The Ruby Fruit: LA
3510 Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake, Los Angeles CA
The Place: A brand new lesbian wine bar in a strip mall in Silver Lake. I mean, come on.
The Time: Tuesday April 25, 6:15pm. I’m in LA for a friend’s bachelorette party this weekend, and I decided to come a few days early to hang with another friend who lives out here. He’s an actor (naturally) and he has to film a self-tape (of course) so I have an hour to kill before we meet up for dinner. Luckily he lives in a neighborhood where you can actually WALK to places and a wine bar I just read about in the New York Times is within a reasonable walking distance! Oh frabjous day, callooh, callay!
A glass of “Gewurztraminer etc.” and olives at The Ruby Fruit
The Vibe: It took me a second to spot this bar because there’s basically no signage and it’s in the middle of a strip mall. But once I find it, I’m happy I’m here. There’s an immediate feminine energy in this compact space, and not just because I know it’s a lesbian bar. It’s got pink walls, lots of plants, a terrazzo bar top, the big front window lets in nice light, books written by women abound. I’m loving the small butt sculpture perched atop a shelf above the bar. It’s immediately obvious that most people here are in couples; if not then they’re in groups of 3 or 4. Everyone just seems so cool. I take a seat at the corner of the bar, between a first date (“so what brought you to LA?”) and two women with a laptop who must work here (“I think we need to order more small plates.”). The music is fun and easy, low enough to have a conversation, which I’m sure is by design. This room just has a lot of vitality and I’m here for it. I’m currently reading You Know Her by Meagan Jennett, a feminist thriller about a bartender who becomes a serial killer, which somehow feels like the perfect reading material for this moment.
The Bartender: Bearded, with a nice smile, wearing a raglan shirt. Gotta say, I’m a little surprised that my bartender at a lesbian bar has a beard. They’re possibly the only male-identifying person here but I won’t assume anything, since the Ruby Fruit is a space for all queer people, including nonbinary and trans folk.
The Drank: A glass of Gewurztraminer and olives. Well, it’s actually a “Gewurztraminer etc.” according to the menu so I guess it’s a blend; regardless, it’s tasty. The olives are slightly warm and there are A LOT of them, which I appreciate. I’m not crazy about the short, squat glasses for wine, but the service industry person in me understands – they’re so much easier to deal with en masse than stemware.
Was I Hit On?: No, but tbh, I kind of wish I was. When I leave, a woman outside has dogs that I must say hello to. She tells me they’re barflies. “Well, actually they’re auditioning for the part, we’ll see if they get it.” Just in case I need another reminder that I’m currently in LA.
Should You Drink Here Alone?: Yes, yes and YES. Lesbian bars are a dying breed, and the Ruby Fruit is a welcome addition to the drinking scene, not just in LA, but nationally. Queer bars are safe spaces for a community that’s being threatened every day in this country and we need to help them thrive. As the Ruby Fruit says, “be gay and stay!”