The 18 best bars in Los Angeles

We expected great bar bites—after all, the food menu's brought to us by the team at the Park's Finest next door—but Thunderbolt more than delivers on cocktails, too. An ample madeira collection and playful concoctions such as the clarified take on a piña colada (Tropipop) put fruit and Southern flavor at the forefront, and they just so happen to pair perfectly with plates of country ham and their luscious fried green tomato sandwiches. But the bar team isn't just about the South; Thunderbolt also pays homage to Historic Filipinotown with sleek, creative and so-good-you-can't-put-them-down options like the P-Town Boxing Club, made with pandan and coconut-washed rye. Recently, Thunderbolt has overhauled its cocktail menu, adding slates dedicated to savory creations and texture-forward drinks like the Koji Killer: "a frozen painkiller with an umami punch." Throw in a lively front patio, comfy leather sofas and top-notch playlists, and it's no surprise we tend to stay all night. Outdoor patio available.

This breezy spot with one of our favorite patios is a wine bar, yes, but it's also a hub for some of L.A.'s best food pop-ups, an occasional DJ and event space, and perhaps, above all, a nexus for wine-and-food loving aesthetes from all over the city. Some nights, it's a full-on scene, but the egalitarian ethos and excellent wines keep conversation flowing and vibes generally good. As of last fall, Tuesday evenings have become "Tuesgays," which will feature a rotating line-up of queer musicians, DJs and chefs, and Metzli Taqueria has begun a long-term culinary residency, though other chefs will still pop up from time to time. With a rotating menu full of small-producer and organic wines, it's also one of the best ways to taste your way through some of L.A.'s best new culinary concepts. Depending on the night, the crowds can get kind of hectic, so plan accordingly (Melody only takes walk-ins). Heated outdoor patio available.

If the name looks familiar, the extremely stylish apothecary-themed bar at the edge of Chinatown's warehouse district is the sibling to New York City's Apothéke, which racked up acclaim through detail-driven, botanical-toned drinks in a dimly-lit setting. Here in L.A., the vibe, atmosphere and menu are all similar, with a few unique drinks for good measure. True to the apothecary theme, cocktails are paired off into cures for what ails ya: stress relievers, stimulants, pain killers, euphorics and more, and they might include produce, tinctures or bitters such as cantaloupe, bee pollen, bell pepper, sage, coconut charcoal, or a honeyed chamomile cordial. Don't miss out on the side patio—one of the cutest in the city—nor the live programming, which has included bands, DJ sets and burlesque. Heated outdoor patio available.

This charming spot is the Los Feliz equivalent of Cheers, where everybody knows your name, but it gets even better: This repurposed Craftsman home also sports a café, a bakery and one of the best patios in the city. The bar team whips up house-made syrups, oft-rotating concoctions and one of the most cheeky, fun-loving menus in L.A. Puns, drink accessories and non-alcoholic cocktails abound, but don’t think they can’t do classics; the martinis, margs and spritzes here are some of the best in town—and all the better on that gorgeous patio. Heated outdoor patio available.

The best place to flick soju bottle caps and chat over anju (Korean bar bites) with friends in L.A., Dan Sung Sa is a quintessential Koreatown drinking spot with wood panel interiors, dim lighting and no-nonsense service. Stepping through its doors can make you feel like you've been transported back to a late-20th-century Seoul pojangmacha—according to Eater, owner Caroline Cho constructed the bar based on her own memories of South Korea's tented street pubs when she first opened it in 1997. Wooden block menus present an array of over 90 food items, all of which are meant to be eaten alongside bottles of sake, fruit and yogurt-flavored soju, baekseju (an herb-infused rice wine) and makgeolli, a lightly sparkling, off-white rice wine that manages to read on the palate as sweet, tangy and bitter all at once. Pro tip: Order the corn cheese.

You see it on the coasters, you see it atop the foam on your drink: "YES." It’s the unofficial ethos of Jared Meisler and Sean MacPherson's high-minded cocktail bar, where it's best to just go with the flow because everything off that order-by-the-spirit menu is going to be good. But first, you have to find it: Look for the neon "PSYCHIC" sign on La Cienega, then enter through a curtain to find a handful of seasonal cocktails in addition to classics-leaning drinks split into categories of sparkling, rum, tequila, whiskey, gin, vodka and even absinthe. The place fills up fast, so stop by early or late. The lights are low and the drinks are spot-on, making it a perfect place to bring a date—or go solo and bring yourself on one. Outdoor patio available.

You enter beneath the neon sign hanging over the door—it just reads "BAR," you can’t miss it—and the second you're in, you'll probably agree with the second neon you see: "My, that's better." Stepping into Everson Royce Bar is like heaving a sigh of relief, a boozy boon to the Arts District that feels part elegant cocktail den, part raucous patio party. No matter which experience you choose (based on where you choose to sit), you’ll be ordering some of L.A.'s best cocktails. They come inspired by Los Angeles and seasonal produce—we recommend the long-time favorite Yo LA Tengo, which comes packed with mezcal, grapefruit, Aperol, ginger and lime, or the You'll Rhubarb the Day, which involves, you guessed it, rhubarb—and the food follows suit. Don't skip the bar bites, which include some of the most flaky biscuits and one of the best burgers in town. Head here on Tuesdays for ERB's Taquito and Taco Tuesday menu, which now includes craveworthy crunchy tacos. Heated outdoor patio available.

A Prohibition-themed cocktail bar might seem passé by today’s standards, but the well-balanced drinks, transportive (and friendly) atmosphere and antique decor have helped make Melrose Umbrella Co. a reliable mainstay within L.A.’s generally fickle bar and nightlife scene. Since 2013, this dimly lit Melrose Avenue watering hole has kept the good times coming with a fleet of reasonably priced cocktails broken into five sections: “bright & refreshing,” “greatest hits,” “from the tropics” (tiki-inspired) and “spirit-forward,” plus four distinctive house takes on the Old Fashioned. For a big night out with friends, there’s a surprisingly drinkable scorpion bowl—the best we’ve ever tasted. An extensive food menu caters to those feeling peckish, while the string-lit heated patio at the back offers a cozy fireplace and couches to linger on. If you’re in search of a more westward hangout, owners Austin Melrose and Zach Patterson also run the Corner Door in Culver City, which offers the same delicious cocktails in a more casual Westside atmosphere. Outdoor patio available.

Inside Mar Vista’s Little Fatty, you’ll find David Kuo’s Taiwanese soul food, plus an L-shaped bar with an ever-changing cocktail menu that somehow makes the most de rigueur drinks feel exciting. In the care of beverage director Ramsey Musk—recently named one of Punch’s Best New Bartenders—the menu’s been given a distinctive refresh that’s put Accomplice back on our radar the next time we’re looking to grab a drink on the Westside. During daily happy hour (5–6pm, 10–11pm), you’ll find $10 versions of “trashy ’90s drinks done right,” like an apple martini made with pear eau de vie and clarified Granny Smith cordial. But Musk impresses us most with his regular cocktail menu, which dares to be different with savory ingredients like scallion-black pepper oil and truffle honey. The current theme is “A Moment in Time,” which features inventive, well-balanced creations like Mornings at Sapp (a rye-based drink involving Thai tea and yellow curry) and Runyon Canyon, 2018 (mezcal and sotol flavored with chipotle honey) that draw inspiration from the veteran bartender’s cherished memories. Outdoor seating available.

Non-alcoholic cocktails available. The retro Italian charm might be slightly contrived, but the atmosphere of la dolce vita is wholly genuine at Capri Club, a picturesque new bar in Eagle Rock. Unlike most L.A. watering holes, the bar sits at the nexus of casual, stylish and cool. Already packed nightly with well-dressed patrons sipping away on aperol spritzes, frozen drinks and all the manner of wine and cocktails, the indoor-outdoor watering hole is currently one of the most fun places to go out in Los Angeles—if your idea of fun happens to be spending a laid-back afternoon or evening with a date or a few friends sipping on drinks, snacking on tasty, reasonably priced Italian bar bites and enjoying life to the fullest. Their rotating frozen negroni is also the best adults-only slushie in town. Outdoor seating available. 

What happens when a dive meets pinball meets meticulous throwback touches and a great craft-drink list to match? You get Walt's Bar, a new school Eagle Rock watering hole serving local beer and cider, natural wine and eternal classics like cans of ice-cold Hamm's. The mood is casual and the vibe is immaculate, and there's almost nowhere in Northeast Los Angeles we'd rather haunt. Giant pretzels, hot dogs, vegan dogs and chips are all on offer, too, with appearances by Café Wednesday and other pop-ups for more gourmet bites. Stop by at 8pm on on Wednesdays for $5 tournament nights—and don’t forget to bring some cash; while there’s a change machine, it only takes $1s and $5s. Outdoor patio available.

It’s easy to get caught up in the mayhem of Hollywood Boulevard. But if you dodge the multiple Spider-Men posing for pics outside of the Chinese Theatre and instead head inside the Hollywood Roosevelt, you'll be rewarded with spirits so startlingly refined, an indoor bowling alley and a vibe that’s so Old Hollywood, it's as though you’ve traveled back in time. That’s not to say that the Spare Room isn't modern: The cocktail bar’s drinks scream "fun" with modern flair. The bar team works magic into flamboyant concoctions and understated classics alike; unwavering since its 2011 launch, the Spare Room is undeniably one of the top bars in the city—or anywhere, really.

The crown jewel of Culver City's long-awaited food hall, Bar Bohemien is probably the most low-key rooftop bar in the city. This can partially be attributed to its small size, as well as to the byzantine downtown Culver City streets (courtesy of confusing bus-only lanes), but for those who find their way up Citizen Public Market's winding stairs, this intimate, mostly outdoor watering hole provides everyday good vibes and even better cocktails. With a bush-lined patio that's beautiful at sunset, it's the perfect spot to meet up with a date or a group of old friends. Cheekily named cocktails rise above standard rooftop drinks with combinations like the From L.A. with Love, which combines tequila, passion fruit, amaro, lime and grapefruit with a splash of prosecco. Heated outdoor patio available.

The nostalgia cycle has come for the ’70s—and this Arts District cocktail lounge from the team behind De La Nonna is right on the money with tasty, deftly made house drinks and DJs spinning a groove-worthy mix that might bounce from lo-fi hip-hop to Italo disco hits as the night goes on. Since opening last year, Angelenos have embraced the nationwide disco aperitivo trend wholeheartedly at the Let’s Go, where people fill up the tiny dancefloor on weekends to soak up the party-hearty atmosphere under glittering disco balls. A nightclub, this isn’t—the space is just a tad too small for that—but dangerously delicious cocktails like the Donna Summer Dress and a hi-fi sound system make for a glamorous night out that just might make you want to get up and dance. Tip: For a more relaxed vibe, arrive early on a weekday—the Let’s Go opens up at 5pm, and offers $12 happy hour cocktails until 8pm. 

Stepping into this ornate Downtown cocktail bar is like a trip to the early 20th century. Antique lamps, sconces and art dot the space, while an old train station’s stained glass arches make up the awe-inspiring ceiling. In its post-lockdown era, the Wolves now also features a serious specialty cocktail program by bar lead Nathan McCullough, who takes a culinary approach to mixology. Here, you'll find oddly delicious drinks made with unusual ingredients: haricot verts (Prey for Us), shiitake mushrooms (Let Them Talk) and cream cheese (Millions of Peaches). For the novelty-inclined, there's a weekly farm-to-glass cocktail special, where McCullough uses a different ingredient from the farmers' market to create an entirely different cocktail. Small upstairs patio available. 

The city of L.A. has its fair share of tiki bars, but it doesn't have anything as downright chill as this prime tiki destination down in Long Beach. Home to killer tropical cocktails and vinyl nights, the Bamboo Club serves up some of the most affordable tiki concoctions in L.A. County; most drinks run about $14, and man, are they strong. There are tiki classics, rum-free creations and a section of the menu devoted to coconut, which includes our favorite Bamboo Club drink: the Piña Verde, where a classic piña colada gets an upgrade from green chartreuse. Compared to Silver Lake's ultra-crowded Tiki-Ti or the general unreliability of whether Pacific Seas is actually open inside Clifton's, we'd take a longer trip down the 405 any day. Outdoor patio available.

Housed in the historic Firestone tire station on La Brea, All Season Brewing is the expansive, all-purpose informal Mid-Wilshire bar that the city has been waiting for. Beer lovers flock here for All Season's extensive list of brews, which runs heavy on IPAs and lagers, but those who'd rather sip on something fruity will be more than sated by their tropical-leaning cocktails on tap, including a delicious mezcal paloma. A menu of draft wines and classic cocktails, delicious snacks from Chicas Tacos, arcade games and Skee-Ball round out a night at the expansive open-air brewery, which also has an excellent weekday $1 discounts on shots and $2 to $3 off on select beers. It’s the perfect spot for watching sports, casual hangs and large groups.
Outdoor patio available.

The chances of you, a mere mortal, walking into this underground Arts District cocktail bar without a reservation are slim to none, but the L.A. outpost of this famous New York cocktail bar still has some of the best (and most expensive!) drinks in the city. Flavor profiles and vibes divide the menu under labels like such "light and playful" and "boozy and honest." The majority of drinks run in the $24 to $26 range—the sky-high prices you’ll have to pay for time-tested techniques and a vast array of unique, hard-to-find spirits. At the separate Standing Room concept, which does take walk-ins, you'll find slightly cheaper, just-as-excellent drinks. In both spaces, a slightly damp, "old building" smell hangs in the air, and anyone who's closed their tab at Death & Co proper will definitely feel pressured by staff to leave.