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Inside the smallest bar in Los Angeles, a tiny dive in Playa del Rey, a piece of LA's beach, bike and bar culture.

Inside LA's Smallest Bar
A Look Inside The Harbor Room in Playa del Rey

Two thirsty patrons off the bike path enjoy beers at the Smallest Bar in L.A.

Of all the dive bars in L.A., one has a distinction that none other in the city can claim.

It's not for being here the longest, for having the saltiest bartenders or the most old-time memorabilia on the walls. Or even for serving the city's best burger.

Nope, the Harbor Room in Playa del Rey has another claim to dive bar fame. It's the Smallest Bar in Los Angeles.

"If there's a smaller one," the non-salty female afternoon bartender said, "then someone opened up a bar in their closet."

The Harbor Room is the neighborhood bar for longtime PDR locals.

This constitutes a "crowd" at the Harbor Room in Playa del Rey.

The Harbor Room is about the size of a living room in a typical beach apartment. It's full when two groups of bicycle riders roll in for afternoon drinks and absoutley packed when a couple dozen locals come in on weekday and weekend evenings.

It has its share of characters – some people have been coming here for decades – but it also has character. Like any good dive bar across the country, the small juke box on the wall has Merle Haggard. But also the Rolling Stones.

This faded photo of the 1985-85 World Champion Lakers sits above the bar.

A faded picture above the bar features the 1984-85 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. It's a simple photo, taken at the Manhattan Beach Pier and signed by all the players. Today, there would be dozens of others in the frame and it would be a slick shot with Kobe Bryant kissing the trophy or some other posed element to it.

There's a small container of beer nuts on the bar, which can seat maybe six on its barstools. The wood walls are all but hidden by old framed photos and collages of people partying in the Harbor Room.

And no talking on your cell phone while in the Harbor Room!

The walls of the Harbor Room are covered in photos.

While it's old school and traditional and has primarily long-time locals as its patrons, the Harbor Room is also cool. That's because it's just off the bike path, conveniently located between the South Bay and Marina del Rey/Venice and Santa Monica.

It's the perfect break spot to stop for a couple of cold ones, and groups literally roll to the door in shorts, tank tops and flip flops on just about every sunny day. It's right behind The Shack, the legendary burger joint on Culver Blvd.

It makes this small bar a big part of LA's beach, bike and bar culture.

The Harbor Room is located at 195 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey

The entrance to the Smallest Bar in L.A., the Harbor Room in PDR.

This cool mural is on the outside wall of the Harbor Room.

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More Dive Bars: The Poop Deck, Hermosa