"The dark interior of the Gopher doesn’t scream “summer,” but anyone who has survived a heat wave in downtown Los Angeles knows that getting out of the sun and into a cool, dark room can be the best way to beat the heat. It’s even better when said room has the variety of draft beers and cocktails, along with a pool table and table-top arcade games. If you’re scanning their shelves for Milagro, order their frozen strawberry margarita or a beer and tequila shot special. Once you’ve cooled off a bit, you can work your way back into the heat by finding space on the Gopher’s narrow patio, which sits between two buildings and gives off the feeling of having a drink on a New York fire escape." - Robert Spuhler