When you search "happy hour near me" in Downtown Los Angeles, you'll still find dozens of outdated listings for The Varnish, the unmarked speakeasy that helped launch LA's modern cocktail movement. But here's what those listings won't tell you: The Varnish closed permanently on July 3, 2024, after 15 years of operation. The bar never recovered from the pandemic, making only half its pre-COVID business in its final months. If you're hunting for that speakeasy experience or a solid happy hour in the Historic Core, you need to know what actually happened to The Varnish and where to go instead.
Looking for the best cocktail bars and happy hour spots still open in Downtown LA? Karpo's app maps every verified venue with current hours, prices, and how to get there by Metro or on foot.
What Happened to The Varnish on 6th Street
The Varnish opened in 2009 at 118 E 6th St in Downtown's Historic Core, hidden inside a former storage room behind Cole's French Dip restaurant. Founders Eric Alperin, Sasha Petraske, and Cedd Moses built it as an intimate, 50-seat cocktail bar marked only by a cocktail etching on an unmarked door. For fifteen years, it became the epicenter of LA's modern cocktail revolution, serving vintage recipes and artisanal spirits in a dimly lit room where a live jazz trio performed in the corner most nights.
The bar operated on a walk-ins-only policy with no reservations, and locals knew to arrive close to the 7:00 PM opening to avoid the wait. Sunday jazz nights were historically the easiest time to get a table, with an old upright piano occasionally played by performers adding to the atmosphere. All cocktails were priced at $13 with no happy hour discounts, a flat-rate approach that distinguished The Varnish from typical Downtown LA bars chasing after-work crowds.
Post-pandemic financial challenges proved insurmountable. Despite its reputation and loyal following, The Varnish couldn't rebuild its customer base after COVID-19 closures. The ownership announced the closure in early July 2024, citing an inability to sustain operations when revenue remained at half of pre-pandemic levels. Cole's French Dip, which houses the space, remains open for business.
Why The Varnish Never Did Happy Hour Pricing
If you were searching for the best happy hour LA has to offer, The Varnish was never going to be your budget pick. Every drink cost $13, whether you arrived at opening or just before the 2:00 AM close. The bar operated on a "Bartender's Choice" model where staff asked two or three questions about your spirit preference and mood before crafting something tailored to your taste, rather than pushing you toward a menu of discounted well drinks.
Signature serves included the Bobby Burns, a Scotch Manhattan with shortbread; the Medicina Latina with tequila, ginger, agave, and floating mezcal; and the Paper Plane, a bourbon cocktail balanced with Italian digestifs and lemon. You could also order a Bartender's Choice and trust the staff to interpret your request. The only food allowed inside was from Cole's French Dip next door, meaning you could bring in one of their famous French dip sandwiches while you drank.
This approach made The Varnish more of a destination bar than a casual happy hour stop. People came for the craft and the atmosphere, not for two-for-one deals or discounted appetizers. That model worked brilliantly until the pandemic reset customer behavior across Downtown Los Angeles.
Where to Find Speakeasy Cocktails in Downtown LA Now
The good news for anyone hunting for a similar experience: The Varnish was part of a larger bar group run by Cedd Moses, and two of its sibling venues remain open in Downtown LA. Seven Grand at 515 W 7th St is a whiskey-focused bar with an extensive selection, known for its serious spirits program and a similar commitment to craft cocktails. Las Perlas, also in Downtown, specializes in agave spirits and mezcal cocktails, offering a different flavor profile but the same attention to quality.
Both bars are confirmed open and share The Varnish's DNA: dimly lit interiors, knowledgeable bartenders, and a focus on classic and contemporary cocktail techniques. While neither replicates the hidden-door mystique of The Varnish's location behind Cole's, they deliver the same level of craft without requiring you to search for an unmarked entrance. If you're Metro-dependent, Seven Grand is walkable from the 7th Street/Metro Center station on the B and D lines.
Getting to the Historic Core for Cocktails
The former Varnish location at 6th and Main in the Historic Core is still easy to reach, even if the bar itself is gone. Take the Metro B or D lines to Pershing Square, then walk two blocks east. Street parking in this part of Downtown Los Angeles is notoriously difficult, especially on weekend evenings when the area fills with bar-hoppers and theater crowds. Your best bet is the Joe's Auto Parks lot on 6th Street or one of the public lots along Broadway.
When you're planning a night out and searching "happy hour near me" on your phone, remember that the Historic Core and the broader Downtown area are dense with options. The challenge isn't finding a bar; it's finding one that's actually open, serves what you want, and fits your budget. Outdated listings plague this neighborhood, and what worked in 2019 or even 2023 may not be true today.
Planning Your Downtown LA Bar Crawl the Right Way
The closure of The Varnish is a reminder that even legendary bars aren't immune to economic pressures, and that the internet is full of stale information. When you search for happy hour near me in Los Angeles, you're often pulling up results that haven't been updated in months or years. Yelp, Google Maps, and editorial roundups still list The Varnish as open with daily 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM hours, even though it's been closed since July 2024.
If you want the speakeasy experience The Varnish pioneered, head to Seven Grand or Las Perlas, both confirmed open and operated by the same ownership group. If you're chasing actual happy hour pricing, you'll need to look beyond the craft cocktail world into the broader Downtown LA bar scene, where neighborhood spots and hotel bars offer better deals on drinks and food between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Either way, verify hours and specials before you go, especially on Sundays and Mondays when schedules shift.
The best happy hour LA has to offer isn't necessarily the one with the lowest prices. Sometimes it's the bar with the best atmosphere, the most skilled bartenders, or the one that's actually open when you arrive. The Varnish delivered on atmosphere and skill for fifteen years. Now it's up to you to find the next spot that earns your loyalty.
Please drink responsibly. Must be of legal drinking age.
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Trying to plan a night out in Downtown LA and not sure which bars are actually open or offering happy hour specials? Ask Karpo to map the current cocktail and happy hour scene from Pershing Square to the Historic Core, with verified hours and Metro directions. The app checks real-time status so you won't waste a trip to a closed venue. Whether you're looking for whiskey bars like Seven Grand or agave-focused spots like Las Perlas, Karpo builds you a walking route that actually works in Los Angeles right now.
