Melody Lounge

Melody Lounge appears to check every box on list of craft beer bars. The Chinatown dive is a beer geek's haven, with its off-the-beaten-path location and bland exterior designed to keep outsiders at bay. Those who are hesitant to enter are unaware that this red-hued windowless space—as tight as its customers' jeans—is home to one of the most impressive selections of suds in town.

Don't let the mood lighting and blaring vinyl fool you: this is a serious beer bar, with two dozen rotating local brews on tap and refrigerated cases stocked with obscure bottles ranging from wild American sours to caramely Belgians. Imbibers could spend hours sipping 10-percenters from tulip glasses, but eventually they'll get hungry. It's a good thing there are plenty of restaurants nearby to satisfy those late-night cravings.

Vitals

• Good for: A chill spot to talk beer. This place is a veritable treasure trove of affordable specialty suds. Newbies should stick to the chalkboard tap list of options from local breweries like Eagle Rock, Angel City and Hangar 24, seeking counsel in the wise bartender for guidance. Bottles are the way to go for veterans. There’s no menu for the 100 or so they keep in the fridges off to the side, but given the volume, they probably have what you want.
• The scene: Beneath the canopy of glowing paper lanterns you’ll find an eclectic crowd kicking back with glasses filled to the brim. The bar is walking distance to Dodger Stadium, so Melody Lounge's regulars range from pre-gaming baseball fans to neighborhood denizens. DJs spin quirky jams so loud it’s difficult to maintain a conversation, so folks tend to keep to their beers and just sip on.
• Drink this: It’s best to start the evening with a California craft beer on tap. You can always count on the latest releases from Firestone Walker, Sierra Nevada and Stone, with a few surprises like a hop-bomb called Breaking Bud ($9) from Northern California’s Knee Deep or a sweeter, whiskey barrel-aged Vanilla Porter ($6) from Colorado native, Breckenridge. It’s all about seasonality at Melody Lounge, with gems like New Belgium’s Pumpkick ($6), Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest Lager ($6) and Karl Strauss’ Peanut Butter Cup Porter ($9) on draft during mid-October visit. As for bottles, the gal behind the stick was spot-on when she recommended the delicious dark sour ale Tart Noir ($13) from Eagle Rock. Crisp, funky and unabashedly tart—this brew is not for the faint of heart.
• Tips: It’s worth spending a little bit more for the bottles, especially if you’re visiting with at least one other person. That way, you and your drinking mates can really enjoy a variety of quality beer that doesn’t come around often. By the way, Melody Lounge has a happy hour that goes until 9pm.

Adress: 939 Hill StLos Angeles90012

Contact: 213-625-2823

Opening hours:Sun-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 2pm-2am

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Website: N/a