Bar Fifty Three

Can you give zero stars? Wow. Where do I begin? I live behind Pearl’s Liquor Bar or for some reason Pearl’s Sunset Strip as its called now I guess. I am incidentally The Duke of that place, as if that means anything. And I really enjoyed the downstairs of Pearl’s. As a New Yorker, I thought it was a pretty cool space. I had some great times there. I even met my now ex-​girlfriend there for a very memorable first date.
Then something really lame happened.
Somehow the owners thought it would be a cool idea to team with Playboy. Put in a cheesy neon sign in that says «I’m Ready for My Close Up». And definitely the worst decision of all: wall off that section of the bar and put bouncers out front.
I’m a regular. I know several people who work at Pearl’s and these bouncers bullied the girl I was with in their effort to pretend this new iteration of this space is «exclusive.»
It’s pathetic.
And I know this idiotic strategy is failing when I go there now and it is completely empty and they happily let me in. Cheesy décor and lights flashing, and terrible music thumping (we are talking paying a DJ to stand there and blast Dave Matthews at thundering bass levels!)
Are you kidding me?
It is a misreading of where this neighborhood is going.
The HUSTLER store is gonna close down, guys. The retarded levels of out-​of-​date cheap glitz and classless stupidity will fade out. Boutique hotels are going in.
You guys own Rock and Reilly’s which is a fun dive bar /​pub and deserves to be popular. Pearl’s always worked as the classier, more upscale, and even more New York cocktail lounge alternative to next door. If I were you, I’d go for that. Look at places like The Roger Room. Drop the b.s. «Exclusive» red rope bouncer nonsense. And for God’s sake get some music that was not played at frat parties in the late 90s.
You have a beautiful space. A killer location. You’re gonna get plenty of people on that block no matter what. Why not strive to be the coolest, most sophisticated spot on the block? That is the future. Embrace it. Be the trend setter. Please kill this disastrous iteration as soon as you can.

Typical discriminatory LA scene!
I would NOT recommend anyone to spend their hard earned $$$ here or contribute towards this business.
Especially, if they don’t treat people equally.

A nice change from all the other bars on Sunset. It is a cozy little lounge with couches and a good bar. When we were there they were filming that stupid show «Vanderpump Rules», but even then the bartenders made sure we weren’t standing empty-​handed. I had one of the Mr. Demile drinks, which could have been spicier, but was a nice cocktail overall.