Bar Franca

Though it quickly became a fixture of Downtown L.A.'s nightlife scene after opening in 2018, Bar Franca was not immune to the stressors of the pandemic, union strikes, and wildfires. When Rolando Alvarez, longtime Midnight Lovers promoter, took over last fall, he kept much of the interior of the decidedly feminine space. The main difference is the new hi-fi system—a Danley that lets you feel the disco, house, funk, or jazz beats in your bones while still being able to hear the person next to you. While effective for guests, the speaker layout mainly fails the bartenders, who sometimes struggle to hear orders over the club-like atmosphere. The seasonal menu from Broken Shaker's Gabriel Orta and Jonny Child stays in neutral to sweet territory while bringing a couple of non-alcoholic cocktails into the fold. You're more likely to see glasses of wine, beer, or martinis on the dancefloor; this is a space for music lovers who want to meet like-minded souls under the glow of a cherry neon sign.