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The Edison
- Hours:
Wed-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat 8 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1727 reviews for The Edison
Review Highlights
"We also tried a cucumber shot from the Absinthe fairy."
(in 72 reviews)
"It was Los Angeles's old power plant, it's very cool."
(in 31 reviews)
"Happy hour here is uh-mazing for what it is."
(in 242 reviews)
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1727 reviews in English
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Review from Keesy S.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Such a hard place to find if you don't know what you're looking for, but it's such a great find! They have structure parking just down the alley from this place for about $8, I say go for it. It's DTLA and the parking situation can be quite hairy.
The crowd was truly a mixed crowd but all were dressed nicely. I like finding places where people take pride in their threads. There's a time and place for everything, but please leave your sneakers at the dive bar. There was a show going on and it garnered quite a bit of attention. It was nicely done.
Signature cocktails run about $14, typical for a nice venue.
We weren't there too long, just long enough to enjoy 2 cocktails apiece and watch the show. I'm not sure if anyone dances here or not, but regardless this is a great place to stop by for some class and drinks. -
Review from Matthew W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
This could be one of my favorite bars in all of Los Angeles. Originally built in 1910 as the first privately owned power plant with the intention to power the sprawling city of Los Angeles. In the renovation, the owner's opted to leave all of the original equipment in place and design the bar around it. It creates a one-of-a-kind ambiance.
A word of warning - this bar gets very crowded. My friends and I usually meander the bar and dancefloor, but there is the option to sit at a table for a minimum, usually $300-$500. In my opinion, it's not really worth it because the tables do not provide a sense of privacy because people are standing everywhere. There are private rooms, which are nothing short of spectacular, but I'm sure they are not cheap either. I would highly recommend arriving prior to 10 PM because the line will easily reach a 45 minute to one hour wait after that.
As for parking, I would highly recommend the valet out front at Spring and 2nd. It costs $10, in comparison to some cheaper parking garages around the corner, but the convenience is well worth it.
For libations, I would highly recommend their drink specials. The Edison has highly trained bartenders who never disappoint. If you enjoy whisky bourbon, I would recommend the Man of War. For the ladies, The Mistress with Prosecco is very popular. Each drink costs approx. $14, which is both crazy and reasonable for downtown (or maybe its just crazy that I think it is reasonable).
All in all, a great place to enjoy for both visitors and long-time Angelenos. -
Review from Lana M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome venue. It seems like a hidden gem in downtown, cuz when you walk in, its like being in another time and place. This place used to be the old SoCal Edison, and they've decorated it in that classic theme of the 1920s.
Service, however, is a completely different story. I came here for my office's Christmas party, and my boss was pretty pissed with the owner for not being very accommodating. There were like 100+ of us there, but she had only ONE waitress serving us. And thing is, there are busboys or whatever around, but they will not take any food orders at all. We had to constantly try to flag down this poor waitress and order everything off the menu to make sure we even got food. Once we got the food, we were happy.
Couple things to know though. One, their dress code is super strict. They will not allow you in jeans and sneakers, no sympathy. One girl for our office party was in jeans CRUTCHES and they still wouldn't let her in. You'd think she'd get a little sympathy, but nope. No entry. After spending an hour outside, she finally ran into a coworker that had extra dress pants. Two, this place is dark and loud. Makes it more romantic, but difficult to converse. Three, the drinks are strong. Good if you can take it, but make sure to eat before!
We were mainly ordering off their happy hour menu. The best thing were the Shanghai wings...we kept going back for those. The deviled eggs were ok, and the mac and cheese was so so. But those wings...
I'd go back, since the ambience is so cool. Good for groups, as long as its not a huge one. Wouldn't recommend going for a first date, since its loud and dark, but that's just me. Enjoy! -
Review from Joyce F.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Okay, I really really really want to give the Edison more than 3 stars. I am obsessed with the concept, the decor, the location, the drinks, the live quasi burlesque show and cute dancers that entertain, the Absinthe fairy who circulates with her wings and a cart full of mini bottles, the way people treat going to the Edison as a special occasion and how everyone dresses the part.
That said, I'm a young twenty-something and whenever I go I just never have as much fun as I wish I could. Honestly, I think that's by virtue of my age and the fact that the majority of the crowd seems to be 28+. I know it's a lounge and everyone is too cool but the way that people avoided the few brave souls who started to dance and just sort of sat in the booths not really talking to their companions or anyone else just didn't sit all that well with me. I'm a firm believer that you don't get all dressed up, pay a $10 cover and $15 for a champagne cocktail to sit around and text on your iPhone. And I have an iPhone.
That said, I do hope that the thirty-somethings keep The Edison in business for long enough for me to come back and fully enjoy it in a few years! -
Review from Alice K.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Everything about The Edison is cool.
Set in an old power plant, the vibe is definitely 20's/30's flapper, prohibition-era with dim lighting and plenty of seating for stylish lounging. Towards the end of the night, there was some dancing, which is always welcome by yours truly.
It's one of those places that makes you feel cooler by association. -
Review from Annie N.
North Hollywood, CA
2/4/2012
O0oh YES
It might be the sweet beginnings I had with my beau here but Ive simply got nothin' but love for this place. Fantastic DTLA spot. The vibe, decor, lighting...all good! Truly diverse crowd, but not all the way down to including ghetto dudes. WATCH YOUR GET UP: no sneakers, hats, the yooj..The place has CLASS. The line out front says it all, so get here really early or bribe someone. We did the $50 minimum drink order per person thing to bypass the line. Totally sexy place :) -
Review from Steven F.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe I've never been here before, it is kind of tricky to find this place and can be easily miss-able since it is hidden in an alleyway haha. The dress code is pretty much dress shirt and make sure you are wearing some nice shoes like dress shoes, or the occasional hipster shoes, no vans.
As you walk in there is a smoking room to the left and you walk downstairs to the main lounge area where there are seats everywhere and a pretty big bar, they serve food but we were here for the drinks. They are also showing some old black and white film on their projector, good music.The ambiance of this place is really nice, almost feels like a club minus the dance floor, great place to bring friends to. We got here early, like 10ish, but after we left, there was a long ass line. -
Review from Alexis B.
2/8/2012
I was here long before it became one of the biggest bar attractions in downtown! There used to be no line, and it was easy to walk around and hold several glasses of champagne. I've been to numerous parties, one in particular when there was a "game room" with a pool table and a private seating area. The truffle mac and cheese was our favorite to order, and we had the best service. I made friends with a bartender named Grady, and I don't even know if he's there anymore! I took an entire bachelorette party to The Edision and it was the biggest hit, champagne was EVERYWHERE. Gosh, It's been 2 years since I've been inside the glorious-once-power-plant, but I believe my time spent there is over. I've found other hidden gems in town that haven't blown up with popularity and hipsters just yet.
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Review from Daisy K.
1/31/2012
Fun, fun, fun!! This place has a great vibe to it, as many others have noted. I'm not sure that I could find another place in LA with the same great atmosphere.
But first is first - valet can be a PITA if you're not sure what to look for. It gets incredibly crowded on a busy night but it's well worth the wait and hassle.
There is a girl dressed up as a fairy pushing around a cart of abstinthe. I believe the abstinthe she sells is more for novelty reasons (and quite expensive) but so are the drinks... which are also good!
Tried out a few drinks with their absinthe - not for me. But the other ones are tasty and really hit the spot. The lounge offers plenty of entertainment, depending on what night it is...
Overall, a great place to hang out at - and would definitely come back for a girls night :) -
Review from Jackie D.
Oakland, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've only been here once, but I am IN LOVE with The Edison! The decor and overall atmosphere are incredible, who doesn't want to go back in time? Especially when it's the 20's?? The fact that you enter into The Edison through an alleyway just adds to the general mystique. Bartenders are fantastic and offer great service, gave my friend and I a few drinks on the house :) Now that's how you earn a following...! The main bars are downstairs and the space is HUGE. It's amazing how crowded it was for the amount of area there is for people to mingle. Another awesome perk, there's a green fairy who carts around shots of absinthe, could this place get any better??
The answer is obviously, absolutely not. So hit up The Edison, and make sure to get there for the live music, too! -
Review from Nick R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2012
First off kudos to the interior designer or whomever had the vision for the architecture. If I had a few mill to blow I would def hire this visionary. That being said, I have been here a dozen times and I must say things are not the same. On my last visit I witnessed the bouncers man handling a few peeps for standing "near" an aisle, also the music they played on my last few visits did not match the venue, hip hop! There is no dance floor so I don't get why they would play wall 2 wall hip hop when in the past they played music that matched the atmosphere.
There is a 50.00 minimum for food and booze which is fine cuz I expect to spend that when I go out on a Fri. or Sat. night but be forewarned if you buy a few drinks for the ladies and plan on getting wasted you will be out more than a few benjamins (like many others my bank account knows this all too well). As for the food, I would rate it better than average for this type of venue.
Dating scene: Typical L.A. venue, you have more than your fair share of bank account parasites and professional 20 - 40 yr olds.
Things are going downhill, so I'll take a break from The Ed. -
Review from Jasmine C.
Alhambra, CA
1/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Dark, classy, romantic 20's. And very elegant, from the decor to the swishy 20s form-fitting dresses of the waitresses and hostess. Edison is without a doubt one of the classier bar/lounges in DTLA and one you'd have to go to at least once if you live here. I've been to Edison several times, and the experience is different every time depending on the day of the week, and even where you're sitting! The whole underground area is so big that you'll probably always find a unique corner to hang out every time. And everyone is dressed to the 9's.
If you come on weekends, be prepared to wait in a long line outside if you come at peak hours. It will be crowded in there! But if you come on a weekday, I suggest you come during Happy Hour times from 5-7pm. MAKE A RESERVATION. Just do it if you want a table. Don't be lazy, or you'll regret it when you get there. Non-happy hour times there is a minimum to sitting at a table. Somewhere like $25-50/person depending on the day of the week I believe. HH reservations have no minimum though, so you might as well freaking MAKE THE RESERVATION. And you can even do it on Open Table now, so why not!
Thursday and Fridays boast 35 cent martinis and a variety of HH food items. It's a little sad but I think they changed the rules a bit...The last time I came (maybe about a month ago), we were able to get our 35 cent martinis of the night (Sandbar Martini?...can't remember the name but it was slightly citrus fruity and good). This time, they said we had to buy a martini first, and then we could use our 35 cent chips to buy the second martini. But the martini of the night was a vodka martini, and I'm not a fan of vodka, so I passed and ordered The Edison at 40% off the regular $14 price.
The drinks here? Eh. Wayyyyy too strong for me. Just my personal take. If you like really strong alcohol, they don't hold back here. No wonder there was a Prohibition. And I've come here with Korean people who agree that the alcohol is strong. There's your verdict! But it's an overall great place to hang out with friends and get some food and drinks. The frommage and tomato soup is pretty delicious, as is the veggie sandwich with fries. The fries are great, and the sliders are also pretty tasty. I really liked the bavarian pretzel (but skipped the mustard) too. Truffle mac and cheese is delish. (what food with truffle oil isn't?) Food ranges from $7 to the most is $14 for steak and fries (which i've never ordered).
Check out the bathrooms too...I love the common fountain-like sink outside the bathrooms. There's also a stage for live performances on certain nights of the week. All in all, one of the coolest, classiest places I've seen in LA, and definitely memorable! It can get expensive on a regular night, though, so be prepared to fork over some moolah. Or just come for happy hour! :)
And where is the absinthe fairy?? Why do I never see her? =( -
Review from Ching T.
Whittier, CA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Prohibition meets Burlesque meets Black and White Silent Films with a dash of Steam Punk equals a very posh, sexy and lounge-y scene, and a scene it is usually on Friday and Saturday nights. Most patrons do keep the dress code high, but unfortunately they don't enforce the dress code strictly. Tables are available only by reservations or if you're indeed gonna drink and dine there, so it's not for the lounging. While service at the bar, especially in the later hours, can take a while, I must say that table service was very attentive thanks to our cocktail waitress. Awesome classy place for a date or to meet up with friends as there are plenty of nooks for a bit of privacy that also allows for people watching.
LA METRO FRIENDLY: Use Civic Center Red Line Metro exitListed in: Downtown LA, Metro RED Line, Bars & Lounges
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Review from Jesse S.
Downey, CA
This place looks awesome inside. It's great for impressing a first date but I wouldn't come here to often and pay these drinks prices. Plus it sucks when you have a big group. We met up here for my birthday last year and the staff pretty much shoved us off our seats after we finished eating dinner and having our first round of drinks. I guess they didn't want our money.
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Review from Christine N.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I must say, I hated coming here in the beginning. The place was always super crowded, the vibe felt off for whatever reason and I just didn't like it. The last few times I've come here (which spans over the past 2 years), I've had such a great time!
As it gets later, the line looks daunting but not to worry, it moves fairly quickly and they never charge cover. I love the music they play and the old movies they screen. The music gets you in the mood to have fun and socialize without making me want to dance (I love to dance and it has ruined the idea that barhopping could be fun). It was a great place to catch up with friends and meet new people.
Love love love that there is seating in case you want to sit down when your feet get tired.
Their drinks are rather pricey but so good. Order the mistress which was champagne and pomegranate juice and some other mix-ins but I wasn't paying attention. It was a sweeter drink that wasn't too syrupy. Also got an old fashioned which was so damn delicious. Surprisingly not bad to sip on! -
Review from Anthea L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very classy and fun dressy bar to go to in downtown. It gets a bit crowded especially on nights with live music where there's a $10 cover so go early otherwise you will end up waiting a really long time outside. I had my birthday here on a Saturday night with a life jazz band. Had to pay the cover but they had a 2 for 1 special for checking in on Yelp and there is a $50/person minimum on Saturdays for having a table. It's worth it because the drinks can be pricey and with food it adds up. We had a great table by the stage so we could see the burlesque dancers all night! Downside is it does tend to get too crowded and the drinks are at least $14/$15 each.
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Review from Erich D.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
This high-ceilinged, below street level lounge has some super swank factor. Designed and decorated exquisitely with a modern and retro style touch while retaining a number of the mechanical artifacts from its past life as a Los Angeles power plant in the early 1900s.
Specialty drink prices are about where you'd expect them to be (around the $12 - $14 range). Food is pretty good here as well and served throughout the night if you can grab a seat and catch the attention of a waitress or simply just order at the bar areas.
A place as unique as this is going to have a queue to get in so it's best to come early. You'd also almost expect this place to have a cover but it does not! Cool + Free = Awesome! -
Review from Daisy W.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
If you're in LA, you need to go to the Edison at least once. It is a unique venue--a renovated warehouse of sorts with the nostalgia of old Hollywood and the poshness of LA night life. They project silent movies throughout the lounge, which I find add to the one of a kind ambiance of the Edison.
Why the mediocre review then? 1). Drinks are pricey at about $15/each. 2). If you come after 10PM, expect to wait in the line for an hour or two and possibly not get in at all. It's a nice place and all, but there are plenty of other equally cool venues in LA. 3). Not a place for dancing...lot's of people standing awkwardly around. 4) Too crowded and poorly ventilated. I felt like I was entering a sauna when I walked in. It smelled like alcohol and B.O.
I doubt I'll ever be a regular here, but I'd definitely come back if it's for a special occasion. -
Review from Sophack S.
Buena Park, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been hearing about this place for years but never had the opportunity to go there, until one of my best friends decided to celebrate her birthday there. Great interior with a old school feel, classy and dimly light. I really liked this. I wouldn't call this place romantic though unless you grab a table for yourself and your significant other in a location a bit away from the main bar. Drinks are well made and the bartenders are knowledgeable. Although it's super crowded and the music was really kind of weird for the atmosphere the place was trying to create (which brought out really awkward dancing from people), I really did enjoy my time here. Didn't hurt to get a visit from the absinthe fairy. :)
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Review from Stephanie C.
Temple City, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a lovely way to ring in the New Year! Since my friends from SD were coming up to LA to spend NYE, I decided to take them here. Although I had never been to the Edison prior to the last day of 2011, I had heard lots of great things about it so I figured it'd be a fun place to countdown. So glad we ended up here!
Richard, the bartender, was the best! So patient and friendly. He even took the time to test taste our drinks, making sure they were up to par. My tipsy friends were especially fond of him, insisting that I remember to mention him in my review because as they stated, "he was sooo nice! I don't think I've ever met a bartender that nice! He deserves a raise."
The crowd seemed a bit older. Thus, the place was less crunk, rowdy and messy. Everyone was so well dressed and looking very classy. The live music was a treat and I did appreciate the entire atmosphere, but a part of me really missed the inappropriate lyrics and loud sounds of top 40/hip-hop music. Even so, we still had a fun time sippin' and swayin'.
Thanks for a great time, Edison! Here's to a roarin' 20(12)! -
Review from Laura G.
I felt like I was being transported to another era, it feels historic while remaining hip and cool yet not so hip and cool it's uninviting.
We were carded by the big and friendly guy at the door and given a wooden token at the front podium - good for the drink of the day (I think we paid .35). You walk down the stairs and are transported to this very beautiful space full of rich dark woods, leather couches, dim lighting, bronze walls and movies playing on a brick wall. Big beautiful bar with hooks underneath to hold your purse, bags.....There is a stage where they have live performances as well.
We had the signature cocktail for .35 cents - I believe it was a whiskey sour and then opted for a Champagne cocktail - trying not to mix our alcohol as we had already had a bottle of wine.
I can't believe this was downtown L.A. It was so well done I really felt as if I were in another city, another time....Next time I'm trying the menu. -
Review from Janelle Q.
Los Angeles, CA
Got a birthday? A friend in town? Co-worker who just got a promotion? Or just want a nice spot to grab a specialty cocktail that rivals some of the LA's best upcoming mixologists? The Edison is just the type of swanky lounge to hit up for such an occasion... or at least the first of many stops for an evening downtown.
My visits at the Edison tend to be early evenings as the low-key vibe is more my scene to enjoy the 1920's-themed, vintage space. From the furniture to the outfits to the employees to the mellow tunes drifting out of unseen speakers, the dimly-lit lounge oozes class to the point you'd almost think you took a trip back several decades. Around one corner behind veiled curtains, you'll find a section of reserved tables next to the boilers http://www.yelp.com/bi..., + around another, there's a stage for live performances in front of a large dance floor space http://www.yelp.com/bi....
While I could go on + on about how awesome the space is, I'd have to say that the drinks really are what will keep me coming back. Do yourself a favor + grab a "Catalogue of Parts" menu http://www.yelp.com/bi... + pick something lovely out of there before your autopilot calls out your go-to drink to the bartender as if you were at a dive bar. Yes, the drinks are pricey... $14 for cocktails + between $10-$15 for a vast variety of premium liquors, but trust me when I say these drinks are tasty, unique, + strong.
Or if you can get your butt to The Edison between 5-7pm on Wed-Fri, one of their signature promotions is the centennial cocktails for only $0.35!!! http://www.yelp.com/bi... Cha-ching! Take down a couple of these classics + then $14 for a delicious cocktail or 2 later on won't feel so heavy on the wallet. And then there's always the Absinthe fairy
http://www.yelp.com/bi... pushing a cart of tempting bottles of colorful absinthe concoctions as well.
Unfortunately though, the food isn't anything remarkable. I've tried bites off the happy hour menu as well as large sampler platters before + would much rather take a walk down to Little Tokyo for something more yummy. The happy hour options http://www.yelp.com/bi... are pretty uninspired considering how much brilliance went into coordinating every other facet of The Edison to theme. And not to mention the portion sizing is not at all worth the $5. I've posted photos of most of the options, but here's the Grilled Cheese http://www.yelp.com/bi... + the Kobe Beef Slider http://www.yelp.com/bi... to make things easier. Neh, right?
As for the platters... I'd only recommend getting them if you have to meet the per-person minimum to reserve a large table. The Edison Sampler platter
http://www.yelp.com/bi... will only feed about to 4-6 people enough nibblings to quell a growling stomach but not fill it. The goods are on the salty/fried side but admittedly decent. The Boiler Room meat + cheese platter http://www.yelp.com/bi... is even less sustenance for $39, but then again, that's the nature of meat + cheese platters.
What a night at The Edison comes down to is taking in the experience. Don't be afraid to don a tie or a classy black dress for an evening here while sipping a cocktail with pinky finger up!
Yes, there really is a dress code. No cover at the door. Street parking, local lots for $5+, or valet for $7. -
Review from Christine C.
Dublin, CA
1/1/2012
Oh what do I give Edison? I'm conflicted between a 4 or 5 star review and decided on a 4. Here is why:
The Good:
- The food was delicious.
- The drinks were very well rounded (my favorite being the Eastside I believe. I've
always been a sucker for well made cucumber drinks)
- Nice atmosphere. Everyone's dressed nicely, the waiters nice, and most of the
bartenders where knowledgeable.
- Was a great place to meet up with friends and meet some new ones.
The Bad:
- The prices. This is one pricey venue. However, the prices may be justified (for
some at least) by the quality of food and drink.
- The staircase. As awesomely beautiful the Edison is, the staircase leading down
to the bar is one heck of a staircase to climb up after inebriation. Wear very high
heels at your own risk to climb up this high, incredibly shiny (slippery) staircase.
The Ugly:
(only one!)
- When drinking, sometimes you happen to start talking to someone in the middle of
an aisle. Yes, I get it. It can be a fire hazard and you may get in the way if people.
Asking us to move out of the aisle is sufficient. I don't need the snide remarks you
may have Mr.Usher Man whoever you may be.
The bad and ugly of this review are just the cons I experienced but in no way got in the way of how beautiful the architecture is and how much of a good time I had. I will return and hopefully I can bump my review up to 5 stars! -
Review from Marybel G.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2012
Dont waste ur time here
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Review from Eyden S.
PORTER RANCH, CA
2/8/2012
I was looking for a place to meet up with a couple friends downtown on a Thursday night. One of my friend's suggested we go to Edison for drinks and music. Finding the place was a bit difficult since the entrance is located in an alleyway. The door has a bouncer checking ID's and enforcing a strict dress code. I witnessed two guys just before me get sent away because one was wearing sneakers and the other didn't have a collared shirt. They certainly don't play around here! Anyways, once I walked inside it was beautiful. Dim lighting with a sexy red tint filled the room providing a great ambiance. They knew what they were doing when they designed this place as a throwback to the 20's era prohibition. It was crowded but there was plenty of space and two large bars with attentive bar tenders. The drinks are pricy ($14 for a signature cocktail). I never thought I'd say this but the drinks were worth it! Some real mixology going on at the Edison for anyone who appreciates a unique drink. Plus, there was live music with a beautiful blond singer in a Jessica Rabbit style dress, backed by two very beautiful and scantily dressed burlesque dancers. The Edison is definitely worth checking out if you want a taste for something unique and upscale without all the craziness of a nightclub or dance lounge. I'll definitely come back again. I would recommend this place to take a date or a night out with a group friends (as long as you don't feel like dancing).
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Review from Nelson H.
Arcadia, CA
1/31/2012
I love the energy and the ambiance! Yes, the line is long, but it moves quick, and before long, you're descending into an old timey boiler room from another world. The food and drinks are too expensive for me to really indulge and have fun, but I suppose the interior design needs to be paid for somehow. It doesn't really seem like a place for dancing given the size of the floor, but I prefer to people watch and just hang out with friends anyways.
I don't think I'll come here again, but I'm definitely glad I came here this one time. Come here with good friends, sample their confections, and enjoy the architecture and design. Don't get distracted by the occasional rude person, the nonchalant waiter, or the lines, and just get your money's worth and enjoy yourself.
There's quite a bit of parking lots and a parking garage on Main St. Here's a map of the parking for your reference:
http://www.parkingrage... -
Review from Emily M.
Arcadia, CA
1/8/2012
The 4 stars is for the venue: The ambiance and decor is something to be mentioned. It has a very old Hollywood and historic feel. From the furniture to the lighting, you feel transported back into time. At times I felt like I was in line at Disneyland for "Indiana Jones," complete with the projector screen in the background.
However, if you came to rage and dance, sorry to say, this is not the place my friend. There is no dance floor, just people looking cool and sitting at tables, etc. The crowd is a bit older and more mature. Music is very chill and after a long day at work would lull people like me to sleep on a Friday night. This is definitely more of a date kind of place, or if you want to sit and chat in a nice room...
I will say one thing though, the drinks are very good! That being said however, I don't know how many $14 cocktails I would like to drink to have a good time here. "Southside Collins" and "The Mistress" are my favorite drinks here. "Southside Collins" tastes like a sweeter version of Gin and Tonic. "The Mistress" tastes like grape soda pop. -
Review from J G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/15/2012
Went to the Edison Saturday night after a dinner a few blocks away. A friend was turned away for wearing sneakers but they openly advertise they have a dress code and in all honesty his sneakers did make him look pretty juvenile given the crowd. I could argue their dress code is not particularly successful in its intention to have a swanky, well dressed crowed since approximately 30% of the male patrons were wearing ill fitting suits and oversized polos but I guess that's LA. That being said, the space itself is absolutely incredible. I just moved from NY to LA and have not been blown away by the 'speakeasy' type bars but the scope of this place was really great- huge old industrial lighting plant with something like 70' ceilings and very well done vintage industrial elements.
Drinks are good if not great, and at $14 they made a pretty good old fashioned. The volume of drinks the bartenders are turning over keeps it shy of a proper 'mixology' bar but they were good enough. The crowd was of mixed age ranging from attractive, early/mid twenties women to slightly older and less attractive male patrons. I'd say it was a presentable singles bar if not an overtly attractive clientele. All and all it was a good place to people watch, decent drinks, and a good time, but the interior architecture of the place in and of itself makes it worth coming by.
I would go back for a week day happy hour or to show friends from out of town the space. -
Review from Cynthia k.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
the edison has a really nice interior and lots of space.
it also thinks it's something it's not. not sure when they started doing this, but any seating in the place requires a $50 order minimum per person. when it first opened, this was not the case - there were long couches and arm chairs throughout for lounging. they still enforce pretty strict lines starting at 10 pm on the weekends, even when the interior is less than 50% filled. no sneakers. expect a random crowd of mostly non-LAers.
drinks are pretty tasty, but average over $14, so pretty expensive. with the influx of cool bars in downtown, i don't see any reason to go back to the edison anytime soon. -
Review from Corrie C.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/29/2012
I need to first offer a disclaimer...I work at a power plant!! So I LOVED the theme. This is a really interesting power plant converted to 1920's lounge. This is a classy joint so I recommend you dress nice (or even 20's theme). I got here at 8:30 which was a perfect time because there was no line and there was a live dance show. I left at 11pm and the line was extremely long! Very cool...
-
Review from Quintin L.
VALLEY VILLAGE, CA
1/30/2012
Pretty cool place. My friends and I really wanted to try this place so we braved the hour and a half line and the $10 cover (on Saturday). Normally, I wouldn't have paid cover, but you kinda have to after an hour and a half.
Worth $10? Pretty much
Decor was amazing. I loved the atmosphere and the chill vibe of the place. There was a nice "dance floor" where not alot of people dance, but the later the night gets (and more alcohol) things get interesting.
I had a good time. Check it out if you want to get snazzy and drink and talk. -
Review from George B.
12/21/2011
My friend and I made it to the Edison at 10pm on a Saturday night. It took a little over an hour to get to the front of the line and get inside.
We make our way towards the end of the bar because someone just finished paying their drinks. Maybe if we stand next to them she'll see us and take our order. Once the bartender (female with glasses) gives the person next to me their money she says to me "sorry" and walks away. Sorry? Really? If someone else was next she could have at least told me "I'll be right back".
So a minute later a couple sitting at the center of the bar offer us their seats. My friend and I sat down and as we waited for the bartender for about two minutes, she helps the couple standing next to me. They obviously walked up to the bar after me. So that's "diss" number two.
FINALLY the bartender takes our order. I order two vodka shots, one gin/tonic and one vodka/tonic. Four drinks = $44.00. I give her $45...... and she did not give me my one dollar back. She continues to help others patrons.
Now I know it's just one dollar but it's a dollar that I earned and mathematically I should receive back in return. It's like paying $50 worth of gas and the gas pump stops at $49. Anyways, I was ready to give her a tip but as she continued to help other patrons I just said forget it, enjoy your $1 tip.
So two stars for decor and overall it's not a bad place. Just awful service and they could have moved the line a little faster. -
Review from Zachary U.
Los Angeles, CA
12/31/2011
Definitely a fan. This is the Downtown Los Angeles counterpart to NYC's The Jane Hotel. The speakeasy concept is currently being driven into the ground around this city, but the Edison raises that idea up a notch. The place is big and bold.
The decor is executed well. Handsome leather armchairs and old-time silent films playing throughout. The theme of turn of the century comes across effectively. The service is speedy enough, considering the high volume of people in the mix last night (a Friday).
The dress code is enforced, and gives more ambitious clothes horses the chance to really show off. Don't underestimate fellow Angelenos ability to class it up, however occasionally. The green fairy costume on the girl pushing the absinthe cart is a nice touch, but borderline theme parky.
My only reservation is the decor felt slightly forced; faux industrial and a bit reproduced. Unlike The Jane which seems to have survived as a legitimate relic, The Edison seems to have been relic-ized. Other than that, A list place that would make an impression on even the snarkiest cynic. -
Review from Mike C.
Rowland Heights, CA
1/11/2012
Best Spot in town.
Recommended drinks:
1. The Mistress
2. Highland Breeze
3. Junior Jennings -
Review from Donna G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went with a group of ten people for the Happy Hour.
First, the actual entrance is on Harlem Place, which is an alley behind the building.
I parked in a lot for seven bucks right next to the building, and walked up the alley to the entrance. The Doorman checked my ID and checked that I was properly dressed - yes, I wore a nice dress and high heals.
Once inside, there are a lot of stairs going down into the club. I asked if there was an elevator available. Yes, there is - but it is in the back area near the kitchen or loading dock, or where ever it was the hostess took me. She had to walk me to the elevator, and then once we were in the lower level she had to walk me to the club. I would have been lost otherwise. And the elevator is just a "lift" what fits the guest and the hostess, so it is not assessable for a group of people.
Once in the club, I found my friends in a booth. We were there for the two for one Happy Hour. The hostess had given me a a little round circular chip to be exchanged for my free drink.
My first drink was called "The Mistress" - Vodka, Hibiscus Liquor and Prosecco. A girly girl drink and delicious.
For my second free drink I ordered "Cecil's Dream" - big mistake. They must call it that because you will be on the floor dreaming if you drink it. Bourbon, Jasmine Liquor, Cointreau and Pernod Absinthe. Yikes !
I drank about a third of the Cecil's Dream and I could really feel it. I asked if anyone wanted to finish it - and one of my really tall guy friends decided to take it. Even he said it was too strong !
I also ordered an Electric Squid - which was fried calamari with a creamy dressing. The calamari was not warm, and they were very chewy. Another friend ordered a salad that had shrimp in it, and she said it was good.
After Happy Hour is over they kick you out of your booth. If you want to continue to sit in the booth, then each person has to order $50 of items. That's basically one menu item and two drinks. I guess this is their way to make up for not charging a cover charge. So after two reminders, since we were finished with the food that we did order, the waitress came over and said "Now you really do have to leave the booth."
So we got up to walk around, and look at all the old power plant mechanical decor, which was really cool and interesting.
But since we were not ordering more food, we had to stand - and I got tired of that.
I found a host to take me back through the loading dock and kitchen area to the little elevator, and he walked me out to Main Street.
I would go back again for the Happy Hour. Or I would plan to eat dinner from the limited menu to make the $50 limit to sit in a booth. The decor and atmosphere are wonderful, and it is definately worth it. -
Review from Melody V.
12/20/2011
Showed up on a Thursday night with the assumption that I had to wear a dress and cute shoes and be cuter than usual. So I dolled myself up, left the comfortable and preferable attire of jeans and shirt at home, and came here.
And, who do I meet at the door? Some chick in a cute jeans and shirt and heels. Granted, they were my friends, but I didn't know you can wear jeans! When I entered there were men in baggy jeans, sneakers, and even a woman in a hooded sweater.
Either security was not doing their job or I was mislead.
Anyway, The Edison has a great ambiance of an environment. The decor is amazing for an old electricity building, and the dim lighting helps make the Edison even more intriguing.
As far as service goes, it took about 45mins to get a grilled cheese sandwich, which management appropriately apologized for and gave out two free drink tickets to correct the error. I mean, even in the classiest of bars and restaurants, no grilled cheese sandwich takes 45 minutes! But, as I said, management apologized.
The drinks were strong that night, as my friend encountered a buzz much faster than expected with a whiskey sour. Then again, 45 minutes of waiting on a grilled cheese sandwich and drinking a whiskey sour can do that to a person.
Dark, gloomy, leather. I like it. -
Review from Ian W.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yes, people, the ambiance is cool. In fact, it's amazing. Kelly Architects gets a 5-star review from me. In fact, they get freaking 10 stars for what they did with the Edison. It's a fabulous old building and, design-wise, it's one of the most innovative bars in Los Angeles. HOWEVER, this alone does not a 5-star bar make!
And it's too bad - I really want to love this place. Not only for the ambience, but because the drinks are good - the bar tenders are skilled and, while they may not be the friendliest, they work hard and fast and make a good drink.
The Edison, however, is pretentious, pretentious, pretentious.
The folks at this hip spot have a good thing going and they know it. They exploit it. Their head has gotten too big and it's really a shame.
Here's my beef: I am definitely all for enforcing a dress code. I think it's a great idea for a bar like this. It heightens the atmosphere and makes for a really fun, classy night.
HOWEVER, if you're going to enforce a policy like this, please, be consistent!!! I arrived with a friend who was dressed impeccably - slacks, nice button-up shirt, blazer, tie, and shiny black shoes that unfortunately had a white sole. The rude, arrogant, and pretentious doorman saw the white sole and turned him away, claiming that "he's not gonna get in with those tennis shoes." Ridiculous. Again, my friend looked impeccable. In fact, he recently wore that same outfit to a wedding.
But no matter. We brushed it off. Luckily, another friend of ours had a spare pair of black shoes in his car. I'll have you note that these spare shoes were old, beat-up black work shoes. Boot-like. Really, not very classy at all, yet they somehow did the trick. My friend changed into them and was let into the bar.
People of the EDISON: You have lost sight completely of WHY one should enforce a dress code. A dress code is to ensure that everybody looks presentable, that everybody is dressed to the same standard, to maintain some consistency. You, however, are so caught up with the details of the rules that you dictate, that you've lost sight of the bigger picture altogether. So you'll let somebody in with beat-up work boots, simply because they are all black, while you turn away a pair of nice, new fashionable black shoes simply because they have white soles and you classify them as "tennis shoes?" Grow up and learn some perspective.
Here's the kicker - what really set me off: We get inside and are having a great time. But throughout the course of the night we see MULTIPLE -- like, a half-dozen -- people with tennis shoes on! And I'm not talking about nice tennis shoes, like my friend had on when he was turned away, I'm talking about ugly, worn-out white tennis shoes - Reeboks, Adidas, etc. Paired with blue jeans and ill-fitting, untucked baggy button-up shirts and polos. Seriously?! You're trying to enforce a dress code and THIS is what you let in? I don't know whether these people were friends of the doorman, or they knew somebody who knew somebody who slipped them in, but this is totally unacceptable. This is stooping to the level of Hollywood, Sunset Strip pretentious bullshit. Playing favorites, discriminating, accepting bribes - whatever it is - it's SO not cool. Not something that I would have expected from a place like The Edison downtown. I am severely disappointed.
Another example of extreme pretension: The Edison is located in an alley. Very cool, very discreet - whatever. Yet they force people to form a line - a LONG line - around the corner on the main street. Is this so that you can look cool to the passers-by? Is it to generate buzz and perk up people's curiosity as they drive by? Well let me just remind you that this isn't New York, you're in downtown Los Angeles - nobody just passes by! Put the line at the door. Moreover, stop holding people out there when the bar isn't even full! You're not at capacity, yet you keep people at bay so that you can look "cool" or something. The bar would be a whole lot cooler if it didn't pretentiously play up to that whole image thing. You don't have anything to prove, Edison, you're inherently cool. But you're not acting like it. -
Review from Oscar A.
Salt Lake City, UT
1/7/2012
This place is beautiful. I kinda want to live there. I'm into architecture and this is an old renovated 1910 Thomas Edison power plant. You have to go at least once just for that.
As far as the food and drinks, well a little pricey but worth the experience. Also be aware that to get a table after 7pm you need to spend at least $25 per person on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $50 per person on Fridays and Saturdays. That one caught us off guard but if you're buying drinks and some food that's easily met. Or you can just sit at the bar if there's any chairs available. I'm definitely going again when I'm downtown and hit it during cocktail hour.
They also need a new website. The current one is slow and outdated. It drives me nuts. I hope the peeps at The Edison are reading this. Hit me up. :) -
Review from Tammi T.
12/16/2011
The entrance to The Edison is tucked in an alley. Two bouncers stand in the doorway and it almost feels like a secret society. I wondered what was the password to enter. The driver's license suffices, and we made our way down (me on those heels) to the bar in the basement.
The Edison takes us back to the days of speakeasies, we even spotted a flapper or two. Like the other yelpers said, the crowd here dresses nice and are a different bunch.
The green fairy worked her magic on us and we tried the flavored absinthe. Nasty. I ordered the Edison and didn't like it too much either. The food looks delicious, I'll probably eat there next time. -
Review from Lilli I.
Los Angeles, CA
12/29/2011
My favorite bar downtown.
Since moving out of downtown, I miss all the bars so much!!! I have The Edison withdrawals. :(
Classy crowd, beautiful space, tasty drinks, and great music.
Each time I come here I feel like I'm transported to a scene from Midnight in Paris...or The Great Gatsby...or just a fabulous party in the 20s. Either way, it's phenom.
