You Left Your Wheelchair Bar Again

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THIS STORY IS Role OF HOW TO L.A., OUR ONGOING Serial OF PRACTICAL GUIDES FOR Mean solar day-TO-DAY LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.

It's the weekend. All you want to practise is grab a beverage and kicking information technology with some friends. For nigh people, that'south easy. Walk into a bar, sit on a stool, order a Jack and Coke. For disabled people, the experience can be much more difficult -- although information technology shouldn't be.

The Americans with Disability Human action, passed in 1990, requires buildings, both new and old, to be modified then disabled people who use mobility aids such every bit wheelchairs, canes,and scooters tin can freely enter. It also says venues tin can't turn abroad people for being disabled. Since the ADA became law, venues take had to build ramps, lower tables for wheelchair users, install take hold of confined in bathrooms and make sure their doors are light plenty to be opened without aid. I is non just about getting in. It'due south about how easy it is to enjoy yourself once yous're at that place. Being able to hands access every part of a venue, that's the gold standard. Merely the reality can be starkly different.

Confined beloved to claim they're accessible when they aren't. Sometimes they pretend they haven't heard of the ADA. Sometimes they say, "Nosotros never idea a disabled people would come up hither." Some bars merely have stairs to enter. If you practice become inside, you'll probably need to employ the bathroom at some betoken and oftentimes you lot won't notice any stalls large enough for a wheelchair. The list of barriers goes on.

At present, the expert news.

If you're disabled or want to go out with friends who are, there are bars in Los Angeles where you can political party. These venues aren't 100% accessible to 100% of patrons but all of them has fabricated an effort to accommodate people with diverse accessibility needs.

These bars are in downtown L.A. so street parking is going to be a claiming at every venue. If you're non driving or catching a ride from a friend, Lyft Assist provides an accessible and safe choice for getting there and back.

La Cita bar in downtown Fifty.A. (Alyssa Lavine Photography/via Facebook)

La Cita
Whether you desire to grab a quick drink or dance through the night, La Cita has yous covered. For parking, y'all'll accept to snag a spot on the street (expert luck) or pay to park in one of the private lots downwardly the block. The bar'due south front entrance has a ramp. In one case inside, an open space on the left leads to the trip the light fantastic floor. The passage leading to the bar area wide enough for a wheelchair to curl through. Later that, La Cita is all flat surfaces, making it easy to drink and trip the light fantastic no matter your mobility help. The dorsum hall, which leads to the restroom and patio, is also wide enough to suit a wheelchair and the bathroom has an accessible stall. Unfortunately, La Cita'southward back patio is hard to access. It requires you to become down 4 steps. If you're in a wheelchair, you'll either accept transfer out of your chair and scoot downwards or leave the bar and re-enter through the back door. Fortunately, but certain events happen on the patio. Most events, like Latin bass night Sucia Bonita, take place indoors.
336 Due south. Loma St., downtown 50.A. 203-687-711, world wide web.lacitabar.com

The Down & Out bar in downtown L.A. (via Facebook)

Down & Out Bar
If day-drinking and watching sporting events is your jam, this is your bar. Down & Out has an entry ramp and the entire identify is on one flooring. A few booths in the back have a step simply at that place are plenty of tables. The bathrooms, located in the back on the left side of the venue, are accessible. There's fifty-fifty a bouncer who stands between the men's and women'due south bathrooms to make certain no one barges into a room they don't belong in. Bouncers besides walk around the floor and they're happy to help yous navigate the venue. That's especially useful when the bar is packed, every bit information technology often is on weekends. The staff and bouncers work together to make space so you lot can lodge at the bar or help find you a table or chair. Y'all're besides in a great spot in the middle of DTLA if you desire to head to a society and continue the political party.
501 Due south. Bound St., downtown 50.A. 213-221-7595, www.downandoutbar.com .

The Lilliputian Easy Bar
This New Orleans-themed bar offers whiskey, rum, cocktails and Cajun food with a side of Southern comfort. You'll need to get over a little bump in the entryway but you lot won't take to bargain with stairs. Sit in the narrow forepart bar (it's broad plenty for a wheelchair to get through) or head to the larger back bar, which has many depression tables and an accessible unmarried bath stall with take hold of bars, a lowered paper towel dispenser and a lightweight door. The Little Easy is a great spot for drinks and nutrient. Their staff is fix to detect y'all a lowered table and quick to take your order and then y'all don't need to arroyo the bar, if you don't want to.
216 Due west. fifth St., downtown L.A. 213-628-3113, littleeasybar.com .

Design Bar
Located in L.A.'s Fashion District, Pattern Bar works equally well for a Saturday nighttime dance party or a Sunday morning brunch. The venue has a modest entry ramp that leads to a large, dimly lit room bathed in purple and blue light. The open space allows anybody to dance and enjoy whatever tunes (unremarkably EDM) the DJ is spinning. The counter, in the dorsum of the bar, is slightly lowered, making it easier for bartenders to spot patrons in wheelchairs. Two single-stall bathrooms, one for men and 1 for women, are in the back and they're large enough to suit mobility aids such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches and small scooters. A few tables and booths require you to scale a step but there are also stools, which are great if you utilize a cane only non great if you're transferring out of a wheelchair. A lot beyond the street has accessible parking.
100 W. 9th St., downtown Fifty.A. 213-627-7774, www.patternbar.com .

Wendell
It'southward not every hole-in-the-wall that comes with dandy accessibility features. You lot enter faux dive bar Wendell via the ramp to find a cozy infinite that's yet big enough for wheelchairs. The bar counter is at the usual acme but toward the back, it has a lowered section that'southward perfect for wheelchair users. Stools and lowered tables are attached to the walls, making it piece of cake for a person to roll upwards and enjoy a drink in the downstairs area. The 2nd-floor has additional seating -- if you can brand information technology up a flight of stairs. The bathrooms, located on the first floor in the back are accessible single stalls with lowered sinks and paper towel dispensers. Wendell is small and usually quiet and so information technology'south a great spot to bail with friends over intimate conversations.
656 S. Main St., downtown L.A.; 213-622-7200, www.wendellbardtla.com .

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Source: https://laist.com/news/food/5-of-downtown-las-most-accessible-bars-for-disabled-people

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