Mr. Wanderlust
Piano bar · Downtown Los Angeles ·
Vegas-style piano bar with cocktails, live music, DJs, burlesque
Vegas-style piano bar with cocktails, live music, DJs, burlesque
"A burlesque cocktail bar that launched in August 2023 as part of Level 8’s roster of concepts." - Mona Holmes
"I noted that Hotels Above Par published a list of Southern California’s most attractive cocktail bars and included Mr. Wanderlust among the picks." - Mona Holmes
"Mr. Wanderlust is a cocktail bar inside Level 8, a multi-concept nightlife macrocosm on the eighth floor of the Moxy Downtown. To get there, you've gotta walk down a hallway with psychedelic light projections before being whisked up to the eighth floor on a private elevator. It’s a lot, but pales in comparison to what’s waiting for you inside. Burlesque dancers spin in midair, a man croons on a spinning piano, and a magician walks around to each table performing sleight-of-hand tricks. The whole thing feels fun in a disorienting way. Show up if you’re in the mood for chaos." - Brant Cox
"Serving as the show-stopping entryway into Level 8, Mr. Wanderlust dazzles with swinging aerialists and a spinning piano that set a theatrical tone for the floor." - Farley Elliott
"Stepping into the space feels like immersing myself in the eclectic library of a world traveler: a dark, ambient, library-style piano bar and jazz lounge filled with tall, lit bookcases, custom wallpapers and vibrant fabrics, a rotating piano, artifacts from around the world, and whimsical touches like purse hooks shaped like exotic animals. Performers — from live musicians and dancers to aerialists who twirl upside down and pour champagne as new visitors enter — animate the room, and the whole concept is built around a craft cocktail program overseen by beverage director Devon Espinosa with collaborations from mixologists such as Christian “Suzu” Suzuki-Orellana, Kate Gerwin, and Naomi Schimek. Executive chef Richard Archuleta supervises the food across Level 8 and, at Mr. Wanderlust, the small-bite menu mirrors the global drinks program with influences from Asia, Southern California, South America, and India; standout items mentioned include a raw tuna pani puri inspired by Mumbai street food and a caviar “toad in the hole.” The space also connects via hidden doors to other Level 8 concepts, creating a theatrical, globe-trotting night out." - Virali Dave
