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Add Uncover LA on GoogleHot take, but watching your favorite game shouldn't mean settling for sticky floors, mediocre food and TVs mounted so high you leave with a sore neck. Thankfully, this Hollywood spot is giving fans a reason to rethink their usual game-day plans. Pawn Shop L.A. is an elevated take on the neighborhood sports bar, offering a thoughtfully designed space, chef-driven comfort food and plenty of screens to keep you tuned in to the action. Whether you're stopping by to catch the big game or making a mimosa-driven brunch day with friends, the two-story destination makes a case for trading the couch for a booth.
After opening its doors during a jam-packed World Cup season in June, Pawn Shop L.A. is quickly building a dedicated Angeleno following. The 7,800-square-foot space sits at the corner of Melrose and Cahuenga, bringing new life into a building that was once home to a family-owned pawn shop that served the neighborhood decades. Now reimagined as an upscale sports bar and restaurant, the space is carrying that same community spirit, giving locals a place to gather and rally behind their favorite teams. Whether you're cheering on the Lakers, Rams, Chargers or Dodgers, you know where to head when game day rolls around.
Founded by Diego Torres-Palma, Pawn Shop brings together an impressive group of investors with ties to the worlds of sports, entertainment and business, including Mark Cuban and L.A. Dodgers president Andrew Friedman. That expertise helped shape a space that feels more like a exclusive clubhouse than your typical dive bar. Inside, the 1930s building retains its historic character while introducing a fresh design. A long central horseshoe bar, cozy booths and stadium-inspired private suites create a setting that feels both lively and comfortable, with clear views of the game from nearly every seat. More than 50 screens, including two massive video walls, are spread across the two levels, while an upstairs owner's lounge offers another place to gather and catch the action.
The stadium vibes carry over to the menu, too, with a lineup that features a spin on game-day eats. Leading the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Messina, who blends his New England background with his fine-dining experience to give a little something extra to sports-bar staples. Menu favorites include beef tallow fries, wings and fried chicken, alongside more unexpected bites like charbroiled Maine oysters and Pu Pu Platter. But the most exciting flavors on the field might just come from the house-made Wagyu hot dog, topped with caviar.
And for those who prefer their sports with a side of brunch, Pawn Shop has that covered, too. The weekend menu brings out the big hitters, including crunchy brioche French toast, fluffy pancakes, a proper brunch burger and more. Guests can also dig into brunch versions of the Pu Pu Platter or go all out with a seafood tower. And what's brunch without a little something to sip on? The beverage program goes well beyond the usual beer-and-brew lineup, with a cocktail list led by Jason Kilgore that has a few standouts of its own. The tropical Amber Waves mixes tequila, pandan, passionfruit and coconut with sparkling wine, while The Line Drive keeps things crisp with vodka, guava and cucumber soda (also available as a mocktail).
At its core, Pawn Shop is built around what makes a sports bar special in the first place: bringing people together. From big-game watch parties spanning all sports to special dining events that put its food program in the spotlight, the venue offers plenty of reasons to get a group together beyond the usual game-day plans. Whether you're booking one of the private suites for a watch party or pulling up a seat at the bar with fellow fans, the goal is to make everyone feel part of the action. With its welcoming crowd, elevated comfort food and community-first spirit, Pawn Shop makes a pretty good case for becoming your new neighborhood go-to.
Game On? Get into all the fun and make your reservation here!
Pawn Shop L.A., 5901 Melrose Ave., L.A., 90038; (323) 332-1186
