The best places to grab a drink in Los Angeles, presented in alphabetical order.
The best places to grab a drink in Los Angeles, presented in alphabetical order.
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Created 09/05/08
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1
Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046 / 323-650-0575
Just a swagger away from the quietly chic and Old Hollywood-style Château Marmont hotel, this discreetly tucked-away but very hot bar caters to New Hollywood and those who want (or pretend) to be a part of that scene. Dress up, queue up and prepare for the once-over by the door staff. If you get the nod, you’ll descend into the swarm of poseurs, have a martini and maybe, if you can find a seat and flag down a server, sup on such gourmet bar snacks as vegetable summer rolls or a full-fledged porterhouse. New York chef Carolynn Spence has beefed up the menu a bit with the likes of French onion soup, gnocchi, lamb shank, and a popular bar burger. The hip space, bathed in sexy red light, rocks till well past midnight.
2
Beechwood
822 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292 / 310-448-8884
Twenty-something chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts have created a lively bar scene with a lounge and walled patio with a fire pit. At this, their second venture, Williamson runs the front of the house while Roberts primarily handles the kitchen. Guests balance their cocktails with small plates such as sweet baby pork ribs and grilled lamb meatballs, or the signature rib-eye burger with barbecue sauce, arugula and Gruyère cheese. Highlights on the slightly more sedate dining room menu include grilled salmon with citrus emulsion, duck confit and New York steak with Cabrales butter. Finish your meal with blackberry cobbler or brûléed pumpkin pudding.
3
BOA Steakhouse
101 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403 / 310-899-4466
This is not your father’s steakhouse. From the same owners as the Sushi Rokus (there’s one just across the street) and Katana, this seaside eatery attracts an elegant, trendy crowd. The atmosphere here is much more contemporary and dynamic than at the Sunset location that shares its name, although they both share the same menu. A modern décor---large windows on the ocean, enormous square red lamp fixtures and driftwood-like tree limbs emerging from an illuminated soil of white and blue glass---makes your wait for a table a bit more interesting. There’s a small but lively bar scene, with signature cocktails such as a whimsical martini topped with a puff of cherry cotton candy. The food is not as flavorful as the ambience, although the USDA Prime steaks are available with a variety of intriguing rubs and sauces, including a tangy chimichurri and satisfying béarnaise. Try the certified organic beef, which is leaner, moister and a tad gamier than the 40-day dry-aged New York strip.
4
The Edendale Grill
2838 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039 / 323-666-2000
Whether channeling the area's rich early movie-making history or its former role housing Fire Station 56, The Edendale Grill is a suitably dignified presence for this already lore-saturated locale. The pressed-tin ceiling, wood floors and smartly set tables provide an appropriate setting for straight-up American cuisine. Breads are baked in-house and the bill of fare features classic themes with some intriguing contemporary twists. Jalapeño ketchup elevates good onion rings, a stellar Caesar is prepared tableside for two and vegetarians enjoy many options including a caramelized onion and Gruyère tart. Among entrées, you'll find compelling items like Catalina sand dab filets with preserved lemon tartar sauce, fennel-scented macaroni-and-cheese luxuriously prepared with Brie, meatloaf wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon with a tomato-brown sugar glaze, and Prime flat-iron steak. Choose from a list of a dozen-plus wines by the glass, half-bottle or bottle. That said, Edendale's handsome and scene-making Mixville Bar actually holds the heart of the house.
5
El Carmen
8138 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90048 / 323-852-1552
This Tijuana tequila and taco bar is a longtime favorite among the L.A. hip. Decorated with deep red walls, dark woods, colorful (though dim) lanterns and traditional Mexican wrestling masks, the atmosphere is definitely unique, oddly festive and certainly well suited to the cadre of starlets and black-clad screenwriters who frequent the place. While El Carmen may be known for its almost comically long list of tequila offerings (over 300!), more than a few revelers have returned for the better-than-average tacos and surprisingly fresh and chunky house-made guacamole. Make no mistake: those looking for a full-on dining experience would be better pleased elsewhere, as the menu here is clearly meant to accompany the drinks, and not vice versa.
6
Falcon
7213 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 / 323-850-5350
A venture from the owners of Lounge 217 and Pearl Dragon, this hip restaurant is located in a converted Craftsman-style bungalow. A liberal use of lacquered wood, shag carpets and clean-lined booths give the place a Rat Pack-era look, although the name actually refers to Rudolph Valentino's home, the Falcon Lair. A patio is anchored by a freestanding fireplace. Chef Mario Manabe’s contemporary cuisine features items such as wild arugula and parsley salad, seared halibut with red lentils, and honey-glazed pork shank with celery root soubise. The hip, sexy scene satisfies guests’ desire to be a part of the L.A. nightlife milieu, all the while indulging in some leisurely dining laced with comforting, old-fashioned themes.
7
Firefly
11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 / 818-762-1833
The front of Firefly is a sexy library lounge with comfy sofas, deep red walls and gilt-framed mirrors. The dining area is a covered patio with a central fireplace, some cozy tables separated by curtains and scores of candles. It's a truly alluring place to hang out and the food is worth the trip. Starters include sensational tiny green olives, breaded and deep-fried, served with garlicky aïoli. A grilled radicchio salad with frisée, blue cheese and walnuts is quite good, and the tomato bisque with a big Gruyère crouton is a marvelous opener. The stellar burger (with pancetta, blue cheese, onions, avocado and aïoli) and the croque monsieur are massive, and the skinny pommes frites are to die for. Filet mignon in peppercorn sauce and pan-seared salmon in an intense parsley sauce are also good choices off a short menu.
8
Koi
730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 / 310-659-9449
Koi is one of those trendy L.A. eateries where the cuisine and the scene coexist in a surprisingly healthy balance. Being the favored Japanese restaurant of many Hollywood stars, Koi offers great people-watching opportunities in a stylish setting, but also delivers some high quality sushi and contemporary Japanese cooking. Broken into several distinct spaces---both indoors and out---this is a smart, sexy venue, flatteringly illuminated by candles and fireplaces, accented with bamboo and some sheer, burnt orange curtains. Reflecting the restaurant's modern sensibilities are dishes such as tuna tartare with avocado on crispy won tons, and seared toro sashimi with garlic soy. Hot dishes include Chilean sea bass with ginger and shiitake mushrooms, miso-glazed black cod, and Kobe beef (paired with seared foie gras as a starter or grilled toban-yaki-style as an entrée). Koi may not rise to the city's highest echelon of Japanese cuisine, but judicious ordering, a flight of saké (look for Koi's own house-branded saké) and the always-dynamic scene usually add up to a pretty enjoyable evening---just keep in mind that it's located in that unique corner of the Pacific Rim called L.A.
9
The Lobby Lounge
Casa Del Mar, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405 / 310-581-5533
Settle into a seat with an ocean view and order a light appetizer and a cocktail in the evening, or enjoy breakfast or lunch. Live piano music nightly, except on Wednesdays when jazz rules the night.
10
Nic's Restaurant & Martini Lounge
453 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210 / 310-550-5707
Longtime L.A. chef and restaurateur Larry Nicola’s little Beverly Hills creation is cozy, hip and actually has some super food, whether for snacking or making a full meal. Couple that with the martini menu featuring 80 varieties and live jazz on weekends and selected weeknights, and you have a stylish way to relax in the lap of luxury. The restaurant’s glass-ensconced vodka freezer is also the perfect place for friends to share a bottle of high-end vodka with some caviar. We particularly like the little dishes of finger foods made from shrimp, scallops and tender beef in varying sauces and seasonings, but dinner sees some serious attention to lobster, steak and poultry, too. Don’t miss the grilled half-chicken with a Pommery mustard crust or his famous sautéed oysters on the half-shell with spinach and Parmesan. Finish with the flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse.
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