Bar Thirteen: Cabaret & Calvados
Bar Thirteen, opened two weeks ago, is the newest addition to the Perch reign as Downtown Los Angeles' newest hotspot. In keeping with the art-deco French theme, Bar Thirteen is a haven for artists, like a 17th century Parisian salon.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, the intimate space, on the 13th floor and three floors below the Perch rooftop bar, features a different themed performance each night. From open mic comedy night on Tuesdays to the Jennifer Keith Quintet swing band on Wednesdays to every other Friday night the sexy cabaret dancers of Visage d’ Amour light up the stage. Want to express yourself at Bar Thirteen? Tina, the entertainment director, is the lady to impress with your talents.
And if you’re going to have a modern day Parisian salon, cognac, calvados, and pastis are a must. Not found in the Perch restaurant on the 15th floor or Perch rooftop bar on the 16th is Bar Thirteen’s own Thirtini cocktail of G’vine French Gin, Crème de Violet and lime.
With the ladies, no surprise, My Fair Lady is the most popular drink. It's like a French-L.A. Cosmopolitan with a Crème de Peche twist and gluten-free Fair Quinoa Vodka. Bar Thirteen also puts their own spin on a Manhattan with the Le Libertine of Maker's Mark and Blackberry Crème de Mure.
The Perch Daiquiri, with Rum JM Blanc, calvados, ginger syrup and lime juice, sounds strange but in the end was a frothy favorite of mine. On the bartenders' whims, the cocktail menu is constantly being reinvented in all three Perch bars.
Doors open at 7:30 pm on weekdays at Bar Thirteen, but get there early, go up to the 16th floor and watch the sun set on Pershing Square to the south and Bunker Hill to the north. Even Batman would get giddy over these cityscape views.
Perch, with its ménage à trois of options, has landed firmly within the Downtown nightlife scene. You may have to go on a scavenger hunt to find it with multiple elevators, but it’s well worth the adventure.
Bar Thirteen, 448 South Hill St, 13th Floor, Los Angeles 90013
