10/10 FANTASTIC The food: incredible. My boyfriend says it's the best French dip he's ever had. The fries - amazing. Tomato soup - hits the spot. Pickle backs - delicious. The list goes on. The ambiance is spectacular. Old school leather booths, tile floors, all the lore. Yes there's people smoking meth around the corner. Maybe the bartenders can have an attitude (not that I experienced), it can be perceived as expensive (what isn't??), parking is certainly not fun. ITS DOWNTOWN LA, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?! Come here. You won't regret it.

Finally went, y'all! Living on the west side, I don't get DT often. However, THIS gem was worth it. 1-The Sandwiches were great. Truly. My only beef would be that there wasn't enough beef. However, they gave a very fair portion. I just like the meats! 2- They have great happy hour deals. The beer was like $6.00 2005 called and said they want their beer price back. ;) 3- The bartenders were fantastic. Super friendly. 4- Lots of regular customers! That makes the whole experience so fun. 5- They play great music. Drawbacks- I wish they opened earlier & Parking (but this is LA, so it goes without saying) This is a completely different experience than Phillips's. It's hard to even compare. Both have good food, but the vibe here is fun and upbeat. 10/10

Just being the oldest public house in LA is reason enough to visit. They also share the claim, along with Phillipe's, of inventing the French dip sandwich. The Cole's version is quite good and similar to how you see it served most places. The sandwich is not dipped but served with a cup of au jus. Sides are all very tasty. But you have to love the cocktails here. They are stiff, properly made and reasonably priced. Come for the history, stay for a drink!

Came here Friday night before a show at the Ahmanson. Checked out the speakeasy spot in back, it was open because they appeared to be having a party. Interior was awesome. Love Cole's, drinks are spot on and food is delicious.

Best french dip! I mean people keep fighting about which one is better and hands down, same day taste test with 5 friends this is the way better sandwich and ambiance. The bar is so classic a must hang out. Sometimes they don't let kids in as it's a bar really so there is a negative there. But the staff is great and the food comes out amazing. The other place is more deli restaurant with salty mediocre meat, a place to sit in off the highway dinner seats or go after the dodger game with tons of peeps. Not a place for good food and good atmosphere. Come here if you want a cool place and the best french dip.

Street parking is hard to find. There's a lot for $15 less than a block away (be sure to understand charges read signs). My only fav spot for pastrami dip atomic pickles and garlic fries. Grilled Cheese is also a pretty good. Speak easy located in the far back behind dining area.

Went on a Saturday night, great place to get some drinks and a delicious French dip! We ordered at the counter and they bring your food to you. Cute spot! Original at it's best

Coles for the first time in a long time. Solid vibe here. Just feels like you belong and it feels classy or classic LA vibes. Picked up and old fashioned. Delicious and on point. French Dip was really good. The bread which feels like a pretzel or hard brioche. It's good. The au jus is good but not great like Phillips. The cheese and meat are good. Could be a little more stacked but still good. The fries are thin n crispy. Definitely a good place to hit before your nightly drunk continues

I have been a Cole's faithful since the reopening over a decade ago. Do they still have amazing sandwiches? Absolutely. Are the drinks still amazing? Hell yes. But since COVID arrived and forever changed the restaurant industry, there are some changes. Firstly, now it's a bar with food and not a restaurant with a great bar program. That means 21 and over (which I'm sure most people will be fine with) There are now pool tables and more limited seating. Secondly, there's no more Varnish hidden in the back (this one stings a lot). And lastly, besides the bartenders up front, the wait staff that really gave this place its charm are no longer a part of the team. Not to say the bartenders aren't amazing, but one of the things I loved about Cole's was the neighborhood vibes it gave me. Regardless, this is still an amazing place to get sandwiches and drinks and worth your patronage.

Admittedly, I am not a French dip person, but I love Cole's. Their dips are indeed incredible, as is the rest of their menu and their cocktails. It's the perfect downtown spot for drinks and good food; it's like stepping back in time. You'll recognise the vintage aesthetic and distinctive below-street-level façade from shows filmed here like "Mad Men" and "NYPD Blue".