(310) 399-7537

1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 33.9904 -118.4645

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Neighborhoods: Venice, West LA

Last updated 9.05.09

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Bars & Clubs, Neighborhood Bars, Singles Bars, Lounges, Taverns, Billiards Bars

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Club Special Features:

Romantic Nightlife, 21 & Over, After Work, Live Music

Minimum Age:

21

What People Are Saying About Brig

Featured Review

Nicole Carbon

Contributor

This is a bar bar. No fancy cocktails. The drinks are strong and the bartender likes to make them how he makes them don't ask differently.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The doorman is armed with a hand-held, high-tech gadget that scans IDs to make sure they're legit. Even if you are well over 21, the bouncers won't let you enter unless you present valid identification.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Diverse crowd, always busy, great atmosphere.
  2. LOVED the decor, just enough seating, and they were playing some great music (think: lounge meets house with a spoonful of funk).
  3. cool atmosphere
  4. The atmosphere is mellow and low-key on weeknights, a good place to go for a drink and some conversation.
  5. the crowd was great and an enjoyable atmosphere.
  6. Nice decor and the music is always on point.
  7. Very friendly atmosphere which surprised me, at every turn people would smile and were polite as could be.
  8. Have yet to be there for a DJ, but thursday nights are always fun.
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. this is a great neighborhood bar that draws a hip crowd from all over.
  2. Bar tenders are cool and none of that "dump the drink for another one with less alcohol if you don't tip me" BS here.
  3. Bartender aside, this bar is perfect and I highly recommend it!
  4. the dudes in tight shirts crowd is moving in, and it's near impossible to order one of the overpriced drinks on a crowded weekend night.
  5. The brig is pretty nice except for the super expensive little drinks.
  6. As for the Brig itself, it IS a cool bar.
  7. The atmosphere is mellow and low-key on weeknights, a good place to go for a drink and some conversation.
  8. Line wasn't long at all, drinks were affordable.
  9. The drinks were decent and not too pricey, but even when it's packed, I just don't like the metal+concrete vibe of the place.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The atmosphere is mellow and low-key on weeknights, a good place to go for a drink and some conversation.
service
89.28999900817871% positive
  1. People are your typical down to earth friendly laid back Veni.
  2. Very friendly atmosphere which surprised me, at every turn people would smile and were polite as could be.
  3. Drinks were strong & bartenders were nice.
  4. The mix of people reflects exactly what I like about L.A. Refreshingly unpretentious crowd that is a good blend of local and international.
  5. Everyone is really friendly and very laid back.
  6. Loved the layout, didn't love the angry bartender (Casey) who was so rude it was almost funny.
  7. Friendly crowd, friendly staff.
value
25.0% positive
  1. the dudes in tight shirts crowd is moving in, and it's near impossible to order one of the overpriced drinks on a crowded weekend night.
  2. The drinks were decent and not too pricey, but even when it's packed, I just don't like the metal+concrete vibe of the place.
  3. Line wasn't long at all, drinks were affordable.
  4. The brig is pretty nice except for the super expensive little drinks.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. Line wasn't long at all, drinks were affordable.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/05/09

Great Jazz on Tuesday nights

by KathyNicholson

Great jazz at 11pm on Tuesdays... not your normal old person Jazz!

  • Pros: great music
  • Cons: crowded
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/01/08

Best Hang in LA on Tuesdays

by jtpounder

They have a great Jam Band that plays tuesdays late--around 10:45 pm. Every time I've been there, it's been packed with talent, on stage and off. Definitely the best Westside hang on Tuesdays!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/21/06

cool atmosphere

by fstrick

we checked this place out after dinner on a sat. night. the crowd was great and an enjoyable atmosphere. get there early to snag a spot to sit.

3 Star Rating: Average

11/17/06

Cold

by dmenkes

The Brig lives up to its name in that when a group of us came here for drinks, it was cold and drafty. We almost didn't want to order drinks because we were all freezing. The drinks were decent and not too pricey, but even when it's packed, I just don't like the metal+concrete vibe of the place. When I worked down the street, it was more convinient just to stop by briefly, but I wouldn't make it a regular destination these days.

  • Pros: parking lot
  • Cons: cold atmosphere
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/28/06

Good place to go on a random weeknight and for MOJITOS!

by estherj

The Brig is home to the best mojitos I've ever tasted in my life. The atmosphere is mellow and low-key on weeknights, a good place to go for a drink and some conversation. The interior is also decorated very well, a little retro mixed with a little lost in translation, and although it's a relatively small bar, there's also a pool table and dj. Be careful not to miss the sign though since there's no name outside, there's only a picture of a boxer. I always wondered what the hell the boxer stands for, but then I looked at the business card: "Come in for a few rounds." Clever.

The Details on Brig

Place Categories:

  • good place
  • great atmosphere
  • great crowd
  • overpriced little drinks
  • nice retro setup
  • rude angry bartender
  • nice bartender
  • good cosmos
  • loved decor
  • great jazz
  • great neighborhood bar
  • not like brig
  • genuinely interesting ragers
  • like nothing
  • friendly staff
  • like kinda
  • best musicians
  • always fun thursday nights
  • great dj s
  • great restaurants
  • decent drinks
  • good lines
  • nice music
  • very laid everyone
  • great ambiance
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