Calling all gypsies, tramps and thieves. Downtown Los Angeles’ oldest bar but newest rendition by Dana Hollister of Villains, One-Eyed Gypsy, opened Friday, October 7, 2011.
One-Eyed Gypsy is a cross between a 1930’s circus and saloon brothel rolled into one delicious den of debauchery. After charming the hairy behemoth of a yak at the entrance of the bright purple building (so bright that the medical offices next door complained and they had to tone it down with a milder color), carnival games, free live entertainment and crafty drinks await you.
Whether you want to impress or you’d rather not part with too much of your precious wad, Gypsy’s drink menu caters to both kind of drinkers: High Rollers and Cheap Dates ($8).
One-Eyed Gypsy Cocktail Menu
High-Rollers $11
The Riddler’s Punch
Sangria with haute vodka, cabernet, fresh fruit, and citrus
Fruit Fix
Milagro tequila, choice of fruit, agave, and fresh lemon
Ryumba
Russell’s Reserve Rye, cucumber, mint, citrus, and chile pepper
The Surly Sailor
Gosling’s Dark Rum, white rum, 151, blackberries, fresh pineapple, and lime
Cheap Dates $8
Gypsy Juice
Plymouth gin, citrus, sloe gin, and hard apple cider
A Bearded Man
An old fashioned with Old Crow, sugar, and bitters
Fat Elvis
A fat daddy shot of liquor
Jolly Rancher
Hard vodka, apple pucker, peach, and cranberry
As with the cocktail menu, the food menu also reflects naughty treats one would only allow themselves to have at a circus or state fair. The menu offers Corned beef pizzas, corn dogs, sweet potato tater tots, and of course, deep fried delights like funnel cake and Oreo cookies!
Vintage games are scattered about the multi-cove One-Eyed Gypsy. Bring lots of quarters to see if you still have your Skee Ball skills on or try your luck at catching some funkilicious dolls at the Toy Grabber game.
Behind the velvet curtained stage, magicians, jugglers, honky-tonk bands, indie rock bands and contortionists will perform free of charge.
One-Eyed Gypsy may be on the edge of the sketchy side of Downtown, but like its predecessors, it offers Los Angeles something worth the drive beyond…
The One Eyed Gypsy, 901 E. 1st St., LA.
