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Categories: Lounges, Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: DowntownWed-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Vintage and dim, the Edison is everything everyone works it out to be. I went for a friend's event a couple of month's ago, and read up on this place so my friend and I dressed in our best. It's a tough place to find and we circled around several times to find it. (Embarrassingly enough, we circled A LOT of times).
There wasn't a cover that Thursday so we carefully descended the stairs to find the wonderfully decorated Edison. We searched through the cavernous rooms for our group, greeted them, then headed to the bar. We asked the bartenders for suggestions and they asked us what kind of drinks we preferred. They took it from there. I don't remember exactly what I had but I know it was good, fresh, and made with quality ingredients. As said before, this isn't your run-of-the-mill dive bar so I knew it'd be pricey. The experience of it all made it worth it.
I don't get around to downtown often but this is a place I'd go to more often if I was in the area. Very impressive, I'd love to go on a date to lounge there.
After a nice dinner in J Town, my friends and I decided that we weren't tired and should go get a beer somewhere. I had heard about Edison before and knew that it was somewhere in the area, so we decided to hit it up. Even though the address says it's on 2nd Street, the entrance is actually in an alley, so it's a hard to find if you are driving around looking for it. I suggest just parking your car somewhere close and hoofing it.
Being the idiots that we were, we failed to remember that Edison might have a dress code, just like other nicer places in the area. My friends were wearing sneakers but the bouncer let them in saying that "it was his gift" to them. Sweet!
It was a Thursday night and the place was packed. When you first enter the place, the top floor is a pseudo staging area. The main room of the place is actually located down the stairs in the basement. The space is actually quite large. There are numerous places to sit and even though it was packed, we were lucky to snatch a few chairs in the back. It would be a great place to take someone if you wanted to just sit, have a drink, and talk. The ambience is really chill. The lighting is dark but is still illuminated with groups of light bulbs hanging strategically from the ceiling and other edifices. The leather backed furniture reminds me of sitting in someone's reading room in the Gilded Age.
Like most places in Los Angeles, the drinks are expensive. This isn't your run of the mill bar folks. There is no Bud or for that matter anything American on tap. The three beers I did notice were Stella, Delirium, and Chimay. All are wonderful beers but you have to expect to pay a premium for them. And that I did! Each beer cost me $9. Got to love $9 beer night!!!
When we were sitting down, we noticed a girl dressed like a fairy pushing a cart around. Out of curiosity, we decided to ask her what she was selling, and found out it was absinthe. Aside from being in Barcelona and riding on Virgin America, I haven't had absinthe. So for novelty's sake, we each got a shot. It was pretty good and at $8 each, a better value than the beer.
The real highlight of the night for me was the band. I'm not sure if they play every night, but if they do, then I am most definitely coming back here on a regular basis. The band played everything from Bel Biv Devoe's Poison to Mambo to Bob Marley. Plus there was a nice space in front of the band where there was room to dance.
Blast from the past!
-Roaring 20's theme with fairies pushing alcohol carts around.
-Jazzy, classical music.
-Mixed crowd of all ages.
-$14 for a martini.
-No cover.
-$8 parking.
-Half naked burlesque girl dancing on the bartop.
-Dress to impress! Classy and sophisticated.
Erin U. and I wanted to get down and dirrrrty so we left to find a danceclub after. But this place is good times to lounge around.
Stepping into the Edison is like traveling back in time. The dim lights, the winding staircase downward, the dapper bartenders and flapper ladies all make you forget you live in Los Angeles circa 2010. The seating arrangements are spacious and comfortable. Big leather armchairs, red pleather dining chairs, and mini oak coffee tables give it a very bougie yet homey feel.
As much as you want to get lost in the 1920s vibe, you snap back into 2010 once you find out how much the drinks cost. $8-11 for a shot. $13 average for a cocktail. Yep, you're certainly back in 2010. Luckily, my Whiskey Sour was strong and my friends enjoyed their tequila shots (although this is more of scotch/whiskey/bourbon kind of joint).
Word to the wise:
MAKE RESERVATIONS! There is nowhere to sit and or stand unless you enjoy being cramped awkwardly by the bar. Reservations entail a 25/person minimum, but with these prices (and the food is no less pricey), you'll no doubt be dishing out at least that much. My group failed to make reservations and we left after a while cos there wasn't a place to contain our tipsy selves.
COME BEFORE 9:30 IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT IN AN HOUR LONG LINE! We arrived before 9:30 and got in within minutes, while our friends came at 10:30 and were subject to a 2 block line. Be smart.
The jazz music was absent. Do they only play it on some nights? I thought Friday evening would for sure qualify as a jazz-music night.
Of note: there was a beautiful performance by a gymanst-dancer right on the bar. Very spontaneous and really gave the place that old-school feel. Elegance, class, and a large bill. That's the Edison.
I went down there last night with a friend to check out what all they hype was about... this place is AWESOME!!!
The decor is beautiful and the ambiance is incredible!! My friend and I were in awe over this place. I've been to a lot of bars in my life but have to say that this is probably the most unique one. The employees are friendly and the drinks are good.
I haven't been on a weekend before so I don't know, first hand, about the line situation but if you make reservations, you don't have to wait to get in. I was actually talking to one of the managers last night and he said that on weekends, he will look at those waiting in line and anyone dressed up in 1920's clothes, he will escort them in so they don't have to wait. When you look on their website, it even says that if you are dressed up classy and sophisticated, then you will be more likely to get in and not wait in line. My suggestion... MAKE reservations but if you don't.. DRESS THE PART. This is a 1920's speakeasy atmosphere so have fun and dress up.. you'll get in faster that way since you'll add to the ambiance they are looking for. :-)
The only thing I didn't care for was that the drinks are REALLY EXPENSIVE!! I was drinking HOUSE chardonnay and it cost $12.. for HOUSE WINE!! That to me is insane! I used to bar tend at some really nice restaurants and we didn't even charge $12 for our house wine.
Other then that.. this place is incredible. I decided to have my 30th birthday here next month and it's gonna be a 1920's themed party.. imagine that!
P.S. They have a band that plays there every other Thursday called Big Willie's Burlesque.. they are AMAZING!!!
KiloWATTS UP???
No cover!
Classy people!
Basking in the ambiance!
What more could a birthday boy ask for? Not much. Here's our experience:
We got there at 9:30 PM, but we know that next time we should arrive at 9 or earlier. That behemoth of a line eventually wrapped around the block. Our only consolation was that the line was longer behind us than in front of us. In the words of Nelson Muntz, "Haw haw!"
One bouncer was about to kick our friend's boyfriend out for wearing sneakers. We asked Mr. Bouncer if there was a place in the area that sold dress shoes at that hour. In turn, he asked the people who owned the Cuban Cigar shop next door and luckily they had a pair to sell him at a reasonable price. Wow. Good looking out. For all you shoecart vendors, this is the place to set up shop. Jose looks out for you!
We finally got in by 11:15 PM. When we descended the huge square staircase, we noticed how spaced out everyone was, which confirmed our theory that they purposely kept the line long to attract people.
It wasn't stuffy at all. 4 out of 5 people bumping into you and pardoning themselves is not bad, especially since my friend saved her dress from total soakage. There was a mixture of different people there. ...and also quite a few cute girls who seemed approachable. Again, the theme of that night was, "unpretentious," which is a total departure from most Hollywood A-List Celebrity Come-See-How-Good/Plastic-I-Look bars and lounges.
The bartenders were attentive and cordial. I was amused by some of the ladies on staff who wore flapper dresses. Some drunk guy hung out with a bunch of girls in a corner booth and was extremely sloppy. He fell, tossed his drink across the seats (glass shattered on the floor) and his girlfriend tried picking him up. They kept laughing as if Thomas Edison himself told them a "knock-knock" joke. They both booked it for someplace to hide and flapper staff flocked to the scene looking for them. I know what you're thinking. "Party foul," indeed; but a classy party foul cuz he was wearing a shirt and tie.
Projectors showcased 1920s - 1930s silent films featuring Charlie Chaplin on the brick walls. There were plenty of visible old school light bulbs, lamps, cylindrical power generators throughout the interior layout. In contrast, there were a lot of inviting leather chaise chairs, sofas, and tables you could readily set your drinks and small bites upon. The communal fountain-like sink near the restrooms fit in real swell.
Speaking of which, my friends saw a girl leave the restroom without washing her hands. She went up to her boyfriend and squeezed his face with her hands leaning in for a kiss. You know what? I bet you she wore a pretty dress.
The DJ played a few swing songs and several people were having a good time swing dancing (Is that what it's called? Swinging? Dancing to swing music?). Their drink list had an ample amount of absinthe, scotch, mixed drinks, and wine to choose from. I had a Glenfidditch 12 Year Old Scotch, which ran about $12. Smooooooooooth.
There was a smoking area on the ground level, which closed about a half hour before the venue's closing. Don't worry, be happy. They have vintage items up there too like a shoeshine station, more comfy chairs, and ashtrays.
This is Steampunk at its best. L.A. needs more lounges like this. Heck, Southern California needs more bars like this. I can easily spend the whole night here exploring the vast space, or hanging out with 12 of my closest friends, or it could be the perfect starting point to someplace grand.
The vibe was cooler than a cool cat and jivier than a jive turkey. To think, it was a Saturday.. I had a sophisticated yet chill time. Fresh to def, I will be back! It doesn't take a genius to figure that out!
Probably one of my favorite bars around l.a. I love how there is no cover and it still retains a touch of elegance and classiness.
This is definitely for an older crowd, but the range can be anywhere from 21- 40. Maybe even to the 50's if you really love a good bar.
Drinks are decent, good cocktails and they have Belgian ale...can't go wrong with that! Food here is typical bar food choices, but they actually put some thought into making it so it actually tastes good. They do have exotic choices though, such as shrimp and grits (yumm) and truffled mac and cheese.
Decor is reminiscent of the 1920s (industrial) and sometimes there will be a burlesque/flapper dancer that will dance on the bar top!
The only downfall I could possibly think of is that there is a wait if you go on the weekends after 9:30-10:00. No joke, the line is along the street. But the wait is well worth it because they try to manage the people in the bar so that clients like you and me can navigate throughout the bar without having your shoulders constantly brushed by belligerent fools.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this place if you are taking a friend from out of town, just want to hang out, or even for special occasions. It's a great place to socialize.
Excellent cocktails! Awesome decor! Love Vibes! Delish Food! Great time! Love the absinthe fairy!
I will definitely be participating in this fun sometime real soon.
While I love the atmosphere and the staff, the drinks are a bit pricey for me ($10 for a well drink). It's good for a special night out, but I don't think I could afford to come here often - except for Thursday nights when they offer a 35 cent drink during happy hour.
The absinthe girls are adorable. The bouncers have a good sense of humor - which helps when on a Saturday night you are waiting there for half an hour to an hour to get in.
Bartender short changed me. It could have been his mistake, or not.
Still, you get solid stars for the lovely strange you attract.
The entrance is very misleading... From the outside it look like a tiny crappy hipster bar in… Read more »
Far from a traditional speakeasy, the Edison is a somewhat ritzy joint that serves cold hooch and fancy giggle water in the booming bar scene of DTLA.
A small portion of the extravagantly large bar felt like a 1920's costume party. There were many John Dillinger look a likes adorned with pin stripe suits, prohibition era gangster hats, and even had the flapper girls to match. How fun you say!!! But a little bit too contrived for my taste. To each their own.
I apologize. I did not get the memo. Next time I will bring the Tommy gun and speak in 1920's slang. "Beat it doll face, you are giving me the heebie-jeebies, things is all balled up because this dapper daddy is on the lam." Yeah, don't worry I don't even know what that means.
Drinks at the Edison are stiff and are poured with a heavy hand. Ask for a single, and you will get a double. Order a double, and they will pour you triple. This is terrific/lovely if you like straight whisky and will get you very drunk very fast.
Everyone has a friend or even few friends that consistently dress inappropriate for a Friday evening out on the town. The doormen will immediately identify these particular friends as "undesirables." They will say, "sorry, your friend can't come in with those tennis shoes, we have a strictly enforced dress code." For such occasions, one must always keep an extra pair of leather shoes in the trunk of their car for emergency purposes. Trust, it comes in handy when you want to get into the Edison.
Recommended
If I could marry this place I would. =)
Yay, for no cover chage! This place could def charge if they wanted to. After 9:00 there's usually a huge line that goes around the building so get there on time if you don't want to wait! The dress code is classy. I don't know about the price drinks bec once again I was DD =)
De ambiance, and the decor are great. It's very classy and it has a 20's feel alike. They have a screen where they play classic movies. =) There are a couple of bars and reservation areas. The music is also great.
Soooo,...its been a while since I've reviewed ANYTHING...to be quite honest, nothing really sticks in my mind....except...wait for it....THE EDISON.
Oh lovely Edison how do you make my heart flutter? My fiance took me here on our 9 year anniversary. YES 9. :) The Edison was pretty awesome I must say. From the 1920's Flapper Girls carting around "Absinthe" vials that have a green glow (not real absinthe though)...to the AWESOME silent films/animation projected onto the walls...and lets not forget the UNFORGETTABLE burlesque dancer on the stage teasing the drummer with her black silk glove and rubbing it all over his head...so cute, so adorable and FANTASTIC legs!
MUSIC: The band was quite good...they played some great Jazz. I would love for them to play at my wedding!
TO EAT: I had the sliders with *UGH* gouda cheese and carmalized onions...mmmmm... and the sweet and spicy fries were delish as well.
TO DRINK: I had The Edison. A signature drink of theirs with burbon. I love me some burbon. I dont quite remember all the ingredience because it was back in December. BUT sooo good...and it did the trick. :)
I read on here someone thought it was FAR from a traditional speakeasy....well since its not prohabition anymore...of course....All in all I think its a great concept and hits on a bit of history that all us young generation will never experience. This place is FAR from some ol boring hole in the wall. The crowd was great and everyone was there to have fun. And who can beat 37cent happy hour drinks on Thursdays????
Now...im going to open a rival bar....call The Tesla...because I'm actually more of a Tesla fan than Edison... :)
The Edison is like 1920s New York meets Vegas. Based on look and feel alone The Edison is one of the coolest places I've been. I was only slightly disappointed that they were not playing jazz or other early 20th century tunes.
Make sure you dress to impress. Tennis shoes get you no where. In fact just pretend you're in the 1920s and dress as close to that as you can.
Drinks are a little pricey ($13) but heavy-handed and worth it. Thumbs way up in downtown L.A.
I absolutly love this place. I went for my 21st on a friday night. Get there early...the line gets long and it gets packed. I got there around 9/9:30 and it was no problem.
-DRESS NICE. My friend couldn't get in because of his sneakers.
-Drinks are pricey, like $13 for a cocktail. But the drinks are great. Full of great flavor and just strong enough to not over power. No cover.
-It's a great place to go for a drink and a good time.
-Pretty sweet music, different.
-If you can do reservations, do them. There was no seating that night but I guess it's not always like that.
What a concept, and what a way to "preserve" (some might fight me on this) the history of LA's first private power plant. Whether you're into history, steampunk, cleverly named food items (Edison Fries and Tesla Fries -- potatoes and sweet potatoes), or just straight up good booze, I think you'll enjoy the Edison.
For reasons unspecified, I'll always associate this place with a bad time in my life. I'm also sure that since the novelty of this lounge/bar has worn off, people probably don't get into the historical roleplay or dress-up as much as they did when it first opened, although the dress code is notoriously strict. For good reason.
It is, however, the place I discovered Old Rasputin, an excellent Russian imperial stout; the whole line of Chimay Belgian ale; Moscow mules; and 35-freakin'-cent martinis on Thursdays.
Truly a unique setting. Don't expect a lot of dancing. It's more of a place to get together with some friends, have some good socially lubricated conversation, and be, or at least feel, classy.
It's not my cup of tea because it is too much of a club rather than a place to imbibe.
They do have excellent cocktails and they serve punch. However, if you go on the weekend, it is too loud (for my tastes) to carry on a conversation with my comrades. The prices for the cocktails are on par with the prevailing prices downtown ($12-ish).
They do take reservations if you wish to sit down. I strongly recommend it.
The interior is delightfully decorated. You should at least visit once to see the interior - preferably during happy hour when there are drink specials and its not too crowded.
I don't think they ever charge for cover, but check their website. The lines can get a bit long later in the night and guys in the ape suits at the door will enforce the dress code.
The Edison is over rated in my book. It is a fancy place, so if you want to impress an out of towner or a date, then arm yourself with a reservation.
Amazing Place!!!!
The decor is off the hook.I didn't see one ugly bartender there. There's many places for you to sit and relax, even on a busy night. The drinks can be a little pricey, but you're also paying for the location. It's a HUGE place, so many levels to it. With the crowd it attracts, you're bound to meet someone any night.
If you're looking for a place to wear your new fancy dress or expensive suit, this is the place to show it off!
This is the heart of beautiful Los Angeles.
This place is incredible. Yes, the drinks are expensive. No, there are not a lot of options for food. But the expensive drinks are STRONG and the limited food is DELICIOUS.
It's an amazing atmosphere and the waitresses look super hot in their flapper garb. This is a perfect place for just drinks or drinks and appetizers. Bring any midwest visitors to impress them, or bring any visitors from New York City to prove to them that Los Angeles has just as much unique beauty as their beloved island.
This is definitely my kind of bar.
I love the dark 20's-30's style theme. I always come here dressed up a little more than my usual club/lounge "get-up".
The bartenders are quick to stir up your order and are not pricks like other bars in DT.
This place is never overly packed, because the guys at the door don't let it. That is why I suggest you get here early and/or have some sort of hookup at the door, otherwise you will be waiting in a long ass line.
So we were headed back home and my sister's boyfriend was like "Hey, you want to go to the Edison? I mean we're already dressed up and out the house" Alright, why not. So we drive by and the line was ridiculous [[about 11pm or a little after]]. "Don't worry, I got a plan. We're not standing in line" he says. So we're driving around to figure out where to park and my sister is saying no, its fine, lets just go home. "No I got this, we'll get in!" So my sister asked me if I still wanted to check it out. "Hell, I want know if he can get us in, and bypass all those people standing outside in the line." So we park in the structure and make our way through the alley and right up to the door with the bouncer. Now, I wont say how he was able to get us in but within a minute of walking up, I was walking through the Edison! Sidenote, I'm taking him everywhere I need to go to in LA.
The Edison is such a chill place. Definitely a place where you can go to let your guard down. You don't need to worry about rude, hood, and ghetto people. You bump into someone, they understand it was an accident. No one is looking at you, trying to size you up. Everyone is there for a good time! We didn't pay to get in but I don't think there is a cover charge either. I seen all types of attires here but I feel dresses and slacks would be best here. You can wear jeans with heels and a nice top but I feel the ladies would feel more at ease looking fancy smancy. The music is more of the swing dance era and groups that recreated it, like the Cherry Poppin Daddies, "zoot suit riot... RIOT!" haha.
The décor was really cool. My sister's boyfriend told me that this was the first building to make it's own electricity [[hence, the name haha]]. It was two stories and the bottom level is huge. It looks like the inside of a power plant or a basement of a building. Really nice though. There is seating everywhere so you don't need to be VIP. I was glad because I was wearing 6 inch heels and plopped right on down on the couch. The drinks were expensive in my opinion. $13 for their signature drinks, which come in martini or margarita type glasses. I can picture myself in here just lounging around with friends and taking really cute pictures. It's not really a dancing place, just a bunch of pretty people laughing and drinking the night away creating memories. I would come back if someone suggested this place. Hopefully I can line hop again haha
The bar is set in the basement ex-broiler-room of a multi-storey commercial building and they capitalize on that fact in their chic design: dim exposed bulbs, large metal boilers, dark leather furniture and quirky "mad-scientist" details.
The drinks are fantastic; I'm partial to their pomegranate-champagne concoction that is apparently a house specialty ($14). The bathrooms are fancy and the attendants will give you anything you need -- remember to tip them! The security is great and friendly, and there is no cover charge :)
Although the drinks are fairly expensive, you're paying for atmosphere and you get a lot of it. The burlesque dancing and live jazz music (not every night) are the icing on the cake.
Used to be my favorite bar in LA. When it first opened... I think I was there every week!!
Drinks are awesome, smoking patio awesome, decor super awesome!!
AND THEN the service became TERRIBLE. The hostess is only nice if you are dressed well... will totally ignore you if you're not. the line has gotten out of control on weekends.
and then the last time we went the bouncers just crossed the line for me! my husband got a beer during last call and 5 minutes after he got it (right after he had just paid for it) a bouncer came in to throw everyone out. My husband asked if he could just finish his beer that he had just bought and the bouncer yanked it from his hand said "No you have to go now." Unbelievable! I am never going back agian.
Love. Love. LOVE this place!!
It's a beautiful lounge setting with an vintage feel! A perfect place to grab drinks with your friends.
I recommend the "English Afterthought" a blueberry ginger drink that is to D.I.E for! Beware that this drink is not for the average Patron or Vodka/Cran drinker.... it requires a more eclectic palette because it has St. Germain liqueur in it :) a trurly different drink. I also recommend the little Kobe beef sliders... YUM YUM YUM! the Gorgonzola in the burgers is so DELISH!
The shows that go on Wednesday nights are great!
This place isn't full of fake people I think thats what I like the most about it! The security there is real and don't stand for the typical hot girls get in first BS... thats very hollywood.... Don't try that in Downtown LA... you'll get laughed at!
I'm going to start by asking for a moment of silence for the days of the Edison's greatness are over.
I came here a couple of times after it first opened. I would have given this place 5 stars then. I totally loved this place. The ambiance is vintage industrial but sexy. Coming in and climbing down the stairs with the large hanging exposed light bulbs down the center of the stairswell, I used to get the feeling that it was going to be a good night.
The ambiance consists of dim lighting, more exposed light bulbs, leather furniture, tables, black and white films shown on the walls, staff dressed like they came out of the roaring 20's, large pieces of machinary, and a wondering absinthe fairy. Music consists of jazz standards and swing music. Totally love it.
Back in the day, this place would go off and it was lots of fun.
As of the past couple of weeks, not so much.
I came here last Thursday and had dinner there with some friends. We got a nice table. I came early and was seated right away.
Since it was still happy hour, I got the 35 cent cocktail which was really good! Loved it! I also had the Brass Flower because I like St. Germain liquor. The food was great too. My friends and I shared the half Edison (potato) fries/half Tesla (sweet potato) fries. The Edison fries were spicy and the ketchup was even spicier. We also had the truffled mac and cheese. So good! Overall, great food. I would give the food and the drink 4-5 stars easily. Probably the best food I have ever had in a lounge/bar setting.
There were a lot of people but I noticed that the crowd has become older than what it used to be and more causal. Still, nice people, but I was hoping to see more people in their 20's like it used to be.
The absinthe fairy came by. We got absinthe shots for $10 each one. The shots come in two flavors: pomegranate and regular. The come in small potion bottle. I had the regular flavor. It was perfectly chilled and yummy.
Later that night, a band came on. We weren't seated next to the band. We actually couldn't see the band from our table, however the sound system was so loud from where we were that my friends and I started shouting at each other so we can talk to each other. It was pretty annoying. That was pretty much it for me.
The next day, my throat was sore from yelling and even though I was in the company of some lovely friends, I can't say that I had a good time.
My latest visit there was on Wednesday, not even a week from the last one. One of my coworkers was celebrating her birthday and we came here. It was DEAD. It could be because of the rain that was preventing people from coming out or maybe because it was Wednesday night. It was my first time coming on a Wednesday. I ordered a drink at the bar and the bartenders weren't really friendly.
Absinthe fairy came by. We bought shots. This time the shots were $8 each. Hmmmm...this was kind of surprising to me. Is the price for the shots different on Wednesday and Thursday nights or did the fairy last Thursday pocket $2 extra by saying they were $10? They were the same shots as last Thursday but cheaper. I'm hoping that the difference in price was due to the difference in nights--not the difference in one person's standards.
Like Thursday, this place was still not as fun as it used to be. Maybe Wednesday and Thursday nights are not good nights? It used to really be great though.
Wow. I'm in love with this bar. I now totally understand the quote I heard someone describe this place as if it came out of someone's fantasy.
Much larger than I initially expected and a very unique, yet awesome old power plant decor. The bar is pretty much underground and although huge it is made up of many rooms and provides for very intimate seating. I could imagine every table providing a unique experience.
The food I tried was ok, decent but not exceptional. Definitely a must-go-to place in LA, and especially in downtown.
i've been here a couple times. once on a fri/sat (don't remember which of those two days) and once on a thur, and i prefer the weekend vibe.
the burlesque show was nice, but the live jazz band was too loud. i couldn't hold a conversation. it was like a loud hollywood club.
the table's are annoyingly uncomfortable. you're better off at a couch or just standing around.
you can find street parking within a couple blocks for free.
This place had its ups and downs, and although i only gave the place 3 stars I will be back and do a follow up.
So, we went to the Edison this last weekend for my GF's b-day with about 20 of her friends.
We ate nearby so got there right as it was opening, Which I suggest because a few of her fiends that got there later sat in an outrageous line. It can be up to 1 1/2 hours long so i hear. Everyone was dressed well so no trouble at the door. Guys wear your nice shoes! Jeans are ok.
Once inside the decor is cool, check out the picks and website, lots to see and check out.
Now like I said we got there early so the place was empty but although there are a lot of seats, couches and benches pretty much 99% of them had reserved signs on them. Which I find hard to believe because I called mid week asking about reserving an area for our party and well. The space fee alone was going to be $1000 then we would have had to spend something like $30-$50 per person on top of that, all paid upfront. so we passed. Back to our search for seating. We did find a spot near the bar with 4 cushioned benches / ottomans and no reserved sign in site. I talked to the waitress in the area and told her about our party size and asked if we could sit in that area. She told me that we should be charged for a space fee for the size of our party but she wasn't about that. All she requested was that we order form her and not the bar and she would take care of us and insure us the space was ours. Done! She was very good too. always there when we needed drinks, had a great memory. and was super friendly with all of our party.
PROS
No Cover.
A Little Bit of Class
Ambiance
Stiff Drinks.
Overall Feel of the Place.
Great Service.
CONS
Long Line
$$$$
Lots of seating But you have to pay for most of it.
absolutely the nicest bar/lounge I have ever been to!!!!!! Definitely something you'd want to take a friend or group of friends to. I wouldnt take a date or someone you would meet for the first time cuz you'd have to talk the whole time. ugh. But other than that, it's got so much character, and the staff is great! It's got sooooo much seating room too.
Ps The bathroom lady was nice. She suggested goin to into the furnace (heh?!) to check it out...we did and it was cooool.
Thank God this place is here in LA. It's amazing. Makes LA Downtown a destination. Magical place!
Good lord this place is amazing! I could totally see myself living here except for the lack of sunlight! ;D
It's extremely well designed with that gritty industrial feel including massive piping and machinery. I think if I was given free reign to explore I might get stuck in something that ended up taking me to a weird land a la Dr. Parnassus.
The staff was super helpful for an enormous group that had no reservation. And while it was expensive, it's pretty awesome getting an absinthe fountain delivered to your table.
They definitely favor people dressed in an older style. My husband looked very much the role they want and he was helped far ahead of a line of the usual dressy club types. So go dressed for the part! And it's fun!
I would say the one downside was that everything was reserved, we just got really lucky that we found a table and could drag a bunch of seats over!
Also, the movies that they project are pretty amusing and really help create a mood...
Yes, the space is gorgeous. And I don't think I've ever been to a place in Los Angeles with more flattering lighting than the Edison.
The drinks, however, are overpriced and kinda' suck. I think the bartenders could have a lot more PERSONALITY too... considering it's such a quirky and interesting space. NOTE: If you haven't been to The Edison before, it's worth checking out once. Do your "serious drinking" elsewhere.
I couldn't help but say "WOW" as soon as I walked into the place. Love the power plant decor and the 20's feel to this bar. There's a line, but it beats trying to fight your way through a club in Hollywood. Drinks are a little pricey ($6/beer), but hey, there is no cover charge.
The place is mostly underground, but they also have a smoking patio on the floor level. Unfortunately, they closed it down because neighbors were complaining about the noise. There are plenty of places to sit downstairs.
Valet at the door is $9, but we drove around the block and found street parking 1/2 block away for free. Definitely go check out this place!
A gorgeous gem hidden within a side alley off of 2nd street in downtown.
Think... steampunk bedazzled with a little of the prohibition era glamour and tossed with some modern adornments. Every nook and cranny of this old electric shop has a place and reason to be.
Drinks were very good and a bit pricey. Have not had the pleasure of trying any edibles, but I'm sure I will test that out the next time I come here.
5 Stars for this awesome venue!
This place reminds me of a large scale version of the speak-easys in New York, i.e. Little Branch, Milk and Honey. Of course with a larger venue, it's harder to keep the mood intimate, but somehow they are able to pull it off. The secret location is a power plant, and the drinks here include some traditional "Prohibition Era" classics and remixes of their own.
Word of advice. GET THERE EARLY. there is no reason to be fashionably late because you'll just have to wait! And why wait for your fashionably late friends in line outside when you can wait for them inside. They fill the place up and right when they do, they start a one out one in policy. My friends and I got there at 9:25 and got in right away. We were meeting up with 3 other friends, and because they got there 25 minutes later at 9:50, they had to wait for over an hour since they didn't meet the initial threshold, so get their early.
Once we got in we were greeted to a brulesque performance and an absinthe fairy selling potion bottles of colorful absinthe. The drinks were all amazing... we ordered 4 drinks and started a rotation cycle to try all the drinks: Mistress Nouveaux, Southside Fizz, English Afterthought and Bermuda Sour. My favorite was definitely the English Afterthought - a sweet concoction of blueberries, ginger and Gin. I got one, and then another, and possibly another... needless to say, it was a great night!
Beat the hassle of lines, crowds, dresscodes.... and hit up the Edison during their Happy Hour (5-7pm, Thurs & Fri).
On soup kitchen Fridays, you get a tiny cup of tomato soup and a corner of grilled cheese sandwich to nibble on. 35 cent cocktails ain't bad either (but you can only have one and you only get to choose between two drinks). All other cocktails are discounted (not half-off, I think it's either 40 or 45% off?).
All-in-all, this place is a lot of fun, and the atmosphere is GREAT. It's definitely worth a happy hour trip, maybe not so much if you're paying full price.
What a fabulous place. I love historical places and this place is that. The decor and imagination to design Edison is amazing. I am not so much in to "the club scene", so we went on a Wednesday night after work and had a great time. It was carnival night or something and there were entertainers all over the place (servers where a bit hard to find though). We had appetizers and cocktails and stayed for a couple of hours.
The Edison is one of the few barry-loungy places I will go to when I get tired of drinking alone at home. That's a compliment.
Street parking was pretty easy, considering that this is LA. Cover is free. The space itself is huge and beautifully decorated; the atmosphere is friendly, the doorman is pretty cool (he's a doorman and all, and thus could be a tool, but he is not), the drinks are strong, and the bartenders are great-- one, who shall remain nameless because I forgot to remember his name, asked me what I wanted, and proceeded to make a drink according to my exact specifications (pineapple juice, rum, margarita salt, lime juice, vodka, a bendy pink straw, a strawberry garnish...you get the idea). That was cool. You can also buy tiny bottled shots of absinthe from the absinthe fairy for ten or so dollars; those will fuck you up quick, and that's cool, too. The music is never loud enough to be annoying; the bathrooms are clean and feature a friendly little bathroom attendant woman who will give you a miniature Snickers if you ask nicely.
(This is turning out to be such a classy review. I'm proud.)
The reason to come here instead of anywhere else, though, is the scene. Yeah, I said it. The vintage '20s and '30s vibe collects a better crowd than most comparable places. I swear, I've never even seen a bar fight go down in here. Well...maybe I should subtract a star for that, but never mind. The Edison is cool.
Yay! My 300th review!!! I wasn't sure what I would review on, but I decided to Yelp on my latest adventure at a bar.
My guy cousin, guy friend, and I were bored one Thursday night. So bored that we were like let's go get our drink on!!
We got dressed and headed to the Edison. It was all our first times and I didn't know what to expect. Upon arriving you have to walk through an alley to find the entrance. I didn't even see a sign so I had to ask the bouncer, 'Is this the Edison?" to make sure this really was in fact the place. Luckily, we found the right place. We got carded and walked right in. No cover! Yay! I love when there's no cover! It's more money for drinks!!
So we walk in and walk down the stairs to the bar area. I must say it's quite a large bar area. The entire place is pretty darn big. Very dark, classic, and old vintage feel. I love it! Right away, you will notice an array of folks. It's such a mixed crowd. Young, Old, professionals, trendsetters, etc. I love it when it's a mixed crowd. I feel more comfortable.
There are tons of couches and seating areas for various couples or groups to lounge on and chat. The bar has some awesome bartenders. Very friendly and personable and some are pretty cute too! There is a fairy chick who walks around selling shots I believe. They also have a live band singing. It's awesome!
I was super impressed with this bar and lounge. It is classy, fun, unique, and very cool. Drinks aren't cheap but LA bars ain't cheap. Mixed drinks were around $11-13ish.
I got the feeling that this place isn't a meat market like most bars. You know? Where people go just to "hunt' for someone to have fun with. This place seemed too good for something like that. But my friends challenged my theory. They told me to stand by the bar and within 5 minutes they could guarantee a guy would approach me. I took the challenge. I felt like that wouldn't happen.
Well, I was totally WRONG! Some weird dude did approach me within 2 minutes. He was gross and had stupid lines and was a bit too aggressive for my liking. I guess all bars has those freaks who come but whatever. I still had a lot of fun at this joint. I had so much fun I am surprised I even remember all this information to Yelp on it. I was pretty drunk. I had 4 drinks and I was just gone. But boy was it fun!! I'm already looking forward to the next time I come here.
Come here dressed to impressed. You don't have to come here looking like a pimp or a hoe. But do come looking like you got some swag and some class. Have fun with friends and enjoy the night! Hopefully, you'll meet new sexy folks too!
Are you ready to time travel? Take a look at the Edison's website. You know that 1920's speakeasy feel that remind you of men dressed to the nines and women in flapper dresses? It's on purpose. The entire place feels that way in an authentic Marty McFly kind of way.
I swear out of my peripheral vision this place looked like a grainy black and white movie.
Yes Yelpers, this place does have a strict dress code. Do you know why? Because people weren't just kickin' it in vans and hipster jeans back during the days of prohibition. The word of the venue is AUTHENTIC.
It was in fact and old Edison building with much of the fixtures left in place to keep the *hush-hush* feel. Upon entry there is what looks like a human aviary when you can partake of your cigarettes and low balls. You descend a ridiculously steep stairway (keep this in mind as you're dressing ladies) You can walk around, take a look at the seating area inside the boiler which is fabulous. The venue is dark and feels like it should be musty or smokey or dangerously electrified but is none of those things. If it weren't so luxurious I would think it was haunted.
The extensive single malt scotch menu paired with the impressive beer selection (read: Delirium Tremens) paled in comparison to the green winged fairy that was fluttering from table to table with a cart filled with different Absinthe options. Seriously, does it get anymore amusing than that? You can order a bottle of the La Fée Verte that comes in a perfume like bottle labeled with the Edison logo that will net you about 4 glasses for sipping. Otherwise, Anise hinted cocktails can be made for you including a pomegranate absinthe mix.
While the Jazz band played on the stage in the other room we ordered some things to munch on like the truffled macaroni and cheese which was made of orrichiette instead of the elbows, aged Vermont Cheddar and Italian Summer Truffle. The Edison Platter was delicious, though keep in mind there are only about 2-3 bites of each item listed on the platter which made it awkward when it came to splitting the 2 shrimp corn dog bites between 3 people. It's hard to share things that are so delicious.
The service was impeccable rivaling that of 5 star hotel room service rather than a club. And I suppose that's the feeling the Edison gives you as you're seated around a coffee table with a couple of your closest friends sunken into the aged leather library style arm chairs; being waited upon in someone's well hidden, possibly illegal, old boy's club lounge.
Essex now has Happy Hour…
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Bars
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