Oscar and his team are incredible purveyors of spirits. Oscar's knowledge of bourbon is at a professorial level.

What a special place! This high-end bar was wonderful for a special night out for my boyfriend's birthday, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We checked in for our reservation at Scopa, and a manager came over to escort us to the bar through a locked door. He took our phones and gave us each a playing card to identify them for retrieval later. It was very dark inside, and at 6 pm, we were the first guests there. We were escorted to the bar where we sat down and were greeted by Oscar, our bartender. They have an extensive menu of interesting and rare spirits and champagne, which you can order with caviar. There's also about 20 cocktails for $25 each. Boyfriend wanted bourbon, and Oscar gave him a variety of 3 bourbons for a total of 2 ounces. These bourbons were very high proof, 90+ and cask strength. Definitely for sipping only. For a second round, Oscar suggested a bourbon we have never heard of: Elmer T. Lee! I ordered two cocktails: a Jungle drink with rum and pineapple, and a Singapore Sling, served in a gorgeous red paisley vintage glass, with an orchid flower and pink curlicue straw. Oscar introduced us to their collection of very cool tiki glasses. My favorite was the vintage elephant one, and it was my drinking buddy during our fun visit. Oscar is very knowledgeable and friendly and it was a delight chatting with him. His manager, Steve, has curated a great retro playlist of music, with tunes from the 60s and 70s (and probably earlier than that). I think I found one of his playlists on Spotify. As noted, the bar is small with 6 barstools at the bar, two couches and a table with chairs. Everything is mid-century modern, and you feel like you've been transported back in time. The staff kept track of time and coordinated with Scopa for our 7:30 pm dinner reservation, escorting us back to the restaurant and giving us back our phones. We had a wonderful time, and we will definitely be back. This is an expensive, high-end cocktail experience, perfect for special occasions or a luxe evening out. read more

You can make a reservation! so awesome. But you have to leave your phone with the workers so when you are chatting and wants to look up or call uber, it was inconvenient. otherwise it was great. cocktails were $25-50 it was nice amount and tasty but pricey for sure read more

This is a speak easy next to Scopa Italian Roots. You will need to make reservations and it's a smaller room with A LOT of high end alcohol to try. Worth a visit if you're looking for an evening out. Check out my pics. read more

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Ambiance: Cute little speakeasy style back room. No phones allowed which was kind of nice. Service: The server seemed knowledgeable about the whiskeys. I asked how a cocktail and the answer was "good". Lol ok thanks Drinks: Extensive liquor menu. Solid vintage champagne list. The cocktail menu was severely lacking IMO. I got the tiki style cocktail and it was terrible - didn't return it (should have) but only took like 2-3 sips. read more

Wasn't totally sure what to expect. Definitely meant for a whiskey lover and maybe someone with deeper pockets than me. Service was good! Didn't feel rushed and no one made me feel like I shouldn't be there (that was more self imposed as I'm definitely a fruity cocktail type of person). Ambiance was super cool though and the speak easy aspect was epic. Ended up there as walk-ins, we were just looking for a bar in the area and this had popped up, so didn't totally know what to expect, but super glad I went and would definitely recommend for anyone who is into whiskey/looking to surprise a whiskey lover in their life (it can be $$$$$$$ though, so just don't be shocked) read more

Stay far away from this place. Places like this give Los Angeles a bad name. Incredibly overpriced and pretentious. That's all you need to know. read more

Amazing vibes! Great service. Killer whiskey selection. Awesome date night spot!!!!!!!

SIP your drink. I failed at getting drunk here. It would have been incredibly expensive if I had succeeded. I didn't have my phone so I used a pen and paper to capture my experience. All Bourbons samples were round full bodied (not flat) and tasted somewhat malty (except Old Charter), I'm guessing it's either the due to year released (when Scotch was King) or how old the open bottle is at this point (possible oxidation). If malt flavor was due to mash bill then I would suspect mash bill was made up of 15% malt, as opposed to minimum 10% malt for NATURAL fermentation. 1972 Ezra Brooks 7 year Straight Bourbon 90 Proof This is a high rye bourbon. Nose: maple syrup with some gingerbread. Taste: somewhat oaky with cinnamon. First sips were delicious with all the pepper and grain and heat of an 90 Proof high rye. It was a completely different bourbon when it opened up 20 minutes later. Very Impressive! 1960s Hill & Hill Straight Bourbon 80 Proof I'm guessing it's a wheated bourbon. Mild, easy, smooth. Taste of a little saltwater and maple syrup, with a bitter finish at the back of the tongue. It's had character and I liked it! 1970s Bourbon De Luxe 4 year, Kentucky 80 Proof Nose: high alcohol. Taste: corn caramel, burnt toffee, vanilla, sugar cookies. I suspect this may have been low shelf back in the day. I DON'T CARE. I really connected with this one. 'My Cherie Amour' by Stevie Wonder was playing as I sang the lyrics softly at this bottle, 'My Cherie Amour . . . I wish you were mine . . . la la laah la la la . . . la la Laah la la LAAH.' 1970s Eagle Rare Italian Export, reimported back to USA :P LOL --it doesn't taste vastly different from today's Eagle Rare. Timeless. Delicious. 1962 Old Charter 7 year Bourbon 86 Proof, Louisville Kentucky. This had an impressive decanter style bottle with matching decanter style screw top (example replica pic below). Could be enjoyed as an everyday bourbon. Very easy going. Reminds me of Evan Williams. BARTENDER GUS is a real pro. He would be great to cast on BAR RESCUE. Just watching him work was mesmerizing and hearing him talk about spirits was hypnotic. I would return. Completely different experience from Bar Jackalope. read more

Old Lightning - EXAMPLE ONLY of bottle replica: Old Charter 7 yr Bourbon 86 Proof, Louisville Kentucky 1962 - New American Near Me - Marina del Rey, California

Wow. If you want to impress friends, a date, or just your taste buds/liver, this is the place. Came back to visit our old stomping grounds in LA and wanted to explore something unique and new to us. Read a few articles on Old Lightning and made a reservation (5p was the only time available when we booked a few weeks out, so book your rezzys as far in advance as possible!) We checked in with the hostess at the restaurant in front who directed us to stand under a vintage light bulb outside and someone would escort us to the speakeasy - the experience already had us feeling super cool! The Old Lightning hostess came to walk us to the entrance and gave us a brief but interesting overview of the menu/experience/history. It's a small dimly lit room with vintage liquor ads and mod furniture. They take your phones when you enter which makes for a totally immersive tasting experience - no distractions! The only bummer is not being able to document and make your friends insanely jealous haha! There is something for everyone's price point, though it's hard to resist the urge to splurge since they have rare liquors all around you. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and share great stories from the bar or insights into the liquors they're serving you. read more

Incredible ambience. Amazing whiskey selection. However......The pricing is so beyond offensive and outrageous. It seems like a complete and utter joke. Feels like they are trying to capitalize on people that really don't understand the whiskey world and just have a lot of stupid money to spend as a flex. I wish this place catered more to the whiskey community as a place that was inclusive and you were able to try fun allocated rare bottles. Believe me I understand these bottles are rare and expensive but still there is no justification for this kind of pricing. read more

Wow ... what a fantastic experience. The decor. The ice. The drinks. It's an incredible wow!!! Every moment is special. And they really want you to have a great time! Can't wait to come back again! read more

Named after the fighting rooster whose tail feather was used to stir the first "cock-tail", Old Lightning has created a welcoming, innovative, and intimate space dedicated to creative cocktail-making, well-curated spirits, and good conversation. AMBIENCE (4.5/5) After checking in with Scopa's hostess stand, a tall jolly Frenchman fetches you. He whisks you outside the restaurant and escorts you toward a side door, trades your phones for playing cards (love this), and leads you into a wholly different world. Think 25-seat mid-century bachelor pad meets tiki, with a stunning backlit bar and plenty of comfortable couches, armchairs, and stools. We felt like we were in a James Bond movie, with the kitsch factor revved up ~20%. DRINKS (4/5) Owners Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix, the team behind multiple concepts including The Chestnut Club, have spent over a decade collecting ~1200 bottles of vintage, limited release, discontinued or otherwise rare spirits. The drinks menu is massive and divvied up into sections like Creamy & Egg, Tropical/Tiki, and Latin American, with a page for whisky tasting flights and pages for pure spirits. While my heart yearned for the vodka-lychee-etc drink on the Creamy & Egg page, our server persuaded me try a bourbon-passionfruit cocktail topped with smooth foam. I found it more interesting than yummy, but my friend's Ramos Gin Fizz (which took 20m to make) with its high-top meringue was refreshing. It tasted like velvety cherry 7-up. My other friend liked his whiskey-based drink. We also saw another group that ordered a drink garnished with a marshmallow..that was then set on fire! They seem to enthusiastically hawk their whisky flights, ranging from $50-$190. Not being a whisky fan, I stuck with cocktails. SERVICE (4/5) Both of our servers, an exotic brunette and a charming young man with cool LA hair, were friendly. It can take some time to craft the cocktails. If you enjoy Raines Law Room or Dear Irving in New York, you'll appreciate this place, which comes with its own special vibe. read more

We made reservations ahead of time and parked in the lot. We entered Scopa and told the waitress that we were here for Old Lightning. She sent a text message and had us sit on an inside bench. We waited. A French man came by and took us outside, around the corner, to a side door. Until that moment, I hadn't known the door existed. Inside was a different world. Decorated with mid-century modern decor, it hosted an impressive wall of whiskeys. Other spirits were in attendance, but whiskeys were the show. The waiter explained the menu and pushed for the whiskey tasting flights. You give them a price you're willing to spend and they'll bring around sufficiently impressive and rare whiskeys. The price has to be high, or they'll look at you like you don't belong. We decided to try the cocktails. They were too sweet and lacked the subtlety that we have come to expect. No cellphones mean no texts, no calls, no check-ins, no photos. We sat and looked at one another, we sipped our drinks and we spoke to each other. We shared stories. Time passed and before long it was time to leave. They shook my hand, escorted us out the door and we re-entered the modern world. My cell phone had missing texts. It shone too bright in the night air and hurt my eyes. read more

This place felt built for suckers. Afterwards, we decided they take phones so no one can google enough information to know most pours are a total rip-off. Some details are in order, and keep in mind they serve 1 ounce pours (aka a splash of whisky). To start, there are no entry level bottles. That is, they don't sell pours of anything most people would know the price of . . . in any category. The tequila page doesn't have Patron Silver, no Jack in the whiskey, no Bulleit in the bourbon, no Del Maguey in the mezcal, no Nikka Coffee in the Japanese, and no Jameson in the irish whisky. Am I going to a specialty bar to drink any of those things? Hell no. But most spirits drinkers could judge whether the rest of the menu is a total rip-off from prices for baseline options like these. Instead, what we found was a massive quantity of barely off the beaten path liquor (mostly whisky) being sold for approximately a quarter to half the price of a bottle. Of course, your phone would apprise you of that detail if you had it. And while I don't have a prolific knowledge of the entire selection by any means, seeing prices that were outrageous relative to the bottle price (or prices you'd be charged for a pour anywhere else in the world), I was certainly terrified of the upcharge on things I didn't recognize. And yes, I mean world, as someone who has traipsed through spirits bars from NY to Tokyo in the last year. Speaking of bottles I didn't recognize, good luck trying to pick one. The menu is alphabetical by distillery without any description of the spirits besides category. Want to know which of the Ardbegs tastes more or less like motor oil? Hope that's stored in your memory already. Customers are greeted with the direction that "most people" spend about $100-200 on flights. But forget it if you want to make an informed, meaningful decision before dumping that kind of "pocket change." No whisky Bible here, just throw some darts at the whisky wall. (Of course there's no menu online, so forget doing your research in advance.) So whatever: give up, order a $22 cocktail made with the rarest and finest Wild Turkey 101 (or maybe El Dorado 5 year for those rum drinkers out there), sip it from the finest thrift store glassware in town, and call it a night. read more

Old Lightning has its good and its bad things. To start off I have no pics bc they take your phone when you're going in, which I dont mind bc that does force you to interact with people instead of being on the phone. I would not recommend this place for big groups as it is small and theres not really seating for large groups. The place is great if you're into exclusive liquors that you will not find anywhere else or if you're into tasting different cocktails. Im simple, I just like vodka and soda. I feel like this place would be a cool to go on a date bc its intimate and you would be giving that other person your full attention. Come ready to spend money! They just have little snacks (ie pretzels) so dont come hungry as well. read more

Old Lightning lives up to the (albeit secret) hype. It's a high roller cocktail bar that lets us medium-rollers also feel like we're getting the best bang for our buck. The main bartender Bart is an funny, helpful, super French (take that as you will), passionate bartender. My fiancé and I loved him. The server Ben was also great and filled with oodles of knowledge regarding the rare spirits lining the walls. The vibe is really low key. There's plenty of space and the music is at the perfect volume for good conversations free from the distraction of cell phones. To Drink: get the gin fizz, the Japanese whiskey highball, the corpse reviver no. 2, and pretty much anything they tell you to get. I forgot the tiki drink we had, but it had three types of rum in it and we took Bart's recommendation so just ask him. They make everything well so don't be overwhelmed by the slew of options on he menu. Also eat before you get there - we got delightfully drunk because we thought there would be food options from next door. Totally our bad though. read more

Worst f£ing speakeasy ever...... they literally know nothing about alcohol!!!! They read off the back of bottles acting like that's something special. Sure you have 1500 spirits. But that's all you have. No Cressman ship or understanding of what define a beautiful drink. The whole reason to go to speakeasy is to be wowed by the drinks, while you Converse in a dimly lit room, with an ambience of Mystery. Yep none of that $&@& is there read more

Nice kind service, reasonably tasty drinks. However this place is far overpriced for what it offers. If it wants to be a very classy Michelin star type of drink provider, at least at the price, the level of service and drink preparation quality at this venue during my experience needs to be way higher. The staff was nice, but not world class professional bartendering/wait staff. Drinks were decent, but not one cocktail was even close to what you would expect for a $40 cocktail. Spirit list is good, but again very pricey. Snack were total crap. Seriously, a cheapo cup full of 7-11 gas station mixed banana chips and random nuts? Wtf? Class it up folks. Nice staff, average cocktails, large list of quality spirits. Not a high end experience, not even close to worth the price. read more

Amazing hidden gem next to Scopa with the rarest whiskeys and bourbons around since prohibition! Small bar with about 10 stools - small lounge area for another 10 or so. Appointment only so snag yours quick! Gus was super knowledgeable and gave us history lessons on all our tastings! Two flights were plenty: American Bourbon flight and a Japanese/Taiwanese flight. Topped it off with the Smoking Gun egg-white cocktail which was UH-MAZING! Will definitely return for a small intimate gathering. Pricey side but great spot for celebration or special occasion! Will probably return for the cocktails - flights are anywhere from $100 and up (no real menu here - "dealer's choice"). Also, they confiscate your phone. Don't worry, you get it back at the end. read more

You need a reservation. This place is small and fills up. They do not allow it to get cramped. You will check in with the host at Scopa, and they will take you there. They will take your cellphone and give you a card. You will return this card when you're done, and your cellphone will be returned. This place is expensive--- no seriously, expensive. $$$-$$$$ is easily done. Now that that is out of the way, the selection of liquor here is fantastic. This is all top shelf and/or hard to find alcohol. I arrived hoping to imbibe a few of the spirits beloved by my grandfather and left having accomplished my mission. My bartender was Gus. He was insanely knowledgeable, helpful, and entertaining. The decor is mid century modern. It's like Mad Men throwing a tiki party. The bottles in the entry should be admired. There are some beauties. Final tip: if you are ordering a rare whiskey, the price is for a two ounce pour. You can order a one ounce pour for half the listed price in a flight (3 or four whiskeys). This was nice, because it gave us the flexibility to try a few more whiskeys. read more

You know when you have to go to the west side for a friends bday you don't really like, and then you get stuck going to a place that you spend 60 bucks on two drinks and a bottle of fucking water? That's Old Lightning. They're trying oh so hard to be mid-century modern/Mad Men with their no cell phone rule and no clocks. I thought it was cute, for a neighborhood bar, not a speakeasy. I get what they're trying to do with no cell phones, but that bar would've been more enjoyable with a few memes to laugh at, and unsolicited body part photos to gawk at. Apparently, even the drink prices should be called lil speakeasies, as I had no idea how much money I was wasting on a mediocre mezcal cocktail for $22. This is just a pretentious, overpriced, excuse for your friends to make you pay for a $30 Lyft from the East side. No. read more

I came here with my girlfriend for our anniversary after dinner at Scopa. Awesome bar and really different from other places. Essentially, we had a private sampling experience with the bartender for a couple hours. Their menu is crazy, the vibe is super cool, and you'll have a blast. Yes, they take your phone. Yes, it's not cheap. And you'll have an amazing and different experience than what you get anywhere else. read more

Bottomline: Come for the rare LIQUOR - spoil it in a cocktail if you can't handle/afford it. LIQUOR: Don't get me wrong, I love a good cocktail, but that's not what Old Lightning is about. You can probably get a decent one made since the owners were previously behind the stick at La Descarga, Harvard & Stone, and The Chestnut Club among other spots, but again that's not what Old Lightning is about. The team here has collected and curated an impressive collection of [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE SPIRIT]. Some places are deep in whiskey, deep in scotch, deep in mezcal, deep in tequila, but you would be hard pressed to find a place that collects them all together in addition to gin, rum, and a number of other liqueurs spanning decades. This is a rare window into the past. NO PHONES: Complain all you want, but you're coming here for the liquor, not the selfies, not the tiki drink pics. RESERVATIONS: Sometimes Resy will show the bar booked to full capacity for nights on end. Sending a simple e-mail can help free up a spot or two that Resy doesn't always show. read more

This small speakeasy is definitely one of the best bars in la, if not California. The place is designed to put you at ease, with a decor suggestive of a living room. There are some barstools and a long couch with small tables. The drinks menu is pages and pages long but it has lots of variety , including drinks with egg whites and tiki drinks and your standard popular cocktails. They also have an extensive whiskey and bourbon menu, with flights. The staff here are all friendly and helpful. Finally, you will need to leave your phone with the staff before you even go inside. Good for facilitating conversation!! read more

We were escorted from the echoing chatter of Scopa Italian Roots restaurant by our maître d' -- a tall bearded man dressed in a navy sports jacket and a thick French accent. He asked, "May I have your phones?" We looked at each other and obliged. In exchange, we were given a playing card and entrance to the mysterious Old Lightning bar. It's, in essence, a doorway to a carefree era. The rectangular room resembles the parlor of a gentlemen's house, filled with golden-light and golden-age melodies. The Cubano-Caribe theme couples well with the library of liquor options, including the fabled Pappy Van Winkle. The other-worldly vibe is palpable, from the fruity mezcal cocktail with swirly straw to the bartender meeting and greeting each patron in the back of the room. With such close company, twenty-or-so guests, I get the feeling that this could be elusive house party where you know no one and want to meet everyone. Round two, coming up. read more

Bart! I was tempted to just leave that one word review, but I'll say a few more words. Incredible liquor selection for flights. Great cocktails. I want to drink all the things. Go with friends. Fun fun fun. Bart is the man. read more

Old Lightning is super cool...there's limited seating or spots, but once you're inside there's this mid-century vibe. It's not only the decor or music that sets the mood, but the "no phones" policy actually makes you talk with the person next to you! No instagramming, no Yelping, nada. Being a Yelper it was pretty tough, but I actually left my phone at home since it was dead from all day usage anyways. It was actually pretty freeing! If you have your phone, you hand over your phone to the host and he'll give you a playing card to match your phone. They'll return it to you afterwards. Once inside there's an extensive list of rare alcohols and cocktails...what happens next is an experience you cannot get any place else! TIP: 1. Ask the hostess in Scopa Italian Roots about Old Lightning to get in. 2. Guys, no shorts! read more

Very unique experience with lots of old liquors and a cool midcentury modern vibe. It's worth visiting at least once, but it's not the sort of place you would go frequently unless you have the money to spend and don't care to invest the time to learn about high end alcohol (in which case you should just buy it yourself, enjoy it at home, and save a fortune in the process). I've been to Old Lightning a few times and while I have enjoyed it on some occasions, there are some annoying drawbacks that will probably keep me away for good. Downsides are of course the price (expect about $100/person at the very least, with typical spending closer to $200/person), and there is some unwelcome pressure to spend as much as possible. If you're not careful you can easily spend $500 per person. For example, if you give the bartenders a wide range that you want to spend on a tasting sample, you'd better be sure when you get the bill they will spend up to the very top of the limit you gave them and no less. They also started requiring a $25 per person non-refundable deposit for reservations (which are required), which isn't that big of a deal but it's just another annoying cost up front. The last and biggest problem for me is the fact that a 20% tip is automatically included, and it is calculated AFTER tax. This isn't usually a problem for me at most restaurants or bars but when you're talking about a $1,000 tab for 3 or 4 people, it really pads the bill in a way that is just unfair and left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

I'll keep this review succinct. The experience of coming here has set the bar for every future bar visit I will ever have. Make a reservation. read more

Wow. I had always heard there was a little bar on the side of Scopa so one night I was walking by with a date and said let's check out the little bar on the side! There's a door, which is unlocked, so I opened it and walked in. There were about 20 people inside. Suddenly the bar tender runs up to us in a panic! He rudely asks "do you have a reservation?" I said "Oh! No we do not" to which he snapped nastily "oh my god! I need to escort you out of here immediately! Right now!" Everyone stared at us. It was humiliating. I have never been treated like a criminal for walking into a bar. Now that I have googled this place, I see that you need a reservation. But all he had to do was say "I'm sorry this is reservation only" and asked us to leave. The escorting out was rude, arrogant, embarrassing, and quite frankly made me want to cry. This place is clearly pretentious and needs to feel superior to the "common folk" even though we were dressed nicely and were polite. Beware the snobbery. read more

Loved it a couple years ago but now it's douchey and they make you get a $25 reservation and act like it's such a big deal. It's not. Go to the Blind Barber. This is over rated and the whole reservation process has become a pain in the tiki drink. read more

Not sure why I haven't posted before but this is a favorite hidden gem. I LOVE the no phone policy. Let's talk to one another while we sip deliciously crafted cocktails in a gorgeous intimate setting, shall we? Steve, Pablo and their staff love what they do and it shows. They want you to feel welcome and enjoy yourself and that you shall! Looking forward to sharing this gem with a few more discreet friends. . So have a delicious meal next door at Scopa and pop on in for dessert! read more

Best in LA. Wonderful service, ambiance and selection. Walking in you'll feel like you're in your grandpa's living room. Truly a unique place worth visiting. read more

Went here after Scopa with the intention of seeing if they had selection of yamazaki's and they do. Problem however is how insanely priced their pours are in comparison to bottle price. a 12 year is about 280 bucks usd if you're buying through an online vendor or local liquor store in CA. But a glass here was that exact price....fucking insane read more

This is a great place but only if you are REALLY into liquor and/or not paying for it. We were the former and enjoyed it a great deal. It's definitely an experience. Our server gave us the history behind every drink and why it tastes the way it does. Yes, it's not cheap - we paid almost $200 for two cocktails and a flight of three glasses of liquor (which we shared) - but you really notice the difference between what they serve and what you would get most anywhere else. You feel more high than drunk and neither of us had a hangover the next morning. They don't serve food but we ate beforehand at Scopa Italian Roots (owned by the same people and amazing) and that worked out great. Basically, if you want an intriguing taste of the world of exotic and rare liquors - with vintages dating from the 1930s to the present - in a chill, cozy room staffed with alcohol experts, definitely check it out. But if you don't care about vintages and just want to get hammered, I would recommend BevMo (Not judging) read more

I really, really, really wanted to love this place but I couldn't get past how expensive the cocktails are. The cocktails were good don't get me wrong, but for $25 (starting price) a cocktail, I was expecting to be blown away. The ambiance fortunately, is pretty cool and I like how small and intimate it is. They did a fantastic job with decor and the staff was very knowledgeable and courteous. What I did not care for is that they take your phones away before you enter. Sorry, no. I'm not 12, I'm an adult and if asked/required, I will keep my phone in my purse on silent and not use it during my time in your establishment. I understand having a no phone policy, but I'm not handing my $1,100.00 iPhone over to a stranger. Fortunately, I knew about this policy beforehand and left my phone at home. Oh the irony of a speakeasy having such hard rules, but I digress. read more

Likely the worst experience I have had at a bar in years. For $25/cocktail, I think you should be able to expect your server to check on you in the span of an hour, especially when your party has four empty drinks for over half an hour. I would also expect an A+ version of a cocktail for $25, and we all got solid B versions. I also expect significantly more creative cocktails at a place that markets themselves as such a premium establishment and at this price point. By the standards of speakeasies I have enjoyed--Noble Experiment and False Idol in San Diego, Midnight Cowboy in Austin, the space was bland and uninteresting. If you want a flight of rare liquors, I could perhaps see the appeal, but be prepared to pay $150-300 for a typical 3 oz tequila flight. read more

You'll need to visit the old school website to send an email for a reservation or try your luck seeing if your server at Scopa Italian Roots can get you in BUT. . . . totally worth it. This place is amazing and now easily vying to be my favorite bar in Los Angeles. Here's why: 1) You fully embrace the experience by foregoing your cell phone at the door 2) Upon entering through the secret unmarked door, you feel like you've been transported to a different world. The room evokes the mood of a private luxury tiki room from the 1950's and in no way feels like you're in Venice, CA 3) A rotating display of the owner's encyclopedic collection of historic liquors is only fully display and available for tippling 4) The bar mix is simple but extravagant with the banana chips/corn nuts 5) Phenom drink menu creatively organized and a talented group of barkeeps to serve you who know their stuff read more

This is easily my favorite bar in LA... I highly recommend making a reservation at Scopa for dinner, then getting a reservation for about 2 hours later at Old Lightning for after dinner drinks. Once your reservation is called, you are escorted to the side door of the building. They make you check in your cell phone at the door to not only maintain the mystique of the bar itself, but to remove your social crutch and force you to actually enjoy your drink, your company and maybe make a few new friends. It is truly refreshing to not be stuck in a room with people sitting around in a room swiping through their phone and photographing their cocktails, but rather a room of people excited to be there, and engaging in conversation for once!! The selection of rare rums, whiskeys and tequilas is the best I have seen anywhere in LA. They have a book of cocktails for you to chose from, or you can chose the omakase method of telling your server what you are in the mood for, and they will match you with the perfect cocktail. ...Other than that, I'm not giving away anymore surprises about the venue, you'll just have to book yourself a reservation and find out for yourself. On that note, don't try to get in without a reservation, it won't happen. read more