I've been here a few times now after a friend originally recommended coming here for a Sunday funday. I've got to be honest, I didn't know what we were getting into walking up to a huge barrel entrance BUT once I got inside it's a whole VIBE! Especially the cute patio area. I've tried : Tater tots are made just right . Crispy on the outside and moist inside . 5/5 Sweet potato fries to my surprise were the best I've ever had bc I usually dislike them everywhere else . What makes these stand out is the aoli sauce that's paired so well with it. 5/5 Fish tacos were well stacked with flavor and lightly battered fries moist fish with a lime wedge 5/5 A Lavender Gin Cocktail. Might be my fave drink here! 5/5 Mirkwood looks murky but tastes good 4/5 Gin mojito was refreshing and well balanced 5/5 There's two bars. One in the front when you walk in and the other in their back patio . Mark definitely knows what he's doing behind the bar. There's a good amount of tables in both areas too . I keep coming back for their friendly service , good bar food and well made drinks. read more

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Idle Hour is far from just another bar from me - it's the go to place for good food, good drinks and even better service. The vibe is always so uplifting and every day there's a different event! I've hosted my engagement party and my milestone birthday with my friends and family there and I've always been taken care of by Chad and the rest of the crew there. Hosting a private event there was so seamless and would not be taken care of the way that Chad walked me through the process from beginning to end from anywhere else in LA. Favorite Items: the wings and tots You'll always have a good time! read more

I came here with my girlfriend twice and didn't eat. The first time I tried for over 10 minutes to order at the table like it said to and was finally told no I have to order at the bar but by the time that happened it was 11:03 PM and they told me that the kitchen closes at 11 PM. When I explained about the difficulty regarding ordering at the table, they shrugged.. So I made sure to return the following week with my girlfriend and promptly order at 10:20 PM right after our class at which point we were once again told that the kitchen is closed because there weren't enough people at the time and so they just closed early. When I told them this was now the second time that I had been denied service here because they are keeping erratic kitchen hours I was told that they have a lovely street taco lady just outside. I have no intention of giving this place a third chance. read more

This place does it all well. They have Vegan options, the service is great, they accommodate dogs, they have great food and awesome drink specials. But, perhaps more importantly they believe in and embrace thematic architecture the way it deserves to be and it's such a shining example of the past. I'm grateful this place exists and is still so popular in a time where bars and restaurants changing over are commonplace. Shoutout to the 1933 Group and their stewardship of beautiful places. The ambiance is forever unmatched. read more

The only $20 cocktail I can absolutely say is worth the price with an unbeatable ambience. Make sure you try the Applejack! read more

Idle Hour - Applejack - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This might be a typo on the name but JENNA is a true gem at this valley staple. Idle Hour has always been a go-to spot whether it's for happy hour or brunch - the vibes are always hitting. 12/10 every time!! read more

Went to Idle Hour for the Bottomless Drag Brunch with friends and we had a blast!! I love a good drag show and the one at Idle Hour was Drag-mazing!! Tickets: You can pre-purchase tickets on Eventbrite Food: We had brunch so you really can't go wrong with breakfast food, however, the food was yummy. Especially the cinnamon rolls. The bottomless mimosa is worth it if you have a few people with you. Service: Now I'm going to assume service was a bit slow b/c of the drag show being packed however, we had a great server! Ambiance: When you walk into the Idle Hour, you're immediately transported into a dark brewery. So cool. Plenty of space for groups. Parking: street parking, not sure if they have a lot behind the venue. So Go, Enjoy & have a Drag-tastic time!! read more

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Brunch was very good and the food yummy. I was a bit disappointed that I ordered the Wafflicious and no one told me they were out of bananas. My order was served without telling me so I had to ask. I noticed that they added blueberries so I wasn't too upset. I had terrific service from Anya. She was handling the bar and food orders and she was really on top of things. We got quick service and she still smiled throughout the whole time we were there. Ordered a couple of cocktails for us. Party of 4. We had a Berry Jam Cider, a Flower Girl, a House light lager and a SoCal Special. All were refreshing. Parking on street so not easy. Brunch cannot be ordered by QR code on table. Only at bar. read more

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DRINK 10/5 This drink was the start of the show. I got the I will be coming back here SPECIFICALLY to have it again, and try their other specialty cocktails. Tara made my drink to perfection. She was so busy and little doing so many things at once and still managed to give care and special attention to crafting my cocktail. If I could get her every time I would just go to her for my drinks from there. FOOD Tacos from the local taco lady onsite were okay, and okay priced. I just needed to eat and pretty fast so that was convenient. The sweet potato fries with the aoli sauce were a good combo. SERVICE The food came out fast and was a good portion size for the price. Although it was very busy I got my drink fast so that was nice. AMBIANCE It was very lively and there were A LOT of people especially on the back area. There was a bar as soon as you come in and another in the back area. ‼PARKING It was hard to find parking but because I was only going to be there for an hr I parked at the shopping center nearby. My friends had to park blocks away and the hike back would have been brutal. read more

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Came here with my girlies for Drag Brunch ahead of St. Patrick's Day and had an absolute blast. From the moment we arrived, the vibe was fun and welcoming. Chad from the management team made us feel like VIPs, and our server (whose name I sadly can't remember) was fantastic. At one point I even ended up being part of the show... on stage with a few other audience members, faking an orgasm. Definitely one of those "only at drag brunch" moments. Epic time. The bottomless pineapple mimosas were the real MVP. Let's just say they took me out for the rest of the day... I had to go home and sleep it off. Totally worth it though. Food was solid too. I'd definitely recommend the shakshuka and the chicken & waffles. If you're looking for a lively brunch with great energy, this is the spot. read more

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There aren't a ton of good bars in the valley, but if you're looking for a good unpretentious bar when you want a casual drink this is your spot. It's in the shape of a barrel, you walk in on the left side, exit through the other door. I found a parking spot in the residential neighborhood. There's more space than you probably expect before walking in. There's an indoor space within the barrel itself but they also have a small patio in front and a HUGE patio in the back. It gets noisy depending on the time of the night but it's a fun casual vibe. They have beer, cocktails, mocktails, and some bar food. Lots of options. I got the Flower Girl because it sounded like a tasty cocktail. I was expecting it to be something else though. It was ready very quickly so I anticipate they pre-batch their cocktails. It didn't come in a coupe or anything, just a standard tall glass. The flavor was too sweet for me and it was all just pretty one-note. I enjoyed my boyfriend's drink though, Madre Picante, I liked the spice. That felt more like a proper cocktail. Maybe this is more of a beer type spot or just lower your expectations depending on the cocktail you get. Maybe the specialty cocktails are proper cocktails and the "from the barrel" cocktails means that they're pre-batched? If that's the case though, I think they should make that clearer and the prices should be lower (for reference Flower Girl was $15 and Madre Picante was $17). So all that to say, I wish the prices were a bit more fair for what you get. If you miss the food when the kitchen closes, there's a lady who sells tacos out front and they're pretty good! read more

Idle Hour - Flower Girl - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Idle hour is my favorite neighborhood bar! The seasonal cocktails are always so good, it has a super fun atmosphere, and the staff are all great!! We also love coming for the themed trivia nights and events. The outdoor patio is the best to hang out at on a warm evening and now they have a taco stand for late night bites which always pairs perfectly with a Paloma or beer! read more

The wings are good but for the price and the amount not worth it. $2.88 cents for each wing and you get a total six. I got four wings and two drums. The celery and carrots looked like it came out of a bag that was towards the end of it's life span. just down the street i can get 12 for 1.54 each and a true mix of both wings and drums. Service was fine, ordered my food, paid, ate and left. read more

I've lived in North Hollywood for almost a decade. Not sure how I first discovered it, probably the cool wooden barrel, but I've been here so many times over the years. (We even celebrated the end of the Writer's Strike here!) Always a great vibe. Good community feel. Good food & drinks. Brunch is amazing and sometimes you'll get a show on the amazing open patio. Dog friendly. But of course, since there's a giant bulldog in back! Looking for a low key place to idle away this is your spot read more

I came here for a drag brunch with some friends, and I was not disappointed. The place is lively, the food is good, and the mimosas were hitting as they should. Seating is outdoors in the back patio so be mindful of the weather before coming. Bundle up if needed. I didn't try other drinks besides the mimosas, but they have an assortment available. The breakfast burrito was absolutely delicious and so hearty. I would order this again and again. The vibe of the drag brunch was more fun and animated than sultry and raunchy, which I can appreciate. The crowd was diverse, warm and friendly. Bring plenty of cash for tips if you are attending an event like this. They also offered to break bills or exchange Zelle payment for cash if needed. I believe they have one of these events every month. Metered street parking is available around the area. Read the posted parking signs and don't forget to pay your meter. read more

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I would leave 0 stars if I could. The bartender, Main, was the rudest bartender I've met thus far. I've been to bars all over LA and she had the nastiest attitude even though we were nothing but nice and courteous to her. Funny enough, she was super sweet to the guys she helped out before us. She asked for our IDs again even though the bouncer at the front checked our IDs literally two minutes earlier. AND she didn't checked anyones else's ID after checking ours. I'm not sure if she thought we were minors but we sure don't look like minors. I can't help but assume that her attitude was racially motivated because (1) I'm brown and she's white, and (2) she was being extremely friendly with the other white customers in the vicinity. I did not feel welcomed at all. When I went to close out my tab, she ignored me for almost 5 minutes then rudely asked "what's up" after acting like I wasn't there. I'm not sure what's going on in her personal life but she needs to leave that at home and not make her establishment look bad. Acting this way towards us just because we're young and not white is disgusting. Never coming back here , and the drinks tasted bad, I could've made something better at home. read more

Service 5/5 our server was very sweet and kept checking on us. Ambiance 5/5 super fun vibe, love the out back/ out side and the random pipe smoking dog. Food 2-5 based on other reviews I wanted it to be better than bar food but it's straight up have something to eat while you are drinking. Idle burger- dry and lacked flavor / seasoning Cheesesteak- please change the name. This is not a cheesesteak - this is a dry steak sandwich that has barely any cheese on it with a lot of dry bread. Fish tacos- fine Portobello steak fries- taste like dirt weird texture. Flatbread- is pizza from high school cafeteria Pretzel was the best- although was it really a homeboy pretzel? It's not served with the amount of cheese sauce show in the photo and it's not cheese sauce it's like rotel dip. Now the worst part is how you order and pay for food on your phone .... So even if you want an appetizer or decide you want more sooner or later it's all through your phone and a tip is asked for each time. We had 3 phones and each different levels of difficulty in submitting orders. It's is fun and cute and I would possibly come back it's just somewhere I know what to expect now. Parking is difficult. read more

Idle Hour - Bacardi Spice - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love this place, but they need some bug zappers desperately. Literally had to flee after trying outdoors, getting eaten up by mosquitos, trying to go inside, finding more mosquitos inside than outside. One drink and had to run to another bar after getting bit 10+ times within 30 minutes. read more

Ok, so I kind of loved this place. Just an amazing atmosphere of a funky retro dive bar which also had legit service and good bar food. It can be a bit chaotic and loud but it's a bar so what do you expect! Get there early to find a decent table and be patient with your food orders - things may came out at different times. What a fun place to visit and hang out with a group of friends! read more

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Fantastic Tuesday trivia night! Trivia night brought in a packed house, which was nice for some friendly competition. The best seats were close to the patio doors, since that is where they placed the MC's speakers. Response submissions are all done via your phone. Unfortunately, they don't have scratch paper or pens to jot down notes. There is also not enough time between rounds to order food or drinks, so make sure to arrive early. They start at 8pm on the dot! Food was fantastic! My group ordered the nachos, wings, fries, and more. Everything was delicious and cooked perfectly. Service was terrific! You can order at the bar or through a QR code on your table. Food came out fast. Servers were also good about clearing away empty plates. read more

Great option if you are looking for a place to grab drinks with friends or even a first date! They have so much outdoor seating and it was filled with people! There were more people sitting outside than inside. When the weather is right, it's the place to be! The night I went in, they had live music and the act was incredible, however it was so loud that there was no way we could have a conversation without screaming to each other so we opted to sit inside. Sitting inside the barrel is an experience! Love the ambiance. It just such a chill place to hang out. We ordered food and drinks via the QR code at our table and everything came out so fast. Our waitress was also super kind and friendly. There aren't any drink descriptions on the digital menu so it's a little hard to know what you are ordering. We got the mac and cheese bites, fries, and chicken nachos. Loved the mac and cheese bites! Such a great little table snack. Fries were good, but went cold kind of fast. Nachos were amazing! Huge portion and great for sharing. The chicken had great flavor, but was a little on the dry side. I would totally order them again though! Overall, definitely recommend checking out Idle Hour. It's a Valley staple and a solid option for a casual night out! read more

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Great drinks! Nice and strong. Good service. Oh and the layout is so cool. I feel like I'm in a barrel without feeling claustrophobic. Lol read more

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Great vibes, solid drinks, and decent food -- but left wishing for a little more bang for the buck. Atmosphere & Drinks: The overall vibe here is definitely a highlight -- lively, cool energy, great for a casual hangout or happy hour catch-up. We tried a few Old Fashioneds, which were pretty good, but there was a noticeable difference depending on who made them. One round was solid, another was more off-balance -- so it's kind of a bartender's roulette. Happy hour deals were fair and appreciated, but portion-wise, we were left a bit underwhelmed. We ordered three appetizers to sample: * Flatbread: This was the most filling of the bunch, but flavor-wise it felt like a gourmet Lunchable tossed in the oven. Not bad, just not anything special. * Chicken Bites: Tasty and well-cooked, but the portion was small. Could've easily eaten two servings. * Chips & Queso: Good flavor, solid dip -- but again, not quite enough to share meaningfully. Also gave off that "elevated snack plate" energy -- like a fancy Lunchable. If you're going for vibes and cocktails, this spot hits the mark. The food isn't bad, but just don't come starving or expecting a full meal out of the small plates -- especially during happy hour. That said, with a few tweaks to portion size or consistency, this could be a go-to. Would I go back? For the atmosphere and drinks -- yes. But I'd probably order differently or come after I've already had a bite. read more

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Chad!!!! All I can say is CHAD!!! Listen, it's been YEARS since I've been here and (what felt like) our first time. For a second we didn't think they had happy hour but they do, just ask for their menu. It's not on their QR code. We ordered their pretzel and cheese dip and it was soft and delicious. They also offer great HH prices on their cocktails, beers and food. The outside is a perfect spot to sit on sunny days, considering they have water mists going. Chad provided such a great customer service and honestly made sure we were enjoying ourselves. Chad was the best! read more

Idle Hour - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I don't normally give a five star on my first review unless I'm really surprised...we were visiting a friend who lives in north Hollywood told us about this restaurant. It's walking distance from her home, we don't even know it was a restaurant at first lol. There is a whole history to the building as well if you want to look it up. Atmosphere: awesome, not just because of the building but the ambience at brunch was lively with live music at times. Everyone is laughing, eating, some sitting on a bench wrapped around a real tree. Love it. Service : on point, we were only a party of 5, but they were busy and attended us quickly. We even had a special request from my friend who's birthday we were celebrating. It had to do with the mimosas, and the manager was awesome enough to accommodate their request with the champagne and juices. Server was super nice and kept checking on us, 5 stars. Food: my best part, food was awesome. The pricing is reasonable, and the portions are perfect. I had the brunch burrito and added avocado and it was Delicious!!! We tried the hashbrowns, everyone loved them as they were nice and crispy. My friend had the avocado toast, full of flavor...my wife even had to try some. My wife had the Shakshuka, it was different. For her taste the eggs mixed with the sauce was too runny, but she did enjoy the flavor overall. She simply had to eat it with the bread, not for us. Drinks were great as well, I had a Long Island perfectly made. We often go visit our friend so we will be back, definitely recommend. read more

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3.75 Star Rating Idle Hour is a NoHo staple with a cool, unique vibe, attracting a mixed crowd from the entertainment industry, along with locals and tourists. The drinks are stiff, especially during the half-off happy hour. Food is decent, and includes tasty options like the grilled fish tacos and fried portabellas, but portions are a bit small for the price, even during happy hour. Value - 3 The half-off happy hour drinks are a definite plus, but the food portions are a bit pricey for what you get, even during happy hour. Food - 3.5 The food isn't bad, and includes tasty options like the grilled fish tacos and fried portabellas, but the portion size could be better, especially considering the price. Ambiance - 4 Idle Hour has a cool, unique vibe that's a NoHo staple, attracting people from the entertainment industry, locals, and tourists. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Idle Hour - Aftermath. Decent food. - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ambiance is dope asf- the inside really looks like you're inside of a giant barrel! Great happy hour, flatbread was good with a nice margarita for ~$20 with tax and tip. Service was fine, you order yourself at the bar so minimal interactions. Great spot for locals with a bunch of event flyers for promo nights to check out read more

Idle Hour - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a cool spot! I came here for a happy hour organized by my job. The vibes were super chill and we had put little dog house reserved. It was perfect for a cozy night to catch up with my coworkers. The drinks were great and the snack food we got was tasty as well. Meredith was our server and was awesome. I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area! read more

Idle Hour - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Thank the people who prevented the demolition of the Idle Hour which may represent a wooden beer or whiskey barrel. Built during the heyday of Programmatic Architecture where many times the building is shaped to represent what is being sold. It was built around the age of the 1920's and 30's during the start of the automobile era to get the attention of fasting moving motorists who otherwise would not read the signage. The tall barreled section is like a high, all wood dome from the inside with banquette seating, tables & chairs as well as high tables & bar chairs. There is a covered patio & open air seating in back where there is another Programmatic hut built in the shape of a pipe smoking bull dog that used to sell Tamales. Maybe the dog should have been a Chihuahua. BARREL BURGER $16 Applewood Smoked Bacon, American or Swiss Cheese, Barrel Sauce, Caramelized Onions, Lettuce & Tomato on Hawaiian Bun GF: Sub Gluten Free Bun +$4 VT: Sub Beyond Burger +$3 Mains served with your choice of Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Tater Tots, or Side Salad 1) Got the Swiss Cheese, French Fries option. Medium Rare. Hawai'ian Bun is a touch sweet and cushy soft with a shiny brown egg wash. French Fries were extra crispy as ordered. Ordered it with a sunnyside up egg for extra yellow egg yolk sulfuric funk. Grilled onion added a sweet caramelized smokeyness. Beef Patty was tender, moist, beefy with a touch of meaty, blood minerality because the medium rare meat wasn't cooked to death. Bacon added a salty, porky Umami. Swiss cheese added that extra dairy fermented creaminess. Tomato was a light acidic gastrique, & fibrous iceberg lettuce added to that watery refreshment. 1a) Bloody Mary was hearty with thick, rich tomato juice, and possibly chiles, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, horseradish, celery salt, lemon or lime juice, and black pepper. Garnished with a Pepperoncino mild chile pepper & slice of lime. Good burger, well made Bloody Mary in a unique building from 1941. Service is efficient but minimal. 4- stars read more

Idle Hour - Burger, Fries, Paloma HH cocktail - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Fairly classy establishment with good vibes. The building itself is made to look like and be a barrel which is very cool. Initially it's counter service that turns into table service. Ordered the mule that shockingly did not come in a copper mug but was surprisingly delicious. The Paloma had a bit of a kick and very interesting taste but not terrible. The Mac n Cheese bites were not what I was looking for at all, they were almost like Kraft mac n chesse deep fried for too long. Was not a fan unfortunately. But the wings (which I devoured immediately and forgot to picture) were fantastic. The mango habenaro sauce was not spicy at all but still had a tangy flavor to it along with the meat being very juicy, so I would recommend them. All in all, not a bad experience. Environment was very nice, food was ok, and drinks were decent. Probably wouldn't go back but at least glad I tried. read more

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Cute spot. But how are you going to be a bar with TVs and not play the World Cup with speakers???? Lame.

Idle Hour it's nothing but love, even more so with stellar service, drinks, deals, eats and even events! I've been enjoying Idle hour for happy hour and night time hangs for well over 10 years, but recently returned for a day time experience and their Bottomless Drag Brunch #SundayFunday [three choices for mimosas - classic/original, cranberry or pineapple) This still very much all inclusive open to all rustic spot has been serving it up since the 1940s, during its Idle Hour Cafe & Tap Room journey to simple the Idle Hour today - officially a LA Historic Cultural Monument as of 2010 and thriving in large part due to the 1933 Group, the sensational staff and management. Food options are always fooding, but wow let me tell you about those breakfast potatoes, avocado toast and beyond burger options (all top deliciousness). I was lucky enough to have a beyond breakfast burrito after asking our amazing server what else she'd recommend for vegan friendly brunch "nom"tions (options with nom noms). She let me know they had some amazing vegan cheese and could sub things easy and I was more than loving it. Aside from being vegetarian, vegan and even gluten-free friendly. I.H. has a well rounded menu of entrees, sides and shareables such as waffles, cinnamon rolls, grits, nachos, mac, sandwiches, salads, sweets (yes, desserts), pretzels, tacos, tenders, burgers, burritos and all forms of potatoes (tots, loaded tots, fries, sweet potato fries + more). Happy Hour is all week long (3 to 6pm Sunday through Friday, 1 to 6pm on Saturdays) and you won't want to miss it - House wine, well drinks, deals on their impressive beer selection, awesome cocktails + some choice bites. Idle is a full bar restaurant, but the Buddy System (a beverage + a shot) is still a fav when enjoying afternoon and nights here. Cool cocktails (specialty as well as from the barrel) like their Old Fashion, Make A Mule, Rock-A-Bye Berry, Love Language, World Traveler and Bit By Bit can all be hits. Reservations aren't always necessary unless you have a big group (eight or more), want to celebrate an occasion or for cool happenings like Drag Brunch. I've booked with them for group work outings and parties in the past - a few times hanging out in that awesome pipe smoking bulldog aka Bulldog Cafe. For brunch my friend Andrew got us a table in a perfect spot - table of six and we could enjoy the full show while enjoying brunch as one should. I did get called up on stage with some other awesome people celebrating their birthdays as well + an incredible lady who just got her doctorate and another who just married her wife. Congrats to all, thanks to all the performers and the talented hostess with the mostess Lauren Banall!! Definitely need more Idle Hour in my life and I think you will too :) Fun highlights: The music is the best! Restrooms are always clean. Great for all times of the day. Dog friendly. Wi-Fi available. Indoor or outdoor seating. Accessible entrance, exit and layout. Parking in the area is fun... You can luck into street parking in places (harder at night), however a rideshare or the local metro are both great options in this slice of North Hollywood. Already looking forward to coming back soon - cheers! Don't forget to tip (servers, bartenders and especially performers) :) read more

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We celebrated my boyfriend's birthday here, and all 24 of our guests LOVED this place! The service was amazing, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. The security guard was incredible so kind and helpful and even assisted me with the cake and anything else we needed. I think we just found our favorite bar of all time. They made everything so easy! Thank you for everything! read more

I LOVED this place instantly! It's been there forever and I never stopped in until last month (December 2025). First, how could a bar shaped like a barrel NOT be bad?! Their food (I only had the boneless chicken) was not great. However, ambiance and drink menu makes up for what it lacks in bar food. Plus they have a weird back patio animal shaped room where... tamales are sold? I was co fused about that. I can totally see why this place has lasted. I'll be back in the summer for warm sunny patio drinking! read more

What a great place to meet up with friends and grab some drinks and a bite. I stumbled in with a group of friends after watching a play nearby with a group of friends. We all were visiting from out of town and the giant barrel caught all our eyes while parking for the play. When the play ended, my group of friends and I came here for food and drinks and we all were happy with our drinks and food. Our server was Chad and he was pretty on top of it. Between the 4 of us, we ordered two vodka mules, a paloma and a rum & coke. My 3 friends ordered Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and I got their Barrel Burger with Swiss. Their sweet potato fries were also sooo delicious with their honey mustard dressing. A couple of my friends also ordered the pretzel and it was really yummy! Perfect texture and temp! The chicken bites, not so much: too salty. I would return if in the area. Definitely got more crowded as the night went on. It definitely seemed like the "it" place to be! read more

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I've come here multiple times over the years and it continues to be a major hit. Love the vibe and the ambiance, and of course entering into a huge beer barrel is just fun and cool. I've been for brunch, for late night drinks, and afternoon cocktails, and it's always been great. I recently had a Bloody Mary, the cinnamon rolls and the chicken and waffles and all were delicious. This is an LA mainstay for a reason -- well, many reasons, really! If you're in Noho, don't skip out on your chance to go! read more

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My company and myself love going to Idle Hour for monthly after-work hangs to relax after a long shift! I'm always so impressed by the Chad in management and his service staff to be able to accommodate our large group for food & drink. It's always a nice time, and whether indoor or outdoor, it provides us just enough space to unwind and chat with friends! read more

This place deserves all of the stars. I have become a regular here because of the amazing people who work here, the fantastic food, great drinks, cool vibe, good music, drag brunch, and themed events. The people who work here: all kind and helpful and on top of their stuff. This place gets really packed sometimes but even in the chaos, when customers are rude and drunk and break things they keep their cool, always. But don't treat them poorly. I will come for you. Chard is the GM and he is one of the kindest and most generous humans I have had the pleasure of know and is the mastermind behind getting the themed nights up and going. His ability to make a person feel welcome is pretty much unmatched in my opinion. The food: omg you guys the FOOD!!!! It's so good. They just changed the menu so I haven't gotten to try everything yet but the chicken dumplings are delicious. A bit of a kick but the best kind. The chili cheese fries that my friend had were also so good. Perfect cheese to chili ratio with the fries. There is a chef in the back who is passionate about food and making sure it tastes perfect so I trust everything is good. But if you are unsure ask the servers or bartenders. They won't steer you wrong. The drinks: admittedly, I mostly drink just screwball on the rocks. However every mixed cocktail I have had here has been perfection. Mark is the manager and he could be a mixologist, should be a mixologist, super nice guy who is shockingly good and remembering peoples drink preferences. Like a year ago was the last time I ordered cider and he remembered! The vibe: I wouldn't really call this place a dive bar, but it's sort of got a hint of dive bar going on. The back patio is really nice during the summer but sitting inside the barrel is fun too. The bulldog is kinda small so you won't fit a ton of people in there but it's still fun. Lots of places to sit although sometimes it does get packed and it's standing room only. Not to mention, they allow dogs!!! This is a great place to come with a first date. It's good for dressing up a little but not too much and there are some corners you can sit in so you can have a little closeness. But the staff will also keep an eye out for you. If you are feeling uncomfortable in any way, they will keep an eye out for you and help you out. There isn't a designated dance floor but they won't be mad if you dance in the area that you've got available to you. Just don't accidentally knock anything over or hit anybody. The music: Chard is usually in charge of the play list but even when he isn't the music is usually pretty great and there's a band that comes and plays on Sundays for a while in the afternoon/evening. I have found some of my new favorite music because of this place. Drag brunch: I've never actually attended because I've heard it gets a little crazy and that can be a little scary overwhelming for me, but they do it everyday Saturday and Sunday and that's been going strong for a pretty long time so I have to assume it's a good time. The themed events: this is the kind of crazy I can handle though. They have done lots of the rings, zelda anniversary, a Star Wars themed singles event for Valentine's Day, a scholastic book fair, and Easter egg hunt, their Halloween and New Year's Eve events were AMAZING, I could go on and on. People turn up for these events and they are just some of the most fun especially with the costumes you will see. Go to Idle Hour. I've never loved a bar before. This place is something else. I promise you won't be disappointed, unless you're one of those kinds of people who finds something wrong no matter how amazing the place is or you're kind of an entitled jerk. read more

Idle Hour is incredible! I just hosted a surprise birthday party for my boyfriend here, and the staff was absolutely excellent and so thoughtful with their coordination. Not only were they super kind and responsive when planning the event, but they also went above and beyond with giving my boyfriend a special entrance (shoutout Chad, the GM, you rock). If you're looking to book a get-together in The Valley, or simply just a great bar to grab a drink at-- this is the place. We'll definitely be back to plan another event in the future! read more

Finallllly got to try this place out. It's been in my collections forever and my friend and I wanted to grab some drinks and recommended Idle Hour - perfect. We came exactly at 4, when they open on weekdays. It was somewhat empty but at 4:05 people started trickling it. We got a table sat down and looked at the menu. HH I believe was 4-6 with drinks and bites. A lot of their drinks are premade from the barrel - so no changes or replacements or any kind. I got the autumn leaves to drink - it literally tasted like fall. It was so good! My friend and I got the homeboy bakery pretzel and the BBQ chicken bites. The pretzel was so good! Super soft on the inside but nice and crispy on the outside. The mustard dip was good too - I didn't like the queso but I don't like cheese so don't take this in any way lol. The bbq chicken bites were SO GOOD! Super moist on the inside, nice and crispy on the outside. Perfect amount of sauce and the ranch paired super well. I got the bbq chicken salad and a side of fries. I feel like my chicken had like 5 pieces in there (def not worth the 5 bucks, might as well have gotten the HH chicken bites for 2 more dollars cause it was a lot more) and I felt like it was all cheese and lettuce. I think maybe 15 pieces of corn. I barely saw and beans. Like 4. Not enough dressing. Every bite I took tastes like cheddar cheese - I wouldn't order this again. The fries were delicious. The vibes were great - it was a good amount of people, staff was super friendly, overall good vibes. Parking: it's on Vineland - so there is meters. I think some residential too if you go around the block. Will probs come back! read more

Idle Hour - American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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