Your Game-day Cocktail Guide

While Budweiser is an obvious Superbowl beverage staple, that doesn’t mean you can shake things up for the non-beer drinkers out there. This weekend draw up a new game plan with the recipes we’ve rounded up below. We guarantee they’re delicious from beginning to end zone!

Red Snapper

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Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin 
  • 2 oz tomato juice
  • .75 oz lemon juice
  • 1 oz chilli sauce
  • .5 oz worcestershire sauce 
  • salt and pepper

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large glass. Add ice and stir to chill. Garnish with a celery stalk, lemon wedge, salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Courtesy of Four Pillars Gin

What/ When 20

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Ingredients: 

  • 2 oz The Botanist Gin 
  • 0.5 oz blood orange puree
  • 0.5 oz lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz simple syrup 
  • 3 oz prosecco

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a shaker. Shake and strain into a champagne flute. Garnish with a lemon.

Courtesy of W New York- Times Square

OTT Irish Coffee

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Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey
  • .25 oz rich Demerara syrup
  • 5 oz hot coffee
  • A pinch of salt
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 5-6 oz heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • Zest from an orange
  • 2 dashes of orange bitters

Instructions:
Muddle the cardamom pods in the bottom of a pre-heated Irish coffee glass. Add whiskey, Demerara syrup, hot coffee, and salt and stir together. Combine the heavy cream, sugar, orange zest, and bitters and whip together until the mixture is thick, but still pourable. Float cream over the top of the drink by pouring gently over the back of a spoon. Add an additional garnish, if you like, of a lightly toasted marshmallow.

Created by Joaquín Simó at Pouring Ribbons

Bright Lights Big City

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Ingredients: 

  • .075 oz Old Overheat 
  • .075 oz Laird’s Apple Brandy
  • 0.5 oz Gifford Rhubarbe
  • 0.5 oz lemon juice
  • 0.25 oz falemum 
  • 0.25 demerara 
  • 1 tonic 
  • 4 dashes of mango bitters
  • 1 mint sprig (garnish)

Instructions: 
Shake ingredients and serve in collins glass with pebble ice. Top with tonic and mango bitters. Garnish with mint sprig.

Created by Kenneth McCoy, available at The Rum House.

The Wild Card

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Ingredients:

  • 3 drops vanilla bean extract 
  • Bar spoon of Maille Mustard
  • 2 oz. El Peloton mezcal
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .75 oz agave nectar
  • .75 oz egg white 
  • Peychaud’s Bitters swirl (for garnish) 
  • Star anise

Instructions:
Put ingredients into shaker in this order: vanilla bean extract, bar spoon of mustard, lemon juice, agave, mezcal. Dry shake. Open up shaker and add ice. Double strain into a martini glass. Add a couple dashes of peychaud bitters and place star anise on top. 

Courtesy of Marcio Ramos of The Honeywell

Third And Long

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Ingredients:

  • 1 oz The Bitter Truth Pink Gin
  • 1 oz The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur
  • 1-2 dashes The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters

Instructions:
Pour gin, elderflower liqueur and cucumber bitters into a long drink glass filled with ice and stir. Fill up with tonic water and stir again. Garnish with lemon wheel, cucumber slice, and mint sprig.

Courtesy of Alexander Hauck and Stephan Berg at The Bitter Truth

Tommy’s Margarita

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Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Olmeca Altos Blanco tequila
  • .75 oz agave nectar
  • .75 oz lime juice

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in shaker. Shake and strain over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and black salt.

Courtesy of Sweet Liberty

The Trifecta Punch

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Ingredients:

  • 24 oz Aviation American Gin 
  • 64 oz Maison Marcel Sparkling Rosé Wine
  • 12 oz Aperol

Instructions:
In a pitcher, combine gin and Aperol. Stir. When ready to serve, add chilled sparkling rosé wine, and stir again gently. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

Courtesy of Meaghan Levy of theLounge at Rose Hill, HGU Hotel

Svedka ShandyGaff

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Ingredients:

  • 1.5 parts SVEDKA Colada Vodka
  • 3 parts Corona Light beer (ice cold) 
  • 2 parts lemonade (cold)
  • 1 lemon wedge

Instructions:
Pour SVEDKA Colada, lemonade, and the juice of 1 lemon wedge into a shaker. Add ice and shake briefly. Strain into a pint glass. Top with Corona Light. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Courtesy of SvedkaADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

The Dark and Stormy

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Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Gosling’s Rum
  • 4-5 0z ginger beer
  • Gosling’s Black Seal Rum

Instructions:
In a highball glass filled with ice add ginger beer and top with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. Garnish with a lime wheel and candied ginger boat.

Courtesy of Drew Sweeney, beverage director for FISHBOWL at Dream Midtown

Campari With A Kick(off)

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Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Campari
  • 1 oz Tequila Blanco
  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .5 oz simple syrup

Instructions:
Shake ingredients with ice and pour into a tall tumbler glass. Garnish with a pineapple slice, pineapple leaf, and a wild berry.

Courtesy of Acqua, New York CityADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Blood, Sweat & Tears

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Ingredients:

  • 2 oz white rum
  • .5 oz lime juice
  • .75 passionate juice
  • Gosling’s Black Seal rum float

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in shaker. Serve over ice. Top with Gosling’s float and garnish with lime.

Courtesy of Heather McKinney atOphelia’s Electric SoapBox

Rusty Pale

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Ingredients

  • 5 parts local IPA beer 
  • 2 parts Coopers’ Craft Bourbon 
  • .25 part fresh lemon juice 
  • .25 demerara syrup 
  • Dash of Hellfire Habanero Shrub

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and serve in a pint glass or beer mug. Garnish with lemon.

Courtesy of Michael Ring of Coopers’ Craft Bourbon

Game Day Cider Splash

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Ingredients:

  • 5 oz of beer
  • 3 oz of homemade citrus apple cider
  • 1 oz of Bacardi Black
  • Chopped apples, oranges and lime 

Instructions:
Mix beer, apple cider and Bacardi black in glass. Garnish with fruit.

–Courtesy Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach


OVERTIME

LA RAMS

THE FRONT SEVEN COCKTAIL

For football season, Liquor.com chose a bartender from each NFL team’s hometown to provide the perfect cocktail to represent their team.

“The D line and the linebackers are the strongest group in the Ram’s current lineup,” says John Coltharp, the head bartender at Los Angeles’ Seven Grand. “This stiff cocktail is a tribute to those seven players; it also features the earthy flavors the Rams want the opposing running back to experience when they shove his face into the ground.”

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Slow Hand white whiskey
  • 1 oz Cynar
  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 dash Orange bitters
  • 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters 

Garnish: Lemon peel 

Instructions:

Add all of the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Express the oil from a lemon peel over top of the drink and garnish with the peel on the ice, skin up.

vs.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Flying Elvis

For the New England Patriots, “this cocktail is a little taste of humble pie, with the strength and resolve of some local navy-strength rum providing structure, a little taste of the unexpected from the Amaro di Angostura and egg white, just like the Pats playbook,” says bartender Vikram Hegde at Cambridge, Mass.’s Little Donkey. “Plus, there’s a little something festive and tropical in the Giffard Banane du Brésil liqueur (you know, because Gisele).”

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ oz Privateer Navy Yard rum
  • ½ oz Amaro di Angostura
  • ½ oz Giffard Banane du Brésil liqueur
  • ½ oz Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
  • 1 Egg white
  • Garnish: Angostura bitters

Instructions:

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker, and shake without ice until emulsified for about a slow 5 count. Add ice and shake vigorously for a slow 10 count or until the shaker frosts over. Fine-strain into a lowball glass without ice, and garnish with a few dots of Angostura bitters in the shape of the Patriots’ Flying Elvis logo (to the best of your artistic ability).

Weekend Events: January 4-6, 2019

It’s a new year, it’s a new you. Whether or not you followed through on your resolutions so far in 2019, you deserve to treat yourself to a weekend of fun in LA. In the city of stars there is no shortage of thrills. We rounded-up the best “Angeleno” approved events to spruce up your first weekend of the year!

Read below for events happening in and round LA January 4-6.

Discover your inner Angeleno!

Friday, January 4th

First-Time Fridays at LACMA

You haven’t been to LACMA you say? Well luckily for you, LA’s Contemporary Museum of Modern Art accepts this and offers First Time Fridays. This monthly event invites guest to explore the museum from 3:00pm-8:00pm for LA residents. If you let the ticket office know it is your first visit to LACMA, you will receive a free poster and discounts at the LACMA store, LACMA Cafe and C+M.

Click here for more details.

Abbot Kinney First Fridays

AK’s neighborhood block party returns this Friday on the “coolest block in America”. Whatever your craving, you’ll be sure to find something with new and old food trucks joining the event and merchant discounts plus late hours.

Click here for more details.

LA Lakers vs. New York Knicks

NBA tickets to see the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks are sure to be selling quickly! Fans from both sides of the nation won’t want to miss this exciting regular season game! If you want to be there to catch all of the action you’d better act now. Secure your seats so you can cheer on your favorite team!

Click here for more details

Saturday, January 5th

Watson Adventures’ Thrilla at the Getty Villa

Roam for Romans on a unique scavenger hunt that transports you to ancient Greece and Rome via the Getty Villa. You’ll follow a trail of clues and answer fun, tricky questions. Discover facts you never knew about the odd aspects of gods, goddesses, and the inventors of the toga party.

Click here for more details

Golden Globes Foreign Language Nominee Symposium

Discover the best foreign language films of 2018. This year’s five nominees include Capernaum from Lebanon, Girl from Belgium, Never Look Away from Germany, Roma from Mexico, and Shoplifters from Japan. The symposium will also include a free roundtable with the Directors for each of the nominated films. The panel will be moderated by Mike Goodridge, former HFPA member and VP turned festival director and programmer. Advance sale tickers are available until 5:00pm January 4 but will still be available for standby the day of.

Click here for more details

Bricks LA 2019

Come share your love of Lego and discover hundreds of fan created models at the Pasadena Convention Center ! Enjoy their vendor area with new, used, and unique brick accessories as well as building techniques and panel discussions. It will be a weekend of fun for all ages.

Click here for more details

Sunday, January 6

Annual Carroll Shelby Cruise-In

Come see some of the fastest, rarest and most beloved Shelby’s of all time. The Petersen will celebrate Carroll Shelby’s birthday by having a cruise-in on the third floor parking structure of the museum. All car enthusiasts are invited to participate in the car show and contest. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

Click here for more details

A Faery Hunt Magical Adventure

Named by Nickelodeon the “Best Children’s Theater” in Los Angeles, A Faery Hunt delights as a magical adventure. Auntie Angelica leads the audience on a gentle journey to help the Faery royalty! With the help of the audience and the Faeries, it’s a musical filled afternoon with fun, laughs and surprises.

Click here for more details

LA Kings Holiday ICE at L.A. Live Final Day

Just because the holidays are over, doesn’t mean the fun has to be. Don’t miss out on the last day of the LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live. Skate your way through the weekend as a family fun activity or date night.

Click here fore more details

NCAA Team-Affiliated Bars In Los Angeles

FLORIDA STATE |RUTH PETERKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BOSTON COLLEGE

Sonny McLean’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

CLEMSON

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

FLORIDA STATE

Prince O’ Whales

Address and Info

CULVER CITY

Vibe: A divey sports bar slinging breakfast, lunch, & dinner, as well as two patios and a bunch of TVs.

 

MIAMI

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Vibe: The OG location of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”). If you want tons of life, this is your spot.

NORTH CAROLINA

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

PITTSBURGH

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

BURBANK

Vibe: The Burbank outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”). Substantially less bro-y than the West Hollywood & Santa Monica spots, too.

 

SYRACUSE

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

VIRGINIA

Sonny McLean’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

VIRGINIA TECH

O’Brien’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A local favorite serving up Irish & pubby fare, along with solid beer list and 15 TVs.

 

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY |ASPEN PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

CINCINNATI

33 Taps

Address and Info

SILVER LAKE

Vibe: Lots of space, 30+ draft beers, big TVs, and burgers that come with fries (the way the good lord intended).

 

CONNECTICUT

Sonny McLean’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

EAST CAROLINA

The Garage

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Tons of craft beer, a killer whiskey & bourbon list, and greasy gastropub fare inside an old auto shop.

 

TEMPLE

The Garage

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Tons of craft beer, a killer whiskey & bourbon list, and greasy gastropub fare inside an old auto shop.

 

TULANE

Royal

Address and Info

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Vibe: This is as NOLA as you’re gonna get in LA. Built to mimic a Bourbon St. bar, Five0Four is doing it up with Cajun and Creole food, drinks, and plenty of TVs for the game.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY |ACESHOT1/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ILLINOIS

Baja Sharkeez

Address and Info

HERMOSA BEACH

Vibe: An always-bangin’ Hermosa favorite, full of daily specials, and an impossible-to-beat happy hour (as in a “buy one drink, get another one for 25 cents” type of happy hour).

 

INDIANA

Busby’s West

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: Probably the most lively of all SaMo sports bars, Busby’s West almost enters the realm of club territory. Take that how you will, but at least they have multiple rooms and ping pong tables.

 

IOWA

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: This is the Santa Monica outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”). Better yet, it’s only a few blocks from the ocean!

 

MARYLAND

The Garage

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Tons of craft beer, a killer whiskey & bourbon list, and greasy gastropub fare inside an old auto shop.

 

MINNESOTA

Buffalo Wild Wings

Address and Info

SHERMAN OAKS

Vibe: Tons of craft beer, a killer whiskey & bourbon list, and greasy gastropub fare inside an old auto shop.

 

NEBRASKA

O’Brien’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A local favorite serving up Irish & pubby fare, along with solid beer list and 15 TVs.

 

NORTHWESTERN

Rush Street

Address and Info

CULVER CITY

Vibe: Sports bar by day, loungey DJ spot by night, Rush Street — as the name implies — is as much of a Chicago bar as you’re likely to find.

 

OHIO STATE

Sycamore Tavern

Address and Info

HOLLYWOOD

Vibe: Sycamore Tavern really isn’t much different from former bar The Happy Ending, but maybe that’s what you’re looking for. Syc Tav does a full American menu (very solid during happy hour), lots of beer, and an ample amount of TVs.

 

PENN STATE

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

PURDUE

Q’s

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Like the name would suggest, Q’s is a pool lounge/sports bar spot. They do bar bites too, and have plenty of TVs.

 

RUTGERS

Busby’s West

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: Probably the most lively of all SaMo sports bars, Busby’s West almost enters the realm of club territory. Take that how you will, but at least they have multiple rooms and ping pong tables.

 

WISCONSIN

BRÜ HAUS

Address and Info

BRENTWOOD

Vibe: A German-inspired gastropub with better-than-average food, 25 beers, and a fierce Wisconsin allegiance.

 

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY |ASPEN PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BAYLOR

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

IOWA STATE

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: the place can get rowdy on game day.

KANSAS

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

KANSAS STATE

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

OKLAHOMA

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

OKLAHOMA STATE

Sonny McLean’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

TCU

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

WEST VIRGINIA

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

MARSHALL UNIVERSITY |ASPEN PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

LOUISIANA TECH

Busby’s East

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Expect ping pong, darts, TVs… and a complete madhouse at this Mid-Wilshire outpost of the Santa Monica hotspot.

 

MARSHALL

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: This is the Santa Monica outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”). Better yet, it’s only a few blocks from the ocean!

 

NORTH TEXAS

The Yard House

Address and Info

DOWNTOWN

Vibe: The LA Live location of this chain always fills up for all things Texas, and remains the only place in LA where you can order a full yard of beer.

 

RICE

The Yard House

Address and Info

DOWNTOWN

Vibe: The LA Live location of this chain always fills up for all things Texas, and remains the only place in LA where you can order a full yard of beer.

 

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME |PHOTO WORKS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NOTRE DAME

Jameson’s Irish Pub

Address and Info

HOLLYWOOD

Vibe: A super lively Irish pub with an unstoppable two-for-one daily happy hour, and lots of room to watch the game.

 

MIAMI UNIVERSITY (OHIO) |MIAMI UNIVERSITY

MASSACHUSETTS

Little Bar

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: You’ll find all the best aspects of a dive bar inside Little Bar; friendly staff, darts, a great jukebox, TVs, and a full-on BYOFood policy.

 

MIAMI (OH)

The Parlor

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Over 50 TVs, a huge front patio, a ton of beer, and events most nights of the week. Be warned, though: The place can get rowdy on game day.

 

SAN DIEGO STATE |SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

NEW MEXICO

Clearman’s Galley

Address and Info

SAN GABRIEL

Vibe: You’ll feel like you’re on a boat while you watch the game, but look: sometimes that’s a good thing.

 

 

SAN DIEGO STATE

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: This is the Santa Monica outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”). Better yet, it’s only a few blocks from the ocean!

 

UCLA |EPICSTOCKMEDIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ARIZONA STATE

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

BURBANK

Vibe: The Burbank outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”) is substantially less bro-y than the West Hollywood & Santa Monica spots.

 

COLORADO

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

BURBANK

Vibe: The Burbank outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”) is substantially less bro-y than the West Hollywood & Santa Monica spots.

 

OREGON

Busby’s West

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: Probably the most lively of all SaMo sports bars, Busby’s West almost enters the realm of club territory. Take that how you will, but at least they have multiple rooms and ping pong tables.

 

STANFORD

Sonny McLean’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A solid pubby spot full of darts, drinking, standard pub grub, and an impressive beer list.

 

UTAH

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

BURBANK

Vibe: The Burbank outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”) is substantially less bro-y than the West Hollywood & Santa Monica spots.

 

WASHINGTON

Baja Sharkeez

Address and Info

MANHATTAN BEACH

Vibe: An always-bangin’ Hermosa favorite, full of daily specials, and an impossible-to-beat happy hour (as in a “buy one drink, get another one for 25 cents” type of happy hour).

 

WASHINGTON STATE

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

BURBANK

Vibe: The Burbank outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”) is substantially less bro-y than the West Hollywood & Santa Monica spots.

 

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY |ROBERTO MICHEL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ALABAMA

Rock & Reilly’s

Address and Info

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Vibe: Tons of flat-screen TVs, quotes all over the walls from their fake founder, and tasty Irish food await you inside Rock & Reilly’s.

 

AUBURN

33 Taps

Address and Info

SILVER LAKE

Vibe: Lots of space, 30+ draft beers, big TVs, and burgers that come with fries (the way the good lord intended).

 

FLORIDA

Tony P’s Dockside Grill

Address and Info

MARINA DEL REY

Vibe: Part family restaurant, part beachside deck, and part sports bar, Tony P’s truly has something for everybody. The 120 beers don’t hurt much either.

 

GEORGIA

Goal Sports Cafe

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Probably one of the most fun places to watch the game, Goal does solid Tex Mex, comfy booths, and more TVs than you’ll ever need; there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

 

LSU

2nd Half Sports Grill

Address and Info

MANHATTAN BEACH

Vibe: 46 TVs, 20 pool tables, darts, ping pong, air hockey, and a great daily happy hour are the reasons you’re here.

MISSOURI

Barney’s Beanery

Address and Info

WESTWOOD

Vibe: The Westwood outpost of the infamous, rowdy-but-fun pub (famous for their chili — hence, “beanery”).

 

OLE MISS

O’Brien’s

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: A local favorite serving up Irish & pubby fare, along with solid beer list and 15 TVs.

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Q’s

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Like the name would suggest, Q’s is a pool lounge/sports bar spot. They do bar bites too, and have plenty of TVs.

 

TENNESSEE

Q’s

Address and Info

WEST LA

Vibe: Like the name would suggest, Q’s is a pool lounge/sports bar spot. They do bar bites too, and have plenty of TVs.

 

TEXAS A&M

1739 Public House

Address and Info

LOS FELIZ

Vibe: Probably the most lively of all SaMo sports bars, Busby’s West almost enters the realm of club territory. Take that how you will, but at least they have multiple rooms and ping pong tables.

 

VANDERBILT

Busby’s West

Address and Info

SANTA MONICA

Vibe: Probably the most lively of all SaMo sports bars, Busby’s West almost enters the realm of club territory. Take that how you will, but at least they have multiple rooms and ping pong tables.

 

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA |FLICKR/AU_TIGER 01

SOUTH ALABAMA

Goal Sports Cafe

Address and Info

MID-WILSHIRE

Vibe: Probably one of the most fun places to watch the game, Goal does solid Tex Mex, comfy booths, and more TVs than you’ll ever need; there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Article courtesy of Thrillist. 

Bar-hopping in West Hollywood: Nine bars to hit in one night

People complain that Los Angeles isn’t conducive to barhopping: Everything is spread out, we don’t have a decent transportation system, the 2 a.m. curfew. With the growing number of awesome bars, it’s getting easier to connect the dots and hop between watering holes — and not just in downtown L.A.

If you want to try something brand new and visit a local icon, the 1.3-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Sweetzer and Formosa avenue has plenty of options. They’re all within stumbling distance of each other so no need to Uber between them although we recommend you leave the stilettos at home.

La Fête in West Hollywood. (Photo by Umbrella Los Angeles)

La Fête: Ease into the evening with a light pastis aperitif or a spritz at this new French-inspired cocktail bar, which opened up in the elegant space adjacent to Norah and features a bar program by David Kupchinsky (Eveleigh, Freehand Hotel). If you want to come in hot, there’s a martini service with a sidecar of excess cocktail and olives.
8277 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. www.lafetelosangeles.com

The mezcal bar at Laurel Hardware in West Hollywood. (Photo by EDLT PHOTO)

Laurel Hardware’s Mezcal Bar: Cut through the crowd and duck into the elegant mezcal-dedicated bar in the back, past the kitchen. It’s quieter and more sophisticated with plush seating, wood panels and vintage mirrors. Choose from about a hundred mezcals. If sipping them neat is too hardcore for an extended barhop, try one of the seasonal cocktails made with the spirit.
7984 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. www.laurelhardware.com

Snag a seat at Employees Only in West Hollywood. (Photo by Josh Telles)

Employees Only: The award-winning New York bar from bartender Dushan Zaric now has an L.A. outpost with its own pizza oven, so this would be a good place to grab some sustenance. Snag a seat at the room-length bar and settle in with one of the tall drinks, maybe the Rain Dance Cobbler made with gin, madeira, blackberry syrup, ruby port and fresh berries and herbs.
7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. www.employeesonlyla.com

Surly Goat: By now, you’re probably ready for a beer break. Fortunately this craft beer bar by L.A.’s first cicerone, Ryan Sweeney, is in the middle of our route. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices that 26 beers on tap presents, ask the “beertender” for guidance. If you want to continue your barhop, stick to low-ABV options such as a 4 percent lager or Berliner Weisse.
7929 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. surlygoat.com

Chill out and sip a frozen margarita at No More Heroes in West Hollywood. (Photo courtesy of No More Heroes)

No More Heroes: The folks behind Ysabel and Laurel Hardware transformed the Now Boarding space into a rock ‘n roll den with artsy murals of everyone from David Bowie to Biggie Smalls. It’s meant to be the chill neighborhood alternative to the velvet rope scene, offering $14 signature drinks as well as a dedicated roster of frozen cocktails. The slushy house margarita is a good bet.
7746 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. nmh.la

Regroup and recover from barhopping palate fatigue with a clean vodka soda at Bar Lubitsch. (Photo courtesy of Bar Lubitsch)

Bar Lubitsch: This Russian-themed vodka bar has staying power, surviving the craft cocktail trend that killed martini bars like Lola’s. (RIP Appletini.) It’s a good spot to regroup and recover from palate fatigue with a clean vodka soda. They offer vodkas from all over the world, everything from A to V (that’d be Armenia to Vietnam). Want to dance? Duck into the Red Room in back to see which band or DJ is playing.
7702 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. barlubitsch.com

Barbette: Time for a steak frites and champagne break! Fortify yourself with protein and carbs in the form of a brasserie favorite. Opened in May, this French bar and bistro features a cocktail menu by bartender Brittney Olsen, who mixes classic and signature sparkling cocktails. Plus, they have a great selection of wines by the glass. If you don’t feel like cutting into a steak, order those addictive fries.
7511 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. www.barbettebarandbistro.com

Harlowe: The night is drawing to an end and so are you. Escape the crowded dance floor at the most beautiful of the 1933 Group’s bar by retreating to Harlowe’s patio lounge. Skip the free-flowing Old Fashioned on tap, a potent way to cut any barhop short, for a refreshing Mule made with lime, stomach-soothing ginger beer and a spirit of your choice.
7321 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. harlowebar.com

Jones in West Hollywood. (Photo courtesy of Jones)

Jones: End the night at the Beggars’ Banquet, a late-night happy hour from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring $4.50 beers and $8.50 cocktails, including their Dirty Sue Martini made with vodka or gin and Dirty Sue olive juice. You can also order a pasta, pizza or salad to help stave off a hangover. Save room for their sizzling apple pie.
7205 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. www.joneshollywood.com

Article courtesy of LAist.

The Best Rooftop Bars In Los Angeles

BROKEN SHAKER AT FREEHAND LOS ANGELES

BROKEN SHAKER

DOWNTOWN

At the top of the Freehand Hotel sits Broken Shaker, the type of rooftop spot that LA desperately needs more of. Bright, colorful, and buzzy, Broken Shaker is rocking some of the best DTLA views of any rooftop in the area. The cocktail and bites menus are no joke either — think beachside fish shack vibes. Protip: They’re open during the daytime, too.

ROOFTOP AT THE NOMAD HOTEL

DOWNTOWN

The Nomad Hotel rocked LA as one of 2018’s biggest openings, and between the lobby and mezzanine restaurants, you probably thought that was all they had to offer. Wrong. The newly opened rooftop bar is wonderful, featuring a menu full of Nomad-quality stuff; all the cocktails, beers, wines, and frozen drinks you could ask for are available, as well as tasty bites (shout-out to those scallops), and there’s even a whole section of non-alcoholic cocktails. Fun for the whole family!

ROOFTOP | EATALY LOS ANGELES

TERRA AT EATALY LA

CENTURY CITY

If you’ve been in LA for even one second, you’ve heard somebody rejoicing that we finally got an Eataly. It hasn’t disappointed, despite being located in the Century City Westfield Mall (it’s honestly shocking how much great stuff is in there now), and the new rooftop is no exception. Drinks are a no-brainer, but if you’re hungry there’s also a full-service lunch & dinner restaurant.

SPIRE 73

DOWNTOWN

There are rooftops, and then there’s Spire 73. This open-air hotspot is, you guessed it, 73 stories in the air, and an absolute titan of the DTLA scene. Clocking in at over 1,000ft, the Wilshire Grand Center is the tallest building west of the Mississippi (seriously), and that makes Spire 73 — part of the building’s InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel — the highest place to grab a drink in LA. The views are breathtaking (literally — you’re 73 stories up), and there isn’t a single piece of LA you can’t see.

COURTESY OF PETIT ERMITAGE

PETIT ERMITAGE

WEST HOLLYWOOD

This longtime local favorite rooftop somehow still feels like a hidden treasure: the pool is beautiful, the food at its classic-American restaurant is delicious, the garden calming, and the bars — there are two — thirst quenching. It’s a favorite for parties and weddings too, though, so call ahead to make sure you can get up there before heading over.

COURTESY OF WP24

WP24 BY WOLFGANG PUCK

DOWNTOWN

The prime Downtown rooftop of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant atop the Ritz-Carlton is usually closed to the public — except for this summer, when on Friday and Saturday nights it’ll be open for a revolving door of food concepts, including ramen, American BBQ, Korean BBQ, and an ongoing dessert bar.

EP & LP

MID-WILSHIRE

It’s confusing which half of this two-story restaurant/bar is EP and which is LP, but it doesn’t matter: everyone calls it by both names, and everyone’s happy when they end up on whichever one is actually the rooftop, which has great views, fire pits, amazing cocktails, and small-bite Asian food from EP downstairs. Er, LP downstairs. Er, from the downstairs kitchen.

SPENCER LOWELL

UPSTAIRS, AKA ACE HOTEL BAR

DOWNTOWN

Since the hotel’s opening in 2014, the Upstairs bar at Ace has become an unquestionable classic in the rooftop game, thanks to a roaring fireplace, a killer view of that iconic “Jesus Saves” sign, amazing drinks, a pool (albeit a weirdly small one), and DJs and performances nearly nightly. It’s also a perfect place to stop before a show (and after a show) at Ace’s Theater.

MAMA SHELTER

HOLLYWOOD

This right-in-the-heart-of-Hollywood hotel opened its rooftop just in time for summer 2016, and it’s completely open to the public, with great panoramic views of the city, a full-on yoga studio with daily classes, a Mediterranean restaurant, and evening programming that includes DJs, film screenings, and acoustic sets from local songwriters.

PEARL’S ROOFTOP

WEST HOLLYWOOD

This airy patio on Sunset is right in the heart of tourist-central, but still delivers great drinks and food — a rarity to find on the Strip, and an even bigger rarity overlooking the Strip.

PALIHOUSE

PALIHOUSE

WEST HOLLYWOOD

You’d never know this rooftop bar was here if you didn’t, uh, know this rooftop bar was here, which is just one of the many reasons it’s great: carefully-curated, fresh ingredient-filled drinks are another.

THE RED LION TAVERN

SILVER LAKE

Anyone can das boot on the lower level, but grab a drink upstairs at the Red Lion to feel like you’re really in the middle of Berlin (and grab one of the monster-size pretzels for extra authenticity). Oh and just because it’s not that high off the ground doesn’t mean it’s not a rooftop.

THE FONDA THEATRE

HOLLYWOOD

You know what’s better than seeing a show inside the Fonda? Watching the live feed of the show from ON TOP OF THE FONDA while drinking a cold drink. Boom. We said it.

HOTEL SHANGRI-LA

ONYX ROOFTOP AT SHANGRI-LA

SANTA MONICA

Yellowtail ceviche. Korean BBQ sliders. Chili/garlic/furikake wings. A view of the ocean. Wait, sorry, what were we talking about?

SKYBAR AT MONDRIAN

SKYBAR

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Okay, this one stretches the rooftop definition a little, but its top-of-the-mountain view of the city + great pool + model-y ambience is probably what people from the Midwest think of when they picture LA. Grab some of the house-made harissa hummus or some seafood flatbread, and think about all the poor unfortunate souls who aren’t you.

PERCH

PERCH

DOWNTOWN

Yeah, this Downtown restaurant’s got one of the best views in the city, but did you know one floor above is a bar with EVEN BETTER-ER VIEWS IN THE CITY? And the drinks are so good, you guys. Try a Spicy Concombre w/ Greenalls gin, St. Germain, lime juice, cucumber, and jalapeño. Alternatively, you can grab yourself a $6 Scrimshaw, or a $7 Stone IPA. And psst, they’ve even got a late-night menu, including ahi tuna tartar and burgers.

BO-BEAU KITCHEN + ROOF TAP

BO-BEAU KITCHEN AND ROOF TAP

LONG BEACH

Oysters, Sriracha butter chicken wings, 50 craft beers on tap, ping pong, board games, picnic tables, and live music. Any questions?

TAKAMI SUSHI & ROBATA

DOWNTOWN

The sushi here is kinda, sorta, a little bit, pretty good — and the 21st-floor view is next level. Add the club Elevate next door for post-dinner drinks, and, yeah, winner. Winner.

THE STANDARD

DOWNTOWN

Waterbeds. DJs. A biergarten. Actually good food. Bikinis. You. Yes.

THE ROOF AT HOTEL WILSHIRE

THE ROOF AT THE HOTEL WILSHIRE

MID-WILSHIRE

It looks like a nondescript office building on the outside, but the Hotel Wilshire is actually a great boutique hotel on an otherwise non-hotel-y part of, uh, Wilshire that’s equipped with a fantastic rooftop bar and a killer view of the Hollywood Hills.

HIGH AT HOTEL ERWIN

HIGH ROOFTOP LOUNGE AT HOTEL ERWIN

VENICE

Take the less than 10min walk from Abbot Kinney and peep Hotel Erwin’s rooftop bar (assuming you haven’t already while you were completing the LA bucket list). The sea breeze goes great with one of the craft cocktails or some mahi-mahi tacos. Easy street parking and nutso sunsets are also a major plus.

WEST HOLLYWOOD TENNIS COURTS

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Eating and drinking don’t have to be your only rooftop activities this summer (but they could be!). If you’re done unleashing your inner Jeremy Piven and want to unleash your inner Serena Williams instead, head over to the West Hollywood Tennis courts and check out the beautifully-maintained courts on the roof of the parking structure.

AROMA SPA AND SPORTS

KOREATOWN

Eating and drinking and playing tennis also don’t have to be your only rooftop activities this summer (but again, they could be!). Once you’re done unleashing your inner Serena, unleash your inner Tiger Woods (minus, you know, the cheating) at this rooftop driving range, which has an automated ball-teeing system and is open ’til 10pm.

THE LIBRARY AT THE REDBURY

HOLLYWOOD

Of all LA’s rooftops, The Library at the Redbury seems to be the one everybody forgets about… so, you know, stop forgetting about it. As its name suggests, the place has a library-meets-lounge-meets-rooftop-meets-Hollywood vibe, and the Mediterranean food menu comes courtesy of Cleo Hollywood downstairs. Oh, and of course it’s got views for days. See ya there.

WHITE OAK COMMUNICATIONS

FILIFERA

HOLLYWOOD

A brand-new, elite-level day-drinking option on the rooftop of the Hollywood Proper, Filifera is here to combat the woeful lack of great rooftops in LA. Grab some upscale cocktails, upscale snacks, and bask in the glorious sunshine that brought you there in the first place. By the way, if you’re wondering what a filifera is, you’d know it better as the desert fan palm tree.

Story by Thrillist.

How To Show Out-Of-Towners The Real Los Angeles

You’ve got college friends/parents/strangers-you-met-on-the-sidewalk coming to visit LA, huh? Well, it’s your duty to show them a great time; but even more than that, show them what LA is really about. You’re their tour guide, so why take them to the predictable places they’d go without you? Instead, we whipped up this handy guide to help you really dig into the heart of our fair city, while skipping out on the touristy, obvious choices.

Where To Drink In LA This New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve in LA often means wandering blindly into some random bar, hoping against hope that the party inside will be better than the watered-down drinks. While we can’t promise the most epic party of the year, if you end up at any of these fine establishments, we can guarantee that your New Year’s toast will be better than most — ‘cause these are the best bars in LA.

Black Rabbit Rose
JAKOB LAYMAN

BLACK RABBIT ROSE

HOLLYWOOD

Magician bar from the Houston brothers
It wasn’t the runaway hit out of the box that Harvard & Stone or Davey Wayne’s was, but the Houston brothers’ Black Rabbit Roses slow-burn is part of its magic. It’s not all of it, though: the bar’s literally attached to a magic theater, with nightly shows from Magic Castle-level magicians and drinks with unique properties — like infusions with activated charcoal or hickory smoke added at the table. They’ve also got the best bar food in town, with the attached Thai restaurant Blind Tiger providing a noodly base to prevent day-after regret.

JESÚS BAÑUELOS

THE PACIFIC SEAS

DOWNTOWN

Tiki-themed masterpiece inside Clifton’s 
Let’s be honest. Every bar in Clifton’s — the multi-story food and drink Disney downtown — is pretty great. But Pacific Seas, semi-hidden upstairs and behind another unassuming bar, is its masterpiece, not just for its gorgeous decor (which includes a giant ship and dangling pufferfish) but also its majestic drinks, based on recipes from classic tiki lounges like Trader Vic’s, all of which are perfectly balanced — and totally refreshing.

COURTESY OF BIBO ERGO SUM

BIBO ERGO SUM

MID-WILSHIRE

Cozy art deco cocktail bar transforming Robertson Plaza
This beautiful art deco spot on Robertson is from the son of the Arclight Theaters magnates, which explains his attention to detail: With its stuffed stools and semicircle bar, Bibo Ergo Sum may be the most gorgeous new bar in LA. The drinks aren’t anything to scoff at either, with the Walker Inn team behind a menu based on the Christopher Nolan movie The Prestige; a night here could definitely become magical, quickly.

WONHO FRANK LEE

BROKEN SHAKER

DOWNTOWN

Rooftop bar with an appropriately spectacular view
This Miami import’s won James Beard and Tales of The Cocktail awards at its home base, and the LA outpost follows in its large footsteps, with beautiful trees, comfy seats, and a rooftop pool. (OK, the pool is only officially available for hotel guests, but c’mon, we all know that game.) The menu includes Cali-influenced drinks like the Pimm’s shrub/vodka/ginger ale Recusal Cup, and fish tostadas and veggie egg rolls if you’ve got the munchies.

COURTESY OF GOOD TIMES AT DAVEY WAYNE’S

GOOD TIMES AT DAVEY WAYNE’S

HOLLYWOOD

The Houston brothers’ ‘70s-themed party spot
In just a couple short years, Davey Wayne’s has become the bar whose quality all others are compared to (and no others can touch): everything about this Houston Hospitality spot feels perfectly themed to their ’70s-throwback vibe, whether it’s the shag carpeting on the inside or the alcoholic sno-cone cart outside. The rollerskating show is a must-see, the bands the bar books are incredible, and you can even beat the line — by coming for a drink in the afternoon, which, let’s face it, is not a bad solution.

FLICKR/FLOYD B. BARISCALE

FROLIC ROOM

HOLLYWOOD

A Hollywood haunt loaded with history
A few years ago, The Powerhouse reimagined itself as a cocktail bar — and while that may or may not have been a good business move for that Hollywood stalwart, it was definitely a shining moment for The Frolic Room, which now stands alone in the pantheon of great Hollywood dive bars. It’s of an earlier time, when the vibe and the crowd were both dark and mysterious; when the jukebox could change the entire tone of a room; when the guy across the bar could be a major celebrity (or a Mini Mr T). It’s cheap; it’s ancient; it’s glorious.

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE

HOLLYWOOD

One of LA’s most lauded beer bars
It’s funny to think that this no-frills gastropubish bar was once a nothing establishment that existed mainly to serve the clients of the right-next-door Fonda Theater: These days, it seems on some nights like it’s more of a destination than that club is, with tap takeovers, rare brews, and an intense focus on hop-knowledge that’s made it one of the best beer bars in the city (that burger ain’t bad, either).

JUMBO’S CLOWN ROOM

JUMBO’S CLOWN ROOM

LOS FELIZ

Strong drinks and incredibly impressive pole dancing
With the possible exception of the Tiki Ti, there is no more beloved shithole in LA than Jumbo’s Clown Room, and for good reason: This dive-with-a-stage-and-a-pole (don’t call it a strip club — there’s no nudity, few lapdances, and very little skeeviness) oozes charisma, and thankfully not much else. Unlike other similar establishments (not-not looking at you, Cheetah’s), the women who dance here clearly want to be dancing here, and as such are treated as athletes as much as they are sex symbols: Once you see a tatted punk-rock princess slide down a pole with one toe against all laws of gravity while singing along to “First of the Gang to Die,” you’ll be totally on board — and if you’re not, we’re not so sure we want to hang out with you, anyways.

THE SPARE ROOM

THE SPARE ROOM

HOLLYWOOD

Fancy-pants lounge with bowling as an added bonus
If you were a betting man, it’d have been a safe bet against The Spare Room when it opened in 2011: It was on the top floor of a hotel and hard to find; the crowd it initially appealed to was more red-velvet than loyal-fan; it had a dual bowling alley and charged to rent games like Jenga. But here’s the thing: Once you were in, you realized there were secrets to The Spare Room, from hidden photo booths to occasional band nights, and that bowling here was far more fun than at the tourist-haven Lucky Strike right down the street. And then you had a drink and realized they were among the best in the city. And then you kept coming back for more. And here we are, nearly six years later.

COURTESY OF NO NAME

NO NAME

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Exclusive bar with major interior vibe
Everything about No Name should be hateable, from the fedora on the doorman to the you-need-to-know-someone-to-get-in-or-do-you door policy to their no-cameras rule to, uh, the fact that the bar DOESN’T EVEN HAVE A NAME. But here’s the thing: Once you’re inside, it’s one of the most easygoing, comfortable bars in LA, with surprise performances and amazing fried chicken, as well as the friendliest staff in LA. Yes, even that guy in the fedora.

SEVEN GRAND

SEVEN GRAND

DOWNTOWN

Whiskey bar flagship for one of LA’s best bar groups
Cedd Moses deserves props for knowing a good thing when he saw it: The barman behind just about all of the bars that made the Downtown scene happen (Golden Gopher! Broadway Bar!) was the first to see the potential in reviving a part of the city many had left for dead. Seven Grand is his masterpiece, a whiskey bar that seems both serious and inviting at once, with game tables and macrobrews for people who just want a good time, and a hundreds-deep menu of the brown stuff for anyone looking to take their drinking to the next level.

ALEX’S BAR

ALEX’S BAR

LONG BEACH

A Long Beach punk rock institution
In a town known for punk rock, this legendary red box-of-a-bar in an industrial-ish section of town is known for being the punkest bar of them all. That doesn’t just mean Buds and bashing, though: booker/owner Alex Hernandez, who has been a local legend for the nearly 20-year history of the bar, got into craft cocktails a few years ago — so this dive bar has great drinks, now, as well as great music. Boom.

TOM BERGIN’S PUBLIC HOUSE

TOM BERGIN’S

MID-WILSHIRE

A mainstay full of Irish charm (and lots of shamrocks)
This iconic Irish pub has been pulling perfect pints and winning legions of fans with its Gaelic charm since 1936 (some loyal patrons even carried the horseshoe bar up Fairfax from the original location in 1949). You’ll find the names of many of those longtime regulars written on paper shamrocks that cover the ceiling and rafters — which includes everyone from Cary Grant to Kiefer Sutherland — and you’ll find the warm hospitality is extended to newcomers as well. If you can get in, also consider a drink at the Vestry, the members-only whiskey bar upstairs that they may give you a peek at if you ask nicely.

TIKI TI

TIKI-TI

LOS FELIZ

The most colorful tiki bar in LA
While LA has plenty of solid Tiki offerings both old and new, Tiki-Ti is the long-reigning champ (with a mug raise to Tonga Hut in NoHo, which is a few years older but doesn’t quite pour on the charm as heavily). The unbelievably tiny, family-run joint packs in the party with tchotchkies galore, a ceiling with names of decades-long regulars, and, of course, a lengthy list of potent Tiki cocktails, many of which were concocted by founder Ray Buhen who previously worked at the original Don the Beachcomber (if you’re here on a Wednesday at 8:30pm, you can join in a toast to Ray). Take a spin on the Wheel of Tiki Drinks if you’re feeling indecisive, and if you order the rum-loaded Uga Booga, prepare for an “uga booga” chant from the whole bar as they pour your drink.

CHEZ JAY

CHEZ JAY

SANTA MONICA

Strong drinks and great steaks, steps from the beach
A nautically themed Westside institution, Chez Jay has been a reliable ocean-adjacent escape from crowds of tourists since 1959. Inside you’ll find heavy pours, big steaks and shrimp cocktails, and plenty of salty characters (some more charming than others). Oh yes, and peanut shells covering the floor. There’s a patio out back, but if you can snag a booth — or rarer still a stool at the bar — you’ll begin to understand just why this place can never go away.

FLICKR/SGV FILMWORKS

LUCKY BALDWIN’S

PASADENA

Pasadena’s beer-nerd paradise
The drinking options in Pasadena have noticeably improved in recent years, but long before The Blind Donkey was pouring craft selections or Der Wolfskopf was filing liters with German pilsners, Lucky Baldwin’s was the destination for beer nerds in the area (and it still holds the torch high). Prepare to examine a lengthy menu heavy on Belgian and SoCal brews, and you’re probably going to want to order their famous fish ‘n’ chips or bangers & mash to keep you well-fueled. The two other locations — in Sierra Madre and on Colorado Boulevard — might be roomier, but it’s tough to beat the weathered and improvised feel of the original spot in Old Town.

WONHO FRANK LEE/HIGHLAND PARK BOWL

HIGHLAND PARK BOWL

HIGHLAND PARK

An emerging neighborhood’s historic drinking-and-gaming centerpiece
If throwing strikes in a stunningly restored circa-1929 bowling alley, while sipping excellent cocktails and chowing down wood-fired pizzas sounds like a perfect Friday night for you, then step this way. The 1933 Group — known for top-notch, vintage-inspired watering holes like Harlowe, Sassafras, and Idle Hour — really outdid themselves with this latest venture with an attention to detail that provides so much eye candy, while still leaving room for plenty of fun. You’re going to want to invite the whole crew.

ERCOLES 1101

ERCOLES 1101

MANHATTAN BEACH

Dive bar where you come for the history, but stay for the cheeseburger
One of the oldest bars in LA, Ercoles has thankfully retained much of its true grit over the decades without anything “craft” or “refurbished” interfering. What you will find is cheap booze, worn wooden booths, and a cast of regulars at the bar that greet each other like they were on “Cheers.” And you definitely don’t want to leave without ordering this dive bar’s wonderfully simple griddle-cooked cheeseburger loaded with toppings. Just don’t forget to bring cash.

COURTESY OF BONEYARD BISTRO

BONEYARD BISTRO

SHERMAN OAKS

The Valley’s booze-and-BBQ mainstay
So, let us get this straight: you’ve got 42 rotating taps of craft beer, a massive whiskey selection, and fantastic hickory-smoked BBQ? Do you really need more reasons to drink at Boneyard Bistro? OK, how about the low-key vibe and friendly staff that make it an equally great option for watching the game with buddies and taking your special someone to brunch? Or maybe the special events like tap takeovers and fried chicken Mondays? Sold? Great, we’ll see you there.

CARLOS LOPEZ

THE VARNISH

DOWNTOWN

Jazzy speak-easy with award-winning drinks
One of the first bars in the speak-easy-bandwagon, The Varnish — a tiny little spot hidden in the back of Cole’s — has also become one of the best free live-music bars in the city, with exceptional jazz nearly all the time, and the best cocktails in the city, all the time.

THE VENICE WHALER

THE VENICE WHALER

VENICE

Neighborhood classic with one of the best burgers on the west side
Complain all you want about the homogenization of Venice over the years, but you can always hang on to the Whaler — a funky, unpredictable dive bar that’s literally a part of the fabric of the city: Where else can you find the friends you lost earlier in the night as it ticks down to last call, grab a burger by the beach, and reminisce about the one who got away? Nowhere else — which is as it should be.

NOTED MEDIA

71ABOVE

DOWNTOWN

High-end drinks with an unbeatable view
Surely one of LA’s best sunset views is sitting at the bar at 71 Above; the restaurant’s bar literally faces the mountains the sun sets into, with high-tech windows that self-tint so you can look right at the hint of light as it makes its way down while sipping a delicious Old Fashioned. Added bonus: it’s the only place in the restaurant you can order a la carte, which means if you’re hungry but don’t want to commit to the $75 prix fixe (or can’t get a table), you’re in luck.

EUGINE LEE

THE SLIPPER CLUTCH

DOWNTOWN

Serious ‘80s punk rock vibes with seriously good drinks
This Downtown bar’s become a quick favorite thanks to an all-star team that includes Cedd Moses and Eric Alperin, who’ve imbued the spot (hidden behind the also-notable Bar Clacson) with an old-school, punky vibe and a highball-inspired drink list. Bring some quarters for the retro video games, too.

WONHO FRANK LEE

MIKKELLER BAR

DOWNTOWN

A beer-lover’s classic finally lands in LA
The Downtown outpost of the beloved SF craft beer bar is a massive (like, really, really, really massive) ode to hops, with one of the most meticulous beer lists in town. There’s also a great bar food menu, which means your session doesn’t need to stop until last call.

LONO HOLLYWOOD

LONO

HOLLYWOOD

The leader of the new-tiki revival
There will be a great tiki revival at some point — and when it happens, this new bar from the Melrose Umbrella Company people will be at the forefront of it. Lono’s a spot with a Polynesian aesthetic that comes off as classy rather than hokey, with punch bowls, classic cocktails, and (on weekends) an island-themed food menu, as well.

NOTED MEDIA

THE SAN FERNANDO

GLENDALE

A neighborhood fave worth travelling for
Instead of ruining the legacy of the local fave Big Fish, The San Fernando’s taken over the Glendale spot and ensured it remains neighborhoody, with an interior that’s an ode to the nearby railway and an interesting-but-not-snooty fresh drinks list that utilizes house-made syrups, as well as local-songwriter nights in a ‘hood without much live music.

Article by Thrillist. 

LA's Best New Restaurants Of 2017

The microscope has never been as focused on LA food as it was in 2017. Thanks to a slew of positive press last year, LA finally became the It-City we’ve always deserved to be on a national level, and with that came one breathless announcement after another by major chefs getting ready to play ball. While some of those are transplants still somewhere in the ether (waiting on you, Nomad, and you too, Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield), LA certainly saw a ton of exciting openings this year, from longtime favorites and newbies alike. From the best new spot to get legit Italian noodles, to a go-to fast casual place reinventing an age-old dish, to the restaurant world’s answer to Radiohead, here are the best revelations 2017 had to offer.

FELIX

VENICE

Handcrafted noodles by pasta expert Evan Funke
When Evan Funke opened Bucato, a half decade or so ago in Culver City, he was rightly praised for his handmade, hand-cut pasta, which felt like a revelation back then. How little we knew: Funke’s game has been upped tremendously at Felix, his blockbuster restaurant in Venice that’s become the hottest ticket on Abbot Kinney in years (sorry, Gjelina). As Funke himself told us when we picked him as LA’s best chef of 2017, “The food I was cooking at Bucato was a little bit like sophomore year — and this is like my thesis in grad school.” Consider it the Westside’s answer to Bestia: a date-friendly Italian spot that never gets pretentious about itself yet delivers consistent flavor in each chewy bite, in this case abetted by face time with the chef himself, who spends most nights in his visible-from-the-dining-room pasta-making cave. Are they the best noodles in town? Yes, inarguably so. Read more about why Thrillist chose Felix as one of the Prime 13 best new restaurants of 2017.

COSA BUONA

ECHO PARK

Meatball sandwiches and pizza from an upgraded classic
Pizza Buona, at the corner of Alvarado and Sunset, was a neighborhood-favorite pizza spot for decades. So when Zach Pollack, the acclaimed chef from the sorta-fancy Italian-plus spot Alimento in Silver Lake, announced that he was taking over the space and giving it an upgrade, it’s no surprise that the local residents got a little antsy. They didn’t have to: Pizza Buona still thrives on delivery from its new spot down the street, and Cosa Buona has become something of a hipper cousin in its old place, with craveable meatball sandwiches at lunch and a dimmed-down row of booths perfect for a spread of perfect chopped salad and Neapolitan-style pizzas at dinner.

KISMET

LOS FELIZ

Communal, all-day spot with fresh takes on Middle Eastern classics
This bright, inviting restaurant in Los Feliz from Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson (the duo behind Madcapra, LA’s unabashed falafel king) isn’t just in it for the ‘Gram: its beautifully plated stews, salads, and sides are also alarmingly delicious. If you’re there with more than four people and don’t order the Turkish-ish Breakfast (“all the things, served with bread and greens”), you’re doing it wrong, ‘cause that bread — a sort of raised-pita-but-not-really situation — goes great dipped into, well, everything. You’re gonna want a second order.

MH ZH

SILVER LAKE

Streetside Israeli food with seriously great dips
Another member of Thrillist’s Prime 13 best new restaurants of the year, the nearly unpronounceable restaurant Mh Zh smacked the LA food scene the minute it opened with a series of proto-hipster dares, its menus handwritten on brown paper bags and its tables strewn on the sidewalk with no real sense of structure (“There’s no way this is legal,” one of my dining companions opined while we were there.) No matter, as the modern Israeli food here shines in all the ways you want it to: hearty, (seemingly) healthy, and bursting with flavor, whether you got the cauliflower or the short rib or the potatoes (hopefully, you’ll get all three). Like Kismet, the bread-into-dips game is really the star: here, it’s a crusty-but-dense carb bomb you’ll scoop labne up with, and then order more of.

ROSSOBLU

DOWNTOWN

Rustic Southern Italian dishes from a Bolognese master
Steve Samson’s Sotto still serves some spectacular stuff, but his new restaurant Rossoblu has leveled up his rootsy Italian recipes, foregoing a pizza oven for heartier selections. Don’t start your meal without the tuna crudo, which is served with beans and mustard seeds and is damn-near perfect, and don’t end it without the veal Parmesan, a crusted thing of beauty about the size of a tomahawk steak. If you’re going to order pasta (and of course you will), make sure to think about the maltagliati: an underappreciated, flat-and-wide noodle served here with beautifully cooked porcini and aromatised with sage.

SARI SARI STORE

DOWNTOWN

A much-needed Filipino food stand at LA’s best food hall
Sure, the national food hall trend feels like sorta-old news in LA, since Grand Central Market has been a part of our food conversation here for decades. Every time a new stall opens, though, it’s a reminder of the wealth of riches we’re afforded here — not just in produce, but in international cuisine — and the Filipino stand Sari Sari is no exception. Chef Margarita Manzke and her business-partner husband Walter (both also of Republique) pull from Margarita’s Pinoy background for next-leveled flavors in pork belly fried rice and the eggy tortang talong, leaning in on freshness rather than just following a trend.

ROSALINÉ

WEST HOLLYWOOD

The long-awaited Peruvian follow-up from Ricardo Zarate
When we last heard from Ricardo Zarate, the one-time Food & Wine Best New Chef was exiting his flagship restaurant Picca (RIP), never to be seen again… until a few years later, when he opened up this dark-lit, sexy-looking, common-table abetted banger right in the heart of West Hollywood. Zarate’s start in LA was with Mo-Chica, a food-hall stall with aggressive, balanced flavor, and he hasn’t shirked on the spices as he’s gotten more and more visibility. The paella is the standout; robust, and flavorful, and available as a pescaterian dish if you happen to be with a meatless friend, it’s among the best version of the dish I’ve ever had, anywhere.

VESPERTINE

CULVER CITY

Impossibly high-end tasting menu in an experimental, otherworldly setting
Full disclosure: I’ve eaten at every other restaurant on this list, but I have not eaten at Vespertine. So how, then, does it end up on our list of the best restaurants of the year? Simple: Though every bite that Jordan Kahn puts out at this modern take on a modern restaurant is undoubtedly interesting and thought-provoking and like nothing you’ve ever eaten, Vespertine is not (and has never been) strictly about the food. Instead, it’s about the idea of a whim-based, esoteric, possibly even pretentious restaurant — where dinner starts at $250 — landing in LA, and people actually caring about it. The brooding, impenetrable atmosphere here is just as important as the tasting menu (Kahn described the building as “a machine artifact from an extraterrestrial planet” in an interview with GQ), and the whole experience is more of an immersive journey than a traditional meal. Vespertine’s press release called it “a place of cognitive dissonance,” and the discussions that it has sparked — and the fact that, with Dialogue, we now have two tasting-menu options in this sphere — are among the most exciting and excited in years. Is it worth the money? That’s up to you. But it’s unquestionably worth the conversation.

BONE KETTLE

PASADENA

A bone broth place you’ll finally want to eat at
The bone broth dishes at Bone Kettle in Pasadena make up only a small part of the menu, but they’ve been the focus of much of the hype since the low-pro shop opened a few months ago. Big mistake: though the ramen bowls, with their subtle flavors and luscious mouthfeel, are certainly worth ordering, the killers here are the big-noodle dishes, like a spicy lobster with dense, udon-ish noodles that chew and bite at the same time. It’s sort of like the Cassia of the Eastside, minus the pomp and circumstance.

BÄCOSHOP

CULVER CITY

The next evolution of Joseph Centeno’s fast-casual empire
For about a decade, Joseph Centeno’s been riding the wave of his signature bäco: a taco filled with not-necessarily Mexican ingredients in a non-tortilla delivery system not unlike naan bread. He’s served it for years at his sit-down restaurants (including Downtown’s Bäco Mercat), so it was really only a matter of time before it was Chipotle-fied. The fact that fillings like slow-roasted pork and chile shrimp work as well as lunch takeaways as they do as dinner standbys is no surprise; that there’s only one of these, and not franchises all over the city, though, is. Bring ‘em on.

BOTANICA

SILVER LAKE

Bright and breezy spot headed by former food journalists
It would be easy to hate Botanica on principal. This extremely hip restaurant, in an extremely hip neighborhood, from a couple of New York-transplant former food writers, is basically a lesson in gentrification. That said, it’s hard to hate on any restaurant that gets it all this right, from the breezy feeling of the patio to the farm-to-table food, which veers Mediterranean and includes dishes that are “tagine-ish” and “fattoush-y.” Adorable? Sure. Delightful? That too. Delicious? Definitely.

UOVO

SANTA MONICA

Fresh pasta, imported overnight directly from Italy
There may be no better “for-the-money” restaurant in LA right now than Uovo, a handmade pasta restaurant from the Sugarfish people that manages to get all the flavors of much-fancier spots packed into healthy servings on plates that run $16 or less. One of them will fill you up and two will stuff you, and the whole system — with boiling pots and pasta prep happening at a bar in the middle of the restaurant — sort of has a dinner-and-a-show feel. Expect a wait, but it’s well worth it.

Article courtesy of Thrillist. 

10 L.A. Happy Hours To Try This Fall

Truth: There’s no shortage of happy hours in Los Angeles. The real question is, which discounted eats and delicious deals stand apart from by-the-numbers wings, fries and domestic beer?

Discerning chefs transition their menus with the seasons. They choose fresh and they choose smart. The result is a happy hour that’s tailored to our tastebuds like a perfectly fitted suit, not to mention easy on the wallet.

Looking for unique seafood dishes? How about drool-worthy meatball sandwiches, crab mac ‘n cheese or glazed Brussel sprouts? Expansive international beer selections? This fall, the city of angels offers that and a whole lot more.

Your happy hour game is about to change for the better, starting below (list numbered only for reference, arranged in no particular order).

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1. Gratitude (Beverly Hills)

Healthy options that taste like guilty pleasures is what you’ll find at Gratitude. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. During that time frame you’ll find a selection of specialty cocktails made with fresh juices and even activated charcoal. Pair your libation with small bites such as vegan nachos, a Mediterranean tapas plate, Bollywood Fries or Korean collard spring rolls. –> More information 

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2. Broken Spanish (Downtown Los Angeles)

Chef Ray Garcia’s La Hora Especial is offered Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the bar and corral of his elevated latin restaurant. Down $8 Mezcal cocktails and bold inventive small plates such as rabbit albondigas, lentil nopal tostadas and chili-lime chicken necks for $6 to $8. –> More information

3. Momed (Atwater Village)

Start happy hour early at Momed in Atwater Village every Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and Sunday 3-5 p.m. Eight mighty food selections make up the happy hour menu including a fig and arugula Turkish flat bread, grass fed burger with halloumi cheese and a selection of delicious mezzes like avocado hummus, eggplant ikra and pickled vegetables. Personal favorites include the mezze trio served with warm doughy bread and lightly charred Brussel sprouts dressed with pomegranate molasses. The cocktail list features $4 mediterranean beers, wine and specialty cocktails like the Med.Mule, a mediterranean take on a classic drink made of fig vodka, ginger beer and lime. –> More information 

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4. Bone Kettle (Pasadena)

Southeast Asian-inspired Bone Kettle hosts happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. with two dollars off craft brews and house wines, alongside a selection of bold bites. Options include tartare seasoned with lemongrass and garlic, Mapo Tofu Fries (a twist on Poutin), and Sambal Chicken Wings. The tartare goes for $9, and is a must-try. –> More information

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5. Tsubaki (Echo Park)

Happy hour at Tsubkai is available Tuesday through Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The menu offers a $10 Japanese “Dodger Dog” made of chicken sausage topped with yuzu slaw, shishito relish and onion rings. Other notables include a Tonkatsu Sando (a fried pork cutlet sandwich) and fried anchovies with yuzu kosho tartar sauce. –> More information

6. Kettle Black (Silver Lake)

This rustic Italian restaurant offers a happy hour daily from 5 to 7 p.m. Specials include a saucy $7 meatball sandwich and a $15 charcuterie plate. Looking for a more complete dinner? The Pizza & Pop Deal combines a margherita pizza with your choice of a Peroni or  glass of red/white wine for $15.  –> More Information

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7. The Wallace (Culver City)

The Wallace’s “Happy AF” menu is offered daily at the bar from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sip on wacky named cocktails like the “Dad Bod” made of bourbon, honey and lemon and choose from a food menu made up of guilty pleasures like the tacos de caja payaso inspired by Jack in the Box and bucket o’ chicken a nod to KFC. It might be fast food prices during this happy hour, but they don’t skimp on quality, using local and sustainable ingredients in all their dishes. –> More information

8. Tallula’s (Santa Monica)

Talulla’s happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m in the bar, lounge and patio.  This coastal style Mexican cantina offers specials on organic chicken tacos, grass fed ground beef tacos, yellowtail ceviche and more. Vegetarians can pick from spicy pickled vegetables, veggie tacos and nachos “sencillo” topped with cotija & fontina cheese, spicy giardiniera, buttermilk crema, and salsa. You’ll’ also find select cocktails, latin beers and wines are all specially priced. –> More information

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9. Bourbon Steak House (Glendale)

This Michael Mina establishment hosts a Come On, Get Happy! menu Monday through Saturday from 4:30 to 7 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 2:30 p.m. Available in the spacious lounge area, all “snacks” are half priced, burgers are $14 and specialty cocktails are $7. Don’t expect the snack menu to be limited to small bites, you’ll find elevated options like a crab mac n cheese, duck fat fries, lamb lollipops and Thai beef skewers. –> More information

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10. Bottlefish (Brentwood)

Brentwood’s sustainable seafood restaurant Bottlefish recently launched a “First Call” menu. Available Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., the menu offers a of selection bites from the raw bar including $2 oysters, smoked salmon deviled eggs and sea bass ceviche tostada. Break the seafood dishes up with kimchi chicken wings and cheeseburger sliders. Everything on the happy hour menu is priced just under $10. Craft cocktails are $8 across the board, including the Jalisco 75, a tequila-based libation made with fresh-pressed lime juice, agave and cava –> More information 

Bonus Item: Friends & Family Ice Cream O’Clock ( East Hollywood)

“Ice Cream O’clock” is Friends & Family’s version of happy hour. Stop by Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. for $3 scoops of rotating flavors created by Pastry Chef, Roxana Jullapat. Seasonal concoctions include Compartes Chocolate, Pumpkin and Mint Chip, all available on house-made waffle cones and topped with fixings such as pecan sticky sauce and granola. –> More information

Story courtesy of We Like LA.