Back Door Pub at Milner Hotel, Los Angeles

Back Door Pub at Milner Hotel -

Literally through the backdoor of Downtown LA’s Milner Hotel, this watering hole attracts an older but spirited crowd. Old guys in suits and slacks with a sprinkling of old guys in Hawaiian shirts fill the pub’s booths throughout the day (it opens at 11:30am), but toward the evening you will find younger hotel guests preparing to go out for the evening or unwinding after a day in L.A.  The dim lights, dark furniture, and Sinatra tunes make you feel as if you should light up a cigarette, even though it’s illegal in LA, and you may not even be a smoker. The bartenders offer the cheerful service you’d expect from a hotel staff and the appetizers and drinks are all reasonably priced. The Back Door is a dive, but it’s a charming dive.