Boardner's

323-462-9621

1652 N Cherokee Ave Los Angeles, CA 90029

www.boardners.com

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Hollywood's landmark hole-in-the-wall isn't just for barflies anymore.

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Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs, Dive Bars, Restaurants

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Happy Hour

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Daily 4pm-2am

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Your Neighborhood Watering Hole & Unpretentious Hot~Spot first known as `MY BLUE HEAVEN' owned by Gene Austin, then Club Xanxibar, The Cherokee Gay Boys Bar, B52 Club, ultimately becoming Steve Boardner's, has long been known for Stiff Cocktails, Lusty Loungers, Bar Brawls, heavy Sippin' spot through Prohibition, gambling, Hollywood deals and more? this bar has withstood the test of time & now Stands as an Institution in the Hollywood Bar scene. The Main bar renovated to reflect its past & present with style, class and nostalgic ambiance. Never a cover & Guaranteed a good time! Our B52 Club aka Sinister Bar is dominated by 23' ceilings, hand-painted gothique wall murals, dance floor, VIP Mezzanine. A secluded outdoor courtyard tops this O2-Cool bar off with an original Moroccan tile fountain, stage for live performances. Seen in numerous movies and rumored to be haunted!

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Insider Pages Reviews for Boardner's

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Nice Place.

by Peter S.

cool local bar with a cool jukebox vibe, the bartenders are nice and seem heavy on the poor. They have great BBQ Ribs and macaroni and cheese.
Prices aren't too bad for being in Hollywood.
Nice cozy booths and atmosphere.

Posted 12/10/08 | Report Abuse

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home!

by natasha b. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 5,669

this place home. everyone there is there to have fun. I will admit, its not for everyone. they do have a strict vibe at the door, but the staff is so nice and i love the candles :)

Posted 10/30/08 | Report Abuse

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Just OK

by Debbie R. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 8,648

This place used to be the place to go. Now it's hit or miss. VERY slow bar service, you might wait 10 minutes to be noticed. Small servings if you order wine, good mixed drinks. My friend wasn't allowed in once, and we never found out why. Weird. Good happy hour prices.

Posted 10/02/08 | Report Abuse

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Eh...

by Trey N. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 7,866

This place is not as cool as it used to be. Two years ago, it was a lot more popular. I've been a couple of times and always had fun, but there's a very eclectic crowd in this place.

The front of the bar is really chill, with big tables to hang out....and then....I don't know exactly what goes on in the back, but it's gotta be crazy. There's some kinda sex show or something back there...rave...i'm not really sure...but they try and charge you more money to go back there.

If I've sparked your curiosity then you should check it out, otherwise, I can think of many cooler bars than Boardners

Posted 02/22/08 | Report Abuse

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

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August 13th Kabinet Theater

by HappE

Musty closets. Uneven bookshelves. Back end cupboards. These are the places of the hidden, the ignored and the forgotten. But to the knowing
and the curious, these are the places of the lost, the secret and the magic. Unlikely places where the unlikely can happen...

On August 13th, The Wandering Marionettes invite you to unlock...

THE KABINET THEATRE
An evening of eclectic electronic, avant pop and dark artistry.

Presenting The Sounds Of:

WELDER
downtempo/trip-hop/idm
(ancestor, nativestate, cyberset, weldersounds)

ELIZA RICKMAN
songstress/toy pianist
(elizarickman)

SEDA
hip-hop/idm
(myspace /sedaonthedecks}

PUMPKIN
downtempo/dub-tech-house
(pocketunderground, cirque berzerk, wanderingmarionettes dot net)

With Performances By:

THE WANDERING MARIONETTES
dance macabre/acrobatics/dark atmosphere
(cirque berzerk, wanderingmarionettes dot net)

Thursday, August 13, 2009
1652 N. Cherokee Ave
Hollywood, CA
10pm-2am 21&up
Limited Capacity
$15 presale | $20 door

Tickets & Info
wanderingmarionettes dot net

Pros: great event coming up

Posted 08/01/09

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Decent Club, Rude Service, Closed Really Early

by DoopDeeDoop

re: Club Moscow
Got to the club around 11:30ish, there were a decent amount of people there though it wasn't jam packed. Went straight to the bathroom, it was dark and the door didn't seem to have a male/female sign on it... as I was finishing washing my hands, the door swung open and this bald bouncer dude yelled at me for going into the girl's bathroom. I was like "it's not even marked," but whatever. Walked up to the lunge for some live music just as the music was ending, and then another bouncer came and kicked everyone out of said lounge because it was closing. Then we bought some drinks at the bar, and the guy who yelled at me for going into the wrong bathroom grabbed one of my friend's drinks away because he thought she was underaged. (she wasn't) Then at around 12:30 the club closed entirely and we were again yelled at to leave. I was like "it's midnight on a Saturday, are you kidding?" though I suppose that was something we should've known beforehand.

Overall, it seemed like a good club but due to Murphy's Law our experience basically consisted of getting yelled at for this and that or getting kicked out of this or that room. Whatever.

Pros: Popular, hip, good music, good atmosphere

Cons: Steep cover charge ($20), they need to stay open later, rude service though it might've been our own fault

Posted 01/04/09

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the Rudest Bartender Ever!

by Hilda101

The music is great, the people are awesome, the club itself is one of a kind.... my only complaint would be the evil bartender lady. When I went there last night I asked her for a glass of water and when she handed it to me she said it was $1. I asked my friend if she had a dollar on her cus I had no cash on me and she couldn't find her $20 bill. We told the bartender that we would get the dollar from my other friend, and I stayed there with the drink while my friend went to get the money, as soon as she saw my friend leave, she grabbed the water out of my hand and told me, "I'll hold this for you 'till you come back with the money". My friend and I couldn't believe it! We were shocked that she would actually do that for a glass of water. We weren't trying to pull a fast one, we were really gonna get the money, yes, a whole dollar for a glass of water! Since I've been going there for the last 4 years, I've noticed she always tends to charge girls more for their drinks than the guys. My friend told me she went there about 5 months ago and that same lady, the only one that's always there, over-charged her credit card by $20! ,
I would give this club 5 stars, but that bartender is such a complete @#$%, she needs to take her attitude somewhere else!

Posted 12/01/08

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Great relic

by famousblueraincoat

this place has been around forever. they say bukowski drank here. prices are pretty reasonable for hollywood. ther'es no velvet rope. you only have to pay a cover if you go into the club. the bar is free. no hassles. 'tenders are friendly. fun theme nights for people watching like bar sinister for goths.

Pros: strong drinks, prices good

Cons: parking, cover for club nights

Posted 11/21/07

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Rude Service, Bad vibe

by toothfairy

This is regarding Blue Mondays the club it turns into on Monday nights. the music was fun but the bartenders were so nasty it put a bad mood in the air. everyone in our group felt dissed by the staff so we finally had to leave. this has happened before so we won't be back.\

Pros: music

Cons: rude service

Posted 08/04/07

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LA's hidden Jewel

by 58blue

It is not easy to find if you don't know where to look but this place is one of my fav. bars in LA, it is cozy and has a great mix of customers who are always friendly and easy to strike up a convorsation with. The bartenders are personable and whip out hillarious jokes and banter. Any night is a good night here but I esp. love Thursdays.

Never a bad time here.

Pros: chill atmosphere, great service, even the door guy is cool!

Cons: i'll get back to you on this one

Posted 05/16/07

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MEDIOCRE EXPERIENCE

by tigereyez

THE PLACE WAS EASY ENOUGH TO FIND ALTHOUGH ITS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE MAIN STREET. I HAD TO PAY $15 SELF PARK IN SOME ALLEY. THE CLUB WAS PRETTY PACKED THE NIGHT I WENT BUT THE UPSTAIRS LOUNGE WAS BADLY AIR CONDITIONED. THE OUTSIDE PATIO AND STAGE WAS THE MORE FAVORED PLACE TO SOCIALIZE. THE HUGE CANDLE FOUNTAIN WAS A NICE TOUCH. CROWD WAS MIXED WITH THE TYPICAL GOODLOOKING HOLLYWOOD CROWD AND ANNOYING GUYS THAT CANT TAKE A HINT. THE BARTENDER I WENT TO IGNORED ME FOR A WHILE AND WAS RUDE ONCE SHE ACTUALLY GOT TO ME. (NO TIP FOR YOU) I DID LIKE HOW THEY HAD LIVE BANDS THOUGH. ALL IN ALL, BOARDNERS WOULDNT BE MY FIRST CHOICE TO GO BACK TO.

Pros: CANDLE LIT FOUNTAIN, LIVE BANDS

Cons: EXPENSIVE SELF PARK, BARTENDER'S SERVICE

Posted 04/09/07

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Live Band Karaoke

by kaileewood

Thursday's you can get on stage and sing with there house Karaoke Band.. No cover charge. There were some really good singers and a few who just thought they were great. Either way it's the best karaoke thing I've ever seen.

Posted 11/29/06

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This place is HOT!!

by kinglos

Ive been going to boardners for a while now and i find it to be a lot of fun. I like the patio, the music and the vibe that place brings. There are a lot of breezies!!!!!

Posted 08/29/06

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Best little secret in Hollywood

by jymie33

I work in Hollywood and stop by often for drinks and some food. The food is delicious. The bar has a great look to it. ANYONE can feel comfortable there. Some of the old Boardner crowd (ie the Hollywood Drunks and Barflys) still come in but they are subdued. It is a fun, relaxing place to be.

Posted 08/15/06

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the review below is a plant

by jerebo

The person who wrote the glowing review probably works there. The drinks were not that strong and they were overpriced. Yeah, the decor's nice, but that's where your money's going. Bring back the old Boardners!

Cons: overpriced drinks, bad service

Posted 06/04/06

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User review by bigblonde

by bigblonde

I have been coming to Boardner's for years and I think it's better than ever. It has the same downhome Hollywood dive bar feel with a much improved charming oldstyle Hollywood look (with modern touches). The customers are quite a mix, the bartenders are all great, the food is de-lish, the drinks are strong, and the juke box is cool. The oldest bar in Hollywood is alive and well, day and night.

Pros: Friendly, Inexpensive

Posted 04/25/06

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My favorite bar in Hollywood!

by powpowpow

Sometimes, you don't feel like braving a huge crowd of hipsters just to have a drink. That'd why Boardners is my favorite bar. Monday nights are the best night to go because they have $3 martinis, gimlets, and manhattans. There is always pleanty of room to bring out lots of your friends and play poker, scrabble, or what have you. Happy Hours are amazing as well because you can get $3 well drinks and hang out with elderly people who are watching the game.
Out back, there is a patio that is really spacious with lots of tables. It's a really nice place to smoke or talk to your date.

Pros: cheap, awesome bartenders, not full of hipsters

Cons: parking sometimes

Posted 05/10/05

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Old Friendly Hollywood

by maddog410

Stopped in for the first time with the wife for a few drinks after an early dinner at Musso & Frank's. The place is big, comfortable and friendly. Being early, the bar was filled will "regulars" having a good time. We chatted with them and the bartender and felt right at home. The place was starting to fill up as we were leaving, and I bet it would get hopping later. I'll definitely be back.
Oh and BTW - Bottled beer at $3 in Hollywood gets a two thumbs up!!!!

Pros: Patio, Cozy, Friendly

Posted 12/12/04

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Old school joint w/Sunset Strip prices

by amazinglarry

Pretty cool "dive" bar located right off Hollywood Blvd. My major complaint is that citysearch says the drinks are cheap...this couldn't be farther from the truth. Drinks are just as much as on The Strip...for a beer and a mixed drink it ran me $13! At a Dive Bar?? That's a little steep in my opinion...I might as well just drink with the pretty people at Daddys or The Well or 3 of Clubs.

Pros: cools atmosphere, not on the strip

Cons: expensive, service sucks

Posted 12/02/02

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oh well, so much for this place

by discofix

i used to love the idea of boardners, old hollywood dive, friendly staff, unique atmosphere. i brought some friends there from out of the country and we got there at 1:30, they served us our drinks and the minute we started drinking it they tried to throw us out. by 1:35 the doorman was threatening us with violence if we didn't leave. shortly afterwards he snatched the drink out of my friends mouth (as he was trying to drink up) and threatened us again. i'm totally understanding of barstaff trying to clear out customers, i know what a problem it must be, but i think boardners handles it especially rudely and inapproppriately. the bartender wasn't at all interested either, why sell us the drink if you want us gone before we've even had a chance to drink it? won't bother coming back here, very rude staff.

Posted 07/19/02

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"the bar is a beautiful place"

by manure

boardners is a great place to have a drink with friends. and that's all you need to know. decent jukebox. ryan adams sings about this place. (minor point of interest i realize)

Pros: good location, good prices

Posted 06/26/02

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Pleasently Surprised

by taradelis_citysearch

Based on everything I'd heard about this place, I was expecting it to be much more of a dive. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to find comfortable bar stools, spacious booths and a delightful crowd. The drinks lived up to their near mythological potency, though they weren't that cheap ($7.50 for an Absolute Screwdriver). Get there early to stake out seating; it gets insanely busy during the wee hours on weekends. Parking can be a difficult task, but there are paid lots close by.

Pros: strong drinks

Cons: weekend crowds

Posted 06/09/02

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boardner's is for drinkin, use it.

by rkosmic1

"The problem with drinking in Hollywood is having to put up with all the wannabe,fake,look at me,types who go out to be seen rather than let their hair down & have fun,this doesn't apply to Boardners"

this is very true, boardner's if for drinkin first, the rest is secondary, an afterthought or result thereof.

the folk that dont like it are probably the ones that want to be seen, they are the fakes, and phony's ,

anyways, boardner's has always come through when it comes to drinking.

Pros: good people, good drinks

Cons: none

Posted 05/12/02

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