Little Joy Cocktails

Everything about this bar surprised me, and not in a good way. First off, this place is listed as $, dive bar, and pool hall. I would classify it as none of these. I had to pay $6 for a Stella (I can get one here in San Antonio for $1.50 a pint), making it at least a $$ rating for me. The interior definitely matches that of a dive bar, but with the ridiculously high prices and security guard out front, I wouldn't dare say it is a dive bar.  More like a hipster infested hangout. Lastly, it has ONE pool table. The whole venue is about the size of my living room, so it can only fit one, but still...not exactly a pool hall. The place is crammed with hipsters dancing around. I definitely felt like I was way, way too old to be there. I was looking for a chill locale to shoot pool, this is definitely NOT the place for that. If you are under 25 and like waiting in long lines for overpriced drinks and cheap decor, this place is for you!

I enjoy going to the local bars and grabbing a drink with friends and all, but some places make me wish I stayed in.
Little Joy was a gross little bar in Echo Park, that I hated stepping foot in. It smelled, had rowdy drunk girls, cheap drinks and a pool table. So when Little Joy closed down, and a new owner transformed the place, I was stoked! I honestly thought Little Joy would finally be rescued from the mess it was in.
I walked in past some bulky curtains, to a dark, barely lit space. I liked it! It was just enough lighting to get around, but still create that romantic-ish atmosphere. Then, my vision adjusted and focused on the weird benches agaisnt the wall and the trendy cliques all around. Boy, was I turned off. I looked away to see what drinks they had on their giant menus posted on the wall behind the bar, and found that they serve wine too.
I sat down in one of the booths (with the weird benches)
I tried to soak it all in noticing the walls and the weird layout; it did open up a lot of space in there, but it reminded me more of a restaurant/ coffee shop.
I liked the walls, and the exposed bricks and the vibe that the owner was going for, however, I do think that for an investment in an up and coming area, in which bars are a popular hang out, the sitting areas, and decor could have been better (quality)
As a local, this is a much better Little Joy than before, an o k a y dive. Would I choose it over any of the neighboring spots? no.

This place brings new meaning to the phrase "put the cart before the horse." If you put a cart in front of me and expect it to be pushed, of all things, well buster, you have another thing