Downtown LA may lack many things, but nightlife options isn’t one of them. We have upscale pubs like Library Bar and Seven Grand, the sexy and refined Edison bar, trendy lounges like The Standard and Blue Velvet, the infinitely obnoxious Elevate Lounge – and countless other happening places. All of these hangouts draw in specific crowds, which may or may not fit your tastes.

But if you’re craving a quieter, more casual and laid-back alternative, then you should check out Far Bar in Little Tokyo.

Located down a narrow brick alley off 1st Street, the place is a charming and relatively undiscovered open-air bar and lounge. It opened about a year ago as the rear bar area for Chop Suey Cafe. Rico has been a fan ever since moving to Mozaic in March, but last weekend was my first visit.

The first thing I noticed was the mixed local crowd, some sitting at the bar while others were quietly having appetizers outside. We all grabbed a round of drinks and moved out to a comfy sofa in the corner to chat.

I instantly commented on the warm and cozy atmosphere (even though it was a bit chilly that night and the heat lamps weren’t working). Looking up at the early-20th century brick walls surrounding the space, we admired the old steel fire escapes and architectural character.

The young bartenders were very friendly and helpful in recommending the house specialties. The only drawback was the wait of a few minutes to receive our drinks, so I’d recommend ordering your second round before finishing your first.

Even still, like so many other places, here you don’t just feel like the next guy in line ordering a drink. In fact, at one point the owner came over to pick up my glass which I wasn’t quite finished with. After he stuck is finger in it to pick it, he went back to the bar and gave me a replacement drink on the house! He smiled and told me, “We’re all about customer service here!”

Hey, Elevate Lounge! Are you guys taking notes?!

Like many businesses in Little Tokyo, Far Bar seems to keep irregular hours, so we recommend calling ahead before making the trip out. Happy hour runs from 4pm to 8pm weekdays (call to confirm).

Far Bar at Chop Suey Café
347 E. First Street
Tel: (213) 617-9990