Mother Lode

My experience at this bar took a disappointing turn, leading me to change my review from five stars to one. One of the bartenders behavior was unprofessional and aggressive and I already reported him hope his behavior gets better next time he needs to respect people and STOP assuming everyone is drunk and treat them bad you should know BETTER.

Keeping the gay bar racist ass tradition alive of banning everything from TouchTunes thst has any element of hip hop (unless it’s a white artist). Bartenders are friendly, and drinks are reasonably priced by WeHo standards, but we know the message when we see the above.

I've been coming to this place for years. Always gone to Doug in the back for the great drinks and conversation. The gogo boys are also nice to look at and very nice. Music is a mix of current and gay anthems from the past. A great place to hang out with friends or make some new ones.

I love them with all my heart, but why are they allowing illegal food vendors to stand right in front of their exit it puts them at risk and everyone else for legal issues in addition to taking money out of all of our pockets please let’s form a collation and get rid of them Your biggest fan. Reed

This bar is always a part of my bar crawl whenever I'm in West Hollywood. Mark makes my drinks exactly how I like them and has an awesome personality. They are more than doubling the size of their patio, so people watching will be even better. Don't let the construction scare you away. They are open for business!

A fun bar. Predominantly gay clientele but everybody goes there. Friendly bartenders. Great Happy Hour prices Mon-Fri. Had my birthday party there and the staff was very accommodating. One of the oldest bars in West Hollywood, everyone is welcome!

They literately asked us if we’d were pocket picking by the cleaning crew … like he was so rude.. we are am I sitting from out of town.. too bad we had to end our night like that

This is a nice Thai bar. They have the most strongest drinks on the block of West Hollywood Santa Monica Blvd. very good atmosphere.

If you're starting an evening of debauchery, I think WeHo's oldest gay bar is a good place to start because it has a decidedly low-key vibe compared to its louder neighbors. The popular spot also felt like it skewed older which was fine by me and Jamie W. We skew that way, too. That was probably the reason we were there at 6:30PM, and I swear we weren't there for an Early Bird special. The vintage brass fixtures and wood paneling add to the manly ambiance they seem to be going for in here like Dad's den. Have you been a good boy? My guess is 'yes' because all the bad boys are probably go-go dancing at Revolver anyway. It didn't matter anyway since they serve anybody. Jamie and I downed our sturdy $10 Tequila Sunrises (photo: https://yelp.to/hYQmhYNAse), and we were all set for our next adventure. DRINKS - 4 stars...definitely potent enough AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...manly in a mid century way SERVICE - 4 stars...the bartender was highly organized TOTAL - 4 stars...have we hit the mother lode yet? RELATED - Exploring WeHo? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3TBgdOP

Great spot Jeremy is a LEGEND and a beast and the coolest guy drinks are affordable AF just a great spot

I love this place so much! This bar is so much fun if you want to come and just have a drink and talk to people. Very chills and the staff are so friendly.

Mother load is a very nice place to go very very strong drinks the strongest blanks and West Hollywood the owner is named Bobby. I think he's a very racist person. He don't have any minorities working for his business and when you try to speak to him, he shines you on, but they have the strongest drinks in West Hollywood is a fun place to go in the cheapest drinks. it's the strongest drinks in the West Hollywood.

Went to this bar @motherlodewesthollywood this evening and witnessed a very concerning situation. Bar security allowing women and her group to drink outside the drinking area of the bar. Just because they are giving him hugs and kisses. Others were not allowed. He even provided seats outside for her group. He mentioned that it was just water that they are drinking. When asked if he served them himself to validate the comment, he became very defensive and wanted to kick me out. Others were kicked out for just a simple nudge of his arm due to busy entry way; but he allowed this group to drink outside the bar perimeter. This latino security guard should be fired.

I did not give the review of Mother Lode below!!! Adrian the former security guy wrote that and he walked out and quit in the middle of his shift! He was not good at his job so it was a plus for us that he left! Don't use my name where I work to make it look like someone actually misses you Adrian when nobody does! Mother is a great fun bar! Happy Holidays! Using my name or any persons name is illegals ! Nice try!

Just found out that our favorite bouncer is no longer with US to protect us anymore SMH Adrian will be missed I'm very sadden to see this happen not sure who made this decision but I will say this he wad a good person and took his role of security above standards this bar needs more security guards like Adrian,,,,

Went there on Halloween. Sad to say it was a shit show. My phone was stolen out of my purse after buying a drink at the bar. Beware!! By that time I had zipped my purse back up, it was gone. My friend said this goes for most of West Hollywood. I walked back in to see if I could track my phone down. As I was walking through the dance floor, a group of guys took my the headband of my costume and tried to place a cloth of their costume over my face. It was so bizarre. I just walked away. Will not be going back there. No one answered the calls, and it was eventually turned off.

Matt the bartender/dancer is awesome. Personable, welcoming and just makes you feel good to be at Mother Lode. Been coming here for years and he is a refreshing , great addition to your team. Love him ! On the other end of the spectrum is a very rude, nasty bartender named Doug. I run luxury hotels for over 30 years, and I wouldn't hire Doug to serve piss warm keg beer into cheap plastic cups at a fraternity party!! He went out of his way twice in 10 minutes in front of 6 customers to argue with Matt because Matt was closing out his checks and serving a last drink to another customer who said to Matt " I don't want my drink from Doug ". Plus Doug slumbered out 5 minutes past his start time with cash drawer in hand ! Doug has no concept of good service and you lost business at the bar because of him. As you know, competition is tough in weho, this guy is costing you business ! Will never return if he is tending bar and is my only option. I'm so passionate about what I witnessed that I'm more than willing to give more details. Just contact me via yelp and I will reach out. I want to see you thrive but you definitely won't with employees like Doug.

Classic West Hollywood dive bar that's well known. This place has been here for years. Without the pretentious scene and vibe. The drinks are cheap and the crowds are more laid back versus all the clubs and bars surrounding. It's perfect for an afternoon of cocktails with friends and people watching. In the evenings, it is pretty crowded as drinks are price very well. It's not big place. Theres no dance floor but people tend to just make their own. There's outdoor patio with seating. There's obviously the main bar and a second floor which is just a couple steps from the ground level. Overall great place for just a quick drink as your walking down the street. Or late night bar hopping with friends. Drinks are reasonable, crowds are fun. Very casual vibe.

After all these years, this is still a down to earth bar with strong drinks and reasonable prices nestled in between the pretentious bullshit of the Lisa Vanderpumps bars & The Abbey. Lots of people come here to pre-game before moving on to more expensive places but I've often stayed here until closing if I'm around good company. This place is one of the oldest, continuously operating gay bars in West Hollywood and has earned legacy, gold star status in the community.m

We've supported your business for the last 20 years, those days are gone. The rudest bartender in those last 20 years is the reason we will NEVER step foot in your establishment again. This was on 7/21/23 late afternoon. He was the only one tending bar so shouldn't be too hard to figure out who you need to get rid of!

went to mother lode last night and it became a shit show!! drunk patrons fist fighting in the urinal stall area and I had to intervene as security who was monitoring the bathrooms didn't give a damn and ignored my request. He acted like I did not matter and stood there with a blank face. Like do your job!! Why is he hired on as security when he doesn't do his job!? He didn't help in getting the other drunk patrons who were dragging people down onto the floor! This bar is becoming more and more a shit show and the staff could care less!! From the bartenders to the so called security! The owner of this bar seems to not care either!!! Get your staff in order!!!

Good bar for those who don't live the "clubby" atmosphere. The staff is friendly, the drinks are good and less expensive. Whats not to love?

Went in for a drink and asked if I could have a water as well. Bartender rudely told me no you can't instead of telling me they had a jug in the back. I decided to not bother buying a drink here and went elsewhere.

Same old school gay bar-last one left. Reasonable prices, strong pours. Cute guys. Nice outdoor option.

Mother Lode is a DIVE BAR so get over it. I remember first going there in the late 1970's when liquor bottles, the brass fixtures & the tall mirrors there shined. But that was eons ago in the concept of Gay 'time' which may be similar to dog years where every human year is closer to 7 dog years. In this case, it may be closer to a 1:10 ratio. Now the mirrors are fogged through the patina of time & bottles may be a bit dusty. I love dive bars since they are full of human character that is unadorned, direct, without pretention. What you see is what you get, and that may not be such a bad thing. Other long gone dive bars such as Cuffs, River Club, The Pits, Sling, Mugi, Der Knast in Berlin, The Web in Amsterdam come to mind...all filled w/ a slew of idiosyncratic personalities that were fascinating in their own quirky way. Being in Weho, not so much. For some reason being caught between overly conspicuous, hyper consumer/affluent Beverly Hills & what was the legend of Hollywood, many of the denizens frequenting West Hollywood get too caught up in their own pretentions & hype sandwiched between the two cities. So unfortunately Mother Lode is a dive bar, but w/ a generally insipid, vapid clientele. Where is Charles Bukowsky when you need him? Our lady bartender was hospitable & considerate in a low key, almost earthy, countrified manner which was appreciated. When I lingered on my Tom Collins & the ice had melted down, she noticed & offered to refill the glass w/ fresh ice...a kind gesture. The music on a late Saturday afternoon was kept to a decent volume & not an earsplitting roar. There is a pool table for those who want to be entertained by hitting balls onto balls against soft furry felt. Good place to take a break at the end when doing a walking touring of West Hollywood via RT @PeacockFaerie: Come see the documentary of our fabulous Stuart Timmons WeHo LGBTQ History Mobile Tour! https://t.co/W4fHGCuHCH https://t.co/HMRln1XbtP 3+ Yelp stars.

A drunk belligerent guy at the bar had his helmet and jacket in the seating area next to the bar. Because I was sitting near it, he threatened to "fuck me up". The bartender who previously socialized more than catering to oatrkns sided with the drunk guy. I recorded everything on phone. It's unfortunate because I live in the neighborhood and have been coming here for 20 years...

I visited Mother Lode Tuesday November 22 ordered 3 Tito's soda , they tasted like gasoline!! I expressed my concern to the bartender, his response " we are not that kind of establishment " I wasn't really sure why he would be offended as he didn't pay for premium alcohol to be do offended , however I purchased a white claw . I was more shocked that this openly gay establishment would allow such poor customer service, and more importantly trick customers they are able to offer premium alcohol

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Well, maybe not everybody, but the bartenders do. Motherlode is a tradition, a seasoned bar, and despite a recent facelift she is still the good time broad we want her to be. Big drinks with heavy pours for great prices. You may meet the man of your dreams or the drunk of your nightmares, it really is a bar that all types go to. See the young cheap hotties getting their buzz on before the pricey Chapel, the social butterflies on a stop in their circuit, the Gen Xers wanting a place they can get away and talk for a moment, and the old timers holding down their barstools. It has a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era and at times is damn intoxicating... and did I mention the strong drinks?

I just want to thank Nick who was the bartender earlier tonight. There was a customer who was harassing me and he made sure he left the bar. I felt so much safer knowing a member of the staff was looking out for me. I love this bar, and I'm so grateful. Thank you.

Pretty lively place here it seems. Lots of down-to-earth folks here at the bar from what I observed. Great cocktails. Pop music were heard every second of the bar hour. Seems to be very lively with lights on the staging area. Great vibes. Highly recommend!

One of the more divey of the WeHo gay bars, a hole in the wall place complete with a messy men's room, sticky floors with an overall grungy look but with nothing I would consider as actually being dirty. It's been around for a long time, the front sign says 1979, so that fact alone says something about the place. The drink prices are somewhat stiff, in the $7.00 range for out the well but served with a generous pour. The guys that hang here tend to be somewhat on the scruff, without actually being scruffy which makes it somewhat different from the other bars on the WeHo strip that are generally infested with tinsel type disco queens and princess boys. It's a fun place, has pool table and gets nicely packed but rarely with a line extending out the door or down the sidewalk.

I think I get why so many folks give this 3+ stars: it's mainly for the outdoors seating area. It's plain ol' dark in the bar area, which is the norm. The music blaring is a hit or miss, so you don't come here for the music, that's for sure. Drinks are cheaper here compared to the other bars on the block, but the ability to get fresh air for a second is a plus...until the "fresh" air is taken away from all the smokers lighting up or the smell of weed permeates your hair.

Like my dive bar like I like my men Laid back, rough around the edges and cheap. Stiff drinks and studly men galore ;) Motherlode was my first bars when I moved back to LA 6 years ago... Thursday Night Karaoke is life... the PA system is almost perfect the acoustics are a little dated. Came here for pride and the drinks are more than reasonable for a bar on the Santa Monica Gay Bar circuit strip... it's that laid back bar you can take your shy friends and the over the top characters and just relax and mingle. The bartenders are all personable and polite... bathrooms are surprisingly clean and move quick on busy nights.... If you're shy don't be. The best place to start a night of bar hopping or hold up for the night... two smoking patios that overlook the boulevard.... I don't smoke but kind just love the feeling of chilling with my chain smoker bestie or meeting new people who seem to be the most open here than any other bar near by... the vibe here is always "on fleek" for lack of a better concept. Always tip your bartender, but on Thursdays your KJ(s) too!

Another bar in WeHo you drink at but not necessarily where you end your night dancing or hanging out until the end. Last time I was there was NYE and I remember good, strong drinks, having fun with my friends, and it was a good crowd, as it has been with my experience at Mother Lode every time I visited in the past.

My phone was stolen yesterday 6/4/2022 at 9:30 PM. I immediately told the bartender who didn't didn't' seem to care or sympathize and said they are too busy to do anything about it! I have since tried to get in contact with someone to complete my report and have not been responded to. Can someone please contact me

This bar has been a mainstay in W. Hollywood for many, many years. I'm glad it has still kept most of its original character of being a simple, utilitarian bar in WeHo. The drinks are usually fairly strong and the prices are right. I'm just concerned that now being surrounded by not one but two Vanderpumps bars - Pump and TomTom - it's either going to become another tourist trap for Bravo fans from West Covina and Arkansas or the bar may be eventually forced out by these other D-bag bars who have attracted a totally different clientele. Gay people in WeHo still need a no-frills, quality bar with non-pretentious bartenders who deliver strong drinks at reasonable prices. Support the Motherload!

The drinks here are $10 for a well drink and $12 for a call but the prices are worth it. You will not need to drink another one after Mother Lode. In fact, you may not need to drink again for a week. These drinks know what they are doing (but if you are not careful, you may not know what you are doing). Also, I like the new look (Mother Lode now has an open patio). Originally, I was skeptical. Was Mother Lode trying to copy Chapel to get tourists for Sunday funday? Was Motherlode going to lose its uniqueness, character, authenticity and mystery? Would its new name be "LABasic Lode?" Thankfully none of that happened. I walked by and went in during pride. While I did not stay long, I could tell right away the old character was still here. While I did not have any of the drinks, I heard they still retained their character. In fact, the entire bar seemed to have the same character. The only change was the addition of the patio. I left liking the patio. It's Los Angeles, one of the few places a year round outdoor patio works. Mother Lode may be updating itself to look like the other bars but in character, it's still Mother Lode.

Great bar cheap drinks and very lively I went on a Tuesday night and it was surprisingly very lively. Crowd was great. Bartender was super nice and attentive barely any wait to get drinks. The security guard was great as well. There was a Halloween costume contest that was fun. The go go dancers are very good looking. Overall a great bar.

Super strong drinks. This should be your go to place to start if you're looking to have a messy night. It's where you go enjoy drinks, chat, and chill with friends. It actually has a San Francisco vibe for sure. It can get crowded at times, but definitely worth a visit. Back to those strong drinks. You can tell the bartenders to lighten up on it, but why?!? They take good care of you here. These guys are actually very chill and take care of the customers. I've met some b****y bartenders in most of the west hollywood bars and clubs. I think that's what sets apart this bar from other places in WeHo. Chill, laid back staff. I encourage locals and visitors to check this place out. You'll see a friendly face or two. No doubt.

I've been sleeping on Mother Lode - it's fun, reasonably priced drinks (considering the area), and has music that's easy to dance to. It's a great example of the fun that can be had when a bar isn't trying too hard. Came because my friend wanted to pick an easy place in WeHo for everyone to meet before heading to the Abbey, and this didn't disappoint. I kept my drinks simple, and they were fine. When I told the bartender one was for the birthday boy, he took the drink back and dumped in an extra shot. Now THAT'S my kind of bar!

Cody or Cory// Security guy is just rude and unfriendly... the drinks are always poured badly and disgusting. The Ora is cheap bar gross drinks . Never again , avoid this place

Fun bar! Not quite as loud and insane as its next door neighbors on most nights, but usually has a great crowd! Came here a few times since walking in on Halloween. The most notable trait I've noticed here are the incredibly strong pours. I stared in awe as the bartender filled my cup 3/4 of the way with alcohol. Call me classless, but if I'm going to be paying for drinks at bars, I'd rather they be super strong (even if it comes at the expense of taste, because taste good they do not). At any rate you won't need to buy too many drinks to get your party monster out here. In terms of the dance floor, the bar doesn't really have one, so most people end up dancing in any open space around the tables and bars, which isn't necessarily bad, but it can get pretty cramped on the busy nights. I vaguely remember the music being pretty awesome as well!

Balling on a budget ? Forgot to pregame at home ? This is the perfect bar to start at because the drinks are cheap and strong, and the wait at the bar is generally very short. Not a very long yelp review , but I think the gist of this review is that you should start your night here if you want to get drunk at an affordable price (LA standards lol)

I'm just not a dive bar guy... but when I do decide to do a dive bar, I dunno, I want there to be something fun about it, something with personality. A place so awful that you're almost there in spite of its awfulness. I recall a bar in Mexico my best friend and I used to go to with a placard that read, "If our food and service don't meet your expectations, please lower your expectations". Awesome. This place just doesn't have that fun personality. It seems like it's where the dysfunctional drunks in West Hollywood go because it's cheap, low-end liquor and because there's no cover charge. Also, people say they like it because it's unpretentious... but... well, it's unpretentious for a reason. The bartenders aren't overly friendly, the drinks aren't overly strong, there's nothing interesting or fun about the vibe... it's just... off. Pass.

Less than a week after Halloween, I brought some of my out of town guests here for a fun night of bar hopping, dancing and great people watching. Drinks are the average $10-15, depending on the shelves from which you are pouring. This bar is fun for a few different reasons. For one, it's not all stuck up or anything over the top. The music is something to move to. It really is a laid back spot and one definitely worth checking out. The crowd here is great and I'd definitely come back here again. We had a good time, mingled with some of the other customers/guests and shared three times as many laughs as we did drinks.

What can you say about Mother Lode? I hear it's the oldest gay bar in West Hollywood. But they recently did some upgrades that have made everything (well, almost everything) old, new again. A huge new patio area out front. A whole new facade and updated signage. It even looks like they may be cleaning up the interior too! It's still a little divey but that works for them. And still the best drinks in Weho! But what makes the Mother Lode such a great place? They don't take themselves too serious. None of the pretentious attitude of some of the other places in town. The staff are all pretty friendly and most of them have worked there a long time. If you're looking for a good time and a great drink, be sure to check it out!

I ordered a vodka cranberry across the street at (Mickey's) from a bartender who had this vibe of entitlement it was basically cranberry juice with a splash of vodka horrible drink. If you want to get your drink on go to (Mother Lode) first where they know how to pour a drink then go to (Mickey's) I you feel like it.

My go-to bar since I first visited it back around 1981. (a little foggy about those days.) Partly because this is a great bar, reasonable prices for sure and consistently super pours. Since I'm no longer a "local" the bartenders don't know me by name, at least early on in the evening. Like anywhere, respect gets it back. Just because the drinks are cheap, you shouldn't be. Great clientele, and staff, sadly they do need a bit of an upgrade here and there with the environs. Just a friendly suggestion. If you've just landed LA/WeHo, this is the best bang for your buck. (or should that be a buck for the bang? ... nevermind.) Thanks, guys, I'm always back at ya.

It's been a minute since I've been here but this is the place to go to for stiff drinks prior to going to the clubs in the surrounding area. Charlie (RIP) was such a sweet heart and was a definite draw to this place for me and my friends and can't be replaced but the other bartenders seem to be just as catering and willing to fix you up with what you need to get your night started right.

Great place great music great crew and fun time to be enjoyed and glad this place is back again...

Got kicked out in Halloween in a really bad and aggressive way. Security staff threw me out the back door I fell got scratches on my face And my 200 dollars prescription glasses broke to the grade that they were useless. I promised to myself not to go there ever again.

We were having a couple of drinks at Pump and decided to come here and check it out on a Saturday afternoon and have a beer. We must have gotten there when they barely opened because it sure was dead with about 4 men sitting at the bar. They had some pretty good music playing so that kept us in our partying mood. As you first walk in, there is bar off to the left hand side and a good size dance floor on the right side. The bartender on duty was very sweet and provided us with our drinks fairly quickly but once we drank them we decided it was time to continue bar hopping. I would love to come back during the night time to see how this place is because it seems to be a pretty good dancing place with the music and the size of this location.

I have been going to this bar on and off for about three months with varying experiences both good and bad, but after tonight's experience I will not be back. I was outside in the back smoking area trying to get some air when I heard one of the security guards making racist comments about Mexicans with a group of men (I'm assuming customers). When I asked that they refrain from such language I was told to re-present my I'd or leave. After presenting my state i.d. confirming I was above age to be a patron of the bar, and showing I was sober enough, the security refused to let me re-enter the facility. He even went as far as to suggest I leave and don't come back. All of this because i politely asked that they refrain from making racist comments. I have NEVER been asked to leave a bar, especially after standing up against racist comments made by the staff. I was extremely uncomfortable with how the situation was handled and don't feel right re-entering the bar. I am heartbroken but I feel that there are many gay clubs on the same block where I feel queer people of all races can feel welcome and safe. But after tonight I no longer feel like this is a safe space to go.

I love the renovations, it rally opened the club up So it's not so dark and sticky anymore. I'm not sure what's going on with the service as I was there Tuesday night and the tables on the patio were full of garbage and empty cups, the dance floor was flooded with water, I even saw an unused condom Floating around. What's going on, you now have straight people attending these clubs, so it seems these owners are collecting our money but not giving us good service anymore or maybe it's only an issue on Tuesday, Just ratchet !!

Really miss this place and I really hope they don't get destroyed by the pandemic and have to close. Besides Gold Coast this is in the only bar in weho I ever feel somewhat comfortable. It helps they have cheap but very strong drinks! really hope this legendary bar makes it through the pandemic.

Cute place. but I wouldn't recommend going there. Very small place. I have been there few times and I ended up going home early - utter boredom. The only thing good in this place is the prices. The drinks here are pretty cheap compare other bars. Good thing, you can go in for a "kiki" - drink few drinks and head to another club. The service is OK not the best. They have cleaning issues and a lot. Bathroom is nasty and dirty :( Hope they fix soon

Dont get me wrong, its fun and cheap but that bartender was definetely rude as ever! Probbaly one of the worst experiences ever going out, I was out with friends celebrating one of my friends heading out to San Francisco. We were all ordering drinks from the bartender near the pool tables. Ordered about 3 drinks since the drinks are pretty strong, got a water as well. My water was now empty and noticed the bartender was slammed with customers so I took my empty water and went down to the lower bar and asked if he could refill my water. His exact words were, "No, go to your bartender that served you your alcohol. I couldn't believe it, when he had no customers in front of him and it would take less than a minute to fill my drink with water. Thankgod I didn't drive home!!!