The of-age Bruin has a plethora of options for places to drink in Los Angeles, but thirsty students need look no further than UCLA’s neighbor, Westwood Village.
Westwood’s bars provide an overall laid-back atmosphere for students, third-year international development studies student Adi Cosic said.
“It’s just kind of more of a pub atmosphere than a club, more conducive to hanging out, rather than just raging,” he said.
Busy nights for Westwood’s bars are dictated by drink deals, Cosic said.
Tuesday nights offer 50-cent pints at Sepi’s and $5 pitchers at O’Hara’s, making it a popular night at both bars.
“Tuesdays are consistently huge,” Cosic said.
Fourth-year English student Eisen Yoon said the weekend is the most popular time for going out near campus.
“Thursday is the college Friday; that’s when the weekend starts,” he said.
Thursday nights are the biggest for Westwood Brewing Company, said Brew Co. bartender and DJ Antwoine Pennix.
“We have comedy and music upstairs (on Thursdays),” he said. “The kids come up pretty much for that night in particular to have a good time, enjoy themselves.”
Palomino’s general manager Alex Montano said the hour of the day is the best way to determine if students will populate the bar.
“At late-night happy hour you definitely see the younger, hipper crowd come out. I think (it’s) an attractive proposition for students in the area,” he said.
Montano also said UCLA sports play a role in determining busy nights.
“Any night that there’s a game, we are certainly busy from the game,” he said.
Westwood’s bars are not only fun for postgame outings, but also as viewing spots, Yoon said.
“The bar’s a good place to watch the games and drink a little bit. It allows students to go and have fun at these places with other people who are fans or students,” he said.
Pennix said UCLA games draw alumni as well as students, particularly in the hours before home games.
The games’ results play a role in Brew Co.’s tone for the night, he added.
“If we win, it shows; if we lose, it shows,” he said.
Students’ opinions about which Westwood bar is the best differ.
Courtney Alev, a fourth-year international development studies and political science student, said her bar of choice is Palamino’s.
“It’s classy, and it’s fun. It’s not like a sleazy kind of environment, and the food is really good,” Alev said.
For Cosic, O’Hara’s is the place to go.
“I think it’s kind of like a UCLA tradition more than anything,” he said.
“Everyone knows (O’Hara’s), of course; you don’t need to ask where to go,” he said.
Yoon said he prefers Brew Co. because “it’s simple.”
Bruin influence during the academic year becomes evident during the summer, when Brew Co. takes a hit, Pennix said.
“We usually can do okay (during the summer), not as good as if the undergrads are here. We’re hit a little bit,” he said.
Palamino’s changes during the summer as well, Montano said.
“I think when the students leave (for summer) and that void kind of shows itself, it leaves room for other guests to fill that void: locals, tourists … but losing our students next door, we definitely miss them,” he said.
Pennix said the face of Westwood’s bars has changed since days of yore, and continues to change with new housing.
“There used to be like 10 to 15 bars in Westwood. … It’s not really as crazy as it was like 10 years ago. But now with the condos … that should bring in a whole new influx of people,” he said.