Mandrake is a strictly 21+ venue
2692 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(between Venice and Washington)
Sunday/Monday 6pm-12am
Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-1am
Friday/Saturday 5pm-2am
for booking inquiries, please contact us by email
HABANERA 13
Habanero-infused Gem&Bolt mezcal, grapefruit and lime
BOLANO 15
Our twist on a margarita with carmelized pineapple and salt
EMERALD GARDEN 14
Plantation rum, matcha, honey and lime
LAST WORD 13
Spring 44 gin with lime, Luxardo and green chartreuse
BLING BLING 14
Cucumber-mint Spring 44, spiced vermouth, orange bitters
YOU’RE KILLING ME SMALLS 15
Graham cracker rye, cacao liqueur, marshmallow, milk stout
MONTE CARLO 14
Dickle rye, Benedictine, Peychaud’s bitters
LEAVING ELYSIAN 16
Apple/quince cognac, green chartreuse, bay, lemon
2692 South La Cienega Boulevard is building with a rich history as a drinking hole. Since it was built in 1939, the building has housed a progression of bars, many of which are remembered as part of L.A.’s important gay bar scene. Back then, the street was mostly filled with mechanic and automotive businesses. The current iteration, Mandrake, was opened in 2006 by Justin Beal, Drew Heitzler and Flora Wiegmann, three artists who had moved to Los Angeles from New York. Finding a historic bar building nestled between Venice and Washington, they set out to renew the space as a watering hole for the Culver City Arts District that was just starting to gain momentum. While in construction, they discovered a time capsule hidden in the rafters, containing business cards and matchbooks from it’s earlier caretakers. They also met the resident ghost, a former owner who died suddenly onsite. 16 years on, the neighborhood continues to transform, including the addition of the nearby Metro line, and Mandrake acts as a central meeting point for the vast city of L.A. The neighborhood lounge continues to welcome and serve everyone— local residents, the art community, and employees of new, cutting edge businesses nearby. Mandrake supports local, national and international creative and philanthropic endeavors through collecting art, hosting exhibitions, and maintaining a back room space that houses screenings, book and magazine launches, fundraisers, LA Noir author presentations, company happy hours and first dates.
LA Times — A history of gay bar scene, told in matchbooks
Qvoicenews.com — History of L.A.’s gay bars, showcased in matchbooks
Gourmet Ghosts, by James T. Bartlett
yes, of course, always mandrake.
selected press
“best new bar of 2006” – v magazine
“hot list: 25 best new bars of 2007” – conde nast traveler
hyperlocal: kyle’s los angeles spots – 2022
luis vuitton los angeles city guide – 2020
eaterLA – 2019
sotheby’s los angeles: a museum lover’s guide – 2019
citizine best of fall – 2017
foursquare lists – october 2016
la weekly – february 2016
the culture trip – january 2016
details – january 2011
interview – december 2010 – online
town and country – october 2010
los angeles magazine – october 2010
los angeles times calendar – march 2010
ponystep, trumansays – march 2009
dwell design guide – june 2009
cera traveler – august 2008
los angeles magazine – june 2008
elle magazine – october 2007
conde naste traveler special edition – 2007
c magazine – fall 2007
conde nast traveler – may 2007
spike magazine, “deleuze at the mandrake” september 2007
the los angeles times – march 8, 2007
the new york times – january 28, 2007 – online
the la weekly – january 24, 2007
paper magazine – january, 2007
v magazine – winter 2007
the los angeles times – december 21, 2006
the los angeles times calendar – november 23, 2006
elle magazine – november 2006
the new york times magazine – october 1, 2006 – online
artforum.com – august 18, 2006 – online
additional listings in timeout los angeles, zagat, art + culture, jetsetreport,