Downtown L.A. is getting a major dose of fantasy.
The famed Clifton’s has quietly started operating again, welcoming guests from Thursdays to Sundays.
If you’ve been missing this Depression-era oasis designed to look like a Northern California lodge, you’re in luck. After years of post-pandemic pauses, the five-story kitschy wonder is back in action.
According to the Los Angeles Times, new operators Neil Biondich and Alex McCullough are breathing fresh life into the massive space.
A new era for an iconic space
While the beloved building remains intact with its taxidermied bear and bartop meteorite, there is a catch. The new team doesn’t currently have access to the Clifton’s name.
They are rebranding the building as Sanctuary. If you want to snag tickets or see what is happening, you will need to head to Sanctuarydtla instead of the official Clifton’s pages.
What to expect right now
The team is already activating the myriad spaces inside the building. Right now, you can experience magic shows in the basement, sing karaoke in the lavish tiki bar, and attend live immersive theater parties.
They are also honoring the building’s culinary legacy. A limited menu featuring burgers and fish tacos is currently available. And yes, you can still get a classic Jell-O dish.
The grand vision for ‘Sanctuary’
The new operators have incredibly ambitious dreams. They want to turn this historic spot into a world-class immersive entertainment venue. Think of it as a linear, Meow Wolf-inspired megaspace.
They are planning to host a never-ending ‘Dungeons & Dragons’-style live action role playing game (LARP). Biondich is even developing an augmented reality app to bring digital monsters into the physical venue.
Long term, the vision includes two full restaurants by late 2027. During the day, it will operate as a standard eatery. At night, the space will “wake up” with actors in monster garb roaming the core bar areas.
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