Los Angeles has no shortage of LGBTQ+ nightlife, but every so often a new venue arrives that feels like it’s filling a gap rather than simply joining the lineup. That’s exactly the feeling I had after spending a Saturday night at ANIMAL LA, the new queer-owned bar that’s already making waves in the Arts District.
Originally launched in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, ANIMAL built its reputation on creating a space where quality cocktails, thoughtful music programming and genuine community matter just as much as the dance floor. Now that same philosophy has crossed the country with a second location at 428 S. Hewitt St., taking over the former Resident space on the border of the Arts District and Little Tokyo.
After finally seeing it for myself, I understand why so many people have been talking about it.
First Impressions
As I stepped into ANIMAL for the first time, I was immediately pulled into its atmosphere.
Walking through the entrance on a warm summer evening, I found myself on a sprawling outdoor patio centered around an Airstream bar. Queer people gathered beneath string lights, chatting over cocktails while music floated through the space. There was an ease to the crowd that stood out right away. It didn’t feel like people were trying to impress anyone, they were simply enjoying each other’s company.
I spotted my friends at one of the patio tables, and after exchanging hugs, I took a moment to wander around. The outdoor space is surprisingly expansive, with different corners that naturally encourage conversation. Thoughtful landscaping softens the industrial surroundings, while subtle lighting keeps the atmosphere inviting after sunset.
It’s the kind of patio where you could spend an entire evening catching up with friends before ever stepping inside.
A Dance Floor That Pulls You In
Eventually we wandered indoors, where the mood shifted without losing the welcoming energy outside.
The interior feels intimate while still giving everyone room to move. Behind the bar, chic and fabulous bartenders kept drinks flowing as guests chatted between trips to the dance floor. The cocktail menu focuses on quality ingredients without feeling overly precious, staying true to ANIMAL’s mission of offering elevated drinks at approachable prices.
Further inside, the dance floor was packed.
The DJ kept the room moving with house and disco, and every song seemed to bring another wave of people onto the floor. Around the perimeter, additional seating gave everyone space to relax with a drink before jumping back into the music whenever the moment felt right.
That balance is what impressed me most. Whether your perfect night out involves dancing until last call or simply catching up with friends over cocktails, ANIMAL gives you room to do either.
Built By Queer People, For Queer People
ANIMAL’s story stretches back nearly two decades.
Exes-turned-friends Jim Morrison Hevert and Ashton Correa spent years imagining the kind of queer bar they wished existed. They were frustrated by nightlife spaces marketed toward LGBTQ+ people that weren’t actually queer-owned, prioritized profit over experience or lacked any real personality.
Together with longtime collaborators Nick Eskelinen and Tony Kelley, they built ANIMAL in Brooklyn around a different idea: create a bar where thoughtful programming, hospitality and community all carry equal weight.
That philosophy remains at the heart of the Los Angeles location.
Rather than relying solely on nightlife, ANIMAL plans to host queer markets, fundraisers, art events and gatherings that bring people together outside traditional club hours. Its first queer market takes place Aug. 9 in partnership with local designer Rio (@therioworld), with additional community programming, kink events and fundraising initiatives planned throughout the year.
The venue also continues ANIMAL’s zero-tolerance safe-space policy, reinforcing its commitment to creating an environment where LGBTQ+ guests can feel comfortable being themselves.
More Than Another Gay Bar
What stayed with me after leaving wasn’t just the music or the cocktails.
It was the feeling that ANIMAL understands something many nightlife spaces overlook: people remember how a place makes them feel long after they’ve forgotten what they ordered at the bar.
Los Angeles has plenty of places to dance. ANIMAL feels like it’s trying to build something bigger, a neighborhood gathering place where conversations happen as naturally as dance parties, where first-timers feel welcome, and where community isn’t treated like a marketing slogan.
After one visit, I can already see myself coming back.
ANIMAL LA
428 S. Hewitt St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Hours
- Wednesday–Friday: 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
- Saturday–Sunday: 2 p.m.–2 a.m.
- Closed Monday and Tuesday
