Mandrake's Bar

Mandrake’s Bar, 2692 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
This bar has it all: a friendly bartender, an awesome DJ, a spacious dance floor, and lots of interesting characters. Mandrake’s owners are an artsy couple from N.Y that knew the need for a bar in the area. There are several art galleries in the radius and the art exhibitions attract the people that love art and alcoholic beverages. Vish, the bartender, told me that happy hour was from 5pm to 7pm everyday. Zachary, the bus boy, was friendly and informative about any question I had. That night, Cielo, the DJ, played 80’s music and a video projected on a screen that complemented each other to create a fun atmosphere. The crowd at Mandrake was eclectic, which I haven’t seen in a long time. Glen, a distinctive guy, was difficult to miss among the crowd because of his peculiar style. He wore big reading glasses, oversized jeans, had a Beatle hair style, and a contagious smile. I couldn’t help myself but to approach him. He was very gracious and let me take many pictures of him. Glen said that he was an inventor; frankly I could see that. While I was conversing with Glen, a photographer took a picture of the two of us. The photographer was well-mannered and gave me his business card. Mandrake bar began to feel like Studio 54. Cielo kept doing her magic and everyone was on the dance floor. People danced like there was no tomorrow. I went out to the patio where the crowd was very different - they were all smokers. They were not anti-socials; on the contrary, they talked to each other like they were one big family. The place was surprisingly fun, considering the infrequent location. Mandrake’s Bar was like a flavorful meal - a blend of sweet nuts with a spicy touch.