The vibes in Los Angeles, we’re told, are abysmal: no one is working, no one is going out, and everyone has moved or is moving away. But if you walk into the new bar Vandell in villagey Los Feliz, you’d never know it — it’s perpetually packed with well-heeled millennials and the occasional zoomer (probably on a first date with a millennial). Hype has built for drinks that are cleverly produce-focused, au courant vintage tavern decor, and a food menu that excels at the hits. Somehow Vandell — like Wilde’s nearby — is exactly what the thirsty crowd in postmodern Los Feliz needed.
At the bar, so you can chat with your bartender about the obscurities going on back there (carbonators, ice shaping, rare spirits). But there are also three separate areas in the tiny spot: The bar bustles, the front room is fit for groups, and the back feels darker and more intimate with two-tops — ideal for date night.
Check out the spirits list for cool vintage selections, like Gordon’s gin from the 1980s, IW Harper bourbon from the 1970s, or Braulio from the 1960s. And if you see something intriguing on the shelf that isn’t on the list, always ask about it.