Golden Gopher

(213) 614-8001

417 W Eighth St
Los Angeles, CA 90014 34.0447 -118.256

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Neighborhoods: Historic Core, Downtown, Central LA

GOLDENGOPHERBAR.COM

Hours:

Saturday To Wednesday From 08:00 PM To 02:00 AM Thursday To Friday From 05:00 PM To 02:00 AM

Last updated 9.05.09

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Lounges

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Happy Hour

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Funk, Soul & R&B, Rock & Pop, Punk

Bar & Club Special Features:

Specialty Cocktails, After Work, 21 & Over

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Golden Gopher

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – If Liberace and the Rolling Stones got together in the '70s to do an extreme makeover of a downtrodden dive bar, the result may have looked something like this luxurious lounge. The same people behind Three Clubs, Liquid Kitty and North extensively remodeled the onetime speakeasy, adding sparkling glass chandeliers, wide-panel windows, wraparound couches and gold-crusted gopher lamps. Two cushy couches bookend the narrow, alley-like outdoor patio, adding to the club's kitschy yet classy charm. And as the proud owner of one of the oldest liquor licenses in L.A., Gopher is also…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The liquor store offers moderately priced bottles of liquor and beer, cameras, mints and cigarettes.
When to Go:
Happy hour runs weekdays, 4pm-7pm. There are weekly drink specials and regular discounts on beer and well drinks. No food, but guests can order pizza in.
What to Drink:
The Blue Angel, an ode to the Dodgers and Angels, contains mandarin vodka, blue Curacao, sweet-and-sour mix with a sugar-coated rim.
ambiance
95.83000183105469% positive
  1. “The service is good and the staff are laidback and friendly and definitely set the tone for the overall atmosphere of the place.”
  2. “thought the decor was great and the small outdoor patio was perfect for a quick spoke or some fresh air.”
  3. “The music they play is great and the overall ambience is wonderful.”
  4. “No view or too much of a scene, just a nice place for local artists, musicians and good people to throw back a few and not have to worry about who's watching.”
  5. “nice atmosphere, booze to go, cheaps well drinks and PBR.”
  6. “Cool ambiance, dark interiors, tables tops are videogames, full screen wall, and fancy chandeliers.”
drinks
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “Good beer selection.”
  2. “It's a pretty chill bar - a good place to come for a drink to unwind and kick it with your friends.”
  3. “The bartenders are great and friendly and drinks are reasonable (although they can be a little stingy on the liquor).”
  4. “Located in the desolate wilds of downtown, the Golden Gopher is the cool, relaxed bar this part of town needs.”
  5. “nice atmosphere, booze to go, cheaps well drinks and PBR.”
  6. “Not to be too judgemental, but the bar was full of elderly business people trying to reclaim their glory years.”
  7. “The service is excellent, the bar tenders are on top of things, and the smoking patio is always a nice visit.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “thought the decor was great and the small outdoor patio was perfect for a quick spoke or some fresh air.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Good beer selection.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a pretty chill bar - a good place to come for a drink to unwind and kick it with your friends.”
  2. “No view or too much of a scene, just a nice place for local artists, musicians and good people to throw back a few and not have to worry about who's watching.”
  3. “was suprised to find such a great place in downtown.”
  4. “The service is good and the staff are laidback and friendly and definitely set the tone for the overall atmosphere of the place.”
  5. “Seems like there's a decent-sized crowd most weeknights but the best part is stepping in on a Saturday night and seeing the place packed.”
  6. “The place looks great for starters, and it's got a laid-back vibe, a great jukebox, friendly bartenders, and a mix of hipsters and old businessmen who knew the place before it was recently renovated by the owners of Liquid Kitty and Three Clubs.”
service
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “The place looks great for starters, and it's got a laid-back vibe, a great jukebox, friendly bartenders, and a mix of hipsters and old businessmen who knew the place before it was recently renovated by the owners of Liquid Kitty and Three Clubs.”
  2. “Not to be too judgemental, but the bar was full of elderly business people trying to reclaim their glory years.”
  3. “No view or too much of a scene, just a nice place for local artists, musicians and good people to throw back a few and not have to worry about who's watching.”
  4. “The service is good and the staff are laidback and friendly and definitely set the tone for the overall atmosphere of the place.”
  5. “Really cool interior, great music and suprisingly normal people.”
  6. “The bartenders are great and friendly and drinks are reasonable (although they can be a little stingy on the liquor).”
  7. “The service is excellent, the bar tenders are on top of things, and the smoking patio is always a nice visit.”
wait time
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “thought the decor was great and the small outdoor patio was perfect for a quick spoke or some fresh air.”
  2. “Bartenders were slow and selective, and the whole place smelled like upchuck.”
  3. “still, the space inside is long and there's a nice little open air patio for you smokers out there.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/21/09

Rock+booze=Golden Gopher

by v735

awsome place to hang out no dress code just be your self and enjoy the night and pick out some tunes with friends you'll have fun.

Not trendy at all

  • Pros: ROck inspired
  • Cons: i got there a little late
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/14/09

Hidden Gem of Downtown LA

by jadeelectric

I discovered the GG about one year ago and its now my favorite all around bar. It may look a little shady from the outside but on the inside it's a whole different world. I love how everytime I've gone (mostly on Friday nights) there is never a line outside and they don't charge you cover. It does get pretty crowded, and it is a pretty small space but the eclectic crowd gives you a great opportunity to mingle and chat. Every person I've brought here loves it. The bartenders are great and friendly and drinks are reasonable (although they can be a little stingy on the liquor). The music they play is great and the overall ambience is wonderful. Such a change of pace from the usual Hollywood trendy scene.

  • Pros: Great atmosphere, friendly bartenders, no outside lines
  • Cons: Small space, can get really crowded, drinks aren't that strong
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/02/07

Great downtown Bar

by Tara deLis

This place now gets sort of forgotten now that so much more has opened downtown, including the owner's other places, Broadway Bar and Seven Grand, but this is the one that really helped kickstart the revitalization of downtown. I like that it's spacious and friendly. The patio is nice. They even have an old liquor license where you can buy stuff to go. It can be a little fratty at times during the school year due to proximity to USC.

  • Pros: cool design, smoking patio, liquor store to-go thing
  • Cons: can be USC frat crowd at times
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/26/07

offsite liquor and 80's arcade games? hell yes!

by cdisip

another great establishment by Cedd Moses. Great crowd, vibe, and old school arcade games. It gets a bit crowded over the weekends, especially in the smoking patio outside."

2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/26/07

BINGO NIGHT

by delito

Not to be too judgemental, but the bar was full of elderly business people trying to reclaim their glory years. I thought they were checking AARPcards at the door. I thought the decor was great and the small outdoor patio was perfect for a quick spoke or some fresh air. They should also have music outside if possible.

The Details on Golden Gopher

Place Categories:

  • friendly bartenders
  • great place
  • great service
  • nice small outdoor patio
  • cool golden gopher
  • great jumpoff spot
  • cool dark interiors
  • like seems
  • nice booze
  • great vibe
  • cool tables tops
  • great decor
  • reasonable drinks
  • great opportunity
  • nice atmosphere
  • great old school
  • great crowd
  • cool ambiance
  • full bar
  • great jukebox
  • great couches
  • good people
  • great music
  • good beer
  • awesome inside patio
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