Sabbatikos

We had to check out Idle Hour. We’d driven past this quirky architectural icon a few times and put it on our list of places to visit. Nestled in NoHo (North Hollywood), Idle Hour is not just a bar, it’s a living example of Programmatic Architecture, where the building’s design visually represent the function or theme of the establishment. It is meant to grab your attention lure you inside. And it worked!

But it’s not just about the looks on the outside. Idle Hour delivers on atmosphere on the inside. The interior of the barrel is even better preserved than the outside, inviting you to get comfortable and stay awhile in a wood-lined barrel with comfy seating options. This includes the charming and expansive outdoor patio, which features another piece of LA’s novelty architecture history, a replica of the Bulldog Café. The replica was initially created by Disney for the film The Rocketeer (1991), which featured the Bulldog Café. After the film, the replica eventually found its home, appropriately so, on Idle Hour’s patio.

The barrel-shaped building got us into Idle Hour, but the happy-hour drinks and food kept us there for several hours (and a few competitive games of dominoes). Their happy hour offers generous $7 cocktails, $7 bites, and $2 off beers. For a few hours, you can enjoy craft cocktails and hearty bar bites to your heart’s cardiac content—all at an unbeatable price for LA.

The quirk didn’t stop with the building and the patio, it continued with the long list of hosted events. The day we were there was dedicated to The Fellowship Festival a yuletide celebration for Orcs and Elves alike. Several elves were arriving just as we took our leave.

Idle Hour isn’t just a place to grab a drink and bite—it’s a destination (especially for happy hour) that feels like stepping into a quirk in time, while enjoying some great food, drinks, and accidental cosplay. We loved the charm and peculiarity of Idle Hour—it’s now on our LA gem short-list of places destined for a return visit. Perhaps next time we’ll come up in costume.