LA Cocktail Veterans Inject New Life Into Downtown’s Longtime Spring Street Bar | Eater LA
"After six years searching for a location, I saw Spring Street Bar reopen in Downtown LA in mid-September under veteran bartenders Alexander Vaughan-Ruiz and Brandon Richard, who then spent four months converting a former Historic Core sports bar into a welcoming place for thoughtful cocktails. They fully gutted the room, refinished the original bar top, and installed walnut columns and tabletops to emphasize the nearly 100-year-old building’s legacy, and the original name remains as an homage to that history. All drinks on the menu are capped at $16, with accessible classics like espresso martinis, white Negronis, and milk punches made with Diplomatico rum alongside more esoteric offerings such as the El Centro (Amaras Espadin Reposado, vermouth, amaro, and bitters) and the Grape Escape (Capurro Pisco, Xila Licor de Agave mezcal, grapes, lemon, and pink peppercorns); beers include hefeweizen, IPAs, and Boomtown’s Bad Hombre with a shot of Mestizo Mezcal Espadin, and glasses of Austrian pinot noir, Portuguese vino verde, Chiaretto from Veneto, or Cava are priced around $12. They’re also programming events—every third Monday will feature free spirit trainings, Tuesdays will have Japanese whiskey or tequila tastings, and Wednesdays will host food pop-ups—creating a neighborhood-minded, craft-focused late-night spot." - Mona Holmes
