Do we really need to sell you on the greatness of Echo Park when Steve McQueen, Jackson Pollock, Danny Trejo and the mayor of Los Angeles have each called the neighborhood home? Sandwiched by ever-happening Silver Lake on one side and indomitable Downtown LA on the other, Echo Park is a unique beast of its own.
Some of our favorite TV series have been shot in Echo Park (Love, You’re The Worst) because of its laidback culture and burgeoning food and drink scene. I know what you’re thinking: Every neighborhood has trendy, edgy, cute, farm-to-table, new, and classic restaurants and bars these days. But does every neighborhood have its own little lake that you can paddle boat in? We think not. How about its own music festival? We’re two for two.
The lucky ones who live and work in Echo Park have always known how good they have it. Meet three of Echo Park’s most influential players: Mitchell Frank of LA’s famed music venue, The Echo/Echoplex; Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson, owner of two of the Park’s most beloved bars, Little Joy and The Holloway; and Tony and Amy Yanow, owners of the striking restaurant and craft beer mecca, Mohawk Bend.
We asked each of them for their favorite spots around town and they’re going to make certain that you’ll want to stay on the scene until next year’s Rising.
Mitchell Frank (The Echo/Echoplex & El Prado)
For over 20 years, Mitchell Frank has been the reigning king of LA’s live music scene. Find yourself at Echo Park Rising this year? Well, that’s his. How about FYF? Mitchell started it. Been hitting the beach every Thursday over the summer for the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Concert Series? Yup, Mitchell’s. Outside of his Spaceland Presents empire, he has branched into restaurants and bars such as Silver Lake’s Malo and Echo Park’s El Prado, and was responsible for renovating DTLA’s beautiful Regent Theater. He’s premiered some of today’s biggest artists like Beck and Silversun Pickups and even scored the Rolling Stones, who secretly opened their 2013 World Tour at The Echo!
Mitchell Frank. Image courtesy of The Echo
The Echo & Echoplex
Mitchell Frank: This music duplex is a very city-specific outfit — the DIY spirit is very much alive and kickin. We’re proud to have the first LA performances by bands who go on to make it big. We love fans and giving them a place to enjoy a live show. Any given night you might hear the next Kendrick Lamar or be lucky enough to be in the room when Stevie Wonder pops in for impromptu jam. If you find yourself surrounded by people wearing “SAD AS FUCK” t-shirts with matching balloons, those are just the Emo kids who need to have fun too at Emo night LA. FUN FACT: LCD Soundsystem and Calvin Harris have both played The Echo but they didn’t sell out. FYF was birthed at The Echo back when it was $5.
@DearBoyOfficial playing The Echo. Image courtesy of @theechola
El Prado
MF: Craft beer and vinyl records, what? Quintessential neighbor-hoodie bar. Great music, all vinyl, all the time. Mostly local artisanal beers, snacks and dimly lit. Insider tip: Bartenders let you sample the beer before you order.
El Prado. Image courtesy of @alyntopper
Image courtesy of @eightfoldcoffee
Eightfold Coffee
MF: Love the minimally-designed space (very instagrammable) but the real stars here are their a-m-a-z-i-n-g almond milk lattes and flakey pastries (almond croissant). It’s the perfect weekend pit stop for sipping coffee and shopping for very hyper local designer wares and wearables.
Elf Cafe
MF:This little gem is near and dear to me. It’s like jet setting to a tiny little european cafe. Dimly lit, intimate tables, world music, vegetarian food that is exotic and innovative, sustainable wine surely an experience that both vegetarians and omnivores will enjoy. Favorite seat: At the bar (of course) so you can watch chef David Martinez go at it. Wild Mushroom Risotto, nuff said!
Ostrich Farm
MF: Best comfort meal in Echo Park. It’s intimate and unpretentious, everything is done to perfection from the lighting to the wine glasses. I always order the Salmon and Forbidden Rice. I don’t have any idea what forbidden rice is but it’s habit forming in the best kind of way. Favorite Seat: Bar.
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater
MF: This theater is a conduit to the past. It’s the longest-running marionette theater in the nation and it delivers the kitsch factor big-time. In fact, it’s been declared a historic cultural monument by the city of Los Angeles. Think Tim Burton, not Mr Rogers. Fun Fact: Dead Man’s Bone — the zombie-obsessed band concocted by Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields performed with the entire puppet menagerie cast, backed by the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir dressed as small skeletons and Dracula’s. Funny enough, I remember thinking it sounded a lot like Arcade Fire.
Winsome
MF: Loveliest patio in all of Echo Park. Brunch-Lunch-Dinner. Just go. It will not disappoint. I think I ate there three times in one week. Best B-R-A-N-Z-I-N-O in the city. Brunch is a total scene: tattoos, hangovers and high tops. Bloody Marys are made with heirloom tomato, carrot & beet juice, retoxing and detoxing in a glass, genius.
Branzino at Winsome. Image courtesy of @eatwinsome
Kush Sake Bar
MF: Vegetarian ramen, skewers, and shrimp buns hit the spot everytime at this trendy spot located on the outskirts of Echo Park.
Esqueleto
MF: Best place on the Eastside to buy “I am sorry gift” for my girlfriend. She loves the jewelry by local designers.
Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson (Little Joy & The Holloway)
For a rather seamless transition, Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson worked at The Echo for 10 years, wearing many different hats during his tenure. He also lived across the street from Little Joy back when it was a Latino cruising bar in the late 90s, and spent many a night drinking there with locals. So when it came time to sell, Little Joy’s longtime owner wisely chose Joaquin (and business partner Donald Andes) to take over the rough and tumble local favorite. After the success of Little Joy’s facelift, Joaquin embarked on The Holloway, a sports bar/gastropub and local favorite for catching a game, playing some shuffleboard and snagging a gourmet burger. The birth of the Holloway no doubt satisfies Joaquin’s self-confessed “athletic contradictions” as a big Dodger, Warriors and Raiders fan.
Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson (L) with Don Andes. Image courtesy of Little Joy
Little Joy bar. Image courtesy of @realfrankmojica
Echo Park Recreation Center
Joaquin Reyna-Donaldson: Being a dog owner, I have to walk my beast, String Cheese, for at least an hour and a half in the morning to get his yayas out. Living in Echo Park, for better or worse, we are surrounded by hills. Between Elysian Park and Glendale Boulevard, there are a ton of routes one can take to get your sweat on. So everyday, you will catch me rocking some dad-vibe type clothes trying to exercise with String Cheese. A real exercise gem in the neighborhood is the rec center just south of the park. It’s open most days before 3 p.m., so you can shoot around or play pickup basketball for free. It’s also empty most days before 12pm, so if you’re self conscious about running line drills and doing burpees, no one will be there to make fun of you.
Echo Park Rec Center. Image courtesy of @hoopurbia
Echo Park Donut
JRD: We make coffee at home in the morning, but after hiking and getting ready for my day, I always buy another cup on my way to one of the businesses. The coffee wars in Echo Park are real deal shit. Much like beer, I’m not much of a coffee snob. I love the coffee at Echo Park Donuts with the same affection I feel for Woodcat Coffee Bar and Taza. Stories is an amazing coffee shop owned by the legendary Liz Garo where I find myself most days. You can also get the latest issue of Originals, the follow up to the legendary Teen Angels Magazine there too.
K G Bakery Inc
JRD: I usually bring lunch to Little Joy manager David Austin a few days a week before we get the pleasure of moving kegs and cases of beer. I tend to switch it up, but one of our go-tos is the Kien Giang Bakery on Echo Park Ave. Growing up in Oakland, CA , there were a bunch of Vietnamese spots where you could get an inexpensive bahn mi sandwich. I get the Veggie bahn mi with extra chilies. You can get out of there with two sandwiches for less than 15 bucks.
Curious about where else to get a legit banh mi in LA? We talked to Chef Shawn Pham of Simbal in Little Tokyo for the inside scoop. Read the full story HERE.
Patra Burgers On Sunset
JRD: Patra is also a favorite. Molly has been running the humble burger and burrito place for around 20 years. When I was a young struggling dude and living on Allison, you could get breakfast and a cup of coffee at Patra’s for $1.50. Even though they have raised the prices, you can still get a bean, rice and avocado burrito for less than 2 bucks or a veggie burger combo for $6. It bums me out that they may be losing their lease soon and as a result, Echo Park may lose a crucial and affordable eatery.
Taix French Country Cuisine
JRD: Taix is of course a mainstay in the neighborhood, but my favorite place to get dinner by far in the hood is at …
Ostrich Farm
JRD: I take that back, I love any meal at Ostrich Farm. Jamie is a fellow Bay Area transplant and has done a really great job with the former pupuseria. They also now have a full bar, so there’s competition in the ‘best martini in Echo Park’ fight. My wife and I love the staff and pretty much everything else about this place.
Ostrich Farm. Image courtesy of @ostrichfarmla
Chango Coffee
JRD: Some of the best sandwiches in town. You never know what is going to be available, but I’ve never had a bad sandwich. Tupac and the rest of the staff rule. They also serve the largest, anxiety-attack-inducing cup of coffee (maybe 20 Oz?) in the neighborhood. So there’s that.
Mono Records
JRD: Being a lifelong record collector, there are a few new shops in town to get vinyl. The true king, in my opinion, is Mono Records on Glendale Blvd. All their records are priced to move. I go there about once a week and there’s always new stuff on the wall and new goodies in the bins. They also employ some local musicians and are definitely part of the community. One can find a Slade record for $5 or a James Chance record for $8. (I know because I bought these records.)
Little Joy
JRD: I’m really a big fan of all the comedy shows that have popped up around the neighborhood in the last few years. At Little Joy, Anna Seregina, Chris Garcia and friends throw The Business every Monday night, and Jim Hamilton, Mike Burns and Christian Duguay throw a Thursday night comedy show. Hey Buddy is a great show thrown by my guy Karl Hess at the Bootleg Theater on Beverly Blvd. They’re also doing a great job booking the space with new and interesting bands and stage shows. The New California Barbershop (an actual barbershop) has Party in the Back once in a while on the back patio.
The Holloway
JRD: This may be self-serving, but I love the DJ nights that we have at The Holloway. From Shoot The Loser with Serena Herrick on Wednesday nights, Friends with Benefits on Friday nights, Cisco’s Rock Steady Saturday afternoons and Malibu Vibes Sundays with Dirty Dave and Nightbreed with Dirtnap, we really cover the spectrum of Jams. I really love the group of customers who hang at The Holloway and the friendships and hilarity that has been forged there.
Amy and Tony Yanow (Mohawk Bend)
Since 2011, local couple Tony and Amy Yanow have operated one of the most unique restaurants in Echo Park. Mohawk Bend is truly undefinable. A cross between craft beer emporium, family restaurant, revered cocktail bar and vegan and carnivore mainstay, Mohawk Bend is set against the backdrop of an industrially renovated decaying old movie theater. Tony and Amy are also the owners Tony’s Darts Away and Golden Road Brewing — and you were wondering why Mohawk Bend had such a shit-hot beer list. Aside from the mini beer empire that they’ve created, all three locations have a strong family-friendly ethos which comes out of Tony and Amy’s mantra of “business and family together.”
Amy and Tony Yanow. Image courtesy of Kyle Monk Photography
Mohawk Bend
Amy & Tony: Obviously, Mohawk Bend is our most favorite place in Echo Park. But, we’ve never been more in love with it since we launched our new pizza menu — entirely revamping our dough, pizza sauce and pizza offerings earlier this year. Five years later, we’re still in love with the historic building and location at Mohawk Bend.
Mohawk Bend. Image courtesy of Mohawk Bend
Sunset Beer Company
A&T: This is a casual space, with a well-curated beer list to taste or take to-go. Well managed. We look forward to their newsletter and there is a clear commitment to craft beer.
Image courtesy of Sunset Beer Co
Elf Cafe. Image courtesy of @elfcafe
Elf Cafe
A&T: Our neighbors directly next to Mohawk Bend offer consistently delicious vegetarian and vegan fare in a sweet, casual environment. We loved Elf well before Mohawk Bend came to life.
Echo Park Lake/ Square One at the Boathouse
A&T: We recently spent a Sunday grabbing a soy latte from the Boathouse Café and paddle boating around the lake with the kids. The Lake is a gem in the middle of Echo Park with lovely Los Angeles as the backdrop.
Echo Park Lake. Image courtesy of @beliefbeyond
Time Travel Mart
A&T: This random “time travel convenience store” is a shopping and visiting delight in Echo Park carrying random cool things. More importantly it raises funds for the 826LA non-profit that we have partnered with in the past as well.
Brite Spot
A&T: This diner is a fixture in Echo Park with an unmistakable aesthetic in the heart of Echo Park on Sunset. I (Amy) knew the Brite Spot long before I moved to this side of town. We love coming here on a Saturday morning with friends or our kids. They have vegan and non-vegan options and it’s a place to relax and take your time.
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater
A&T: This is a magical experience for children. It’s like stepping into a time capsule. While our kids love it, we think that creative adults can find the experience endearing as well.
Myrtle
A&T: This is a great shop just a block away from Mohawk Bend on Sunset. The owner, Whitney, has a great eye and we love her commitment to supporting independent, female designers. This is great place for gifts and special pieces. We love her purpose driven business model.
Image courtesy of @shopmyrtle
Header Image courtesy of Ricardo H Photography
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Belinda Gosbee is an Aussie writer, actress and coffee snob based in Los Angeles. Follow her jaunts on twitter @belindagosbee or instagram @gos22
Originally published at bit.ly.
