DTLA: One-Eyed Gypsy Now Open

The One-Eyed Gypsy, the carnival-themed bar, is now open in Downtown Los Angeles. The space is one of LA’s oldest bars  and most recently was Bordello and Little Pedro’s before that. While chatting with Dave, the bar manager, I asked him if there were any ghost stories and he chuckled. While One-Eyed Gypsy is now just one story, it used to have a basement and second floor. They discovered the basement years ago and illicit bootleg booze (this was assumed from Prohibition).  The basement is now filled in. The second floor brothel was lost after an earthquake. There were reports of a “White Lady” who haunted the second floor –where does she go when it’s no longer there? Does she haunt the roof? Current and former workers have experienced cold spots and chills in certain areas of the bar. Tell me what you feel the next time you play skeeball which is housed in the former office of the bar. All you ghost hunters may want to check out One-Eyed Gypsy tonight since it is after all, Halloween.

But if you need some liquid courage before you go ghost hunting, The One-Eyed Gypsy serves up some tasty libations. My picks are the Bearded Lady, Surley Sailor (if you like sweet cocktails) and the Gypsy Juice which is very autumnal with cider.

High Rollers – $11

The Riddler’s Punch – a sangria with Haute vodka, Cabernet, port, citrus, fruit

Fruit Fix– Milagro blanco tequila, mint, lemon, blackberries, orange juice

Ryumba – Bulleit rye, mint, cucumber, citrus, chile pepper

The Surley Sailor – Sailor Jerry’s rum, Gosling’s rum, blackberries, pineapple, lemon, float of 151

Cheap Dates- $8

Gypsy Juice– Plymouth gin, lemon, blueberries, apple cider

Bearded Lady (formerly the Bearded Man)- Evan Williams bourbon old fashioned

Fat Elvis– Fat shot of any liquor

Jolly Rancher– Haute vodka, peach, lemon, cranberry

To match the new Carnival theme, One-Eyed Gypsy serves carnival fare including corn dogs, pizza, sliders, sweet potato tots and your favorite fair desserts such as deep fried oreos.

Dana Hollister, OEG’s owner, recommended the Reuben pizza which like its sandwich counterpart is very savory. Vegetarians may like the mushroom and white cheddar or go for the Wicked Cheezy, a 3-cheese pizza with smoked mozzarella, white cheddar and Monterey jack.

We went for the sliders at first with Angus beef and pimento cheese but were convinced to try the corndogs. I’m not normally a fan because so many are mushy or worst, fluffy. But OEG’s were the real deal. The crust was fantastic and they use Sabrett franks which have a remarkable snap.

What I love about Dana Hollister’s bars (Villains Tavern, Cliff’s Edge) is the attention to detail and decor. She has filled One-Eyed Gypsy with coin-operated fortune telling machines, a claw machine from the 1950s and even a “how hot are you” machine.

Oh my goodness, I got worst than clammy! I need to try again!

Fortunately, I fared better with the old-fashioned claw machine and won an Ugly Doll. I wonder if they can stock cute heels next in this game. Size 8.5 or 9, please.

OEG has a large stage and promises live music almost nightly in addition to carnival acts. I was telling bar  manager Dave about Briana Belladonna and he said she occasionally bartended at OEG and we can expect her sword-swallowing act soon.

One-Eyed Gypsy

901 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90012