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I've wanted to visit Atwater Village for a while so we finally made it out and tried a few places in the neighborhood for my brother's birthday. We showed up on the early side of 9ish on a Friday night and scored a comfy table seat for 4. I will most definitely come back to The Griffinand hopefully score a fireplace seat. The crowd was festive enough to provide a little energy, but laid back enough to enjoy it.
The decor is part french chalet, part mountain lodge. It's a very relaxing dark bar with pine forest paintings on the walls, two central fireplaces surrounded with circular seating and stools and a smaller back bar and lounge.
The liquor selection had premium, somewhat smaller batch labels such as Blantons, Pappy and Jefferson Reserve whiskeys. This is the place where you want to have a nice, warming "brown drink", but can also have your share of beers and vodkas.
I loved The Griffin, I wish there were more low key, interesting bars in the heart of LA.
Damn this is my bar, I always would remember going to this place but I would never remember leaving it. Though it can get pack fast, the vibe is typically good. The drinks are always flowing and I am always getting drunk. Besides that, I remember celebrating my 21st birthday here and the next morning my memory ended up being sketchy. I was literally drinking anything that was handed to me, and those who left their drink for even a moment experienced me taking it down while they were gone.
The Griffin How I Love Thee
As this place turns out to be, it is my new favorite bar.
It is nestled in the town of Los Feliz, where the usual vibe of LA, or better yet Hollywood, is a little dimmed down. If there was a word to describe the area, it would be mellow.
The Griffin carries that vibe over with a bar that is sure to be a pleaser for anyone looking to have a great time. It seems that a lot of the patrons are really easy to talk to and the bartenders are just the same. The layout of the bar feels cozy with plenty of seating and a couple fireplaces. The bouncers do a good job in regulating how many people are inside at once. Because of that, there's a lot of space to roam around and you never feel crammed.
As for the drinks, it's really a bargain. They offer two full bars, making the lines very convenient. The hard liquor is a little on the pricey side, but the beers on tap are only $5! How good of a deal is that!?
Although I'm probably passing dozens of bars on my drive to Los Feliz, this place has gotten me with a chill vibe and great beers to boot.
The Griffin offers good value on drinks and a fun yet somewhat classy atmosphere. I had a very delicious gin martini there for $8. Not only was it well-made, it was also very strong, just the way it should be. The crowd there was pretty diverse, and seemed like everyone was having fun! It was a little noisy in there, but definitely wasn't too loud to talk.
Also, there were lots of little dimly-lit places to sit down if you're on a date. Yes, these dimly-lit areas do in fact facilitate make-out sessions. The Griffin also seems like a good place for a group of friends to go, with the various different little areas where you can setup camp for the group. Check it out!
Awesome, awesome, awesome bar. The staff here is oh-so-friendly and the bartenders and generous and heavy handed with their pours. Drinks are stiff--for sure!
I came here for a friend's birthday--pretty psyched, since the reviews for this place were overwhelmingly good. I have to admit, I had a bit of a chuckle when i caught a look at the neighborhood--the bar itself is in a residential area. The house next door was having a full out barbeque at 10pm. I mean--the works! Carne Asada and Carnitas. I almost ditched the bar and asked if I could join them! Kids were biking around (with supervision of course) no more than 15 yards from the entrance. Kinda crazy.
But once inside, I was smitten with the nostalgic decor. Huge leather sofas, awesome jukebox, and roaring fireplace. This bar is by all means--pretty old school. We opened a tab, ordered some drinks, and it was a great night. We all left beligerant--and well--shouldn't you? Afterall, you only turn a quarter of a century once, so you might as well enjoy yourself.
I love this bar--and will definately be back. Everything at the Griffin works--prices, drinks, service, and definately a great crowd. What a great bar to just hang out and really have fun.
Feel in love with this bar as soon as I walked thur the velvet curtains... and starting the end of this month they will be having a DJ on the weekends. I have a strong feeling this will be the location for my 21st
(+14) Birthday Bash! I will update my review when I come back in November to scope the scene then.
Griffin is a cool place, i have been going here since its beginning a coupla years back... It definitely has gone through lots of different waves and changes.
The only time it gets annoying is when on a Saturday someone throws a birthday here and there is no room to walk and people are trying to hold up a cake and sing happy birthday, its like..... why cant you celebrate a birthday without all that crap and stuff it down everyone's throat. If you want that kind of vibe go to a restaurant, because ive seen how people get affected by that and let me tell you, no one is entertained.
The bartenders are great and the bouncers are awesome too....
Another thing, once in a while change the jukebox because it gets annoying hearing wonder wall for the n-th time.... but some people dont know any better.
Id say, the best time to go to the griffin is on a weekday. Thats when you can really relax and have a good time without getting rubbed up by god-knows who as you try to have a peaceful cigarette on the patio.
This place HAD potential. But fell about 3 feet short of where it should be.
I understand the idea of having a dress code at a club, but a dress code at a BAR is retarded! "you're really not going to let in my boyfriend because he has an LA hat on and is wearing a v-neck with some Nike SB's??"
I like a bar that plays music just as much as the next guy/gal but the volume was turned up about 5 notches more than it should have been.
Got a look at the beers on tap, and that's probably the only reason there are 2 stars instead of 1 in my review.
This place gets overcrowded too quickly and i'd much rather take a quick walk down the street to a better setting.
I ventured back here for another get together, this time for a friend of a friend's birthday. Even though the birthday bash was without the birthday boy (we only saw him once before he had to leave in drunkenness), we all still had a great time and stayed until closing.
My only gripe was the $5 "Dirty Shirley" cocktail special that night. YUCK! It was way too sweet. It was basically a spiked Shirley Temple. I had a hard time finishing it. Sometimes trying something new doesn't always work out. It's okay though. My second drink, a Tequila Sunrise, tasted much better.
Best part about this place was the chill crowd. I didn't run into any suspicious patrons nor any rude, prissy people. I was also lucky enough to find seating near the fire place. I get cold too easily.
I met a group of friends here for happy hour one friday night around 6PM. The place was pretty much… Read more »
My friend comes here quite often apparently and decided to come here to celebrate her birthday last friday. The atmosphere was great and love their outdoor patio area. the only negative for the night was that they kept playing the same songs oooooover and ooooooooooooover and oooooooooooooOOooOooover again.. i think it was just 3 songs... at least one of em was a song i knew by goldfrapp and didnt mind hearing it a bajillion times. ^^ stayed til closing then went next door to del taco for some shiiiiitty but good tacos.
good timeees.
"I want a hoe."
"Well, not technically a hoe, just a hoegaarden beer."
Last night I came to to this lounge with my friend for her birthday. LIke the other reviews have said, parking here is a breeze: plenty of street parking on the neighborhood street (Boyce Avenue specifically). I parked my ride and walked up to this place at 10pm.
ID: Check
No cover: Cool
Alright, things are looking pretty good. After I walked through the curtains, I entered a dim lit room with a tint of red. Medieval paintings covered the walls, with lots of comfy couches and a few fire places. Very nice.
We approached one of the two bars, and ordered some beer: hoegaarden and stellas. $5 each? I'm down with that. As we sat by the bar we listened to the juke box, which had some pretty good music, consisting mostly of rock. Definitely a chill place to hang.
Now be forewarned, of a potential cover charge after midnight. My friend's coworker was meeting us and came around midnight. She wasn't able to come in since her license was expired, but the guys at the door were charging people $20 to get in. WOW, what a lousy price.
The DJ has arrived. The thing that was killing this place was the crap jukebox selection - but there's a DJ there now a couple of nights a week - wheww. i mean that jukebox is doo-doo. WTF?!! If one word could describe this bar, that word would be "snuggly". I like the Thursday Happy Hour cause it's a little less busy and the girl that works it is totally sweet! Think her name was Leslie, or Lindsey or something like that. Rest of the staff is a bit stuffy. Maybe the staff should hang out Wednesdays with a notepad or two.
Usually a great vibe during the latter part of the evening. Bartenders are really chill when it's not busy. Good selection of liquor especially whiskey. The bar food is so so. Not that great actually.
Decor is really cool with brick arches coming from different directions in the ceiling. Lounge area is cool with a fireplace mantle. Not necessary during summer but helps when it gets cold.
Otherwise, the drinks and the atmosphere are great.
This place is a really cool bar/lounge.. Awsome decor with old school brick arches and fireplaces..
I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I forgot my visa card on saturday night after a heavy night of drinking. I went the next day to pick it up and I gave the bartender my ID. When she came back she said, "Oh yeah, I remember you. You're the guy with all the Long Islands" Right away these girls at the bar start snickering. So I guess this is a sign of attentiveness, which I guess deserves some points.
Anyway, I've been here a few times and each time it's for a friend's birthday. Many groups seem to be there for some specific reason, too. This doesn't seem to be the type of bar you go to to drink and just strike up a conversation. I'm not saying it won't happen, but it most likely wont happen. It's a very clique-ish bar, in a not-completely-snobbish sort-of-way. Saturday gets really packed, Sunday you get a lot more breathing room.
Pros: two bars, nice bartenders, friendly um busboys (? Is that what you call the people that go around picking up the cups in a bar?), a long patio, great music, nice facade, the fireplaces and the set up works great!
Cons: patio gets really packed, music is too loud (please turn it down a few decibels and it'll be perfect), parking is street only. (All these reasons only bring it down 1/2 a star)
In conlcusion, I'd like to say that I only had 2 Long Islands and 4 AMFs and a few of their other drink they had as theyre "special". Oh yeah, and about the bar: great if you go with at least 3 or more friends.
OK, I had mixed feelings about this place. The ambience is amazing. It's definitely a winter bar. Little tables around fire pits just sells me right off the bat. The staff was a little stuffy, and they need to get rid of whatever mo-mo picked the music for the jukebox, but there's nothing that makes me feel more at home than a fast, friendly bartender. I've picked three nights that, in my opinion are the best nights to go - reason being - they're the nights Lindsey works. Sexy girls overall tend to be a bit cocky in this town, but this girl immediately made me feel like we'd been friends forever. If you're going to go - ask for Lindsey - you won't be disappointed. She's awesome!! DJ on the weekends
I've been here a couple of times for some good happy hours with co-workers. I like the dark "red" environment&the music, too. Sometimes I like not hearing everything and pretending I heard everything. Drinks are good here and not once have I ever been disappointed when I go here. Sidebar: and heard that Kanye was here there one time? so i heard... anyway and they serve some snacks like corn dogs (probably from costco) and fries (from costco too). It can get packed and seats may run out, but overall, a good drinking environment.
Have your ID and make sure it is not expired (duh..happened to my friend)
Don't leave your belongings (I left my ATM card one time AND forgot my purse and jacket. I was already passed out and when my friends reached my house, we went back for my purse) good times!
No cover.
Street Parking! 4 stars for street parking.
Oooh this place has the power to appeal to many. But not in a Coldplay sort of way. No no. No way would they play Coldplay here. Rather, in a - is it a castle dungeon? - is it a hipster pad? - is it a smooth lounge? - is it a pick up joint? - is it a beer connoisseur's second living room? - sort of way. I don't know. These questions are best left unanswered.
4 IPA-soaked stars from me.
Lucky me! BFF lives just blocks away, so we can hit up the Griffin, Roost, and BFL in a night quite easily.
Aside from the cool atmosphere, spacious rooms, and plenty of lounge seating, I like the Griffin because it makes me feel like I'm getting drunk in Harry Potter's Gryffindor common room. God, I'm weird. I know. The fireplace is nice and drinks are decently priced. The music can get a little too loud, but people are down to earth and it's generally a good time.
Ummmm HOW had I never heard of this place before?? It's total awesomeness right under my nose and yet I only recently learned of its existence.
My entourage and I were looking for something outside of DTLA or Hollywood and decided to settle for the Los Feliz area. I really think people underestimate how much this area has to offer. And now, I'll stop talking like a real estate agent and get on with the actual review.
Oh, Griffin.
First and foremost, you're awesome because you're named after this mythical creature:
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Part lion and part eagle = epic.
Let's break it down, shall we?
Drinks: Sweet selection on tap. Always, always, ALWAYS a plus for me. Surprisingly, however, the beer was not my favorite drink of the night. I went on a Saturday night and they had a $5 special for Sweet Tea Vodkas (not sure if that's every Saturday or not). HELLOOOOO Sweet Tea Vodka. Where have you been all my life? I believe it was just sweet iced tea mixed with vodka. Simple enough, yet you wouldn't believe how delicious. Especially during a hot summer night.
Service: The bartenders were quick to spot a newcomer to the bar and make sure they were being helped. Very sweet and the drinks were all mixed well in general. I know this because I always insist on trying everyone's drinks; my excuse? I'm going to rate the place on Yelp, c'mon! The staff was also on top of everything, making sure all the empty glasses in our area were taken away and that we had everything we needed. Thanks, folks!
Decor/Environment: Looks really intimate and cozy on the inside, with fireplaces, framed paintings and dark red carpet. I really loved the feel of the place, and I wish there was more room to sit indoors but the place was PACKED. They also have an outdoor patio area (doubles as the smoking area) that was empty when we first arrived but filled to the brim by the end of the night.
Crowd: I only saw a handful of douchebags! Any place that keeps the awesome to douchebag ratio at around 50:1 is A-OK in my book. The crowd was really friendly in general and even though we had our close group of friends for company, we ended up meeting a lot of cool people. This included members of a cover band called Stolen From the Radio, and this is me shamelessly helping to promote them just because they were so nice.
Parking: Lots of street parking on the side streets nearby. I do recommend getting there before or around 10:30pm, as it starts to get a bit impossible to find a spot after that.
Anywho, my only complaint is that it gets reallyyyyy, realllyyyy overcrowded after a certain point. If you ever wonder why there's no line to get in at ANY point in the night, it's because they let EVERYONE in. Yes, lines can be annoying, but sometimes they serve a purpose. It's so the fire marshall doesn't spank the owner with a lawsuit and, more importantly, so I'm guaranteed enough oxygen to, you know, SURVIVE while I'm enjoying myself.
Final verdict? Definitely recommended. Just don't go here trying to steal the air I breathe.
Went here on a Sat. and it was not even as busy as i expected. I bought two drinks for $17.
This place does have a nice cozy feel and its welcoming. My friend goes here often.... so i came and they said they make strong drinks but its not that strong. I guess it depends on the bartender ;)
its nice to hang with a few close friends and catch up. The outside smoking area was funny cause the bars make u feel like ur in jail, but besides that it was nice!
3 1/2 stars!
The Griffin is a gem among the many bars along Los Feliz. Its unassuming, brick exterior hides a mysterious and dungeon-like core. The warm lighting, fire pits, and comfortable seating are all precursors to a good time. The bartenders are funky and tend to be aloof, but once you get their attention, the'll be happy to help you. From my experience at the Griffin, there's always a generous amount of alcohol in the drinks; they're never stingy. I've had many good times at the Griffin, so much in fact that I chose it as the spot for my bon voyage party before moving to Korea. I miss it a lot and look forward to visiting it again when I'm back in LA.
By far my favorite bar in LA. No cover, stiff drinks, FRIENDLY crowd, no dress code, amazing jukebox...do I really need to go on? Drink prices are decent...jack & coke runs between $7-8. Although I wish there was a bit more room, the patio is my favorite spot. Crowd is very cool. My friends and I ALWAYS meet new people when we're there! Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. =)
I absolutely LOVE the Griffin. It's one of the local spots that I keep coming back to. I love the people that I meet there, I love the bouncers, I love the bartenders. They make you feel just at home. :) Everyone is all so friendly and nice... nothing gets better than that.
The drinks are pretty cheap (especially compared to other bars), and they make them strong! It's the best bang for your buck at this place. I've actually also had their food here, and I must say... that's pretty good as well.
I definitely would recommend people to come here. If you want to come on a happening night, Friday night is your best bet. It's a hit or miss on a Saturday night. If you're down for something low key, any other night of the week works best for the Griffin. Griffin is a great place to go to for good people, good drinks and a good time!
I'm not too crazy about this place. All my friends seem to love it though, so I've thought it over. and decided. My friends are wrong. There is a 20 dollar minimum for credit card. Which I frown upon. The clientele here are way too dressed up for my liking. Girls wear dresses and heels and make up that actually look nice. Like you want to date them and treat them right. The men seem like they all got off work and want to have a casual game of backgammon. Ok. I guess there is nothing wrong with this place. It's just that, if you are a nice person, who will like to discuss starting a family, you probably will like this place. But if you haven't showered in a couple of days because you want to see what kind of film your body can produce like condensation, I guess this place isn't for you. And your place should probably be in a shower.
Jam packed on a Thursday night, how do they do it? The Griffin is more of a sea of bodies than it is a lounge. I had to fight my way to the front like it was a rock concert. After 15 minutes of asses and elbows I finally made my way to the bar. There I stood with a $20 in hand waiting for a drink. Sadly I was not a hipster or a hot girl so the bartender never looked my way. After another 15-20 minutes of standing there like a sucker I decided to leave.
Fighting my way back to the door I did notice some really cool decor. I think I heard some good music playing but I couldn't tell you what what the song was or where it was coming from. Everyone was trying to talk over each other. It made my head hurt. As I left I walked by the patio area where the smokers were packed in like cattle. The air out there had to be toxic. Not my scene. This place is just to hip for me.
This place is gives me a sense of how a medieval tavern would look like with dim lights, the brick walls, fireplaces, center arches and a patio with the windows that have bars like a jail or just how everyone imagines how Ozzy Osborne basement would look like.
The fireplaces have seats all around them which are comfy. the bartenders are quick to notice you and get you your drinks. I don't like that they don't have any parking lot and I had to park a few blocks away. They do have a great juke box that has jams pumping through all night long. I will be visiting this place again and hopefully I wont have to in BFE next time I visit.
This used to be a cool place to go, not anymore. This place is now infested by douche bags wearing Ed Hardy crap, spiked hair and fake diamond earrings.
Drinks are pretty cool and there is no more lines get in, no one wants to be around those people.
Oh The Griffin, you used to be so cool, what happened?
L.A. is a big city. A sprawl, really. And with that comes the problem that if you don't drive, you can't get anywhere. Local transit? Forget about it. So with that I bring to your attention the biggest problem that alcoholics and night socialites have. In that finding a good area to have a classic pub crawl.
I mean a crawl crawl. None of this "Let's hope in a car or taxi and meet up at so and so" type of thing. I hate those. You don't want to drive after drinking and you shouldn't have to get your buzz killed by taking twenty minutes to get to another bar.
So when you get to Fair Oaks and you see the the Griffin and Big foot next to each other, well then, you can get your pub crawl on and at least have two great places to drink and practice the crawling aspect here. Then you can try the roast. Oh yes, let's get a pub crawl going Not on the overpriced strip and over at the heavily regulated and policed Old Town.
And you can't ask for two bars that are so different. The Griffin is very intimate. You have a sort of romantic setting to the whole place. Even the "outdoor" seats are still inside and well, it's pretty dark. A great patio area to sit and chill.
For the most part, the whole place has a very comfy feeling to it. Have if be with a group of friends (Many of mine seem to like this place for Birthday drinking) or on some date, this place is great.
And if the line is too long to get in, which it normally is after 9:30, then you can easily walk over to big foot.
Or like I said, crawl there after drinking away here.
After my first review, the management contacted me to talk about my bad experience with the staff here. He said that the way that particular staff member treated me was unacceptable. Good to know that this places cares about their customers--I'm a fan.
Staff & clientele need a serious attitude makeover. LAME
Ummm...There was nothing THAT exciting about this place. Plus! I was annoyed that the bartender asked me what time it was, then proceeded to charge me more!!
Come on Dude....the least you could have done was NOT asked me the time, then charged me more (so I wouldn't have known that if I walked up 5min before it would have been $5 less!)
I will say the seating is good...we were in a big group & it was very comfortable.
How would I describe the Griffin? Classy, laid-back and kinda sexy.
You wouldn't think from the outside, but once you fold back the red velvet curtains, you gotta say "Daaaayam" and brush your shoulders off. Oddly enough, there's an unpretentious vibe with no need to feel stiff or dressy. Casual works, no questions asked. But you can come in with button-down or dress and heels on, so either works.
Dim-lit (probably where the sexy comes from), mysterious but definitely comfortable yet classy. There's plenty of seating, deep maroon leather. Candles on each table, and a few lucky plush seats that encircle a fireplace or two. Push open the doors to the left past the entrance and by the bar, there's a great outdoor seating area with comfy seating as well.
Chill out and catch up. That should be the motive when coming to the Griffin. Well, tonight there were a few drunken party fiends trying to tear it up on the "dance floor"--aka the path between the entrance and the bar, but so be it. It didn't seem to hinder any conversation or fun on our side of the table.
Music is in your hands. There's a jukebox so you can play DJ if you want, and man, the ladies' room was even classy and clean! Way to go, Griffin.
As for drinks, I loved the beers on tap! Hoegaarden, Peroni, Stella, Bodington, etc. They got your Pabst, Corona, Coors in bottles, but $5 for a tall glass of Hoegaarden can't be beat. Maybe not the cheapest a place can do, but eh, good enough. I'm not a fan of the Bodington. It was a bit too smooth for me with no kick for an aftertaste. They have great food here, too. The Griffin chips are delish--large kettle chips tossed with bits of bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese.
The only lame thing is $20 minimum for using card. Apparently, they raised it from $10 to $20. Either way, with or without cash in hand, I'm coming back here again.
In the Days of Old, Knights and Ladies would gather around the hearth drinking ale and conversing about the latest sea monster. Things have changed a little bit nowadays. People now drink their Vodka Tonics or Midori Sours and speak of the horrendous creature known as the Current Economy, or of that Banshee of a Racheal Ray.
The Griffin is very reminiscent of those counsel keeping caves of yore. My fellow royals and I commandeered a corner of the bar, and enjoyed the strong, well priced beverages. Another detail I noticed was in the bathroom. In the men's room they have little tiles with griffins on them. Not sure if the ladies loo has this or not (because I wasn't that intoxicated), but I appreciate and notice little touches like this.
Street parking is available for lords and commoners alike on the surrounding roads. My one complaint is that they have a $20.00 credit/debit card minimum. I'd brought enough gold for my drinks, but then I would have nothing for tip. So I asked the blond bar maiden if I might do half cash, half card. NO, that is not allowed in the Kingdom of the Griffin. Thankfully, my friend Jen came to my rescue. I was Maid Marion and she was Robin Hood.
In Terminus, I had a nobly good time, and will consume more fermented brews here in the future...I will just remember to bring enough guineas to sustain my appetite.
Ok, so Act III of my love/hate relationship with the Griffin...
I fell back in love last Saturday. Maybe it was the reduced crowd at 10pm, maybe it was the cute British guy, maybe it was the 5 vodka sodas i had...Who knows? But I am a born-again lover of this place.
OK, a line for a hipster bar in Atwater Village....Just who do you think you are? Read more »
One of my favorite bars in Los Feliz district!
Remarkable draft selection of beers. They got Czech beer: Staropramen and Italian Peroni on tap!! sweet!
Nice aesthetic building infrastructure and excellent ambiance. Dark areas with the just the right amount of lighting to set the mood to get your mack on.
Big plus: bathrooms are clean
Little minus: the jukebox is kinda bunk
I'm a fan! No cover. I actually showed up here kind of late, around 12:30am. I was previously at two other bars before and was starting to get a bit burnt out. It was my first experience here and I came to meet up some friends that were already pretty smashed. The price of the alcohol here is great! I ordered myself a Boddington beer (which was ON TAP! & they also have Murphy's) and a gin-tonic for my friend. It came out to $11. Sweet!
The place was pretty packed. The decor is nice, dark/red lights/loud on the inside. I didn't go to the smoking area outside because I didn't want my clothes to stink of cigarettes. Didn't really pay much attention to the music playing because I was too busy yapping it up.
This is a great place to just grab some drinks, socialize, and have a simple yet fun time. It's a nice mix crowd and the people didn't seem creepy.
Awesome place!!! I would totally come to this bar/ lounge for my birthday celebration (after dinner of course) This place is so chill. The drinks are super reasonable. 2 cape cods for $12! You can't beat that.
-Depending on what bartender you get, your drink can be a little on the sweet side or a little on the strong side. My first cape cod taste like cranberry juice. So I decided to order from a different bartender and she made my second cape cod just right!
-It's street parking so hopefully you'll get lucky when you go.
-No long lines in the women's BR! (yay!)
-Everyone is super chill & friendly
Have a great time =)
This place is so great that my crappy date didn't even seem so crappy! When you enter it feels kinda like an old Disneyland restaurant. Have some beer. Soon enough it'll feel like Medieval Times (in the GOOD way.) The wings were the spiciest I've had in a long time, the music was great, and the staff was pretty likable considering it's an elite L.A. lounge. I don't give five stars easily but this place really did it for me.
SCORE. This place was a very pleasant surprise!
It was just before 7pm when we walked in to start our Friday night flagrancy's. By then, the place was already somewhat crowded. I thought, alright, let's stay for a while... and stay we did.
6 pints for $16 later, I was really taken back by how diverse the crowd was: from grannies to corporate drones, it WAS NOT the hipster haven I thought it would be. And you know what? That was FINE by me. We had a great time. A lot of drinks. A very attentive bartendress who totally hooked it up - happy hour or not. We were there early enough to grab a booth, so comfort came effortlessly.
Overall, an awesome, dim-lit, and sexy place to start or end a night.
PLUSES:
******************************TATERTOTS*********** *****************
and:
*Great stiff drinks, female bartenders who are actually GREAT; not bitchy, know their sh!t, and keep everything under control!
*The little sliders!!! YUM
*The comfy layout
*Friendly clientele
*Great Jukebox!!!
*Other tasty treats on the menu.
Yes, they won me over with the greatest snack on earth!!! And for all of the above, I will be coming back.
Who knew?!
Well, now I know and I have my great friend Renee to thank (or maybe hate) for it!
People have been trying to get me to go to the Griffin since it opened, but I'm rarely in the mood to go to a bar that is not attached to some great restaurant.
Then, Last Friday, my dear friend Renee said the magic word: TATERTOTS!!!
That got me outta the house on a Friday night faster than a hot gentleman with a great body taking me out to eat pork belly!
(I hate going out on the weekends!)
Well, hell, now I think I have a new problem to solve...how to NOT go to the Griffin next time Renee and Steve call...well, Renee and Steve are so great, I'd probably go anywhere they ask me to go!
See ya there!
I actually found The Griffin while scouring through Yelp to find a bar that I wanted to celebrate my 25th bday. I read the reviews and took a chance on The Griffin and it turned out to be one of the best bdays I've had.
The outside of the bar is very subdued and discrete w/ only a Griffin logo lit up. Once you walk in, it feels like you're in Lord of the Rings or something, haha. There are two bars where you can enjoy your libations and seating all around for you to get comfy. Two fireplaces are also in the middle of the place as well. The light is dim, but bright enough to see and the jukebox they have is a good variety of indie/electro rock stuff. Also, drinks are stiff here...just the way I like it. Jameson w/ a splash of coke, yum.
If you ever feel like enjoying a night w/ friends at a bar w/o the hoopla of hollywood madness, The Griffin should be one of your choices. Enjoy.
Neighborhood: Atwater Village
Category: Dive Bars
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Lounges
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: North Hollywood
Category: Wine Bars
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