After a year of closure, Clifton’s Republic, downtown’s fanciest watering hole, is officially back in business, nearly 90 years after it first opened as Clifton’s Cafeteria.
And as a fan of the classic L.A. spot, I was excited to hear the news — a place where you can drink booze and dance under three branches surrounded by stuffed lions, bison, and bears (oh my) I can’t think of anything else—Story Tall (Fake) Sequoia.
During a recent visit, four of Clifton’s themed “lands” (including the popular Pacific Ocean) were open to the public, with more to come. Since we last stepped foot inside the venue, the venue has introduced a new food menu and a projection system that brings some of the decor to life.
Photo: Time Out’s Danny Carranza
In the 1930s, Clifford Clinton opened a chain of local cafeterias beloved for their escapism and “Golden Rule” model, and the Great Depression didn’t drive away Angelenos even if they couldn’t afford to eat there. –Charles Bukowski even mentions this fact in Ham on the Rye. The current Broadway location is actually the second spot Clinton opened, modeled after his memories at Brookdale Lodge in Santa Cruz. At one point, it was even the original terminus of Route 66 (that honor now goes to the Santa Monica Pier).
In 2010, nightlife impresario Andrew Mayeran wanted to revitalize the L.A. icon and purchased the Broadway spot in the heart of downtown. He announced his vision for Clifton’s in 2015, but ultimately shuttered the cafeteria concept in 2018 and rebranded the bar as Clifton’s Republic before closing due to the pandemic. Then, after reopening in 2022, another misfortune struck last year when a water pipe burst, flooding the kitchen and ceiling. The team spent the rest of the year renovating and began a phased reopening this year.
One of the best things about Clifton’s, besides its kitsch and rich history, is that it offers a variety of experiences that will ensure you’ll never get bored during your visit. Some of these themed “lands” are currently open on Fridays and Saturdays. Here’s what you can expect on your weekend visit.
Photo: Time Out’s Danny Carranza
Turning off-Broadway, you’ll find yourself in the two-story Brookdale Dining Hall. (Much to the chagrin of some Clifton fans, this classic cafeteria is currently closed, but an all-ages brunch is scheduled to open soon.) Enter through the Forest Glen area on the first floor. Masu. Greenery and rocks, petrified wood, tree murals, and mahogany leather chairs instantly transport you to a forest wonderland. If you look behind you, you can see a cross section of the sequoia. Look up and don’t be surprised to see a teddy bear caught in the middle of a roar. Much of the decor has been preserved from the 1930s iteration of this space.
Popular Clifton landmarks are also located here, including the Old Tree Wishing Well, Great Stone Fireplace, and Little Stone Chapel. The Little Stone Chapel is a turret-like space where you can step inside to discover a fascinating hidden diorama of trees. Anecdotally, this space is said to have inspired Walt Disney’s vision for Disneyland, specifically Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. In fact, Brookdale Dining Hall was the first commercial project of contemporary architect Welton Beckett, a close friend of Disney and with whom he later collaborated on several Disney World projects. (Beckett is also a pretty important figure in LA history, as he was also the mastermind behind the Beverly Hilton, Cinerama Dome, Music Center and its venues.)
Photo: Time Out’s Danny Carranza
Head upstairs to the Monarch Lounge. It is home to Clifton’s famous artificial sequoia trees. Both trees are a homage to the last wild grizzly bears in California before the species became extinct here. But don’t think like that. Because, oh, look! Right next to the bar, which serves cocktails with apt names like Grizzly, Painted Fern and Firefly, there’s a disco ball that invites guests to the dance floor. The space has a typical nightclub feel, but there are also quirky touches throughout, including artifacts from Clinton’s famous “Cabinet of Curiosities” and a small alcove where you can hide for a quiet conversation. There are many. We also have a Photo Cave, a more spacious photo booth option perfect for group outings.
Photo: Danny Carranza for Time Out
Above it is the Gothic Lounge, overlooking the action on the dance floor. At one end is the Brookdale Ballroom, used for special events. I recently saw some spectacular spooky swing music there on Halloween. The centerpiece of the floor is a two-story Gothic altar where bartenders mix cocktails on either side of a 4.6 billion-year-old meteorite weighing more than 200 pounds. We recommend ordering Event Horizon here. It’s a jet-black concoction made with gin, dry Curacao, Luxardo, Cocchi Americano, and a spritz of absinthe, and topped with orchids. Stop by the Bradbury booth, where visionaries like Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen once hosted meetings of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society.
Photo: Time Out’s Danny Carranza
The star of the show just might be the Pacific Seas. The fourth-floor Tiki Lounge aims to evoke the golden age of travel, accessed through a mirror-slash secret door. Climb two flights of stairs and pass through a room with a map to find yourself in a classic tiki bar. The original Pacific Seas, housed in a downtown establishment first founded by Clifford Clinton in the 1930s, pioneered the tiki bar concept. Mayeran’s version of the Pacific first opened in 2016. A vintage 1935 Chris Craft mahogany boat is “wrecked” in the center of the bar, and guests can choose from over 100 rums or order drinks such as the illuminated Krakatoa. Bring to the boil and serve in bowls for 2-3 people.
Photo: Time Out’s Danny Carranza
Since the reopening, a new food menu has also been introduced. There will be no sit-down dining service, but you can order dishes at each bar, including a “cigar box” containing five hand-rolled flautas. Grilled Tahitian pork, Petaluma chicken, or Crimini mushroom skewers. There are three different variations of fries. In a nod to the beloved jelly from the original cafeteria, “Stained Glass Jelly” topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles can also be ordered from the cart.
There is a lot to understand and there are still additional lands that are not yet open. They are planned for early 2025. The Tree Tops Lounge will be an elevated space on the fourth floor, perched high within the forest canopy. And what we’re most excited about might be Shadowbox, an underground cocktail lounge and cabaret accessed through a secret cave never before seen by the public.
At this time, Clifton’s hours are fairly limited to 6pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. This spot has a nightlife vibe, but is open to all ages until 9 p.m. It’s easy to imagine the kids having a blast exploring the man-made forest and all its hidden gems. A variety of programs are underway, from parties to site-specific art installations. The various rooms, towering redwood replicas, and high ceilings provide the perfect stage for musicians, aerialists, and acrobats. A state-of-the-art projection mapping system will further enliven the space.
One thing is for sure: Clifton is back and DTLA is even better.
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