You know you’re getting old when going to the club or a loud bar is no longer appealing.

I realized I was starting to age while I was in a club and shouted to a friend, “I think it’s too loud in here!” After that night, I didn’t go to the club as much as I did prior. They were too loud, there were too many people, and there was always at least one messy drunk guy who approaches you with the line, “Do you come here a lot”? Not anymore.

Since then my weekend outings revolve around locations that allow me to have conversations without yelling and aren’t overcrowded. I thought I struck gold when I was invited to Birds and Bees in Downtown Los Angeles. The bar meets those two criteria while being trendy, inviting, and a place that I wouldn’t want to leave.

The question that comes to mind about Birds and Bees is, “Where exactly is it?”

In order to find it, you either have an Inspector Gadget ability to locate hidden venues or a friend has given you specific directions. If you don’t fall in one of those two instances, allow me to help you. The bar is located on the northwest side of a parking lot that you can find between South Broadway and West 3rd. Amidst all the cars parked and people walking throughout the lot, look for a guy standing in an all-black suit with a faint light behind him. Once you find him you’ve found your entrance to the bar. A few steps down a stairwell and a quick walk down a creepy hallway will lead you to a yellow door and then you’ve made it.

The energy of Birds and Bees is exactly what you could ask to have when you’re transitioning from the club. It’s dimly lit, has a mid-1950s vibe, and has tables that are spaced far enough so you’re not in the conversation of another table.

With privacy at my table and a few cocktails before me, I was ready to enjoy the evening as it began to unfold. The first drink I had was the Desi Arnaz ($14). The cocktail was comprised of rum, Chinese Five-Spice Cordial, creme de peche, pineapple, and lime. From the first sip to the last, I adored the delightful blend of the lime and pineapple which gave the drink a flirty and tart taste. It was the creme de peche that transformed the tarty taste into a creamy and froffy flavor that will linger across your lips long after each sip. The toasted five spices of cinnamon, white pepper, fennel, star anise, and clove bring out the varying flavors of the cocktails to enhance the overall taste of the Desi Arnaz.

After the Desi Arnaz was the Ella Fitzgerald ($14). Made with gin, Dry Vermouth, pickle juice, and fino sherry. As pretty of a figure that the drink is named after and as nice as it looks, it doesn’t taste so grand unless, you love pickles. The prominent flavor of the drink is the pickle juice. I thought the juice would be more of subtle accent with the gin or the sherry as a stronger character, but I was wrong. The cocktail tastes the same way as the top of a hot dog at a Yankees game in 1952. That is not a bad thing if you love pickles. If you aren’t too fond of the flavor, then opt for the Desi Arnaz, or the next drink.

As I pushed the Ella Fitzgerald to the side I went on to the Cloak and Dagger ($15). Made with aged rum, Blackstrap Rum, Overproof Rum, Falernum, and lime this cocktail was easily my favorite. Although I liked the Desi Arnaz, the Cloak and Dagger was so right for me. It was incredibly easy to drink and lightweight. The sour flavor from the lime blended with the falernum was an ideal component to a heavy rum based drink. It was such a nicely made drink that I could have had three of these and not even felt like I had been drinking. Not a good thing, but a great compliment to the bartender.

Three cocktails in the hidden bar of Birds and Bees was a great evening. I love that the bar isn’t easy to find, that they have delicious drinks, and that I can have a conversation without bursting my ear drums. If I had to choose between a night at the average club or Birds and Bees, I would gladly let myself get transported to the 1950s themed bar without hesitation.

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Address: 207 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 537-0510
Hours: Monday to Thursday – 5:00pm to 12:00am, Friday & Saturday – 5:00pm to 2:00am, and Closed on Sunday
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