Many associate everything in the Valley with suckage. This is unfair. The most recent grown-up local kids generation (late 20’s-ish) has worked hard to improve the coolness of North Hollywood/Burbank, and the results are cocktail lounges like NoBar popping up. NoBar’s vampiric décor stimulates the libido—dim lighting increases the attractiveness of patrons—and conjures childhood affinities with wallpaper stolen from The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. They serve upscale vibe at dive prices: well drinks are five bucks and top shelf is six. Guinness flows on tap and there’s a wide selection of vodkas, whiskeys, and gins, along with a special drinks menu averaging ten bucks a martini…which isn’t bad.

Current and old-fave Indie music pumping gently from the jukebox encourages conversation, making NoBar a good spot for group chatter. A full-sized pool table in the back invites you to hustle friends for rounds of drinks. On the downside: one bathroom stall. Every time you reach the front of the line, someone comes haggling to go first. —A word of advice: threatening that you’re going to pee your pants is only humiliating leverage against yourself. If you truly want to cut a line of people, say you’re going to throw up. 100% success rate guaranteed. But lines mean the place gets business, and for good reason.

Despite the avid ‘Muse versus Radiohead’ argument going on in one corner, NoBar is a lot cooler than one might expect. The nice and friendly patrons range in age from 21 to about 50, with a few older neighborhood walk-ins. It's a bit of a Valley crowd, so interpret that as you see fit.

Overall, this bar’s worth revisiting, especially with a group. Cheap drinks, good music, and the bartender is hot.

10622 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood
(818) 753-0545
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7pm to 2am. Friday: 6pm to 2am