Cocktail bars in Los Angeles that locals love

Los Angeles is a fun-loving, cash-splashing city that brashly calls for mini celebrations at every turn, whether you’re toasting your breakout role, landing a table at the best restaurant in town or finding a parking space around the corner from one of the most sought-after bars in time for sunset. There’s no single definitively ‘LA’ drink or bar, and the place is so much richer for its eclecticism.

In Los Angeles, drinkers choose a cocktail bar much like choosing a drink from a menu. There are battered, bonkers family-run tiki bars; there are glamorous grand dames in Hollywood hotels, there are secret downtown speakeasies, and there are brutalist concrete bunkers that used to be recording studios. For those seeking a cool breeze at golden hour, consult our guide to the best rooftop bars in Los Angeles.

It’s time to mix things up; this is cocktail hour, after all.

Koreatown

The Normandie Club

Best for: A dimly lit cocktail lounge in Koreatown
Address: 3612 W 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020 
Price: $$$

The Hotel Normandie was a valuable addition to Koreatown, and the hotel’s cocktail bar is as classy as they come. Think leather banquettes, painted brickwork, mosaic-tiled flooring and moody lighting. There’s no food, but load up beforehand on a burger at Cassell’s, the hotel’s diner next door. The centrepiece horseshoe-shaped bar is just crying out to be propped up by solo drinkers.

Los Feliz

Tiki Ti

Best for: A tiny family-run tiki bar
Address: 4427 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $$$

For a potent sip of old-school Los Angeles history, roll up to this third-generation family-run shack in Los Feliz, populated almost entirely by local regulars who’ve been loyal to the joint since it opened in 1961. There’s a mechanical toy bull that walks along the bar; the drinks are seriously strong, the local drinkers are salty – there’s no better place to come if you’ve just been dumped or fired (not that we’re speaking from experience, *cough*).

Big Bar

Best for: A beloved neighbourhood hangout
Address: 1927 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $$

This is the cocktail bar where Los Angeles’ food and drink folk come to let off steam. The patio is perennially crammed with young, urbane Los Feliz locals. It’s best to come pre-dinner or later in the night, where you can grab a seat inside while the bartenders whip up bespoke creations and set the world to rights right alongside you. Big Bar is owned by the same team as the adjacent Alcove Cafe & Bakery and there are regular themed nights and parties to look out for.

West Hollywood

The Roger Room

Best for: Low-key speakeasy
Location: 370 La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048 in West Hollywood
Price: $$$

Hidden down the side of The Largo theatre (look for the old psychic neon sign), this small, dark drinking den has long been regarded as one of LA’s best cocktail bars by dedicated mixed-drink lovers in West Hollywood. There’s no fuss, no formality and not a whiff of hipster pretension. Just a superb list of around 20 classic drinks with a clever twist, like a vanilla-lifted Spiced Mule, all served by nattily dressed bartenders in vaguely circus-themed surroundings.

The Tower Bar

Best for: Legendary Hollywood spot in in the Sunset Tower Hotel
Address: 8358 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069 
Price: $$$$

The Tower Bar pulls off the rare trick of being beloved by travellers, cherished by the local entertainment industry and absolutely revered by younger, hipper mixologists all at once. The outdoor patio offers some of the best people-watching in the city, but the serious cocktail drinkers stick to the elegant walnut-panelled interior; this is a remnant of old Hollywood that young Hollywood types are fully on board with.

Venice

Force of Nature

Best for: Female-led connection
Address: 1031 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$

Only the Wild Ones in Venice is known for its curation of natural wines and vinyl music. Head upstairs via a creaky staircase and you’ll find a new venture: Force of Nature, from restauranteur Leena Culhane. The bar is tucked into an attic-like space that opens onto a rooftop, while the menu focuses on female wine producers and makers prioritising regenerative practices. For the signature Old Fashioned, the glass is first smoked with palo santo for a smoky flavour, served with views over Venice. A long communal table fosters group conversations, and there is a regular programme of workshops and events.

Echo Park

Thunderbolt

Best for: Neighbourhood favourite with a banging playlist
Location: 1263 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 in Echo Park
Price: $$$

This world-acclaimed Echo Park bar is perfect for just about any occasion that calls for a stiff drink. From the old-school 90s hip hop soundtrack to the dimly lit leather sofas and the Southern snacks (buttermilk biscuits, burnt pork belly ends), it nails the laidback neighbourhood vibe. The bar is also known for its laudable sustainability efforts, including responsible sourcing and  community initiatives. Start with a spicy, potent tequila and tamarind concoction called La Futera to give your evening an energy boost.

Virgil Village

Real Charmer

Best for: Date night in East Hollywood’s Virgil Village
Address: 864 Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Price: $$$

Bordered by Los Feliz and Silver Lake, Virgil Avenue is a hip, tree-lined stretch dotted with bars and cafes. Amongst them is Real Charmer, a relatively new cocktail bar,  bathed in a sultry red glow. Candles and oil lamps flicker on tables, while a bubbling stone fountain adds to the mystical vibe. For a sweet kick, the High Tea highball is infused with Earl Grey and salted honey, served with a shortbread finger. Visit on Thursdays for rotating food vendors, DJs and karaoke.

Arts District

Death & Co.

Best for: An intimate date
Address: 818 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 in Arts District
Price: $$$

Los Angeles’ cocktail crowd was initially wary of this West Coast outpost by NYC-based cocktail collective Death & Co, but the upscale Arts District den swiftly won them over to become one of the city’s best cocktail bars. The space is dark, small and ambient, with a bar where you can sit and sip while you wait for your table. Try the smoky mezcal-based Year of The Trees, and don’t be shy about asking the staff to talk you through the more obscure ingredients. It’s the perfect prelude to dinner at one of the Arts District’s acclaimed restaurants.

Explore Los Angeles like a local with the Roadbook insider guide to the city. Choose from a mouthwatering array of hype-worthy restaurants or get your cultural kick from our guide to art galleries and cultural institutions.