i see why this spot is so popular. the djs here really know how to get the party started. Great music selection if you want to get away from the EDM, cause let's be honest, edm is great and all but some times i neeed r&b and hip hop, and Lock and Key does just that. Drink ares cool and seating is available but limited. The back where most people are at when the music is bumping, can get a little tight due to size. but none the less, i can see myself coming back. read more

Lock & Key - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

idk it's chill but i've never really been a fan of this spot LOL it was better maybe 2 years ago but now the music is whatevas it's best to pregame before, as everyone kinda finds parking everywhere (avoid the ralphs parking lot tho the security is around there early) read more

See all

I'm over a decade overdue for this place but here I am. Lock & Key is a "speakeasy" if you can even call it that anymore since there's always a long line now. If you're an all girls group, you'll be moved to the front or an expedited line. If you're a nice, wholesome looking couple like my wife and I, maybe you'll be moved to the front too, but don't hold your breath. Anyway, once you're in, you gotta find the door amidst all these doorknobs. Spoiler alert, it's the very right door side. Once you're *really* in, you'll be in a small lounge and an even smaller outdoor patio with barely any room to maneuver or dance. Grab a strawberry mule or other alcoholic drink and enjoy the vibe. I hear their pizzas are good but I didn't order any. Regardless, Lock & Key is a fun diverse party group but it's quite packed on any given night so if you're a group with more than 1 guy, good luck getting in immediately. Besides that though, have fun! read more

Lock & Key - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here after dinner and honestly, it was pretty good. Music is great !! a lot of great music.. The service was great. read more

See all

I had the most amazing time here celebrating a very special occasion and every time I come here, it always has the best vibes! For my most memorable visit, family and friends came together to celebrate my graduation. From the beginning of the night to the very end, the service was spectacular. We had bottle service with a couple tables and amazing help from all the employees, including security. The music was sensational from the get-go and there were no issues at all. We had good food, good drinks, and good conversations throughout the night. Parking was easy and it was definitely a night to remember! Each time I come here, it takes me back and I am so grateful to have met many great people at Lock & Key! read more

Lock & Key - The best vibes! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a fun speakeasy vibe! we went here for a preshow drink, and it was absolutely beautiful! The drinks were very well-made, and I would highly recommend the Lucid Dreams. The food was just okay, I wouldn't recommend the chicken lollipops, but the fried PB&J was out of this world! They also have sliced pizza next-door for midnight snack. How much do I LOVE that! I won't spoil the surprise, but there's definitely a lot going on. Pro Tip: if you're going on a weekend, make sure to go right when they open otherwise the line gets super long! read more

Lock & Key - Fried PB&J - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

This spot is super laid back and it was a great spot to have a night cap before calling it a night. They do have an outdoor patio and it was all decorated for the holidays. They have a pizza spot for food right next door as well. The service was super efficient and friendly. You do have to find the door and knob to get it which is super fun. read more

This place gets buuuuusy. I visited on a Friday night, and it was definitely a good time. There was a short line that moved pretty quickly. The music inside was really good, a mix of older and current hits. It was absolutely packed inside. There's just not that much space in general, especially the outside area. With the huge crowd that night, we were packed in like sardines, absolutely no room to dance at all. The drinks were solid, and the attached pizza store was genius. read more

Lock & Key - Patio area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Came here because friend who was out of town somehow heard about this place before a local heard of this place. I don't come to downtown often, but it took me 30 minutes of circling around 0.5 mile radius and could not find a street parking in sight. Following that, when we got in to order- we had ordered fries and the fries took a min to come out but by the time it's out it's stone cold. When asked about it, the waiter/bartender didn't believe us, so he puts HIS FINGER/HAND ON THE FRIES TO FEEL THE TEMP. And was like oh yeah it's cold. I swear he brought it back to microwave it and out again because they were the same same fries all in the same positions on the same plate. The fries when he brought back was warm but like dry and gross microwaved. We had suspicion that it might be someone else's fries that they didn't eat and was given to us. Hard to proof but I mean....the experience alone was concerning. Would not come back again, drinks weren't anything amazing. Could go to a better bar for a better experience. And I'll never understand why it's almost 20$ for those basic ass fries. read more

The pizza is good. Came on a weekend afternoons and it was my first time seeing the place empty. It's always, I mean alwayssss poppin on a Thursday or Friday night. The djs are always playing fire music. However I will say as I get older and the crowds get bigger it's not as enjoyable as before. It's almost arm to arm, not good in case of emergency. read more

Lock & Key - Pizza - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place sucks!!! Last night 50 patrons had their cars towed while visiting this establishment. With 3 security guards standing outside the establishment, in full view of the towing, not one of them notified the DJ or anyone to make an announcement that "cars are being towed across the street". It was just that simple. But the cars being towed belonged to the patrons!!! To get their cars back it was $300 cash or $500 debit/credit!! WTF? Was this a setup? Not cool!! read more

Got a free drink woohoo! Ambiance is sexy! It's a perfect size but I could imagine it being a pain when packed. read more

Lock & Key - Midori sour dupe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm gonna start by saying my first time here was thanks to the bouncer who was kind to let us in (and to do my boy a solid because he didn't have everything he needed). The place had good music and vibes. Bar staff were nice and didn't take long to help with orders/drinks. Had a great experience. It was a bit crowded outside but for someone who doesn't frequent bars / clubs, it lived up to the hype. Actually a bit surprised by the poor reviews down below because low-key, wouldn't mind coming through again for some nightlife fun. read more

Lock & Key - Wsup party people - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

This past Saturday I had the worst experience with a group of my 15 friends that were trying to have a good time here. Incidents below are as follows. Very hostile environment by the staff, uncomfortable environment for lgbt folks. Nobody was in the gentleman's restroom and there was a toilet so I closed the door and used the bathroom-- both of my friends were outside the door waiting for me. Security barges in, in the middle of me using the restroom and starts yelling at me saying I will be escorted out for using the restroom. I come outside and I tell him he isn't one to tell me what my gender is and also why have a toilet if it can't be used ? Another person can't use the restroom with the door closed for whatever the case is? Very confusing and aggressive behavior in the way I was spoken. After this --I go to the bar with both my friends and the bartender is being aggressive and yelling at us for our order despite the bar not being busy. Our friends look at each other for confirmation and then we all said "ah maybe she's just stressed out" no problem. We later come back to the same bar area to get another round of drinks and the bartender proceeds to yell at us angrily and throwing her hands up for our order. The 2 guys waiting for their next turn even looked at us in disbelief that she was talking to us like that. Once she finished making the drinks she takes the tab and literally throws it at me on the counter .... At this point I don't even wanna tip her. I gave my friend my receipt for him to tip and sign because I was furious that everyone was treating us disrespectfully. We grab our drinks and we start making our way to the patio where we had a table with more friends. A bottle service guy bumps my friend and spills her drink on her hand, so I reached to grab a napkin from the table he was setting . This person snatched the napkin out of my hand and yells at me saying "YOU CANT TAKE THIS NAPKIN!" -- "WHATS GONNA HAPPEN NOW IS AMA HAVE TO THROW EVERYTHING AWAY CUS YOU TOUCHED IT" ... my friend was so uncomfortable because her drink was spilled by HIM all over her hand. Took the already touched single napkin out of my hand and threw it away. At this point we decided to leave and take our party elsewhere. Why keep spending our money in an establishment that is very unwelcoming and unsafe. Never coming back to lock n key. read more

Good vibe and the music is usually pretty good. The drinks are strong. Venue has nice decor. Only thing is it gets pretty packed and the lines can be long. I recommend getting there early or getting a table. read more

Not sure why anyone would wait so long. In a line. Outside! Just to get into this dump, when there are sooooooooo many other better places nearby, downtown, Hollywood, anywhere else. (Just look on Yelp and search "cocktail bars," "lounge," "hangout spot"). The fact that there are so many complaints about this raggedy joint is not a good sign. Plus it seems rather arbitrary and silly with this petty shoe bs. Open toe or close toed shoes? What is this, kindergarten? I mean, if I was in high school and really didn't know better, this opposite-of-classy place might have seemed cool. But as a legit adult, all I can say is...why do this to yourself, unless you are a masochist. Have some self respect and go to a place that is cooler than this, that will treat you well, as a paying customer! read more

Came here for my birthday in a group of 13. I had table service/bottle service so no one in my group had to wait or deal with the line, but on a Friday night, the line seems to start closer to 11. We got two punch bowls the jitterbug and pink flamingo. Both were SUPER delicious and a little dangerous because you couldn't taste the alcohol (they poured the entire bottle so it was in there ahahaha). We also got an order of fries and cheese Sicilian pizza. I know they have a separate pizza window, but our expectations were low since this place is like a bar first. Our table agreed that it was good drunk food and the sourdough crust is what made it pop. I think we were the biggest group of the night since we had two tables and most of my group arrived between 9-10 so the general manager, our server, and security all came up to us throughout the night to make sure we were well taken care of. Also love our server, since I arrived at like 9pm and we had two tables reserved she gave me the tip to pick the tables on the inside. Nearly the entire outside is the dance floor so the bottle service tables out there are better for a smaller group. Also my credit card initially declined (my bank's precaution) and they didn't like search for me on the dance floor so charge me ahaha. The reason I gave them 4 stars is the dance floor. There's scattered non bottle service tables in the middle that they should just move to the sides since people really use it to set their drinks down. Not a huge deal, but when it gets packed, that limited space is a big deal! We also went on a night where there wasn't like a special event and it was also Valentine's Day so the DJ started slow. No one was really dancing till like 11:30 (so if you're used to big nightclubs that might be a bit of an adjustment). But once the dance floor started going it didn't stop. DJ played the best of his set in the last hour which isn't unexpected, but his first hour was so painfully slow...he could've brought that energy in a little sooner. I'll definitely be back! My next trip probably won't involve table service, but I'll definitely reference their IG for when they have special nights. read more

Ok this WAS my spot. But I had never gone on a weekend night. I'm a designer who'd just left an event. I was fully dressed to the nines hair makeup ensemble personality . However I had swapped my heels out for for marching blinged out crocs. And the doorman tonight wouldn't let me in. I told him I wasn't coming for the club but because I missed the food. He said NO. A very stern one. He let young ladies go in ahead of us in dirty sneakers, jeans, tank tops, hats, etc.. and this is no slight to them, but I was "dressed up" and he did not let us in on a technicality, even though I was not coming for the club, and I made that clear. I just felt like I didn't deserve that. May 9, 2025 approx 10:45pm the doorman was unapologetically mean it was almost as if he was mad we came. The girls he let him were Asian and white, my friend and I were black. Just thought I'd mention that. The doorman was white-ish .... read more

Lock & Key - What I had on minus rhe heels. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Bouncer said I couldn't come in because of my shoes. I asked why and he got really aggressive. I was wearing Doc Martens...

This is my literal go to spot. We meet our friends here almost every weekend. Love the music and vibe. Good food great drinks. My guy jay at security always take care of me and my group. One piece of advice if you don't want to wait in line go EARLY. 9:30 pm if you're visiting for the first time read more

See all

The ability to order a 'Chicago deep dish' pizza after midnight is kinda a feat in itself since normally these types of pizzas especially take a fair bit of time to prepare -- usually 45+ to cook to perfection. Lock & Key somehow defies gravity and has somehow shortened the time and work considerably . Being this late , was I expecting this to be good? Of course not! Which legitimate Chicago deep dish pizza delivers at these types of hours? Ordered the pepperoni pizza deep dish. For 20$ it's a steal , right ? Hmmm. Think again. It's more like a personal deep dish pizza you won't or (will after testing the waters) share with your buddies. There's a lot of downside to this, but the biggest one is: The demands of each slice of Chicago deep dish pizza is too big to contain in that small of a slice since it's super top heavy. Which means the cheese and toppings will slide off its axis or severely droop down when you lift it up for a Bite. Cheese was extremely scant. No pull. Paper thin . The sauce sucked. Tasted like a linguini marinara slightly sweet sauce and had a smooth consistency. This is atypical for the sauce of Chicago deep dish pizza . Typically, you want a more chunky tomato sauce with a much sharp/semi bitter taste . Given the many maladies, I was half-surprised the crust was okay, but let's not pretend lock and key will receive any accolades anytime soon Also, I ordered this through post mates. Probably a good idea id the restaurant provides a temper proof seal. But it actually was delivered still warm. Surprising too. read more

See all

I've been coming to this bar quite often over the past year. I've always driven my car and meet up with friends, we would park in the Ralphs parking lot that across the street. We did that because theres no available parking lots. Parking for the bar itself is just about 6 spots behind the bar. Of course my friends and I enjoy coming but last night something happened that just seems shady to me. Multiple of cars were being towed from the Ralphs parking lot right outside of the bar. Know-body inside the bar was notified that cars were being towed. But there's a group of security guards that stand right outside the bar that can see everything going on in the parking lots. They said nothing to know-body about cars being towed so we couldn't leave or even try to move our cars. Instead we all find out once we leave the bar that all these cars were towed away. Then once you get to the lot you find out you have to pay $518 to get your car out of the lot. I'm would place the blame on the entire establishment (lock&key) they had just costed there patrons thousands of dollars because they didn't want to relay the message to anyone in the bar that cars were being towed across the street. Way pay all this money buying your guys food and drinks but you can't simply relay a message to us. I find it a little suspicious in how it was down and probably won't go back for a while. read more

The service was a 5/5 but I was alarmed that the men's restroom did not have a door for the toilet to separate from the urinals. There were two urinals right next to the toilet - this seems unacceptable as I have never seen anything like it even when traveling to developing countries. Guess they do not care about privacy and expect customers to not use the restroom. This makes me want to give it a 1/5 but the service and desert made up for it. The PB&J is only $12 is worth trying. It's a bit heavy but is tasty. I ordered the strawberry Mule and it was ok but didn't taste like a mule. There was food that looked really good but I didn't try - especially since there wasn't a restroom I could comfortably use. There is NO parking - valet is $22 so if you want to get free parking, then you will have to park at the Vons or Ralph's across the street. read more

Lock & Key - Fried PB&J - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

You gotta come turn up at Lokc & Key a few times cuz the staff is solid, security is cool af dj's keep it turnt up most of the time. I miss this place tough. I'll be bakc soon enough. If youre visiting from out of town chekc it out. If youre in town make it your regular place to be. It gets crowded a bit at times but grab a couple drinks and youll get it crakcin with everybody just dont be a tough ass or security will boot that ass up out of there. Food is always fresh to. Dont get why so many people act like food judges in the comments. But Enjoy! read more

Music is decent and that's the only thing they have going for them. It gets WAY TOO CROWDED and security does nothing about it. I was getting pushed and shoved ALL NIGHT. This one girl even went out of her way to shove me so hard I slammed into my friend and table hurting myself. She did it purposely because when I looked at her she claimed I was bumping into her but I had been in the same spot the whole night before she was even there. Overall bad experience I was getting elbowed in the face constantly and everyone there just wants to fight if you even look at them. Also, a lot of vaping and smoking (weed and cigarettes) outside, no fresh air. Just ghetto honestly. read more

This speakeasy has a lot of people that come thru from Thursday-Saturday nights where they have Dj's that perform a variety of music like R&B, Hip Hop, and other genres. The drink menu is very extensive but the pizza is what I hear that everyone talks about. The birria pizza has been on my list for a while and it didn't fail to disappoint. They had other pizzas and other food options like a chicken sandwich. I personally believe their pizza is really good. The service was very fast and the bartender was super attentive when I wanted to order more drinks. Solid place to go for a night out but it can get a little busy. read more

See all

Lock n key is one of my fav clerbs in ktown LA. This club is designed like a cute little speakeasy :-) They always play such good music (hip hop, rap, r&b. The line is usually pretty long so get here earlier (10ish)... but sometimes the bouncer lets us cut if we have mostly girls in our group. Since the line was a little long we got pizza at lock n key -- SO GOOD. You would never expect for the pizza to be as yummy as it is here xD read more

See all

Parking: If you get around 9-10:00 there is street parking available on 1st street near the school. If you're going to arrive around 8-9, there should be a better chance to park on 2nd street that's a bit closer to lock and key. I would not try to park in the nearby plazas because there are specific signs that list "no parking for lock and key." Line: If you come before 10:00 I would say the line is fairly decent about 10-15 min wait. 11:00-11:30 is when it gets a bit busy at the club and the line gets long about 30-50 mins. Interior: Once you make it past the rope and security check you're left in the front entrance, a wall full of locks. The bouncers don't open the door for you. There's no host to guide you to open the door. Usually, one person will come by who's been here to open the door for you. My tip is to find the wall that is slightly open on the far right side. Just pull that handle at arm's length away. Strawberry Mule: A little bit on the sour and minty side, not that much strawberry flavor. Toyko Tea: Tastes more like lemon iced tea with light alcohol. Vodka Sunrise: Bit on the spicier side with a light orange juice taste. Bathrooms: There are no handles, you push the wall to enter the bathroom. There are gender signs indicating men/women, but kinda hard to read since it's drawn obscurely and dark. Women's restrooms are located towards the front entrance and men's are located farther down the hall. Music: Mostly current trending music, some rap, hip-hop, and a few RnB thrown in the mix. read more

Lock & Key - Vodka Sunrise - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

This is a really fun speakeasy bar in Koreatown! I came here early on a Friday night so I was able to get in with no issues and even get a seat at the bar. The bartenders are definitely overworked and understaffed, but they work hard and are really nice! Our drinks were really good! They have a great selection of really unique cocktails that taste good. I like the decor on the inside, although the number of people that go to the mirror, thinking that the place is bigger than it is, is kind of funny. There's also an outdoor area that gets livelier and a DJ that comes on later in the night. I would recommend trying to go early because when I left, it wasn't really late, but there was a huge line out the door, and it looked very chaotic. I will happily be back! read more

Lock & Key - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This was my 3rd time at Lock & Key and each time just gets worse. I no longer recommend despite them having great music, the hassle to be comfortable in such a small area is near impossible and the drinks took at least 45mins to get serviced. They need to better monitor who comes in because the deck area was jam packed by 11pm to the point it was difficult to move. It was awful and you could not comfortably move around at all. It was definitely a fire hazard and was giving crowd crush rather than enjoyable time at a bar. This was our choice club in LA because the DJ sets always played great Hip Hop and RnB but it is no longer worth the hassle. The only good thing was their well flavored midori sour. I would not recommend people to come here any more because no longer does it feel fun or safe! People weren't dancing or mingling, just a bunch of stand off-ish people. I'd definitely recommend Rewind Day club instead! read more

Small bar lounge in K-town with yummy drinks and an outdoor patio with dj and dance floor! Line was kind of long but if you're in a girl group, you can probably skip the line and head inside. read more

Lock & Key is FUN! We were here for my fiancées 40th by recommendations of his friends. We got there early (like 1015) and I'm glad we did cause it was getting PACKED by 1045. I love the decor. It's moody and vibes in the inside speakeasy area but also has fun patio with market lights. I appreciate having 2 bar areas. We're old ( in our late 30s and early 40s) so our group grabbed a table in the patio area. We vibed all night and enjoyed the music. My fiancée DJ in his past life before me and he confirmed the dj was doing the dang thing. What I loved was how much staff they had. Plenty of security and servers. They always cleared our table of empty glasses and offered us water often. So nice! The bar stayed crowded but that's to be expected. I also saw them check the bathrooms often. I feel the crowd is a bit younger, early 20 to late 20s. Would come back when we're in LA again! read more

My girls and I came to check out this speakeasy and I have to say we had a great time! Definitely the best bar we went to that night. The ambiance was very nice! Music was really good and the service was on point! Special shoutout to Val the manger! He goes above and beyond for the customers! We will definitely be going back next time we come to town read more

So I'm drinking another Old-fashion at @lock-n-key. They used Four Roses bourbon. It's on a scale of 1-10 an 8.5....all bc of AMAZING show they put on when making it. The poor young lady burned her fingers while making it! I really wished they had Makers Mark bourbon but they didn't. Now I will give them a fair 4-5 stars. Please get Makers Mark bourbon and I'll give you another fair review. read more

Lock & Key - Four Roses bourbon Old Fashion. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Unlocked a cool bar! To me, the most exciting (and gimmicky) part of the bar was the front entrance... where you're on a quest to find the RIGHT (ahem ahem) handle to get in the door! Speakeasy vibes, with barstool (3-4 people) and lounge (6ish+??) seating, and cool digital saltwater fish decor (wish they were real D:). You can either order drinks inside or outside in the little patio area. Music was hip hop, but be warned... there's NO escaping the loud speakers ANYWHERE!! Not even outside... have to shout conversations. We tried every corner of the place to hide but alas... ..we ended up sitting right up at the bar and enjoyed our drinks. Service a lil slow, but hey it was poppin and we waited patiently. Lychee Vesper was not bad - may be biased since I like lychee, gin, and that DASH of tonic water. ;) Also be warned, long line out the door, even at 10 PM. Coming as 100% girl group can get you in faster ;) read more

Lock & Key - two cocktail glasses on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went on a Friday around 8pm. The waitress couldn't explain the menu when I inquired about certain items. After I ordered she asked for a card to keep on file which I thought was strange. We ordered the pepperoni pizza, honey sriracha wings and butter garlic fries. The pizza was just okay the sauce was bland. The wings came out plan the guy explained they ran out of honey sriracha. I tasted one wing and immediately sent it back, no season whatsoever. The fries were good. The drinks were cool but seemed rather small for the price. I asked for the check and the waitress returned with my card already charged for $120 which I thought was high so I looked at he receipt and saw I was charged a "service fee" plus an 18% gratuity SMH she definitely did Not deserve an 18% tip. Would I go back, probably not! read more

My friends and I decided to check out Lock & Key last night, expecting a fun speakeasy experience. We ordered multiple rounds of cocktails and even a pizza -- our tab was well over $150 -- and were enjoying the night until security came over and told us we had to give up our table because, in their words, we "didn't order enough." To make matters worse, they immediately brought another group over and told us, "They have food, they're taking your table now." It was one of the most disrespectful, tone-deaf interactions I've ever experienced in a hospitality setting. For a place that tries to present itself as a classy, hidden gem, the way they treat paying customers is anything but. It's clear they value turning tables over creating an experience. There are plenty of spots in L.A. that understand good service and won't make you feel disposable -- I'd suggest visiting one of those instead. We won't be returning. read more

Used to Love this place, BUT I recently went and the whole vibe is different. Lights were too bright, couldn't even have fun with opening the trick door, Service sucks, messed up my order, impossible to reach a server. Just not what it used to be read more

S/o Frankie my new fav bartender here!! He's quick with it and makes the yummiest strawberry mules! read more

Lock & Key - S/o Frankie my new fav bartender!! He's quick with it and makes the yummiest strawberry mules! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Horrible experience. We had reservations at LA Prime. We stopped by Vons to get my girl a tide pen for a stain on her white dress. We saw lock and key and figured we could kill 30 min of time by having a drink. At 4pm the valet literally chased us down from Vons (across the street) and demanded $25 for us to spend 30 min at Lock and Key. I told him I had a receipt from Vons and I was just grabbing a quick drink; I had heard about this place pre Covid. He said he would call the tow truck and if we didn't have money to stay inside. This short chubby Latino guy was very rude to us. Obviously we didn't stay. We came to LA prime and now we are enjoying a view. read more

Lock & Key - LA Prime - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California