Where to Drink Cocktails in Los Angeles, Fall 2015
Drinking in Los Angeles is better than over, due to the hard work of bartenders and mixologists around town. It’s almost foolish to try and open a restaurant or bar without a top flight cocktail program. In the least, it’s smart to have some hard-to-find spirits because imbibers around L.A. are smarter and more educated about high quality drinks. Here now, the latest edition of where to drink in Los Angeles.
1 Belcampo Meat Co.
This Northern California farm and butcher shop has a full service restaurant hiding behind it. The beautifully appointed interior, with light raining from its massive skylights, makes it one of the best places to grab an early drink on the Westside. With drinks designed by Josh Goldman, it’s arguably the most compelling place for drinks on the Westside at the moment. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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2 Birch
Brendan Collins’ internationally flavored restaurant in Hollywood has a fantastic bar program, making this an ideal stopping point during a Cahuenga bar crawl. Of course, the drinks are much more elevated than what’s typical of the area, like a barrel-aged tequila-based No Mames Guey. [Photo by Elizabeth Daniels]
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3 Cadet
Drawing on classics drinks but putting their own twist, Cadet has some of the best new cocktails in Santa Monica. Consider the Negroni or French Margarita, which uses mezcal and chartreuse. [Photo by Elizabeth Daniels]
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4 The Chestnut Club
Santa Monica really needed an adult place to grab a drink and have a great time without having to battle lists or wolf down some food. The Chestnut Club is the perfect answer, founded by Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix, who bring a top-notch bar program (and rather ridiculously awesome spirit list) to a grown-up lounge that feels right any time of the week. The excellent tunes from a rotating list of DJs certainly doesn’t hurt the vibe.
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5 Terrine
Ryan Wainwright executes a cocktail program heavy on classics.The brunch menu also sports some day-drinking specials. [Photo by Elizabeth Daniels]
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6 Redbird
Julian Cox has compiled a classic cocktail menu that gets their basis from decades old recipes. Everything’s been a little spruced up for the current century, however, which means that drinks won’t overwhelm the carefully cooked dishes coming out of Neal Fraser’s kitchen.
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7 Power House
Some people have moaned the interior transformation from Power House’s dive bar days, but Matt Winter has designed a dignified cocktail bar that touts well-made drinks over watery beer. Damian Windsor helped craft the drinks in a room that feels a bit like a Southern gentleman’s hideout. [Photo by Elizabeth Daniels]
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8 B.S. Taqueria
Downtown is lucky to have Ray Garcia cooking up some of the best tacos in town at the moment. While you’re munching on those tacos, which use non-GMO heirloom corn masa for its tortillas, sip on a Mole Rojo, which shakes up tequila reposado, red mole grenadine, and ancho reyes. Or pre-game with an Orange Bang, mixing fresh tangerine, pineapple, coconut cream and chiltepin salt with mezcal. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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9 The Normandie Club
This fantastic new bar from Proprietors, LLC and 213 Nightlife fuses the best of The Varnish’s speakeasy sensibilities with Honeycut’s approachability in a casual spot inside the Normandie Hotel. The drink list is tight and focused, but completely thought out using modern techniques. But the science doesn’t even really matter when it comes to the results in the glass, which are as good as you can expect from a top-flight cocktail bar.
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10 The Walker Inn
Just behind The Normandie Club, Proprietors, LLC and 213 Hospitality have created what might be the highest concept drinking spot in the city. With a tasting-menu like system (either two drinks or a full on omakase), enjoy innovative drinks that conjure up a unique theme. For the starting menu, flavors inspired by the Pacific Coast Highway. Reservations required.
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11 Bar 53
This swanky lounge takes over the former first floor at Pearl’s in West Hollywood. With a collaboration from Playboy, the ritzy drinking den has everything from bottle service to craft cocktails, making it an ideal late night hang out on the Sunset Strip. Ties optional, but style required. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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12 BarToni’s
Aidan Demarest completely changed up Little Toni’s former side bar, with an Old World aesthetic and an approachable cocktail menu that won’t break the bank. Try that grasshopper, or a fine negroni after you polish off some pasta or pizza next door. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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13 Osso
Two New York City vets team up to take over the former One Eyed Gypsy in the Arts District, sporting a tight menu of familiar dishes like fried chicken. Darwin Manahan, who was previously behind the stick at Pasadena’s Punch, has a great program featuring the Padre, mixing Ford’s gin, kalamansi, and lemon. [Photo by Wonho Frank Lee]
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14 EP/LP
Arguably one of the hottest new places in town, the drinks are no slouch at this two-story West Hollywood outfit. Downstairs at E.P., you’ll find cocktails that are tailored for your meal, which infuses the flavors of Southeast Asia. At the LP rooftop upstairs, things get a little sweeter, and a little more appropriate for lounging around.
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15 Catch & Release
The former Paiche is now Jason Neroni’s Catch & Release, which features some perfect breezy drinks that go well with the high quality seafood. Try the Surf Report, which gets topped with salty foam.
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16 The Corner Door
It might’ve been a while since you’ve been back to The Corner Door in Culver City, but the drinks from Beau du Bois are better than ever. A nice thing about the majority of the drinks is that the popular ones stay one while du Bois brings on seasonal hits to reflect some of the more interesting things he’s working on. The fall drink menu is slated to come out any day now, so drop by for a taste of some of the most creative (and polished) cocktails in LA right now.
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17 Alexander’s Steakhouse
Erik Lund, formerly of Republique and Rivera, has built a solid bar program at this Pasadena steakhouse, making it one of the better places to grab a cocktail in the 626.
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18 Cassia
Former La Descarga barman Kenny Arbuckle has a seasonal drink list inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asia. That means a gin, aperol, cynar, and Thai basil or a bourbon papaya smash mixing curacao, lemon, and mint.
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19 Forman’s Tavern
This robust man-cave of a drinking den in Toluca Lake tends to lean toward quality spirits and brown-liquor cocktails. Bring your fur or flannel and hang out with the locals.
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20 Petty Cash Arts District
Julian Cox has created a tight, but delectable list of drinks to go with Walter Manzke’s Mexican-American fare in the Arts District. Sip on the Rose Jose, mixing rose with tequila blanco with rhubarb and pink peppercorn for a refreshing late summer/early fall sipper.
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