Everson Royce Bar

Everson Royce Bar ranks 3rd on the list of best bars for singles In Los Angeles. It's difficult to know what to expect behind the imposing orange door to E.R.B. (Everson Royce Bar, technically speaking). The concrete exterior of the downtown Arts District haunt appears to be purposefully unremarkable. A large neon sign above the door simply says "BAR"; a small plaque beside it says "everson royce bar, est. 2015," which confirms the bar's identity. The bar is not only busy, but also bright; the large, elegant space is bathed in soft light, illuminating its features in a warm and inviting manner. A large patio out back provides plenty of space for drinking, dining, and stargazing through the twinkle of overhead light strings.

The warm atmosphere of E.R.B. extends to its service as well; despite a packed house, the bar felt remarkably personal. It turns out that the guy walking around as if he owns the place does, and he'll even deliver your drinks. Not only did Silverlake Wine co-owner Randy Clement answer all of questions about the cocktails and food, but he also shared some insight into the inspiration behind the bar and its predecessor, Everson Royce, a wine shop in Pasadena: they're named after Clement's twin sons, Everson and Royce. It wasn't just us or him—beyond table, they noticed Clement and his staff treating every customer as if they were a VIP. Simply put, this place knows how to make a girl feel special, and in this town, that goes a long way.

Vitals

• Good for: Girl's night, date night, first date, work drinks—all of the above. With a welcoming atmosphere, excellent cocktails, an extensive selection of wine by the glass or bottle and a respectable line-up of draught, bottled and canned beers, there’s really something here for everyone. It fills a needed niche in the Arts District, plus there’s reasonable on-site valet, which is a nice alternative to parking on a dimly-lit industrial street.
• The scene: This place was hopping at 9pm on a Friday night, with the patio full and nearly all the seats at the bar and indoor tables occupied. E.R.B.’s upscale yet casual vibe seems to cater to the cool and sophisticated—30+ patrons whose tattoos show that they still have an edge, but whose quiet sense of relief tells you they were lucky to get a sitter tonight. The music, too, seems to cater to a slightly older crowd; they heard at least two Garbage songs in the rotation, and they didn’t mind one bit.
• Drink this: Varnish alumn Chris Ojeda adds a whole lot of credibility to the cocktail list here, and the eight concoctions he’s brought to the menu do not disappoint. There are refined standards like the Mamie Taylor ($13) with scotch, ginger and lime, and the Fancy Free ($13), an Old Fashioned variation with maraska liqueur, but the Infanté ($12), a tequila tipple with lemon, almond, nutmeg and rosewater stole hearts with its combination of tart, sweet and lightly perfumed flavors. The Business ($12) was another favorite that Bee’s Knees fans should enjoy—lime replaces lemon in this delightful mingling of gin, citrus and honey. The Paper Plane ($13) was the most unexpected joy of the evening. Seeing bourbon, aperol and amaro in the ingredients, they expected a spirit-forward heavyweight of a cocktail, but were pleasantly surprised by the light, bright and dangerously downable creation that arrived
• Tips: With former Osteria Mozza chef Matt Molina in the kitchen, E.R.B.’s food offerings are elevated far beyond your typical bar grub, like the steamed buns ($10), melt-in-your-mouth roasted pork belly, cucumber pickle and hoisin wrapped in pillowy warm bao. The kitchen is open til 1am, which is great if you’re feeling a bit peckish. Bear in mind that when the menu says “Bites,” it means it—if you skipped dinner, you’ll probably still end up at Jack in the Box on your way home.

Adress: 1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, 90021
Contact: 213-335-6166
Opening hours: Daily 5pm-2am

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Website: erbla.com