Eastside Luv Wine Bar y Queso

blown away by this lil joint. went for the 1st time this past fri to see a band play... lysa flores/alfredo-beastie boys/marco-juaguares... outstanding! had such a great time i went back on sat for the chicano art exhibit & stuck around for the dance shows... on the lowriding bar. felt like i was invited to party inside someone's sexy lil bungalow. beautiful decor... premium beer selection (no budlight...perfect), wine list consists of fine wines to urban wines, & don't leave without trying the sangria or beer cocktail they call the cheladito. what can i say... i was there for a while till my cab showed up!!!

I recently had a opportunity to visit this newer venue on 1st street. The eastside Luv wine bar y queso has lots of potential to be one of the premier places to connect the culture of east los angeles to the up and coming scene in downtown Los Angeles. The decor and the beautiful art on the walls are incredible. Considering the place is maybe 1000 square feet, if that, the feel is that of a actual wine bar if you get there before 9:00 After 9:00, LET THE CHAOS BEGIN! The group I was travelling with for the evening are well astute in the wine and tapas establishments in Los Angeles. Seeing we have never been to this venue, we figuered we'd give the eastside a chance to see what progress has been made since Little Pedros shut down right up the street from the luv and queso. After hanging out for a hour or so, we noticed the place starting filling rather quickly. In no time we were shoulder to shoulder, cheek to cheek with other luv bar enthusiast. We could barely open our mouths to yawn it was so packed in there. Minutes upon minutes to order a drink, not to mention the whole place seems to stop operating for 10 minutes due to the cheesy burlesque show. Could not get a drink served during this time, could not close our tab until the show ended. I don't know what the capacity is for a venue that size, but i'm sure Fire Marshall Bill would have a field day in citing code violations. People were jammed in there like sardines, and the doorman kept letting in guest as the arrived. I don't know what direction the luv wine bar is going in, but if you live in east los angeles this is definately the coolest place in the area compared to El Tarasco or 24 hours. In the end, it's a great place to start off your evening for a quiet moment to have some good local wine courtesy of San Antonio winery. If you prefer to engage in a quiet conversation with friends, a date, whoever, then this is definately not the place for you. However, if you do enjoy a mix of young, eclectic latino crowd, then this is definately right up your alley...Literally!! Be sure to vacate the premises before midnight. That's when the guys with the hoodies arrive. Considering the police station is up the street, I still didn't feel too secure once a certain crowd arrived. Poor parking, lack of visible security for those that have to park 2 blocks away in East Los Angeles.... They are making stdrides, but not quite there yet considering you don't forget where you are in the big sceme of things. Wine bar y queso is a ticking timebomb at capacity. Lesson for the wise when opening a bar/club in the eastside. Long waits + jammed packed + semi rowdy group = potential problems! Remember owners...Just becuase you have a dress code does not mean you won't have problems down the road. Obviously there is no discretion when mixing the arts and culture for the sake of making a dollar.

Posted by Vanessa V. on

Ok Im torn about this place... I left the comfort of good ol' South Bay and Hollywood stomping grounds and ventured out to East LA (Correction Boyle...

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Posted by Michelle P. on

I'm in love with the Eastside and Eastside Luv bar- Warm, cozy vibe, red walls, day of the dead Chicano art, recessed bar, interesting seating down to the...

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Posted by Maria B. on

The first thing you notice is that there's no sign on this place. You have to ask the door guy where you are. No line, just walk in after they check your...

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