. I thanked my gracious hosts Giovanni and the Crew and vowed to return tomorrow with a reserved private room near the Mens room which seats 6-7 COZILY (is that a word??). The single females in our group would thank me later for this pole position, and i witnessed their quite charming 'rating system' every time a dood passed by to and from the loo. FYI, these ladies are harsh!!! :O-}
SAT NITE, ROUND TWO
In addition to the 1-10 ratings bonanza I witnessed in our cozy booth, we got the private room for very reasonable rates. Cocktails and Shots were flowin'. The birthday girl was drunk and happy, then drunky and dancy, then drunky and pukey. And somehow, still happy. The nite was a resounding success--warm shouts out to Vince, Cario, Henry, Giovanni, et al once again for making us feel at home, really taking care of us throughout the evening. And tho server Martinique (great hair!!) was pretty frenetic running around, she was so cool and apologetic when she wasn't able to be 100% attentive that it more than made up for it.
IMHO, the DJ needs to spin better music to entice more dancing, but other than that, it's
Smiles all 'Round!
DONE.
P.S.-No Cover, Yo!
I'll make it quick. We arrive at 10:30, huge crowd out front waiting to get in. We decide to jump of to the Down and Out Bar across the street for drink. When the line dies down at about 12:30 or so, we get in. My first impressions: claustrophobically under ground, small, poor layout (small booths to the left take up lots of room & segregates folks from the main bar -- fire the genius that thought of that one!), packed bar...blah, blah, blah.
All in all, a big fat thumbs down for me.
All I can say about the Crocker Club is that it is awesome and that Vince the bouncer, can have me any day. I went there last Saturday night with friends, did I mention Vince the bouncer guy, back to the club girl, stay focussed. Everything was great, the waitresses, the managers, the bartenders, the setting, the whole vibe. I'm going back for that Vince the bouncer guy. I gotta' bring my A game for him, sexy mannnnn!!!
Came here after the Edison.
Saturday night.
Waited in line for a bit since they kept letting people with table or parties in. That was a pain in the ass.
There was a DJ spinning. No one was dancing until the very end of the night.
It's a small place & you can't go into the "vault" unless you have reservations I guess? Smoking is upstairs & they don't stamp your hand or anything so MAKE SURE the guys at the door remember your face when you step out to smoke.
Ambiance: 3 star
Music: 2 Star
Service: 1Star
Waitress was super arrogant and lacked tack. She gave us the bill without handing back the credit card and she didn't pull the credit card out of her pocket until she looked at what we tipped her.
Buy drinks at the bar if you do go.
Bouncers are pretty cool!!
Pretty cool place and decor. Love how they kept the bank vault rooms. Wasn't too crowded when I came, but would be a fun place to have a party at.
I think a lot of people writing about this place are confused. The Crocker Club isn't a dive bar, it's not a neighborhood hangout, or a dance club, and you wont find any frat boys socializing inside of this place. This is the bourgeois cocktail lounge downtown Los Angeles has needed for a long time. My first time inside of the Crocker Club, I was half expecting Bruce Wayne to walk down the stairs with his arm around Rachel Dawes. It's that nice.
There are a lot of bars downtown that serve great cocktails. Varnish, the Association, 7 Grand to name a few. The bartenders at the Crocker Club are as equally talented and on a slow Thursday night, pretty friendly. Not a bad place to take a date, entertain a colleague, or hang out with a big group.
I plan on going back to this place regularly. I'm a sucker for a stylized bar that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard. Come now before everyone else in town realizes how cool this place is. Just don't forget about the dress code. No Ed Hardy t-shirts allowed. If you see me at the bar, I'll take a Corralejo Anejo on the rocks.
Yet another former bank-converted to socializer scene spot. Reminds me of The Madison (also previous-life financial institution) in Long Beach--now a stuffy club/restaurant?
Sign of the times huh? Economic downturn/crisis, don't put your money in banks. Instead, use the moolah to get some stiff drinks back--guaranteed interests return on your hang-over! ;)
Bonnie & Clyde would be proud to call this home; complete w/dim cage-like couple booths for serious make-out sessions.
Other than that, not quite impressed mainly b/c too crowded, noisy horrid acoustics, can't even hear the person in front of you. So lots of mouth-to-ear convos suggested.
Worst yet: inhumanly long waits for overpriced blah drinks, barely any music & NO dancing--boo!
Only benefit: great to chill, rest feet fr.monthly DTown Artwalk, or catchup on text/gossip w/your best gf.
Why 3stars? Sleek potential & cool well-dressed door guy who smiles nicely for the ladies. I will/would update if a hottie is spotted--but again, too dark to tell.
With my birthday lurking around the corner, I was seeking a mellow bar/lounge to host my debauchery. A good friend of mine suggested that we go bar hopping last Friday so that I can check out my options.
The Crocker Club was our first stop. Upon arrive, the bouncers were pretty friendly making small talk as they carded us. Once we were in, we followed down this staircase to a dim lit room filled with muffled chatter. This spot is gorgeous! Very similar to The Edison, the Crocker Club offers an air of mystery with its incandescent lighting and simple decor. Almost like a time capsule, being inside the Crocker Club made me feel like I'm back in the 1920-30s time frame. As I walked through the old bank and passed near the vault, it automatically made me think of Bonnie & Clyde and all of their adventures.
A drink I'd recommend for the gals (or fellas) to try is the Basil Gremlich. Somewhat similar to the concept of a mojito, but served in a martini glass and about twice as strong.
This place gets a star just for their bathroom alone. Spacious, clean, and beautiful. Check out the picture of the chandelier hanging over the stalls.
A classic LA bank vault-turned restaurant and bar? Gorgeous! Top it off with private rooms from the intimate (seating 2) to the bigger groups, fashioned with dark wood (mahogany?) and Asian-looking opaque walls, it's a great place! Am just waiting for an opportunity to re-visit.
I loved the actually decor and setup with it's maze of little cubby holes!
My friend and I decided to check out the happy hour on a Wednesday night. First off, it's one of the few places where happy hour ends at 7:30 instead of 6:30, so that's a plus. On a Wednesday night, the place was pretty empty, but it worked perfectly in our favor. We chose a nice little room off to the side, not to far from the center bar but far away to give us privacy. We ordered a couple of drinks and a couple of appetizers all for $5 each.
The Kobe Cheeseburger Sliders were wonderful, after finishing them we had to order more. And the white truffle french fries were heavenly! Plus my vodka gimlet was perfect!
Being one of the few couples in there, the service was wonderful! Our waitress was nice, friendly, and attentive. And so was the bartender. I hear that this place is crazy on the on the weekends. So if you just want to relax with a great drink and terrific food in a sexy lounge, go here during the week!
I first heard about this place from my friend's younger sister. I checked out the website and thought it looked cool but was kind of "whatevs" about going. A few weeks later I met someone that had gone here the night before and he said he had a really good time. Fast forward to last night. After hearing the reviews I was kind of stressin about what to wear, but thought some people would be a bit cas since the Art Walk also took place.
My friend and I get to downtown around 10:30 and try to scope around for parking--yes, street parking is very hard to come by when the Art Walk is taking place. I knew there was a $5 lot close by but it was closed by that time. We opted for the $9 parking on 4th and Spring. We're used to paying more than double that for Hollywood so we didn't mind.
Get to the front and a nicely dressed gentleman happily welcomed us in... w/o checking IDs (I guess good for the under 21?!? Ha). Walk down the stairs and immediately see the bar. The pictures on the website look very upscale and classy yet when the place is full of people, you hardly notice the glam. Just the uniqueness of the place. There was definitely a good amount of people, some more casually dressed than others.. as I previously stated, I'm assuming because of the Art Walk. But yea, it was a breath of fresh air to just be able to chill and talk (although the music was a bit loud) and not have any Hollywood hassle. There really is some life in downtown.
We wanted a glass of Reisling but they don't have that there. The St. Michelle was a good alternative ($10 a glass). We met some guys that knew one of the owners so we got introduced to the manager. He was very nice. Can't comment on what others said about the service b/c we sat at the bar and the bartenders were pretty attentive. The manager was also helping out making drinks and serving food. One of the owners later came up to us and wanted to make sure we were having a good time and enjoying ourselves. It wasn't until after the conversation that he told us he was one of the owners. Cool guy- Vincent.
Now let's talk about the space. My friend and I did a little walk around, there are nice rooms if someone wanted to have a private celebration with friends. I also really liked the little booths that could accommodate 2-3 people- perfect for a first date.
Can't say there was a thing I didn't like
blame it on the goose, got you feelin loose, blame it on the 'tron, got you in the zone... (cause i definitely was in the bathroom at one point trying to make myself puke. it didn't work.)
the crocker club is dark and sleek. especially in the bank vault room. i was in there for a private party and felt like i needed a flashlight. with benches lining the walls and low tables with candlelights, there was an air of mystery about the room... but maybe it was mostly because it really was a mystery who all the people were because i couldn't see their faces.
in any case, our waitress was on point and we had great service in the back room. once i got to the bar, however, it was a different story. i think it took 15 minutes of just standing there before we could flag a bartender. not unusual for crowded bars, but still irritating. the place was packed with a diverse mix of well dressed hoochie mamas and pretty boys sporting new effing haircuts.
like some of the other reviews noted, the music was all over the place and it was not very loud. this is not a dance club, so you don't get dance music. boo.
the only thing that kind of surprised me was how small the space was. it's essentially just a basement with one long bar with a cordoned off back room that hosts private parties and table service.
What an amazing space! I was here for a minute, relaxing on a sofa and drinking a beer with my fellow artwalkers. It was early so I didn't get a good read on the vibe but I would totally return. When I do return I will wear sexy shoes and will bare some skin. This isn't the spot for jeans and sneaks, you hear?
I pass by this place quite often when I'm in Downtown and have always wanted to check it out. So, I came here a few weekends ago to hang out. It's a really unique place with the original vault and consessions. Cozy joint with friendly bartenders. The place could use another bar since it gets really busy and if you're sitting at the bar like I was, it does get annoying. I was expecting a higher end crowd since the place is all decked out and drinks are a bit on the pricey side. Other than that, the drinks are good. Yes, they had my whiskey, Yamasaki, a hard to find whiskey. A decent place to chill if you're stuck in line at the Edison or the Association...
So THIS is what it feels like to be in a bank vault! Honestly, I felt all Ocean's Eleven-ish in that place, except Brad was nowhere to be found. =( Came on a Friday night to meet up old college friends who were bar-hopping around DTLA. We didn't make it to Edison, but followed them here.
The place was dead as a door knob for a Saturday night (at 1100), but I still enjoyed it, mostly for the novelty factor alone. If I had large rolls of money, I would have taken a picture of me rolling in it inside the vault. Yes, I found it THAT cool.
Maybe when I re-visit this joint, my bank teller / customer fantasy can come true. Until then, it's just Haaay-ok!!!
Beautiful space... I have to give them credit for the digs. It is decorated beautifully, as if it were the set of a big budget Hollywood period piece. It is supremely elegant and a wonderful place to have a drink. In all fairness, we did arrive early in the evening, so that may explain why it was pretty dead, but we absolutely enjoyed the attention to detail that the designers put into the place.
My one negative comment is the price of the drinks. Its a pricey joint, but hey... if they can get it... more power to them. Sadly however, it may be their downfall. If it prohibits patrons, it will go under.
If you are looking for an elegant spot to take a date... this place does deliver.
We waited in line for about 30 minutes before our friend came and rescued us/got us in. There was no cover which was cool.
The club itself is very cute, but the devil is in the detials. There was no towels in the bathrooms so someone gathered some toilet paper from the stalls for us to dry our hands. When that ran out...... The drinks are INCREDIBLY strong, to the point where they aren't really tasty anymore. The waitress was a inept which was a bit frustrating and the night I came, they were playing random 80's and 90's music, but not the hits. In theory this place should have been off the chain, but things never really came together in my book.
This seems like a decent spot but you definitely need to come on the "right" night.
cool vibe
excellent atmosphere
CUTE waitresses
great home-made drinks. stronger variety.
Not super packed like Edison or lame like Elevate! ... nice lounge areas along with more secluded private areas.
It was the first time I've ever been asked the ID was actually mine. After schlepping from Riverside to Palos Verdes, back to Riverside, down to Garden Grove and then up to DTLA all in the duration one day, I was not in the mood. I just glared at him. The door man gave kind of an awkward chuckle and let me in.
The ample seating is definitely a nice touch, especially after a long, tiring day. Its nice to be able to just sit back with a drink and relax, however I agree that the barred rooms invoke a mild attack of claustrophobia.
The bartender was somewhat of a douche. At one time, there were 4 of us at the (uncrowded) bar and ordered drinks. I ordered a plain Red Bull ($4 in a glass with tons of ice, which I killed in one healthy gulp) that my friend graciously paid for. The bartender tries to tell me that I need to pay for my Patron. I politely advise him that he's mistaken and my drink is nonalcoholic. He then tells me flat out "Well, someone ordered Patron and you need to pay the $12".
I thought it was his job to keep track of drink orders and not mine. I begrudgingly did, but still haven't figured out whose drink I paid for.
I kind of hate this place and everything it stands for.
Similar to the historical feel of the Edison, find it really witty to convert an Old bank vault to a lounge. The place feels a bit stuffy and small but a good place to chill and have a quick drink. There are also a few private rooms, which were used in the past for customers to have privacy when accessing their safe boxes. Jokingly we think these rooms are now used for people who want to be private when they hook up with people at the bar. lol. I don't recommend staying there for a long time, its a good place to bar hop.
Good concept. Poor execution... Let me explain.
The 1st impression for me were the people at the door. And its a FAIL for this spot. There's gotta be a better way, a better crew... I was done after seeing how they handle things. And we hadn't even entered the building.
Went here on a Saturday night to celebrate birthdays of four of our friends. Checked the website to make sure the dress code wouldn't be an issue. All good... Or so we thought. Arrived after 1030. Line wasn't too bad. Waited maybe 10 mins. When we got to the front, the short guy who supervises the bouncer says my friend cant wear sneakers and his jeans are too baggy. His jeans certainly were not, by any standards and the website said "dark" sneakers are okay. My friend had been to the Crocker before and had been dressed more casual than he was that night. Dude at the door insisted he's catching heat from the owner about people's shoes. Whatever.... We see people that are already inside wearing white sneakers which according to their dress code is absolutely not allowed. Must be the "exceptions" he was speaking of, which he can no longer do for us. Okay. (At this point about 25-30 of our friends are ALREADY inside the bar with bottle service and a private room) So we leave the line just as we got to the front and let the rest of the group go in. No worries.
My friend changes to more "dressy" footwear and we go back in line. We see another friend and his girlfriend in line and wait it out with them. We get to front of the line again. 5 of us. We wait... It's to capacity, they said. We cant leave. We have FOUR birthday celebrants waiting for us to join the party and dozens of other frustrated people behind us in line.
After waiting a long time, I hear the short dude tell the bouncer to let my friend and his girl inside. Cool... My friend's girl tells the bouncer nicely that we waited as a group and if they can let us in too... The bouncer throws unnecessary attitude and tells them we just gave you guys VIP (WHAT?!?) and either you go in without them or you go back in line. They'd RATHER wait in line they said, so back with us they went... Those are TRUE friends!!!! Hahaha...
After more waiting they finally let us 5 in.... And my friend who they sweated about the "baggy" pants? They didn't even give him a second look. I guess it all depends on the short guy at the door and his mood at the current moment... We never mentioned there were about 30 of our friends inside. Maybe we should've. We never mentioned our group got bottle service. Maybe we should've. We never mentioned there was a reserved room for our party. Maybe we should've. But that wasn't our style... We were just there to celebrate some birthday of close friends. Otherwise, we wouldn't have put up with what we did. Too bad cause the space has potential. But it will never reach it... And I can assure you that I nor any of my friends will be visiting this establishment again.
You don't have to believe me. You can go see for yourself. Get in line.... Tell the short dude at the door and the bouncer Chuck says hello.
As follower of the New Cocktailian culture, I needed to try the Crocker. I knew there was a dress code but the bouncer doesn't really check the women. You got the girls, you're in. But guys, be forewarned and wear real shoes and bring jackets. I have to say though the bouncer wasn't snobby about it. He's just following the rules.
When we got downstairs, I was immediately enamored with the bar. Built out of an old bank, they kept the safety deposit boxes, little private rooms, larger private rooms and also had open lounge space as well as a great bar. Since I'm taking a vacation with Whiskey at the moment (don't tell Vodka), I appreciated the selection list. They have Red Breast! But I went with Buffalo Trace that night.
I also sampled the Golden Yen which featured a combo I love, the Kai lychee vodka with St. Germain. I did think it was a bit too sweet though with the agave syrup but at the same time, this drink was better than the Heist and the Fifth and Spring. The Heist also featured a pretty orchid in the martini glass. The Fifth and Spring had an odd combo of chili and chocolate with tequila. It wasn't horrible but I wouldn't order this.
The specialty martinis were $13 and my whiskey was $10. Not a bad price for the whiskey.
I think this would be a great place to have a party. We were there for almost two hours starting around 8 and it wasn't very crowded at the time. I can imagine it would get busier as the night wore on. Our server was really nice. And when we left, some of the crowd actually waved goodbye. Wow, friendly!
People have been comparing it to the Edison. I think because it has the same sort of old-timey feel to it. I sure can see Bonnie and Clyde trying to bust down the place for some loot. But all you'll find are cocktails which I'm sure they wouldn't be adverse to drinking.
A bank robber at Crocker Club would could case this joint and lock himself in - then get really stuffy and want out.
This is such an unique and trendy bar located in the heart of downtown. Where else can you drink and lounge with your friends while immersed in an old time bank.
The ambiance is not easily forgotten and the entire vibe is pure upscale hipster status. Just check out the photos for yourself. Or better yet, check out the Crocker Club in person. You won't forget it. It's been awhile since I've been but I've been looking forward to going back.
My only gripe about this place would be the ventilation as it is a converted bank and bank vault, thus it can tend to get a bit stuffy, especially within the inner coridors of the vault itself.
Also keep in mind that since they are going for the more upscale hipster feel, please dress accordingly. I think they had my friend tuck in his semi-dress shirt the last time we were there. Think Edison Bar.
If you want a good, stiff drink - you found the right place. Really great cocktails and great music too! Lots of seating but the only problem is that it's all reserved for table service. So if you don't have table service, expect a long night of standing. I would suggest that they offer more seating for non table service and this would be the perfect place. Good mixed crowd, but not the professional crowd I thought it would - but eclectic.
Only minutes after landing in Los Angeles, I was in full fledged party mode. With only 48 hours to make the most of the City of Angels, we had to get moving pretty quick.
We ended up at the Crocker Club not knowing what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised by the decor and aura of this place. It looked to be an old bank vault down in the basement (WARNING: Stairs!!!), lit by candle light and beautiful chandeliers. The mood was very chill and relaxing, the bar was small but effective and the amount of space was a huge plus....well at least at first.
There wasn't much of a crowd to speak of, but that didn't really bother me. I was happy to have a drink in hand, in an environment that felt cozy and sexy all at the same time. The rooms in the back give the place that "something different" factor and the service was decent.
I think once more people find out about this place it will be a huge hit. The music was great, the drinks were stiff...now if they could just do something about those damn stairs???
Stop #1 of 4 for Friday's DTLA Bar Hop
My group didn't intend on coming to this place for a drink. We never even heard of it. We found it because we hunted down Marked5, which was parked in front. After consuming a couple of Marked5 burgers, we decided to check the club out. I'm so glad we did! It ended up being our favorite bar!
Walking up to the front door, the bouncers checked our ids, two at a time, and then showed us down the stairwell. We didn't have to wait and there was no cover. Perfect! When we arrived at the bottom, we were amazed to see a bank vault! Whoa! It was so cool.
We asked one of the bouncers if we needed reservations for a booth and he said it was open seating. So we sat in a 6-8 person enclosed booth that resembled a fancy jail. The booth had its own door and a button to call waiter service. It was a great setup.
Mixed drinks were a bit pricey at $12 ($15 for premium), but we figured it was worth the money because they made stiff drinks, was open seating, had private booths with waiter service, and required no cover charges. Boy, were those drinks good! Each drink was a well poured, 3/4 full glass of hard liquor plus a dash of soda/juice/syrup. I was toasty.
Surprisingly, our waitress was attentive and friendly, responding to our call for service (I was skeptical about the button and if it was visible from the bar). She even asked us if we knew the results of the Laker game. Just for that, she was cool.
On another surprising note, the bouncers even said thank you on our way out. How friendly!
Overall, 5 stars! I highly recommend this place. Do come early though to snag a private booth.
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Lucky Hour from 4-7pm weekdays
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Japanese
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