The Prince’s rich interior comes as a bit of a surprise given its curb appeal that consists of a simple red door, a pair of plaques that read “Prince” and a red awning jutting out of an otherwise nondescript, if towering building. Parking can be found in back (with valet because it is Los Angeles after all), but the street The Prince inhabits is a bit sleepy by Los Angeles standards, making the first moment of opening The Prince’s front door a bit of an experience.
The Prince explodes in red, from carpet to ceiling to vintage wallpaper to plush booths that ring the space, everything embodies some shade of red playing off of every other red surface in the building. Rather than dive bar-style knick knacks, The Prince is decorated in paintings and decorative lamps. Even the unexpected dive bar items here run a bit upscale in the form of a grand piano in the center of one space and a suit of armor near the front door. And there is plenty of space to fill, the footprint of The Prince seemingly endless thanks to a winding path that links a main space, bar area, front lounge area and back seating area together.
Among the many eye-catching attractions, the bar stands out, a structure no stranger to New Girl fans. This curved, wooden counter sits in the center of The Prince giving off very upscale vibes thanks to a pairing of dark, brown wood and select, illuminated liquor bottles displayed behind the counter and along the adjoining wall. A small ledge drops out of the ceiling, tracing the line of the bar beneath it and decorated with a mosaic-style design of glass tiles that make for one of the more impressive dive bar drinking areas if even The Prince can be classified as such.
The balance of the square footage here is devoted to curved, red booths that line every wall of the space, supported by short red tables and just enough separation from neighboring seating areas to feel distinct. Orders here are taken by a server prompted by a button pressed, typically making for an extremely efficient flow of alcohol and Korean food to each of the countless tables nestled along the outside ring of The Prince. Taken together, from the beautiful bar to the profound dedication to ornate wallpaper, The Prince is a dive bar in Los Angeles terminology and general affordability only, the space well-deserving of its frequent cinematic cameos.