The Mermaid

In a strip mall surrounded by great sushi, noodle shops, and izakayas, the mermaid is a new neighborhood dive bar in Little Tokyo. It’s a cool, crowded spot with fantastic cocktails (get the Drink Your Vegetables), and there’s a sno-cone machine. If you head to the back by the bathrooms, you’ll probably find yourself peeking into a ship portal to watch mermaids swim by. It’s just a video on loop, but it never really gets old. The bar is also just a few blocks from the Arts District, so it’s a good option for when you realize you can’t spend another minute at a mediocre brewery.