Tabula Rasa
Thai Town, Los Angeles
Bar in Los Angeles, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Tabula Rasa is a smart Los Angeles pick when the night is wine-led and you want to keep the round controlled rather than commit to a full dinner plan. Star Wine List recognition gives it a stronger wine signal than a generic neighborhood bar, but treat the food side as secondary unless the current menu fits your group.
About Tabula Rasa
For Los Angeles planning, Tabula Rasa is a venue to keep in mind when the group needs a casual option with confirmed late hours. The verified basics are direct: casual dress, daily opening at 2 PM, late closing times, Star Wine List recognition in 2026.
Book it for confirmed basics, not unverified details
The decision is simple: choose Tabula Rasa when the known facts fit the night. Details such as cuisine, chef, signature dishes, menu format, prices, seating are not confirmed here. Treat anything beyond the verified hours, casual dress code, Los Angeles location, Star Wine List recognition as something to check through current official channels.
For someone who has been once, the next move is to use it with that same discipline. Do not make it the universal answer for every Los Angeles night out. Use it when the group wants a casual Los Angeles plan with late hours and a confirmed recognition note. If the brief is broader, start with Our full Los Angeles bars guide and narrow by occasion.
The value is in keeping the night controlled
Tabula Rasa makes the most sense when the plan is clear before arrival. Without a verified price range, the safer read is not “cheap” or “splurge,” but unknown. The bill will depend on what the group orders, so this works best with current menu and pricing checks rather than assumptions.
The hours help shape the use case. Tabula Rasa is open from 2 PM to midnight Monday through Thursday, from 2 PM to 2 AM Friday and Saturday, from 2 PM to midnight Sunday. For a fuller eating plan before or after, use Our full Los Angeles restaurants guide; for a hotel-based night out, Our full Los Angeles hotels guide is the cleaner starting point.
Where it sits against other options
Compared with lolo wine bar, Mirate, Bar Covell, La Descarga, Vandell, Tabula Rasa is the pick to consider when the verified brief is simple: a casual Los Angeles venue with late hours and Star Wine List recognition. lolo wine bar, Bar Covell, Mirate, La Descarga, Vandell can also be part of a broader search, depending on the kind of night the group wants.
Planning details
- Location
- 5125 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Website
- tabularasabar.com
- Phone
- (213) 290-6309
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Tabula Rasa presents itself as a deliberately conceived wine room tucked into the seam between Los Feliz and East Hollywood. The space reads as low-lit and intentional, favoring carefully curated pours over incidental drinking; that editorial emphasis gives the bar an intimate, sophisticated feel. It lands as a pleasant surprise on a stretch of boulevard known for dive bars and late-night pizza, which enhances its hidden-gem quality. Programming and structured events shape the identity here, so the atmosphere can tilt from quiet and contemplative to lively depending on the evening, but the venue’s baseline is thoughtful, wine-first hospitality.
Best For
This is a venue built around wine-forward programming, so it’s best for people who want the drink to be the main event rather than an accompaniment to a meal. Programmed nights—tastings, curated pours, and themed events—offer the fullest expression of what the bar does, making it ideal for small groups, pairs, or solo visitors who appreciate guided or structured wine experiences. Casual drop-ins are possible on quieter nights, but enthusiasts and anyone seeking a focused tasting night will get the most out of a visit when they align plans with the bar’s calendar.
Ordering Tips
Check the programming calendar before you go: the experience is intentionally different on programmed evenings versus quieter drop-in nights. Expect low light and an attentive, wine-centered service model—ask staff about the evening’s curated pours or any structured tastings they’re running. Because the room positions wine as the primary event, solicit recommendations if you want a guided sequence rather than choosing at random; staff framing can make a short list read like a coherent tasting. Reservations or arriving early on event nights helps secure a good spot in the compact room.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dim lighting with an industrial, stripped-down feel, vinyl music, and a laid-back, energetic atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
Accessibility
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Wine Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Vinyl Records
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If the group wants another wine-first option, check lolo wine bar or Bar Covell. If the night needs more atmosphere and less wine focus, compare Mirate or La Descarga instead.
Bar context
How Tabula Rasa compares in Los Angeles
Choose Tabula Rasa when the priority is a wine-focused round that can stay flexible. lolo wine bar and Bar Covell are the closest cross-shops for wine drinkers; pick those when the group wants another wine-bar option rather than shifting into a cocktail or scene-led night.
Mirate and La Descarga are better fits when ambiance carries the decision. They make more sense for a more produced night out, while Tabula Rasa is stronger when the spend should go toward the glass and the conversation rather than a larger-format experience.
Vandell is the useful backup when the group wants a different bar read in Los Angeles and cannot settle on a wine-first plan. For the easiest decision: Tabula Rasa for a controlled wine round, lolo wine bar or Bar Covell for another wine-led option, Mirate or La Descarga when the room matters more than the bottle.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Tabula Rasa guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Tabula Rasa
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Tabula Rasa | Los Angeles | Star Wine Lists 2026 |
| lolo wine bar | Los Angeles | No published awards |
| Mirate | Los Angeles | 2026 North America's 50 Best Bars · #28Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1662026 Pinnacle GuideTales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar (Top 10 Nominee)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - World’s Best Spirits Selection - World’s Best Spirits Selection (Top Four Finalist)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - World’s Best Spirits Selection - World’s Best Spirits Selection (Top 10 Nominee)2025 North America's 50 Best Bars · #122025 World's 50 Best Bars · #932024 North America's 50 Best Bars · #46 |
| Bar Covell | Los Angeles | No published awards |
| La Descarga | Los Angeles | No published awards |
| Vandell | Los Angeles | No published awards |
How Tabula Rasa Los Angeles compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tabula Rasa good for a date?
It can be, if the confirmed basics fit the plan. The verified details point to a casual Los Angeles venue with late hours and Star Wine List (2026) recognition.
Is Tabula Rasa open late?
Yes. Tabula Rasa is open until midnight Monday through Thursday and Sunday, until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday.
