You won’t need to go more than a few paces to find a drink in the 'City of Angels'. From Culver City to Highland Park there’s plenty of choice for those looking to wet their whistle.
From hole-in-the-wall speakeasies and fancy historic watering holes where cocktail making is an art, to kitschy themed bars and just a place to stop for a beer or a good coffee, here are our favourites in Los Angeles.
The Alibi Room
Alibi’s classic cocktails are served with a twist, such as the Breaking Bad, a chilli, lemon and pear concoction made with tequila and mescal. The bar also boasts more than 30 types of local and international craft beers.
The Castaway
Perched above a golf course in the Verdugo Mountains, this tropically themed bar and restaurant boasts 180-degree views that span all the way from the San Fernando Valley to the hills of Eagle Rock and Mount Washington.
Break Room 86
This bar celebrates the excess and flamboyance of the 80s. Beyond the hidden entrance at the back of the Line Hotel in Koreatown, this retro wonderland features walls of old TVs and cassette tapes, while nightly DJs mash up 80s hits.
£10
The Macallan Bar at The Montage Beverly Hills, is the place to head for single malt scotch aficionados. Also known as the £10 (Ten Pound), behind the hidden staircase lies a lap of luxury with private lounges and cosy fireplaces.
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1886 Bar at The Raymond
Located in South Pasadena, at 1886, you'll be drinking with only those who are in the know, and thanks to a repertoire of more than 600 off-menu, incredibly innovative house cocktails, there's always something new every time you return.
Townhouse at The Del Monte
Located beneath the Townhouse near the Venice Beach Pier, the Del Monte is one of LA’s most historic music venues. It operated as an actual speakeasy during the prohibition, with hidden tunnels and levies to transport the then-illegal goods.
The Edison
Enter through an alley in Downtown LA and descend the staircase into this stunning, high-volume craft cocktail bar. Located inside an old power plant, The Edison continues to be a stalwart of LA nightlife.
The Varnish
The Varnish is widely known as one of the original craft cocktail speakeasies in Los Angeles. Once you're through, you'll be treated to some of the best cocktails in the city in one of its most elegant settings with live jazz as a backdrop.
Best coffee in town
Los Angeles is now home to a small trove of artisanal roasters. For the best coffee in town, Single Origin Coffee at the Original Farmer's Market is hard to beat. Euro Caffee in Beverly Hills brews their coffee using their blend straight from Genoa, Italy.
Words: Kris Madden
