Unearth The Voyage
Los Angeles has some of the most exciting bars in the country, from rooftop lounges with ocean views to hidden speakeasies serving world-class cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a tiki bar with retro charm, a late-night dive with strong drinks, or a fancy spot to sip rare spirits, LA’s bar scene has something for everyone. These spots bring together amazing drinks, cool atmospheres, and the kind of energy that makes a night out unforgettable.
1. Thunderbolt – HiFi/Echo Park
Ranked among North America’s 50 Best Bars, Thunderbolt has earned its reputation by mixing cutting-edge cocktails with cozy Southern food. The space feels bright and welcoming rather than stuffy, making it perfect whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink or settling in for the evening.
Their frozen drinks are legendary, and the highballs are built with precision and creativity. The patio sits right where Echo Park meets Historic Filipinotown, giving you a relaxed outdoor vibe that’s hard to beat.
Don’t leave without trying whatever seasonal slushy they’re pouring that week. Pair it with one of their biscuit-centric snacks, and you’ll understand why this spot keeps landing on best-of lists year after year.
2. Mírate – Los Feliz
Walking into Mírate feels like climbing into a secret treehouse designed for people who take their agave seriously. Beverage director Maxwell Reis has built a program around responsibly sourced Mexican spirits, many of them impossible to find anywhere else in the city. The bar has earned spots on both North America’s 50 Best Bars and the World’s 50 Best extended list.
The menu focuses on rare mezcals, tequilas, and other agave-based spirits, with house-made cordials adding extra layers of flavor. Modern Mexican plates are served on a gorgeous terrace surrounded by greenery.
Ask for an agave flight if you want to explore the collection, and let the staff guide you through the stories behind each bottle. It’s educational without ever feeling pretentious.
3. Death & Co Los Angeles – Arts District
The New York legend brought its cocktail expertise to downtown LA, and the Arts District outpost lives up to the hype. Candlelight flickers across dark wood and plush seating, creating that classic speakeasy vibe without feeling like a theme park. Service here is polished and knowledgeable, with bartenders who genuinely care about your experience.
The menu is one of the most detailed in the city, with drinks organized by spirit and flavor profile. There’s also a smaller bar room if you prefer a more intimate setting, plus occasional happy-hour deals that make the experience more accessible.
Let your server be your guide. The menu can feel overwhelming, but the staff excels at asking the right questions and tailoring recommendations to your taste preferences.
4. Capri Club – Eagle Rock
Glowing in red neon and packed with regulars most nights, Capri Club brings retro-Italian aperitivo culture to Eagle Rock. Time Out calls it one of LA’s coolest bars, and once you step inside, you’ll see why. The vibe is neighborhood-friendly but stylish, with an amaro list that could keep you busy for months.
Negroni variations are a house specialty, and the pasta program is way better than you’d expect from a bar. Locals treat this place like their living room, which means you’ll feel the warm, welcoming energy the moment you walk in.
Arrive at golden hour, order a classic Negroni, and settle in with a plate of rigatoni. It’s the kind of simple, perfect evening that keeps people coming back week after week.
5. Bar Flores – Echo Park
Hidden up a stairway off Sunset, Bar Flores rewards those who make the climb with one of the city’s most talked-about margaritas. The space radiates feminine energy, with a female-led cocktail program that’s been celebrated by Eater and Food & Wine. Latin-inspired drinks dominate the menu, with hibiscus playing a starring role in several signature cocktails.
The vibe is lush and intimate, perfect for date night or catching up with close friends. The drinks are balanced and beautiful, designed to look as good as they taste.
Start with their house hibiscus margarita, which has developed a cult following. If you’re with a group, the large-format mezcal paloma pitchers are the way to go, offering great value and even better flavor.
6. High Rooftop Lounge – Venice (Hotel Erwin)
Perched atop Hotel Erwin, this rooftop lounge delivers postcard-perfect Venice sunsets with a cocktail in hand. The views stretch almost 360 degrees, taking in Venice Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and the colorful chaos of the boardwalk below. DJs spin regularly, adding a soundtrack to your sunset.
The cocktail list leans into the seaside vibe with spritzes, margaritas, and refreshing highballs. Even on warm summer evenings, the ocean breeze can pick up, so bringing a light jacket is smart.
Make a reservation for sunset if you can, and grab a spicy margarita or an Aperol spritz. Watch the sky turn pink and orange over the water while the beach crowd winds down below. It’s classic LA in all the best ways.
7. The Roof at EDITION – West Hollywood
Sitting atop The West Hollywood EDITION, this glam rooftop brings together wraparound city views, lush landscaping, and a Latin-inspired cocktail menu heavy on tequila and mezcal. It’s the kind of place that feels special without trying too hard, where the design and drinks work together to create a memorable evening.
The cocktail program leans into agave spirits, with creative twists on classics and original creations. Snacks are available to keep you fueled while you watch the city lights come alive below.
Order a mezcal-forward cocktail and settle into one of the lounge areas. As the sun sets and the lights switch on across West Hollywood, you’ll understand why this spot still makes every rooftop bar roundup in the city.
8. Tonga Hut – North Hollywood
Opened in 1958, Tonga Hut is LA’s oldest surviving tiki bar, and stepping inside feels like time travel. Bamboo walls, puffer-fish lamps, and vintage Polynesian decor create an atmosphere that’s pure old-school tiki kitsch. Tiki specialists and cocktail nerds routinely highlight it as a must-visit, with Time Out and The Infatuation both praising its authenticity.
The drinks are rum-heavy and strong, served in ceramic mugs and tiki glasses that look straight out of a 1960s postcard. The crowd is a mix of tiki enthusiasts and neighborhood regulars who appreciate the history.
Order a classic Mai Tai or a Zombie and let yourself get lost in the retro vibe. This isn’t a trendy recreation; it’s the real deal, preserved and still thriving after more than six decades.
9. Apothéke – Chinatown
This apothecary-themed lounge serves botanical cocktails in a moody, medicine-inspired setting on the edge of Chinatown. An offshoot of the NYC original, Apothéke brings the same lab-coat-and-marble-bar aesthetic to LA, with drinks organized into categories like Stimulants and Health & Beauty. Time Out and Condé Nast Traveler both praise its detailed, inventive approach.
Each cocktail is built around botanical ingredients and presented like a prescription for whatever ails you. The atmosphere is intimate and date-night-ready, with dim lighting and a sense of mystery.
Browse the menu’s Stimulants or Health & Beauty sections and pick something that sounds intriguing. The bartenders take their craft seriously, and watching them work is half the fun. It’s theatrical without being gimmicky.
10. Gold Room – Echo Park
The Gold Room is Echo Park’s no-frills dive bar, loved for stiff drinks, cold beer, and a loyal neighborhood crowd. Multiple recent reviews confirm it’s open daily until 2 a.m., making it a favorite spot for pre- or post-gaming concerts and Dodgers matches. There’s nothing fancy here, and that’s exactly the point.
Micheladas are a house specialty, and the beer-and-shot combos are priced to keep you coming back. The crowd is a mix of locals, musicians, and people who appreciate a bar that doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is.
Grab a cheap combo, claim a barstool, and settle in for some quality people-watching. It’s the kind of place where conversations start easily and the night can take unexpected turns in the best way possible.
11. Augustine Wine Bar – Sherman Oaks
After a devastating fire, Augustine spent nearly two years rebuilding and finally reopened at the end of 2024. Eater reports that it’s once again pouring rare vintages and quirky bottles in a cozy, vintage-themed space that feels like a friend’s well-curated living room. The wine list is deep and carefully chosen, with a focus on unusual and off-the-beaten-path selections.
Nightly service has resumed, and the staff is eager to guide you through the collection. This isn’t a place for ordering the same old Cabernet; it’s where you discover something new and exciting.
Ask for guidance when you arrive. The joy here is trying something old, unusual, or unexpected by the glass, with staff who genuinely love sharing their knowledge and helping you explore.
12. Vandell – Los Feliz
Opening in December 2025 in the former Nossa space, Vandell is one of LA’s newest cocktail destinations. Eater and The Infatuation describe it as a welcoming third place with a 27-drink menu that spans smoked-tomato mezcal cocktails to classics built with vintage spirits. The space features multiple cozy rooms and cafe-style outdoor seating on Hillhurst.
The vibe is neighborhood-friendly but serious about drinks, striking that perfect balance between approachable and ambitious. Vintage spirits add depth to familiar classics, giving them new life.
Start with their smoked tomato mezcal drink, which has already developed a following. Then try a vintage-spirit riff on a Sidecar or martini to see how aged ingredients can transform a classic cocktail into something entirely new and delicious.
13. Or Bar – West Hollywood
Taking over the old Gold Coast space, Or Bar is a queer, Asian- and women-owned cocktail lounge that leans glam and disco. The interior is design-forward, with a huge chandelier that sets the tone for the inclusive, welcoming vibe. Recent reviews show it’s open day to night, functioning as both a coffee spot and a cocktail destination.
The drinks are polished and creative, served in a space that celebrates diversity and community. Weekend mimosas and Ratchet Happy Hour have both become popular draws for locals.
Stop by for Ratchet Happy Hour or weekend mimosas, and order a classic cocktail under that stunning chandelier. The energy is warm and celebratory, making it easy to relax and feel at home no matter who you are or where you’re from.
14. Accomplice Bar – Mar Vista
Attached to Taiwanese restaurant Little Fatty, Accomplice combines inventive cocktails with standout comfort food in a neighborhood setting. Time Out and Wallpaper praise its design and drinks, while the bar has also earned a spot in 50 Best Discovery’s global index of notable bars. It’s the kind of place where you can start with drinks and easily end up staying for dinner.
The cocktail program is creative and well-executed, with drinks that complement the bold flavors coming out of Little Fatty’s kitchen. The design is modern and inviting, making it comfortable for everything from solo drinks to group gatherings.
Order a round of house cocktails and then move on to Taiwanese fried chicken or noodles from Little Fatty. The combination of great drinks and amazing food makes this one of the best bar-restaurant pairings in the city.
15. The Wolves – Downtown LA
Housed in a restored early-1900s building, The Wolves feels like stepping into a Parisian salon with a very modern cocktail brain behind the bar. Time Out and Condé Nast highlight its culinary-style cocktails featuring ingredients like shiitake mushrooms or even salmon skin. A 2025 feature called it one of DTLA’s most exciting cocktail programs, and it’s easy to see why.
The drinks push boundaries in ways that feel thoughtful rather than gimmicky. Each cocktail is built like a dish, with layers of flavor and unexpected ingredients that somehow work together beautifully.
Order one of the weirder savory cocktails and prepare to have your expectations challenged. This is a great place to push your comfort zone and experience what happens when culinary technique meets cocktail craft.
