Cool little dive bar with a great DJ and a fun atmosphere! The dance floor is very small, but that's pretty typical for a dive bar. It gets packed quickly, and the tables fill up fast, so definitely keep that in mind. The decorations are super cute and fit the vibe perfectly. They also play movies on the TVs, which was a cool little touch to have playing in the background. Overall, it was a great time and a fun night out with friends! read more

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I'm really glad this place has been around as long as it has and survived the wild Covid fiasco. I feel like the bar vibes novelty has worn off and wish there was a little more lean to the mermaid vibes besides the tiki-light/one active window action. The drinks are not really like super bad ass craft cocktails. But are priced like one. The service is less than "okay"; I recently came here around 9pm and it wasn't that busy and there were 4 women behind the bar and none of felt welcoming - the crowd was fun but my friend didn't want to stay because she thought the bartenders seemed miserable. (And note, selfwareness check: we all have bad days, but all 4 seemed icky so we figured we'd stop contributing to said offense and took our money elsewhere). Anyway, over all, to sum it up: nice enough bar- overall on a bit of a decline, and wouldn't call it my fave bar even after all these years. read more

I was genuinely excited to check this place out, especially because I always try to support local small businesses. Unfortunately, my experience started on a disappointing note. The security officer refused to let my group in based solely on his assumption that we had come from another bar. The only explanation he provided was, "I can tell you are coming from another bar," and that was apparently enough for him to deny us entry. If you plan on visiting, my recommendation is simple: don't bar hop beforehand--or be prepared for the possibility of being turned away based on assumptions rather than facts. After this experience, I'm not sure I'd recommend making the trip at all. read more

Ariel from the little mermaid is my favorite Disney princess so when our friends suggested going to a bar called the Mermaid ‍ I was excited to go!! We came on a Saturday evening after exploring Korea town until it opened up at 6pm and got a seat right in the corner by the cute little window. I loved the mermaid window hole! I loved all the undersea decor. Because we came early it was packed at all and just was a relaxed vibe. For drinks between me and the hubby we ordered : Mermai- tai Long Island After work special The drinks were kind of strong. We stayed a couple hours with friends just laughing and reminiscing. The staff was cool also. read more

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First time coming in and the bartender had a attitude from the start. No greeting only a rude attitude. If you're tried or had a bad day, don't take it out on the customer. The bartender was also giving sarcastic remarks which was unacceptable. read more

This is such a fun "dive bar" themed bar with a tiki-style underwater ambience. The drinks are strong and their pride line went to charity which is amazing. If you're looking to get an after-dinner drink while walking around Little Tokyo this is the place. read more

The Mermaid - Queer Rights Forever Closets Never Pride Drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Dim lights, underwater vibes, and just enough chaos to make it interesting. Drinks are strong, bartenders keep it fun, and the crowd's always solid. Easy spot where one drink turns into a full night. Perfect for starting the night or accidentally ending it there. read more

The Mermaid - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Drinks are always great. Staff is super friendly!! Abby and Elora are great!! If you want good music intimate vibe I highly suggest you visit The mermaid! read more

The Mermaid - Mostly jolly Roger's - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went there for karaoke night vibe was good at first we sang some songs then the old lady with the glasses came up to us saying we needed to buy some drinks so we did then after awhile we noticed our songs weren't being played and the bald guy at the dj booth said they weren't gonna play our songs because we weren't buying enough and that there were other customers who are regulars that are buying more then we got kicked out. Apart from that the staff is snooty and was giving us dirty looks and talked to us condescendingly would not recommend going here. read more

The Mermaid - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have always been excited to support The Mermaid- as Latina-owned and being close by. I'm so saddened that the owner has not been cooperative when one of the bartenders overcharged us by a lot. Even though we only had two drinks during a karaoke night- we were charged so much more. We called right away and was coldly told to go through the bank to remedy the situation. Which we did- but then they didn't admit to the overcharge. I don't know why they would steal from Latino patrons. I really hope they make it right. read more

The Mermaid in Little Tokyo is such a cool, unique bar with an awesome vibe. It's been a while since I last visited--during COVID, actually--but once I heard they were decorating for Christmas and offering special holiday drinks, I knew I had to come back. And honestly, it did not disappoint... The bar itself is pretty small, but the atmosphere is super fun and cozy. They really went all out with the holiday theme--Christmas lights mixed with their under-the-sea décor make it feel festive and magical. I came on a Saturday night, and it was packed. Everyone was dressed up in Christmas sweaters and Santa hats, which added to the fun, lively energy... The bartenders here are awesome. Even with the crazy crowd, they worked fast, took drink orders quickly, and kept everything moving smoothly... The drinks are delicious, reasonably priced, and definitely worth trying. Plus, there's no cover to get in, which is a nice bonus. Because it does get so busy, seating is limited. They have a few booths and some comfy spots, but unless you come early, expect to stand or grab a spot at the bar. The DJ on Saturday nights is great--they were playing all the jams and kept the vibe upbeat and fun all night long. The only small downside is that the crowd can sometimes get a little rowdy or overly drunk, but the staff handles it really well and stays super cool about everything... Overall, I definitely recommend checking out The Little Mermaid if you're in the LA area or bar hopping around Little Tokyo... It has that underrated, local feel, great ambience, festive décor, and truly superb drinks. I'm really glad I stopped by again--this place still hits!!! read more

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Ambiance. Kitschy leaning toward tiki. Bartenders are impressive and prices are good. read more

Dive bars aren't really my vibe.. Ended up here with a friend because the cocktail bar we initially planned to go to in Little Tokyo was closed. Friends bartenders but not really my scene.. read more

lol, so instead of accepting culpability and apologizing, Katie has decided to double down and abscond culpability (shocker)! It's not an "accusation." It's what happened. I was blatantly discriminated against. You weren't there. You don't get to gaslight me about my experience. read more

Been loving the mermaid vibe, love a tiki bar, and since this was a combo of both, I knew I had to come here to see what was going on, especially because they had a Christmas theme going on! The interior was so fun and festive and it on a Friday night you could get in and still find a seat while there were a lot of people there! I didn't try their regular drinks but I had one from their holiday specials with a drum on it and it was a mix of fruity, refreshing, and minty! Would def have to come back to see how their regular drinks fair! read more

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They were super rude and didn't let our group In because they didn't like my friends shorts. Don't go here. read more

I came to this little bar on a Thursday night with a friend who recommended the spot. Once you walk inside , the space feels like you're inside a ship or part of a bar from a pirates movie. It's a small bar so seating can be tricky if it's a full house. We ordered their specialty drinks, mojitos, & beer which were delicious. On Thursday's, it's karaoke night!! We started at 9pm with a list of those that signed up. You get to sing part of a song with the lyrics posted on the TV. I sang "meet me halfway" by the black eyed peas ! It was nice to see what other songs were on queue. I will definitely be back on their other nights since each day has a different theme. Overall, a nice spot to start the night with a yummy drink & bar hop around since it's around the brewery district. read more

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Love this place! Used to be called Bar C back in the day and they used to have a drink called the Galvetron. Don't order it at this bar, different place! But really like what they did with the place. read more

Little Tokyo dive bar that I never knew existed. I come to this area quite often for shopping and food. I literally park across the street and had never ventured into this plaza. The Mermaid theme runs throughout the bar including windows with imagery behind some of the seating. I've seen raised bars but this is the first time I had seen a lowered bar space. At first glance I thought the bartenders were all really short haha. Had a couple hazy IPAs for a friends birthday and enjoyed the live DJ. Great little dive bar to hang with friends. I will definitely keep The Mermaid in mind for the future. read more

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Tucked right in the outskirts of the Los Angeles arts district, the mermaid offers a really unique and eclectic getaway. The mermaid first made it on my radar this holiday season, in which I got quite excited to try there holiday pop up bar, the siren who stole Christmas! Being an English teacher and a huge fan of the odyssey, this was the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. The bartenders were very warm and alert. They served us cocktails with a quick pace and a warm smile. The drinks themselves were stellar. They offered great tiki bar themed drinks, as well as some exceptional Christmas inspired cocktails for the pop up. Being a huge Christmas fan, I loved seeing so many people dressed up in ugly sweaters and Christmas attire! The DJ offered us great variety. I was lucky to be joined by three amazing friends, two of which I don't have the pleasure to see often. I would like to thank the mermaid for making our night out so special, and I hope there will be more great events like this in the future. read more

The Mermaid - Welcomed warmly by several waving octopus arms. As you can see, they too have great holiday spirit! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Always a blast here and my favorite bar in LA as you can see, im always here and influence my friends to come!! They end up falling in love and we keep coming back for more great times!! Catch Arica, Alyssa Oke and me tearing up the karaoke hour read more

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I went to this place on a Thursday. As I will expand upon later, the place communicates mermaid grotto style, robustly. You will not be confused. The moment you enter you will know that this place is called The Mermaid for a reason. And if you are going to a place called the The Mermaid, when it happens to be Karoke night which song do you think most people will wan to sing? Correct- a ballad warbled by Ariel, possibly the world's most famous mermaid. I wanted to sing, Part of Your Whole while at the Mermaid but when I requested it, the person who managed the names and paired them with songs said no. For you see, in this bar I was told that Disney songs and Musical songs are not allowed. I could not be Ariel, nor Ephalba, nor Sandy, nor Hook, nor sing the hits from Chicago, Rent or Beauty and the Beast. I am not sure what to sing when I cannot select from the classics. And yes, if I was within water, I would want to sing, under the sea. It was explained to me (and the argument holds water) that if Disney songs are allowed then everyone will want to sing that song, which would be tiresome for the DJ and maybe even the staff. I understood. Everyone who goes to Hawaii wants to take a picture next to a coconut or a palm tree. If Hawaii's spirt could speak it would chastice tourists for lack of creativity. If you come to the land of volcanoes and macadamia, there are more pictures to take than just those featuring a macadamia nut cookie. So the challenge of Karoke at Mermaid is to find a song that can summon the waves of a sea kingdom without relying on Ariel. Can it be done? I am sure it can, but how exactly is the answer for future patrons to answer. Trevor was the bartender who helped me out for the night. I did not take a picture of the menu but there was a classic margarita like drink that Trevor offered to make with Vodka, and it hit the spot, so hard that the spot became a puddled that splashed! If you are a drinker, you will find a drink or one can be made for you that you enjoy. So in the drink option department this place most likely has you covered as long as you seek what is reasonable. If you want a specific liquor that only comes from the petals of an African Violet then perhaps this is not the bar you need to dive into! For me, the decorations were the highlight of the joint! Truthfully, all of the bobbles and bubbles, are present without a coherent theme. So there is no nautical theme to identify. For instance, you will not feel like you are within a sea cave that Ariel's uses for cocktail parties, nor will you feel like you are in a shipwrkect, nor will you feel like you are in a sophisticated speakeasy design as a space for Arthur of Atlantis. Why? Because the decor and items within lend itself to all those vibes and spaces and more. Basically the bar is a watery theme collection that works, not because it is cohesive, but because it is stranded chaos, like a seashell necklace with found shells from beaches around the globe. My favorite item on decor was this submarine window that allowed you to see different mermaids pass, sometimes in their full glory whole other times you might just see a scale or two. It transported me into a ship, where I was part of the rowers. I toiled and blistered and the mermaid was a break from the work. Then there was this, corner that was lit by a lime green light. I associate lime green light to the introduction of evil. I blame Disney. Apparently, every time one of their villains comes into the screen they come with lime green fog or light. So this nook looked scary with its eery green light. And the ship lighted but the light seems a bit haunted. The print in the bathroom showcased posh mermaids drinking cocktails and also mercats--- half black cat have mer-animal. And I am crazy for jellyfish so the jellyfish hanging on the walls were also a keen thing to see. The lists of visuals goes for leagues under the sea. So trust me, you will see so much from the sea that you will be spoiled for choice on what to admire, you might even be inundated with choices, up to your gills! read more

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Weekend nights are cool but the real vibe to catch is on Monday nights for the Goth/Tiki mashup. The bartenders Abby and Julie are always so fun and quick to make our drinks! The tiki drinks are a great spin on classic Tiki and new school takes. Music is at a good level, and B-Horror movies are always fun to watch. Love the mermaid ‍ read more

The Mermaid - Ghoul's Lagoon & Perils of Greh - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great bartenders and tasty drinks. Soooooo cute inside. Dive feel with a bit of a fancy touch.

I love going to The Mermaid, a nautical-themed bar tucked away in Little Tokyo. It's a true hidden gem, mostly frequented by locals, located in Honda Plaza, a spot I already visit often for Aloha Cafe, Pasta e Pasta by Allegro, Sushi Gen, Tea Master Matcha Cafe, and Tous les Jours. It's the perfect place to stop by if you're dining in the plaza, or even to visit on its own just for fun. The bartenders are excellent, the crowd is friendly, and the atmosphere is always welcoming. The last time I went was during the holidays, and they had festive Christmas decorations layered in with their usual pirate and mermaid decor, which made the space feel especially cozy and charming. read more

Really enjoyed the Mermaid's "later" 6 to 8 PM happy hour. Great soundtrack played before the DJ starts at 8. Tropical margarita and chile cosmo were favorites. Unfortunately the west cost IPA keg was empty and they couldn't switch to a different one. The Mermaid doesn't have a dedicated website. A link on Yelp takes users to their Instagram feed. Had no idea that they haven't had a kitchen in 2.5 years. Many menu pics on Yelp show food specials. Bartender recommended the nearby Far Bar for happy hour food served until 7 PM. read more

Really fun aquatically themed dive bar. Went for karaoke night (Wed?) and had a lot of fun. That said, it wasn't my favorite karaoke setup, in that a wireless mic was passed around instead of having people come up to a stage (so you basically sing from where you're seated), the problem being that that shape of the bar (and size of the crowd) meant you couldn't always figure out who was singing or where they were. Still, the crowd was lively, the bar staff were friendly and efficient, and the KJ was good at what he did. read more

Sick dive bar! Friendly staff, clean restrooms, great drinks. Came after the Mexico vs. South Korea game and it was Karaoke Thursday. It was a great vibe. read more

Such a cute spot in DTLA. The atmosphere was fun, the drinks were really good, and the service was great. Definitely a place I'd come back to for a night out!! read more

**BUYER BEWARE** My rating is 1 star for a reason. I consider myself very objective when I rate an establishment. And everything I am sharing on this review is specifically my experience. Other people may have a different experience, and I do not discount the validity of that at all. I just want to point out that this is a recounting of my personal experience. Firstly, this was my first time coming to this bar, and without question my last. I, and a group of friends who are all DTLA residents came to this bar for karaoke night. We love karaoke and it really is a shared experience that we all enjoy. Except, when karaoke started promptly at 8-ish pm, the KJ (Karaoke Jockey) announced some "house rules". One of which was "NO MUSICALS", and then he followed this up with "especially DISNEY MUSICALS". First of all, karaoke is supposed to be a fun activity of self-expression. Meanwhile, the KJ has arbitrarily decided to disallow a whole genre of music! Also, this bar claims to be LGBT friendly. What is more LGBT inclined than karaoke that includes musical theatre? I met one of the proprietors of the establishment and commented about this. Her response was, "just come on a different night when we have a different KJ that is ok with musicals". To this, I nodded and just smiled and said "yeah, that sounds great!". But to be honest, that was even more reason for me to decide not to ever come back to this bar. The KJ is not the star of the show, the participants are. I recommend you should advertise that MUSICALS ARE NOT ALLOWED so we do not waste our time coming here. Secondly, I would recommend that you not keep a tab open at this bar. I did, and when I closed my tab, I was surprised to see that I was charged $50++ for three drinks!?! Mind you that two of those were drinks I ordered during happy hour. I pointed it out to the bartender and after she reviewed the charge, she changed it to $39! I did not even question how that happened so, after checking everything I decided that it was correct and proceeded to finalize the charge. Meanwhile, the bar staff was humorously mentioning that thanks to her I was being charged correctly, so to show my gratitude I should tip her 25%. Seriously...you wanted to be rewarded for correcting an "error" that I had to point out? I gave her the 25%. Because frankly, with the tip, it was still a smaller charge than what it would have been with the padded bill. I work hard for my money. And I do not like it when businesses are careless about taking it from me. Bottom line, 1 star for the fun factor. But between the regulated karaoke, and bill padding...this bar is a no for me. read more

The cocktails gave us unbelievable strength. Thank you guest bartender Crystal! Great vibes all around read more

The Mermaid - The cocktails here gave us unbelievable strength - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a fun bar. A little loud but the drinks are cool and you feel like you're in a trippy SpongeBob Lounge. Especially cute and fun during the holidays! Nice and close to other bars as well if you're hopping read more

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I used to love coming here. They had amazing deals and the ambiance you can't beat. However, they've been slowly raising the prices and have become stingy with the drinks for example no longer offering adequate ice cubes for some of their mixed drinks which would honestly not be tolerated in a lot of scenes as it cheapens and dilutes the drink. The bartender was also super rude the last time I was there and gave attitude , basically walking away while I was mid sentence. Not sure if I'll be back read more

Cute dive bar in this busy plaza. Great place to grab a drink while waiting for a table next door. Margaritas are great! Got this tiki/dive bar vibes very cute! read more

The Mermaid - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We came here on a somewhat empty Sunday night. I was impressed with the theme and the atmosphere that The mermaid has. Ther is a lot to see when you are just hanging out having a drink. Getting a drink took a bit of time for some reason. I loved the screen showing a mermaid swimming around, made the experience all the better while hanging out here. The mermaid is tucked away from the rest of Little Tokyo/Arts district but I would still include it in your night out. read more

Absolutely love this place. The decor is off the charts (especially at the holidays), the cocktails are so delicious, the bartenders friendly and fast, and the curated movies playing are top notch. read more

The Mermaid - The Siren Who Stole Xmas cocktail menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Located in downtown this little hidden gem was a great find! ALMOST a tiki bar (definitely not a traditional one) this under the sea bar had some great tasting drinks. The ambience was really cute with under the sea theme. That definitely makes you feel like you are an immersed as a mermaid would be. The drinks were delicious and they have a great happy hour that you definitely should come by and try. I asked if any of the tiki mugs were for sale. However, the bartender said that they were not. I also asked if they had any tiki mug trades and he also said that he would talk to the owner about that. Definitely a hidden gem, though I would definitely come back, especially if they did end up becoming more traditional tiki. Overall great drinks definitely a good vibe and if I'm in the area again, I definitely come back. read more

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Solid drinks and really great atmosphere. The servers are friendly and get your drinks to fast. Plus, great music playing.

The bar itself was cute, makes you feel like you are under the sea. I went on a weekend and it was one bar tender- Not good when it's busy. So, the wait was longer than wanted. The up side was some man (co worker) could of been the bar back ended up making the drinks and it was made to perfection. Thanks for noticing that I was empty handed and had been waiting for some time. I will give it one more Go, hopefully the Bar will have assistance. read more

Stumbled upon this hidden pearl of a dive bar while I was in Little Tokyo, and I'm so glad I checked it out! I love how the vibes are a lot more chill and casual (compared to other clubs in DTLA, which can feel pretentious), and I felt like all of the patrons we were with enjoyed listening/participating in the live karaoke session. Personally, I probably prefer private karaoke rooms that I can rent out with my friends, but this was a fun experience nonetheless. They have beautifully themed drinks that reflect their namesake, and I loved how the cocktails were decorated with super cute pirate/nautical themed garnishes. Even though it's July, they also have Christmas-themed drinks with super cute mugs that go towards supporting a non-profit. They also have some bar bites, but given how busy the bar was, our bartender forgot to put them into our order. Nevertheless, we appreciated how he corrected the mistake, provided the bar nuts on the house, and was super efficient with churning out orders quickly. read more

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