Alex’s Lounge

This is a dive bar for locals. I was passing through and the locals looked at me like I was an a blue person who had invaded their territory. There is basically no glassware. Many of the drinks are served in Styrofoam, a tradition in LA but a bit tacky and wasteful if you ask me. The bartender was friendly enough — even though she did greet me with a bit of suspicion. not the bar’s fault. It is a smoking establishment.
The area above the bar is covered in dollars. The bar is an island in the middle which can be served from all sides. There is a dance floor behind the bar. There were a few televisions. There were not many tables.
The place seemed pretty clean for a smoking establishment.
It does stink of smoke and booze.
However, after we broke the ice — the locals were friendly and helpful. We joked with each other. They gave me a lot of information about the area and helped me as much with what they could as I came in.
I had to go in there for non-​drinking reasons around 5pm. I don’t drink. FYI. The reason I was there made things a bit uncomfortable, the fact I don’t drink made it uncomfortable and I was a new person in a very small town also made it uncomfortable. I tell you this to be fair to Alex’s.
The locals say this is Empire, LA not Buras, LA.