Cole's, Originators of the French Dip

LOS ANGELES’ HISTORY ECHOES AT COLE’S, ORIGINATOR OF THE FRENCH DIP SANDWICH, housed since 1908 in the hollow of the Pacific Electric building, once the nucleus of the Pacific Electric railway network. At its peak, 100,000 Angelinos passed through the downtown hub daily, many of them stopping to sample the restaurant’s famed French Dips and cold pints.

Cole’s, Los Angeles’ oldest public house, evokes the spirit of saloons that dotted the west in the early 1900’s. Original glass lighting, penny tile floors, historic photos, and the welcoming 40-foot mahogany Red Car Bar were preserved in the recent restoration of the cherished landmark, recipient of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s coveted Preservation Award recognizing outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation.

The Red Car’s ample selection of premium spirits, drafts, and historic cocktails compliment the saloon’s classic French dips. The Varnish at Cole’s, acclaimed for its perfectly executed classic cocktails opens Monday & Tuesday at 8pm and Wednesday through Sunday at 7pm.