If you're starting an evening of debauchery, I think WeHo's oldest gay bar is a good place to start because it has a decidedly low-key vibe compared to its louder neighbors. The popular spot also felt like it skewed older which was fine by me and Jamie W. We skew that way, too. That was probably the reason we were there at 6:30PM, and I swear we weren't there for an Early Bird special. The vintage brass fixtures and wood paneling add to the manly ambiance they seem to be going for in here like Dad's den. Have you been a good boy? My guess is 'yes' because all the bad boys are probably go-go dancing at Revolver anyway. It didn't matter anyway since they serve anybody. Jamie and I downed our sturdy $10 Tequila Sunrises (photo: https://yelp.to/hYQmhYNAse), and we were all set for our next adventure. DRINKS - 4 stars...definitely potent enough AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...manly in a mid century way SERVICE - 4 stars...the bartender was highly organized TOTAL - 4 stars...have we hit the mother lode yet? RELATED - Exploring WeHo? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3TBgdOP read more

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The bartender refused to make my drink order because i had not tipped him and he claims that tips are required. Low class! read more

Mother Lode - The bartender who tells customers that tips are REQUIRED. Low class! - Gay Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

Mark (apparently the manager in charge of hiring and firing) may need to shake things up. He's gotta wonder why he is always swamped (on Sunday dusk evenings) and his co-hort is not (granted, Mark is near the entry, but those thirsty Sunday day drinkers can be an impatient crowd There appears to be a clear answer: the dude working with him is an a--hole. Basic observation: businesses are struggling across the board. Impressions are important - they make a difference. Ordering a drink with good intentions and zero provocation should not lead to be told to "Just get the fuck out...". Most especially to shy, unprovocative customers like me that never foment conflict or discord. Unbelievable Ha! On review it appears I am not alone! https://maps.app.goo.gl/HPbyoVrafuk4HX9m6. Reviewer: we know who you mean read more

Great spot Jeremy is a LEGEND and a beast and the coolest guy drinks are affordable AF just a great spot

The bouncer, manager everyone was awful. The bouncer obviously did not like me for some reason. Maybe he has mommy issues and I reminded him of his younger mother lolll. It was so strange. I was talking with my friend outside for a little bit and then I tried to go in and he was like you're way too intoxicated. Im not a big drinker and literally had had one drink the entire night. I told him that and he was just like you're not getting in you're not getting in and I was like this is crazy. This is gay weho. These arent exclusive clubs . The manager came out and handed me a bottle of water and was like we're not letting you in, sweetie. They were really condescending. I was like I'm a grown woman. I'm 39 years old. You don't have to call me sweetie. He then made fun of my vintage 80s jumper and was like what's going on here youre unbuttoned. Meanwhile, bro, had his shirt completely unbuttoned down to his belly button, exposing his hairy chest. I pointed this out and he got all flustered and flounced away. Lots of bitter men that run this place. read more

A good, basic bar for gay men. A no frills watering hole with sometimes too strong drinks. The mustached bartender on Thursday and other nights is fantastic. Friendly, funny and efficient. read more

I love this place so much! This bar is so much fun if you want to come and just have a drink and talk to people. Very chills and the staff are so friendly. read more

Classic West Hollywood dive bar that's well known. This place has been here for years. Without the pretentious scene and vibe. The drinks are cheap and the crowds are more laid back versus all the clubs and bars surrounding. It's perfect for an afternoon of cocktails with friends and people watching. In the evenings, it is pretty crowded as drinks are price very well. It's not big place. Theres no dance floor but people tend to just make their own. There's outdoor patio with seating. There's obviously the main bar and a second floor which is just a couple steps from the ground level. Overall great place for just a quick drink as your walking down the street. Or late night bar hopping with friends. Drinks are reasonable, crowds are fun. Very casual vibe. read more

Mother Lode - Gay Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

Mother load is a very nice place to go very very strong drinks the strongest blanks and West Hollywood the owner is named Bobby. I think he's a very racist person. He don't have any minorities working for his business and when you try to speak to him, he shines you on, but they have the strongest drinks in West Hollywood is a fun place to go in the cheapest drinks. it's the strongest drinks in the West Hollywood. read more

Went to this bar @motherlodewesthollywood this evening and witnessed a very concerning situation. Bar security allowing women and her group to drink outside the drinking area of the bar. Just because they are giving him hugs and kisses. Others were not allowed. He even provided seats outside for her group. He mentioned that it was just water that they are drinking. When asked if he served them himself to validate the comment, he became very defensive and wanted to kick me out. Others were kicked out for just a simple nudge of his arm due to busy entry way; but he allowed this group to drink outside the bar perimeter. This latino security guard should be fired. read more

Mother Lode - Drinking allowed outside the bar? I don't think so, but the security guard allowed them to. - Gay Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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Just found out that our favorite bouncer is no longer with US to protect us anymore SMH Adrian will be missed I'm very sadden to see this happen not sure who made this decision but I will say this he wad a good person and took his role of security above standards this bar needs more security guards like Adrian,,,, read more

Went there on Halloween. Sad to say it was a shit show. My phone was stolen out of my purse after buying a drink at the bar. Beware!! By that time I had zipped my purse back up, it was gone. My friend said this goes for most of West Hollywood. I walked back in to see if I could track my phone down. As I was walking through the dance floor, a group of guys took my the headband of my costume and tried to place a cloth of their costume over my face. It was so bizarre. I just walked away. Will not be going back there. No one answered the calls, and it was eventually turned off. read more

Matt the bartender/dancer is awesome. Personable, welcoming and just makes you feel good to be at Mother Lode. Been coming here for years and he is a refreshing , great addition to your team. Love him ! On the other end of the spectrum is a very rude, nasty bartender named Doug. I run luxury hotels for over 30 years, and I wouldn't hire Doug to serve piss warm keg beer into cheap plastic cups at a fraternity party!! He went out of his way twice in 10 minutes in front of 6 customers to argue with Matt because Matt was closing out his checks and serving a last drink to another customer who said to Matt " I don't want my drink from Doug ". Plus Doug slumbered out 5 minutes past his start time with cash drawer in hand ! Doug has no concept of good service and you lost business at the bar because of him. As you know, competition is tough in weho, this guy is costing you business ! Will never return if he is tending bar and is my only option. I'm so passionate about what I witnessed that I'm more than willing to give more details. Just contact me via yelp and I will reach out. I want to see you thrive but you definitely won't with employees like Doug. read more

Same old school gay bar-last one left. Reasonable prices, strong pours. Cute guys. Nice outdoor option.

After all these years, this is still a down to earth bar with strong drinks and reasonable prices nestled in between the pretentious bullshit of the Lisa Vanderpumps bars & The Abbey. Lots of people come here to pre-game before moving on to more expensive places but I've often stayed here until closing if I'm around good company. This place is one of the oldest, continuously operating gay bars in West Hollywood and has earned legacy, gold star status in the community.m read more

We've supported your business for the last 20 years, those days are gone. The rudest bartender in those last 20 years is the reason we will NEVER step foot in your establishment again. This was on 7/21/23 late afternoon. He was the only one tending bar so shouldn't be too hard to figure out who you need to get rid of! read more

Good bar for those who don't live the "clubby" atmosphere. The staff is friendly, the drinks are good and less expensive. Whats not to love?

Mother Lode is a DIVE BAR so get over it. I remember first going there in the late 1970's when liquor bottles, the brass fixtures & the tall mirrors there shined. But that was eons ago in the concept of Gay 'time' which may be similar to dog years where every human year is closer to 7 dog years. In this case, it may be closer to a 1:10 ratio. Now the mirrors are fogged through the patina of time & bottles may be a bit dusty. I love dive bars since they are full of human character that is unadorned, direct, without pretention. What you see is what you get, and that may not be such a bad thing. Other long gone dive bars such as Cuffs, River Club, The Pits, Sling, Mugi, Der Knast in Berlin, The Web in Amsterdam come to mind...all filled w/ a slew of idiosyncratic personalities that were fascinating in their own quirky way. Being in Weho, not so much. For some reason being caught between overly conspicuous, hyper consumer/affluent Beverly Hills & what was the legend of Hollywood, many of the denizens frequenting West Hollywood get too caught up in their own pretentions & hype sandwiched between the two cities. So unfortunately Mother Lode is a dive bar, but w/ a generally insipid, vapid clientele. Where is Charles Bukowsky when you need him? Our lady bartender was hospitable & considerate in a low key, almost earthy, countrified manner which was appreciated. When I lingered on my Tom Collins & the ice had melted down, she noticed & offered to refill the glass w/ fresh ice...a kind gesture. The music on a late Saturday afternoon was kept to a decent volume & not an earsplitting roar. There is a pool table for those who want to be entertained by hitting balls onto balls against soft furry felt. Good place to take a break at the end when doing a walking touring of West Hollywood via RT @PeacockFaerie: Come see the documentary of our fabulous Stuart Timmons WeHo LGBTQ History Mobile Tour! https://t.co/W4fHGCuHCH https://t.co/HMRln1XbtP 3+ Yelp stars. read more

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One of the more divey of the WeHo gay bars, a hole in the wall place complete with a messy men's room, sticky floors with an overall grungy look but with nothing I would consider as actually being dirty. It's been around for a long time, the front sign says 1979, so that fact alone says something about the place. The drink prices are somewhat stiff, in the $7.00 range for out the well but served with a generous pour. The guys that hang here tend to be somewhat on the scruff, without actually being scruffy which makes it somewhat different from the other bars on the WeHo strip that are generally infested with tinsel type disco queens and princess boys. It's a fun place, has pool table and gets nicely packed but rarely with a line extending out the door or down the sidewalk. read more

Mother Lode - Gay Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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went to mother lode last night and it became a shit show!! drunk patrons fist fighting in the urinal stall area and I had to intervene as security who was monitoring the bathrooms didn't give a damn and ignored my request. He acted like I did not matter and stood there with a blank face. Like do your job!! Why is he hired on as security when he doesn't do his job!? He didn't help in getting the other drunk patrons who were dragging people down onto the floor! This bar is becoming more and more a shit show and the staff could care less!! From the bartenders to the so called security! The owner of this bar seems to not care either!!! Get your staff in order!!! read more

Went in for a drink and asked if I could have a water as well. Bartender rudely told me no you can't instead of telling me they had a jug in the back. I decided to not bother buying a drink here and went elsewhere. read more

A drunk belligerent guy at the bar had his helmet and jacket in the seating area next to the bar. Because I was sitting near it, he threatened to "fuck me up". The bartender who previously socialized more than catering to oatrkns sided with the drunk guy. I recorded everything on phone. It's unfortunate because I live in the neighborhood and have been coming here for 20 years... read more

I visited Mother Lode Tuesday November 22 ordered 3 Tito's soda , they tasted like gasoline!! I expressed my concern to the bartender, his response " we are not that kind of establishment " I wasn't really sure why he would be offended as he didn't pay for premium alcohol to be do offended , however I purchased a white claw . I was more shocked that this openly gay establishment would allow such poor customer service, and more importantly trick customers they are able to offer premium alcohol read more

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Well, maybe not everybody, but the bartenders do. Motherlode is a tradition, a seasoned bar, and despite a recent facelift she is still the good time broad we want her to be. Big drinks with heavy pours for great prices. You may meet the man of your dreams or the drunk of your nightmares, it really is a bar that all types go to. See the young cheap hotties getting their buzz on before the pricey Chapel, the social butterflies on a stop in their circuit, the Gen Xers wanting a place they can get away and talk for a moment, and the old timers holding down their barstools. It has a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era and at times is damn intoxicating... and did I mention the strong drinks? read more

I think I get why so many folks give this 3+ stars: it's mainly for the outdoors seating area. It's plain ol' dark in the bar area, which is the norm. The music blaring is a hit or miss, so you don't come here for the music, that's for sure. Drinks are cheaper here compared to the other bars on the block, but the ability to get fresh air for a second is a plus...until the "fresh" air is taken away from all the smokers lighting up or the smell of weed permeates your hair. read more

I just want to thank Nick who was the bartender earlier tonight. There was a customer who was harassing me and he made sure he left the bar. I felt so much safer knowing a member of the staff was looking out for me. I love this bar, and I'm so grateful. Thank you. read more

Like my dive bar like I like my men Laid back, rough around the edges and cheap. Stiff drinks and studly men galore ;) Motherlode was my first bars when I moved back to LA 6 years ago... Thursday Night Karaoke is life... the PA system is almost perfect the acoustics are a little dated. Came here for pride and the drinks are more than reasonable for a bar on the Santa Monica Gay Bar circuit strip... it's that laid back bar you can take your shy friends and the over the top characters and just relax and mingle. The bartenders are all personable and polite... bathrooms are surprisingly clean and move quick on busy nights.... If you're shy don't be. The best place to start a night of bar hopping or hold up for the night... two smoking patios that overlook the boulevard.... I don't smoke but kind just love the feeling of chilling with my chain smoker bestie or meeting new people who seem to be the most open here than any other bar near by... the vibe here is always "on fleek" for lack of a better concept. Always tip your bartender, but on Thursdays your KJ(s) too! read more

Pretty lively place here it seems. Lots of down-to-earth folks here at the bar from what I observed. Great cocktails. Pop music were heard every second of the bar hour. Seems to be very lively with lights on the staging area. Great vibes. Highly recommend! read more

Another bar in WeHo you drink at but not necessarily where you end your night dancing or hanging out until the end. Last time I was there was NYE and I remember good, strong drinks, having fun with my friends, and it was a good crowd, as it has been with my experience at Mother Lode every time I visited in the past. read more

Super strong drinks. This should be your go to place to start if you're looking to have a messy night. It's where you go enjoy drinks, chat, and chill with friends. It actually has a San Francisco vibe for sure. It can get crowded at times, but definitely worth a visit. Back to those strong drinks. You can tell the bartenders to lighten up on it, but why?!? They take good care of you here. These guys are actually very chill and take care of the customers. I've met some b****y bartenders in most of the west hollywood bars and clubs. I think that's what sets apart this bar from other places in WeHo. Chill, laid back staff. I encourage locals and visitors to check this place out. You'll see a friendly face or two. No doubt. read more

The drinks here are $10 for a well drink and $12 for a call but the prices are worth it. You will not need to drink another one after Mother Lode. In fact, you may not need to drink again for a week. These drinks know what they are doing (but if you are not careful, you may not know what you are doing). Also, I like the new look (Mother Lode now has an open patio). Originally, I was skeptical. Was Mother Lode trying to copy Chapel to get tourists for Sunday funday? Was Motherlode going to lose its uniqueness, character, authenticity and mystery? Would its new name be "LABasic Lode?" Thankfully none of that happened. I walked by and went in during pride. While I did not stay long, I could tell right away the old character was still here. While I did not have any of the drinks, I heard they still retained their character. In fact, the entire bar seemed to have the same character. The only change was the addition of the patio. I left liking the patio. It's Los Angeles, one of the few places a year round outdoor patio works. Mother Lode may be updating itself to look like the other bars but in character, it's still Mother Lode. read more

I'm just not a dive bar guy... but when I do decide to do a dive bar, I dunno, I want there to be something fun about it, something with personality. A place so awful that you're almost there in spite of its awfulness. I recall a bar in Mexico my best friend and I used to go to with a placard that read, "If our food and service don't meet your expectations, please lower your expectations". Awesome. This place just doesn't have that fun personality. It seems like it's where the dysfunctional drunks in West Hollywood go because it's cheap, low-end liquor and because there's no cover charge. Also, people say they like it because it's unpretentious... but... well, it's unpretentious for a reason. The bartenders aren't overly friendly, the drinks aren't overly strong, there's nothing interesting or fun about the vibe... it's just... off. Pass. read more

I've been sleeping on Mother Lode - it's fun, reasonably priced drinks (considering the area), and has music that's easy to dance to. It's a great example of the fun that can be had when a bar isn't trying too hard. Came because my friend wanted to pick an easy place in WeHo for everyone to meet before heading to the Abbey, and this didn't disappoint. I kept my drinks simple, and they were fine. When I told the bartender one was for the birthday boy, he took the drink back and dumped in an extra shot. Now THAT'S my kind of bar! read more

Cody or Cory// Security guy is just rude and unfriendly... the drinks are always poured badly and disgusting. The Ora is cheap bar gross drinks . Never again , avoid this place read more

My phone was stolen yesterday 6/4/2022 at 9:30 PM. I immediately told the bartender who didn't didn't' seem to care or sympathize and said they are too busy to do anything about it! I have since tried to get in contact with someone to complete my report and have not been responded to. Can someone please contact me read more

Fun bar! Not quite as loud and insane as its next door neighbors on most nights, but usually has a great crowd! Came here a few times since walking in on Halloween. The most notable trait I've noticed here are the incredibly strong pours. I stared in awe as the bartender filled my cup 3/4 of the way with alcohol. Call me classless, but if I'm going to be paying for drinks at bars, I'd rather they be super strong (even if it comes at the expense of taste, because taste good they do not). At any rate you won't need to buy too many drinks to get your party monster out here. In terms of the dance floor, the bar doesn't really have one, so most people end up dancing in any open space around the tables and bars, which isn't necessarily bad, but it can get pretty cramped on the busy nights. I vaguely remember the music being pretty awesome as well! read more

Balling on a budget ? Forgot to pregame at home ? This is the perfect bar to start at because the drinks are cheap and strong, and the wait at the bar is generally very short. Not a very long yelp review , but I think the gist of this review is that you should start your night here if you want to get drunk at an affordable price (LA standards lol) read more

Great bar cheap drinks and very lively I went on a Tuesday night and it was surprisingly very lively. Crowd was great. Bartender was super nice and attentive barely any wait to get drinks. The security guard was great as well. There was a Halloween costume contest that was fun. The go go dancers are very good looking. Overall a great bar. read more

Less than a week after Halloween, I brought some of my out of town guests here for a fun night of bar hopping, dancing and great people watching. Drinks are the average $10-15, depending on the shelves from which you are pouring. This bar is fun for a few different reasons. For one, it's not all stuck up or anything over the top. The music is something to move to. It really is a laid back spot and one definitely worth checking out. The crowd here is great and I'd definitely come back here again. We had a good time, mingled with some of the other customers/guests and shared three times as many laughs as we did drinks. read more

What can you say about Mother Lode? I hear it's the oldest gay bar in West Hollywood. But they recently did some upgrades that have made everything (well, almost everything) old, new again. A huge new patio area out front. A whole new facade and updated signage. It even looks like they may be cleaning up the interior too! It's still a little divey but that works for them. And still the best drinks in Weho! But what makes the Mother Lode such a great place? They don't take themselves too serious. None of the pretentious attitude of some of the other places in town. The staff are all pretty friendly and most of them have worked there a long time. If you're looking for a good time and a great drink, be sure to check it out! read more

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