The 23 Essential Los Angeles Bars: Summer 2017

The farm-to-glass trend in L.A. happened in big part due to this Santa Monica bar that features the imaginative, fresh cocktail menu created by Vincenzo Marianella. The Italian barman plucks ingredients for his cocktails right from the farmers’ market down the street from the bar.

The Drink to Drink: Bartender’s choice with whatever is in season. Chances are the ingredients were selected that day.

Know Before You Go: On Mondays, happy-hour specials like $5 off cocktails run all night.

Not only is this unassuming Santa Monica bar with a great name one of the best craft beer bars in town, it’s also known as the best whiskey bar in L.A. That’s because well-respected whiskey connoisseur Chris Uhde curates the list of more than 300 single malts. It adds up to the largest—and rarest—selection west of the Mississippi.

The Drink to Drink: Whichever craft beer is in the cask. Or ask the bartender for a recommendation on a scotch to suit your mood.

Know Before You Go: No kitchen here. But feel free to order pizza to be delivered from down the street.

Whenever a long-beloved dive bar changes owners, there’s usually an uproar. But this wasn’t the case with Koreatown’s barfly hang Frank N Hank. Beer Belly owner Jimmy Han, who acquired the bar last year, only improved things with a craft beer component, a liquor list by Bon Vivants’ Karen Grill and a credit card machine. But it’s still the spot to throw darts while knocking back Boilermakers.

The Drink To Drink: Yes, Boilermaker combinations! The bartenders carefully choose craft beer to pair with a spirit that will complement its flavor profile.

Know Before You Go: Have dinner at the dive! The bar encourages its patrons to order food to be delivered, especially from Beer Belly, which will give priority to orders from Frank N Hank.

Any self-respecting Hollywood barhopper must stop by this iconic dive bar. Originally created as a speakeasy for the Pantages Theatre in 1930, it has survived ever-changing Hollywood Boulevard from when Sinatra was a regular, through the seedy ’80s to now. These days, Frolic Room has a diverse crowd of neighborhood barflies, tourists and theater patrons. Cheapie bonus: It’s quite possibly the only spot in town where you can get two cocktails for less than $10.

The Drink to Drink: Gin & Tonic—it’s simple, clean and comes with a generous pour.

Know Before You Go: The credit card minimum is $10. You’ll have to order a couple of drinks when paying with plastic.

For truly outside-the-box cocktails, duck into Harvard & Stone’s R&D bar between live music sets and burlesque performances. The experimental creations by the bar team will only be available that one night. Because of their ephemeral nature, the cocktails are made with the likes of pineapple Campari or Milky Way–infused bourbon.

The Drink to Drink: Baby’s First Bourbon with bourbon, orgeat, lemon juice and Angostura bitters

Know Before You Go: Be wary of the dress code. No “day at the beach” outfits or sports gear allowed. This includes hats and sneakers.

There are plenty of reasons to drop by this highly lauded Koreatown restaurant by co-owner Lien Ta and chef Jonathan Whitener. But one of the most compelling is the cocktail program by bartenders Danielle Crouch and Allan Katz. Their thoughtful culinary-inspired cocktails incorporate techniques and ingredients from the kitchen, making for brand-new ways to enjoy favorite classics.

The Drink to Drink: The $26 Mai Tai may seem an insane amount to pay for a cocktail but not when you’re drinking history. Like the original Mai Tai, this one is made with a 17-year-old rum blend similar to the one Trader Vic used, as well as an amazing house-made orgeat syrup.

Know Before You Go: Bar pie! Only while sitting at the bar can you order a slice of the award-winning homemade pie. Flavors vary. Think: blueberry, Dutch apple and strawberry rhubarb.

Grab an iSi-whipped White Russian and hit the Saturday Night Fever–style lighted dance floor. This is not the craft cocktail bar for quietly sipping your precious drink in a dark corner. Rather, think wild wine raves and large-format cocktails dispensed from photon packs. Honeycut is one of the rare places where a freewheeling good time and drinking well-crafted cocktails coexist.

The Drink to Drink: The White Russian iSi is meant to emulate a blended cocktail, but this fluffy version comes off like a cocktail panna cotta.

Know Before You Go: If you want a drink in your hand fast, head to the disco side, where the cocktails are on tap.

This West Hollywood institution, with its rock ’n’ roll Rat Pack feel, was a celebrity hot spot when it opened in 1994. True story: Robert Plant and Johnny Cash dined there together. The bar has since mellowed into a chill place to grab the best apple pie in town and an approachable cocktail, especially one made by bartender Eric “ET” Tecosky, who has been behind the stick for more than 15 years.

The Drink to Drink: Dirty Martini—bar manager Eric “ET” Tecosky is also the proprietor of Dirty Sue olive juice.

Know Before You Go: If you’re going to order one thing to eat, make it the spaghetti and meatballs.

Located on Melrose Avenue, the hip stretch populated with a range of bars from dive to sports bar to gastropub, this coffeehouse/cocktail bar is currently the only spot in the hood offering craft cocktails. It also happens to be a favorite bartender’s hangout. Credit the lively bar team of top L.A. bartenders, the dedicated Old Fashioned cocktail menu and the always-flowing fernet on tap.

The Drink to Drink: Check out the Conquistador Old Fashioned, with reposado tequila, coffee syrup, Licor 43, and fig and cinnamon bitters.

Know Before You Go: Hungry? Order food from Eric Greenspan’s grilled cheese sandwich restaurant next door. Your cocktail server will even get it for you.

Built in 1919, Musso & Frank is the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. That makes the bar worth a visit if only to sit on the same stool that James Dean did—and sip those well-made Martinis. After nearly 100 years, the Hollywood landmark has remained virtually unchanged: Its bartenders still wear red suit jackets, and cocktails are still served with a sidecar.

The Drink to Drink: The dry gin martini—best when ordered alongside a steak

Know Before You Go: If it’s not too busy, ask the bartenders about the Hollywood history of the restaurant. They’ll tell you where silver screen stars like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe sat and maybe even what it was like to give Steve McQueen the boot.

Don’t dismiss Proprietors LLC’s sexy Koreatown bar as merely a waiting room to get into one of the best bars in the world, The Walker Inn. With well-crafted classic variations made by an A-team of bartenders and a low-key mixed crowd of young professionals, neighborhoodies and the fashionable set, you’ll want to stay awhile.

The Drink To Drink: That Martini. Yes, it’s made with vodka, but it’ll be the best one you ever tasted. The fino sherry, raw white honey and sel gris make this one smooth, savory cocktail.

Know Before You Go: Really want to get into The Walker Inn, the hidden bar behind the “secret door” in the back, and don’t have a reservation? Check with the bartender or the Walker Inn host as they may have an opening.

Count The Roger Room as one of the few bars in West Hollywood where guests don’t have to run a gauntlet of red velvet ropes, long lines and the impeccably dressed to get a drink. Owners Jared Meisler and Sean MacPherson wanted to create a laid-back spot for craft cocktails, and they’ve succeeded with this lightly circus-themed cocktail lounge.

The Drink to Drink: The Tijuana Brass has been on the menu since The Roger Room opened in 2009, and it’s still a good one. The easy sipper is made with tequila blanco, lime juice and agave nectar and topped with cucumber foam.

Know Before You Go: With no sign out front, it’s easy to miss the entrance. Just look for the door left of the psychic reader neon signs.

When Cedd Moses’ Seven Grand debuted in 2007, L.A. was a vodka town. And yet the whiskey-dedicated bar ended up playing a key role in jumpstarting the cocktail renaissance in Southern California. Dapper bartenders, impeccably made cocktail classics and an awe-inspiring whiskey list introduced a new way of drinking. In 2014, the bar then turned its back room into a Japanese-inspired whiskey library loaded with rare bottles.

The Drink to Drink: Kentucky Mint Julep, the Southern classic made with Seven Grand’s own Woodford Reserve batched bourbon, fresh mint and sugar, garnished with a fresh mint sprig and served in a silver Julep cup

Know Before You Go: For hard-core whiskey lovers, the 12-seat whiskey library Bar Jackalope in the backroom of the bar showcases rare whiskies Sunday through Thursday.

Chef Vartan Abgaryan’s restaurant located on the 71st floor of the U.S. Bank building downtown without a doubt has the best view in all of L.A. Guests can indulge in luxurious dishes while taking in that 360-degree view of the city. If that’s not enough L.A., the cocktail menu by barman Darwin Manahan is made up of variations on classics inspired by L.A. neighborhoods.

The Drink To Drink: The Downtown is the biggest seller. It’s an Old Fashioned variation full of warmth and spices courtesy of toasted hazelnut, Old Forester bourbon, cognac and apricot demerara.

Know Before You Go: For the best view of sunset, snag a seat at the bar. Facing west you’ll be able to watch the sun set over three mountain ranges, as well as catch the lights of Hollywood flicker on.

For a stylish night out, The Hollywood Roosevelt’s cocktail lounge and bowling alley has it all: handmade George Esquivel designer bowling shoes, board games like Jenga and decor that would make William Randolph Hearst envious. Best of all: bar manager Yael Vengroff’s whimsical takes on classic cocktails, like a Salt & Vinegar Martini, keep the good times more than rolling.

The Drink to Drink: Whatever is featured on the chalkboard—it’s currently what the bartenders are excited about and want to show off.

Know Before You Go: The entrance is located on the mezzanine level of The Roosevelt, one level up from Hollywood Boulevard street level.

Most restaurant bar programs build the cocktails around the chef’s dishes, but here chef Casey Lane takes inspiration from head bartender Justin Pike’s pre-Prohibition-style cocktails, which feature house-made bitters and liqueurs. The result is a seamless transition from sip to bite—and bar seating that’s always at a premium.

The Drink to Drink: Braveheart, a Penicillin variation that was taken off the menu years ago but continues to be the most popular drink—it mixes blended scotch, lemon juice, ginger juice, cocktail honey and Angostura bitters.

Know Before You Go: Reservations are tough to come by, and space is limited at the bar. If you want a drink here, come during off hours like early afternoon on weekends—or as soon as it opens.

Tiki-Ti was established 55 years ago by one of Don the Beachcomber’s original Filipino bartenders, Ray Buhen. Now his sons keep the Tiki tradition alive, offering 94 tropical cocktails. They include the signature Ray’s Mistake, which is accompanied with a toast to the room, and the Blood & Sand, which summons the wind-up bull with patrons chanting “Torooooo!”

The Drink to Drink: Ray’s Mistake, a signature cocktail since 1968, is made with a “super secret flavor,” botanical liqueurs, passion fruit and a dark Coruba rum float.

Know Before You Go: Heads up, smokers: After several years of being one of the only bars in L.A. to allow smoking, it’s no longer allowed.

Deep in the San Fernando Valley is Los Angeles’ oldest Tiki bar, Tonga Hut. Established in 1958, it has outlived legendary Tiki bars Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s. Even now, it’s a destination for Tiki lovers, especially those on a mission to drink all 78 Tiki cocktails listed in the Grog Log within a year. Doing so will seal one’s membership in the bar’s Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard.

The Drink to Drink: The Zombie–1934 Recipe, the Don the Beachcomber original with three rums, lime and anise

Know Before You Go: Customize the bar’s ambiance by taking over the much-talked-about jukebox. It likely has all of your favorite tunes.

This literal hole in the wall founded by Sasha Petraske, Eric Alperin and Cedd Moses is perhaps the winningest bar in the city, having won multiple awards. Though it’s buried in the back of Cole’s, Originator of the French Dip Sandwich, with no signage, every cocktail-loving Angeleno knows this cozy speakeasy is where to find a properly made classic cocktail.

The Drink to Drink: The Old Fashioned here sets the bar for how this classic should be made: well-balanced and properly diluted. The Queen’s Park Swizzle is gorgeous too.

Know Before You Go: If there’s a wait, check in at the door, then kill time at Cole’s with an order of garlic fries or/and Tater-Tots.

Proprietors LLC and 213 Hospitality established a uniquely high-end approach at The Walker Inn: an omakase cocktail experience. Grab a coveted reservation sitting at the bar where the bartender on duty will actually create two or three cocktail courses based on your mood and palate. Or order off the spectacularly themed seasonal menus, which in the past have drawn inspiration from Alice Waters, ’80s summer camp and the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Drink to Drink: Whatever you’re in the mood for—guaranteed that the bartender will make the best version of it you have ever had.

Know Before You Go: The Walker Inn is a bar-within-a-bar. Head to the back of The Normandie Club to find the entrance.

One-hundred-year-old L.A. landmark Yamashiro has recently changed ownership, but although there are plans for renovations, they won’t completely transform the restaurant. Even cocktails that have been part of the Japanese restaurant’s history are still available and can still be enjoyed while looking out at one of the best views of Los Angeles.

The Drink to Drink: The 100 Year Old Mai Tai, named in honor of Yamashiro’s century birthday and the most popular cocktail on the menu, is made with a blend of rums, fresh limes and, in true Tiki tradition, a “secret” ingredient.

Know Before You Go: With limited space up on the hill, there’s no self-parking available, only valet.

This intimate coffeehouse-adjacent Los Feliz bar is not only a destination for neighborhoodies but cocktail enthusiasts from all corners of Los Angeles. Bar manager Cari Hah and her bar team invent cocktails that are well-balanced, unique and fun. Think: a green tea Kit Kat–inspired Gin Fizz and a RumChata/cinnamon whiskey shot “garnished” with the bartenders yelling “Spring break!”

The Drink To Drink: Although you can’t go wrong with the house cocktails, check out the chalkboard for the daily cocktail specials. Usually drinks created by a guest bartender from other bars and even other cities are featured.

Know Before You Go: Save room for dessert. Sitting at the bar you’ll be able to spy Alcove Cafe & Bakery’s pastry case next door. Go ahead and order a slice of the Mixed Berry Whip cake to enjoy with your cocktail.

The legendary Sunset Strip bar, which sits at the base of the infamous Chateau Marmont, has always been where the rich and beautiful drink. A mix of agents, celebrities and fashionable hipsters luxuriate in the red velvet rope treatment and the glittery scene, all while sipping on classic-inspired cocktails, like the Sidecar and Marmont Margarita.

The Drink to Drink: Cucumber Collins, a simple, clean mix of gin, St-Germain and lemon juice

Know Before You Go: No photography allowed. Keep your cameras holstered, especially if you spot a celebrity.