Stick It to the Teetotalers With L.A.’s Top Repeal Day Drink Specials

Lindsey Styrwoll

Upon the 1919 passage of the 18th amendment, which banned the manufacturing and sale of alcoholic beverages. Magically, all of the country’s social problems disappeared – just kidding. In 1933, this travesty was righted and the ban was overturned, sending barkeeps back to work. Celebrate this small historic event on Dec. 5, also known as Repeal Day. Many bars will be celebrating with dollar drinks, especially Old Fashioneds.

Bar10
This establishment in WeHo offers the opportunity to party down in Boy’s Town with some sassily named half-priced cocktails. “Is That a Cucumber Gin in Your Pocket?” or the St. Germain-based “Ain’t No Saint” are highlights.

Bigfoot Lodge & Bigfoot West
Meet the bearded lumberjack of your dreams at these twin rustic joints. The hipster havens have graced the ubër-cool hoods of Atwater Village and Venice, respectively, with dollar Old Fashioneds on Repeal Day. Get your drink on wherever you land.

La Cuevita
Looking for a Tequila-soaked alternative? This Eastside haunt will be joining the party with reposado cocktails for just a dollar.

Eureka!
The burger chain is quickly becoming a West Coast institution and has set up locations in Woodland Hills and Hawthorne. The Santa Barbara outpost offers fresh fare. An appropriate Repeal Day drink would be the $5 Templeton Rye old fashioneds.

Faith & Flower
This downtown vintage favorite dominates when it comes to craft cocktails. Aptly named mix master Darwin Pornel will be serving up Havana Club Puerto Rico Punch for a dollar alongside his rendition of Depression-days potable Sazerac.  

Harlowe
Toast Repeal Day while soaking up some old Hollywood glamour. The swanky setting will make your dollar Old Fashioned taste that much better.

Highland Park Bowl
LA’s oldest bowling alley is a kingpin of the 1933 Group’s ambitious restorations. Park it on the cozy Chesterfields standing in for traditional lane seating and nurse a dollar drink in this masterful revamp of the original Spanish Revival interiors.

Idle Hour
This barrel-shaped wonder re-opened on Vineland in 2015 after a 30-year hiatus. Imbibe dollar Old Fashioneds in a historic setting that must be seen to be believed.

Oldfield’s
This Venice bar, named for 19th-century speed racer Barney Oldfield, is already rife with bow-tied bartenders and a hip, 20-something crowd. On Repeal Day, it will also be your home for dollar Old Fashioneds.

Paley
Start drinking early at Paley Hollywood where specials begin at 2:30 p.m. Belly up the bar and sip Bees Knees of Penicillins until closing time. That’s the spirit!

Sassafras
This old-timey saloon neighbors the historic Villa Elaine that once provided shelter to up-and-comers Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra. Perhaps you have heard of them? Starving artists of any era will appreciate the elegant décor and barrel-aged libations. On Monday, Old Fashioneds will run you just a buck.

Thirsty Crow
This Silver Lake hang, cleverly named for Aesop’s whisky-centric fable, has been an eastside staple since 2010. Stop in for the top shelf Dark’n’Stormy or stick with an Old Fashioned, on special from 5-7 p.m.

Townhouse & the Delmonte Speakeasy
Venice’s oldest bar will be celebrating its 101st anniversary on Repeal Day; during prohibition, the Delmonte Speakeasy downstairs was cleverly hidden by a family-run grocery store on the ground floor, so this place is an ideal Repeal Day choice. A free pig roast starts at 6 p.m. and a line-up of Tin Pan Alley-style bands will make it feel like the real deal.

The Wallace
This Culver City spot specializes in local, sustainable fare. Enjoy the dollar oysters and a menu of whisky-based specialty cocktails.