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    Franklin Bell's Blues Workshop

    4.9 (20 reviews)
    InexpensiveJazz & Blues
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Looking toward the stage

    Fun way to spend a Sunday evening. Starts at 5:00 but if you want a choice of seats come about 4:30. Bring food and drinks. There are some tables.

    Amy M.

    Great place for some real Blues... Fabulous entertainment from some of the best artists in Los Angeles. You will be so happy to have discovered this hidden gem! Mr. Franklin Bell provides an atmosphere you will enjoy!

    Nancy B.

    Franklin Bell... What a fine fine gentleman you are! I had the privilege of spending Sunday late afternoon and evening in Franklin Bell's garage listening and dancing to the blues. It was a sublime experience that I would love to keep as a secret, yet I kinda want to shout from the rooftops about... It was that great. Every Sunday, Franklin Bell opens his Los Angeles garage to the public from 4-9 pm. The joint was jumpin when we arrived and it was basically standing room only. That was ok because Franklin quickly made us feel super welcome and we made our way to the refreshment stand to gladly give a $10 per person donation. Truly you could double or triple that with the level of talent, entertainment and experience you are given. The musicians are top notch here and the dancing and vibe is off the charts. This amazing experience is one to put on your LA bucket list... And then return again and again!

    All you need to know!
    Ross L.

    Might be the coolest regular music event in Los Angeles. For a $10 donation you get hours of excellent live blues in Mr. Bell's epic music garage, all-you-can-eat home-cooked food AND an open bar (alcohol and non-alcohol alike). Seriously people, it's the best live music deal I've ever encountered and I've been to hundreds and hundreds of live shows. The weekly event starts at 4 every Sunday (music goes on at 5pm) and features both weekly house musicians and visitors (they welcome any/all musicians to get up there and jam, which is awesome). Mr. Bell, the 80-plus year old host, even plays drums! This weekly jam won't be around forever so seriously, do yourself a favor and get down to the Bell's Blues Workshop ASAP. You won't regret it. AND DON'T FORGET TO TIP!

    a woman holding a bunch of money

    I would be remised if I did not comment on this wonderful man Mr Bell with his outstanding housepertality and generosity. I have been coming here to Mr Bells with my mom Mary and family for many years now and it just gets better with time! The workshop is always clean, the crowd is live and the entrainment is awesome! Where can you go for $10.00 and get a free drink, food and entry into the Workshop? Bell's Blues Workshop!Once you enter Mr Bell's Workshop you're in good hands! Be prepared to have a good time, so come to party, we do !!!!! We love you Mr Bell! Mechele Hermon Zero Mary Dot Niece Max Cheris Brenda Danny Jessie Glen Pierre Sr Flo

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    8 years ago

    Fun spot for blues! Parking is street only, pay a donation but then there's free cans for beer and homemade food.

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    11 years ago

    Nicest people in the world and SO much fun! Great music and a great time! Highly recommended!!!

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    Ask the Community - Franklin Bell's Blues Workshop

    Hello! I'm dying to come by (with some harps, if y'all will have me). To echo Jeremy's question - still happening? Pretty much most Sundays?

    Is this still in operation?

    Invitation only, or what are the hours of operation?

    Welcome to all, $15 cover at the door music usually starts 5-9pm

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Franklin Bell's Blues Workshop

    Down Home Blues, This is a great Juke Joint right in the middle of South Central LA.

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    Rhythm Room LA - Pear ty

    Rhythm Room LA

    4.3(421 reviews)
    6.7 miDowntown
    $$

    I had the most fun last night!! This venue has a big open space where you can see people play ping…read morepong and pool and nights past 9PM amazing bands and artists come to play jazz!! The drinks are tastefully mix and you feel right at home. I was expecting my pretzel bites to be stale as most bars with food aren't that great but they were soft and salted. They consistently check your tables to check on you and remove finished drinks and empty dishes. PARKING was soooo easy to find. Right beside it there's a parking garage and the charge was $10 for a Friday night. I love this place and I can't wait to go again

    I came here with a friend around 11:30pm on a Saturday night. We came looking to play billiards,…read moreand boy did we have fun!! We got on the waitlist for billiards and were able to start playing immediately. It was $20 for one hour and we played for two hours. The drinks were wonderful, my friend and I shared a purple ube cocktail and a fresh lemony gin cocktail. I can't remember what they were called but they were so tasty that we ordered a second round. The live music also made everything so special. The performers were absolutely incredible. It was a little bit crowded in there, which would be fine if people didn't keep crowding standing around where they shouldn't be. Last call for drinks was 1:30am, and I think last call for food was 12:30am. At 1:30 we were told to move away from the games area and go upstairs. Everythung was great until I heard a bartender say that me and my friend were overstaying our welcome ... it was barely 1:45 and we were finishing our drinks. That was rude... After that we were told we still had 5mins. I guess we'll leave early next time. It was just rude to see bartenders point at us and loudly say we weren't welcome ...

    Photos
    Rhythm Room LA
    Rhythm Room LA - Fries and popcorn chicken

    Fries and popcorn chicken

    Rhythm Room LA - One of the delicious specialty margaritas

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    One of the delicious specialty margaritas

    Mr. Wanderlust - A place to experience a quiet drink and conversation before you progress to the next room

    Mr. Wanderlust

    3.9(121 reviews)
    6.3 miDowntown

    5* Ambiance 5* Service…read more5* Coctails Level 8 really has done a fantastic job creating a jazz/entertainment bar with great service, drinks, and unpretentious service. The guests, come and go and at each moment, in any corner, be ready to be surprised and entertained by a live DJ, acrobat, burlesque performer, pianist and singer. What a show! Veronica at the bar was fantastic and made us drinks just to our order. Supper knowledgable, helpful and kind. Definitely, this place is a great hangout after a meal... be prepared to be be dazzled and entertained.

    Gonna try to paint the picture in as few words as possible. Sorry for the long narrative:…read more 1) I planned out a special night for my wife throughout all of Level 8 2) Had reservations set at Lucky Mizu for Dinner to Mr. Wanderlust for Cocktails and Entertainment and then to Sinners and Santos for Drinking and Dancing for Latin Night 3) Showed up for our 6:45 PM reservation at Lucky Mizu but was turned away 3 times stating they didn't have seats available. After being seated 40 minutes later, service took 20 minutes to take our order, and another 30 minutes to be served. Food was 'okay', there was no entertainment, and multiple customers were unhappy with similar slow service... but some of them were comped parts of their meals.. we didn't even get a sorry until we spoke to the manager on our way out, expressing the reason was they had no idea it would be this busy on a Thursday (they take reservations, so...), and also blamed an 'all you can eat promotion' they promoted earlier, and they only had two serves on staff that night. 4) We were late to Mr. Wanderlust, but were luck to get two seats at the bar after another couple left. We order two cocktails and a coffee... and were charged just over $140. Then, we were asked to move because they wanted to take our seats. We asked about the bill to the bartendar, and she expressed that since she didn't take our original order, she couldn't help us. She simply just had us stand there. We were not going to pay since it seemed way off... until finally we spoke to a guy walking by. We showed him our ticket/receipt and said out loud, "this isn't right". He came back quickly with a revised bill of almost $120. This was still far too high, but no one else seemed interested in helping us find resolve, so we ate it since we didn't want to be late for part 3 of the night. 5) Hoping to salvage the night with drinks and dancing... we tried to find the entrance to Sinners and Santos for their advertised Latin night. We had made reservations here too, and had full confirmation of the reservation... BUT, after finally being directed to the entrance (outside on the patio), they were closed. No sign of why and no one who worked at the other locations had a reason, but they were just simply closed. 6) So, after paying $35 for parking, about $140 in cocktails and food while waiting for our initial reservation at Golden Hour and Que Barbaro, $150+ for dinner at Lucky Mizu, and $120 at Mr. Wanderlust... approximately $500 total... we didn't even get to dance. Maybe this place had a bad night, but based on what the workers said, and how they treated us... it sure seems like the norm. Don't get me wrong, the place is cool... some really great experiential elements and nice photo ops... but I would have had a much better time somewhere else. Super disappointed in this place.

    Photos
    Mr. Wanderlust - French Fries

    French Fries

    Mr. Wanderlust - Bottle service

    Bottle service

    Mr. Wanderlust - Tower of sliders, fries, sushi and truffle pizza - yummm

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    Tower of sliders, fries, sushi and truffle pizza - yummm

    Mambo Craze Cabaret - A birthday night that feels personal, fun, and unforgettable.

    Mambo Craze Cabaret

    4.6(59 reviews)
    6.6 miDowntown
    Live music
    Private events

    I went to the most recent event at the Globe Theater in downtown Los Angeles. It was an amazing…read morevenue with a great second floor mezzanine. The live music was incredible, the guy playing the sax really knows how to jam. The dancers and musicians were performing together, and did several shows! There's this magical connection between a musician and a dancer that you see and feel as they improvise and work the crowd, the stage, and the whole venue. In between performances there was social dancing, with a lot of great dancers dressed to the nines. The birthday cake performance is something you got to see and experience, totally off the charts, like something you'd see in a movie! The final performance is with a giant martini glass. The girl dances around/in the glass filled with water and then pours champagne all over herself. One of the most wild over the top things I've ever seen! The energy and vibes were off the hook! I highly recommend this for couples that want a special date night, large groups that want a unique experience/entertainment, and people who want to celebrate their birthday in style.

    Sergio responded to my review with NOTHING BUT LIES…read more Nobody was brought on stage for a birthday surprise. They wheeled the woman out in a cake on the main floor so that's LIE #1. If you have SUPPOSED FOOTAGE of me receiving this birthday surprise then please post it!!! I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE IT LIE#2. There were definitely not 10 acts and YES then entire chaotic mess of a show was only 15-20 minutes long!!! IF you have footage of a 90 minutes show then I'm sure you can post that as well LIE#3 The only thing Sergio didn't lie about is he didn't mention anything about the disgusting food and drinks I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT APPRECIATE ALL THESE LIES AND I HOPE NO ONE EVER WASTES THEIR MONEY ON THIS SHOW AGAIN!!!

    Photos
    Mambo Craze Cabaret - Mambo Craze Cabaret at the Globe Theater in DTLA

    Mambo Craze Cabaret at the Globe Theater in DTLA

    Mambo Craze Cabaret - The live Latin jazz with burlesque is another guest favorite in DTLA.

    The live Latin jazz with burlesque is another guest favorite in DTLA.

    Mambo Craze Cabaret - Large crown for the Mambo dance lesson at the Mambo Craze Show at the Globe in downtown Los Angeles.

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    Large crown for the Mambo dance lesson at the Mambo Craze Show at the Globe in downtown Los Angeles.

    PIPS On La Brea - Delicious plate from the brunch

    PIPS On La Brea

    4.1(924 reviews)
    8.3 miMid-Wilshire
    $$

    First time here and I had a great time!…read more Food: Salmon Croquettes are large and has a good flavor to them. You get 3 croquettes with a small salad under the croquettes per serving. $22 Drinks are strong so be aware. That could be a good or bad thing per person. Service: The service was also good, the staff was attentive and checked on our group multiple times. Good attitudes and most of the staff smiles. Atmosphere: The vibes are vibing, the inside was packed with nice decor and we had a reserved area outside towards the back. The outside is well put together and has plenty of space for groups and the single crowd. They had live music which was amazing and they played some jams. Each space has its own full bar and the outside area has a cigar space for those whonlike to enjoy a nice cigar with your food or drinks. Had a great time and enjoyed the space. Price: Prices on are point and consistent with the average prices you normally get for drinks and food. Salmon Croquettes were $22 Location: It's located on LaBrea in Los Angeles. Parking: The only down fall is the parking non existent so valet parking is the way to go. It a as $17 for valet parking.

    First off, the ambiance and the live music here are AMAZING. It was my second time coming here for…read moredinner during jazz night which I absolutely loved both times. I don't remember if we were charged an entertainment fee before but I noticed the charge this time--still worth it imo. The service was not bad, however, the way food allergies are handled can be improved. I gave a list of my allergies ahead of time but unfortunately I still had a reaction to my entree. I ended up only being able to eat one of the appetizers that our table ordered (calamari) so I can say that was delicious. I also got the non-alcoholic sangria which was okay... I got the blackberry per our server's recommendation but in hindsight wish I tried a different flavor instead. All in all, still a good experience. I did take off a star due to the allergic reaction and because I still went home really hungry (lol) but the music more than made up for it. Would come back for that.

    Photos
    PIPS On La Brea - Go with the flow band

    Go with the flow band

    PIPS On La Brea - Salmon with mashed and veggies

    Salmon with mashed and veggies

    PIPS On La Brea - Inside seating

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    Inside seating

    Franklin Bell's Blues Workshop - jazzandblues - Updated May 2026

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