Mona Holmes
is a reporter for Eater Los Angeles and a regular contributor to KCRW radio. She has covered restaurants, dining, and food culture since 2016. In 2022, the James Beard Foundation nominated her for a Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award.
Over the last few months, social media rumors floated around about the status of Eagle Rock’s popular speakeasy, Room 31. The hidden drinking den opened in 2016 as the neighborhood’s first craft cocktail bar, but stopped serving drinks in early February. Eater spoke to co-owner Marcos Menendez about the closure, but is unable to share details thanks to a non-disclosure agreement with his former partners.
LA doesn’t have many speakeasies, with even fewer in Northeast LA. Located on one of Eagle Rock’s busiest strips, this tiny 100 square foot bar hid behind a sliding door at 5 Line Tavern. With seven stools, a handful of marble tables, a mostly jazz, soul, and R&B playlist and the occasional live performance, the ambience was an intimate place to sip a drink. In addition, cocktails were full of fresh ingredients, often employed spirits, and always cost under $13.
Room 31 was Menendez’s first bar, which he owned with set designer Stephanie Macewciz. After closing, Menendez said in an Instagram message that he hopes to reopen a new bar in the future.
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