You’d think this town could do without another gastropub, but here we go again: Downtown’s newest bar serving high-quality pub grub is Sixth Street Tavern. Recently taking over the space once occupied by Urbano Pizza Bar at the corner of Sixth and Hope Streets, industrial accents have been replaced with lots (and lots) of wood paneling and subway tiles, creating that modern, yet rustic, atmosphere for the area's young crowd. There are 24 strong, varied craft brews on tap, plus a fully stocked bar; while the kitchen dishes out comfort food standards with a few welcome touches such as Brussels sprouts tossed with a blood orange citronette ($7) and chicken and donuts ($9) for the more adventurous.
Vitals
Good for: It’s also a convenient spot if you’re nearby and want a bite or two to eat along with your craft brew. Order everything you need at the bar (and grab napkins and glasses of water while you’re at it; the food runners aren’t empowered to bring you anything other than food), then grab a seat at one of the several tables inside or on the patio outside.
The scene: Young, excited and loud, with a friendly bar staff that handles it well, even when there are a few misplaced food orders and other hiccups in service. You’ll find mostly USC undergrads and early 20-something Downtown loft dwellers here, along with a few sports fans catching the game on one of the two televisions at the bar.
The playlist: From the Shins to the Violent Femmes, the sound system blares tunes that most of its crowd will easily recognize: Top 40, indie pop and hits of the '80s.
The bartender says: The owners of Sixth Street Tavern also operate Spring Street Bar, Library Bar and Laurel Tavern.
Drink this: It’s hard to go too wrong with any of the great craft brews on tap, most of which are between $5 and $8. If you like IPAs, try Stone Brewing Company’s excellent Ruination IPA ($7). Those who prefer cocktails will be happy to know that the bartenders make great drinks—try the refreshing Black Irish ($10) with fresh blackberries, Tullamore Dew whiskey, lemon juice and honey syrup.