Urban America LLC, in partnership with Luminosity Entertainment, announces the opening of Ebanos Crossing in Downtown Los Angeles. A stimulating cocktail-dining concept helmed by celebrated mixologist Philip Ward of Mayahuel, Ebanos Crossing will spotlight the spirits and flavors encountered on the smugglers’ routes forged during the 1920s and 1930s along the South-central Texas crossing from Mexico to the United States. With an attention to fashioning a progressive cocktail program focused on tequila, mezcal, rum, and whiskey, Ebanos Crossing combines a design that recalls an era of times past imbued with a modern sensibility that forges a heightened interactive sense of discovery within Los Angeles’ current nightlife landscape.
The opening of Ebanos Crossing marks the first collaboration between Urban America, who helped open Mayahuel in 2009, and Luminosity Entertainment. “We wanted to create a space where guests could have a full-sensory exploration into our vision of another era,” says Justin Shapiro, partner of Urban America. “You can visit Ebanos Crossing multiple times and have a unique experience with each visit; it’s a place that piques all the senses in a seductive and alluring way.”
Named for the infamous Los Ebanos Ford, or historic “floating bridge” along the Rio Grande that connects Texas to Mexico, the concept seeks to elicit the smugglers’ haven enjoyed during the rise of the Jazz Age. Indicative of the outlawed sprits and bootlegged journey of tequila, rum, and whiskey over the U.S. border, Ebanos Crossing will embody the mysterious attraction and exclusivity of the era, inviting guests to be immersed within a modern interpretation of the vibrant period.
The concept will offer a rotating selection of handcrafted artisanal, spirit-focused cocktails created by award-winning mixologist and beverage director Philip Ward, co-owner of Mayahuel. Ward will set the stage at Ebanos Crossing with provocative and innovative libations composed of small batch labels of mezcal, tequila, rum, and whiskey including Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal and Laird's 12-Year Old Apple Brandy.
The culinary offerings provide a perfect parallel to Ward’s lineup, featuring complementary flavor profiles to the spirits and a penchant for the peppery, savory, and fiery tastes synonymous with the paths across Central and North America. Happy hour, dinner and late-night menus will utilize Southern California’s evergreen bounty of seasonal ingredients on two congruent sections: approachable and shareable “Menos Hambre” small plates to excite the palate, and larger entrées or “Mas Hambre.”
Ebanos Crossing’s enticing atmosphere will offer an environment that is welcoming yet refined comprised of three free-flowing enigmatic experiences providing guests multiple opportunities for distinct explorations with each visit. Anchoring the 5,500 square-foot space is an expansive bar and lounge area which will house the cache of liquors and play host to various articles of intrigue. Custom made tables and inviting seating offer a relaxed adjacent dining area perfect to enjoy happy hour, dinner, and late night bites. For a more intimate evening, a sunken secluded “living room” featuring distressed leather couches and a private bar is the ideal space to host a reserved party. The space features a palette of rich earth tones with textured and metallic accents complemented by custom hand-crafted light fixtures, wood partitions, and exposed brick walls.
