5 Star Bar

5 Star Bar is a DTLA institution in the truest sense: a double-decker bar and live music venue on South Main Street that makes no concessions to trendiness, gentrification, or anything other than cold beer and loud music. The building is small, the stage is tiny, the pool table is there, and the music is live every single night. Reviewers consistently use the word 'house party' to describe the feel, which is precisely the right reference. Located in the Historic Core neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles, within walking distance of the Arts District, the bar attracts a loyal cross-section of DTLA locals, artists, and the kind of music fan who prefers to be three feet from the stage rather than watching from a balcony. The bar offers beer and limited spirits, and the kitchen supplies burgers. The taco stand outside rounds out the food options. The approach is stripped down by design. Programming leans toward punk, metal, indie, and alternative, though the bar explicitly welcomes diversity of genre. The Moth's StorySLAMs have been hosted here, suggesting an openness to programming beyond the obvious rock identity. For a music listener who wants an unmediated, no-frills night of live music in one of the most historically interesting neighborhoods in Los Angeles, 5 Star Bar delivers.