Mandrake

Mandrake, the new gathering spot for the gallery owners and artists who flock to Culver City by day, is the perfect spot for after-work festivities. Conceived by an artist couple from New York, Mandrake has a small tapas menu with items like olives, salami and cheese, perfect for happy hour or a late-night re-energizer. We recommend one of the specialty cocktails listed above the bar, such as a Moscow Mule, a cucumber-infused martini, or a Greyhound (garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary). The owners try to grow their own drink-adorning herbs on the back patio, which is prime seating until 11pm when its closed out of respect for the neighbors. The Mandrake has a storied history as a gay bar with themes from Irish to leather—check out the matchbooks for a rather pointed lesson in cruisey history—and the new bar embraces that while making the space totally unique. Theres space in the back for art exhibits, but due to the risk of ruined artwork on crowded nights, films projected onto the walls are more likely to be seen than hanging paintings. Mandrake doesn't have a cabaret license yet, and a forbidding "no dancing" sign above the DJ decks informs guests of the official rules. Not that everyone can see it: A line quickly forms outside after nearby gallery openings. —Katherine Spiers

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