19 Best Cocktail Bars In Los Angeles 

19 Best Cocktail Bars In Los Angeles

Last Updated on July 6, 2026

Here is the glassware that leading bars are reaching for right now, and why each piece earned its spot on the rail. As bars work harder to stake a claim in a crowded field and collect awards along the way, they’re also looking for more ways to show off the care they put into every detail of their concept—coupes and Collinses included. The dial is inspired by Purple Sunset, an original cocktail by creation of STAR BAR.

Once through the secret door beside the Magic Mike entrance of Leicester Square's Hippodrome Casino, a sultry, sophisticated allure takes over in a room enrobed in velvet, vintage furniture, memorabilia from the venue’s times gone by and a nostalgic soul soundtrack. It’s an elegant yet unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar.

One of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, this award-winning spot charts the country’s history and progression through cocktails that are undeniably local. The highly customisable What What goes well with gin, mezcal, or dark rum, but you can also crack open a can of beer or opt for natural wines. Design buffs will marvel at the details that embellish the space, from couches fitted with textured kimono fabric to walls and ceilings lined with Japan’s iconic ichimatsu (checkerboard) pattern. Despite exploring themes of “urban alienation”, the 25-seater space fosters intimacy and conversation as you rub elbows with the other barflies around you. Tucked behind Five Oars Coffee Roasters, Night Hawk is a tiny and consistently crowded bar known for its timeless design that pays homage to Edward Hopper’s 1942 painting Nighthawks.

Romantic restaurants in Montréal

Venice’s longtime rooftop destination at the Hotel Erwin just flipped into Kassi Club, a Greekish restaurant and bar with a creamy beige color palette that’s sure to please the Instagram crowd. The spots on this list might include a mix of newer openings and older spots with revamped menus — all provide the perfect backdrop for a great night out. Perfect for those who love to explore the unique and extraordinary, it's an ideal gift for birthdays, special occasions, or just to treat someone to a magical night out. With a variety of drinks packages and specially curated catering there’s something to suit every taste and budget. A new cocktail bar devoted to all things rum opened in Williamsburg in April.

Ingredients Being Used For This Trend

“It’s a revolutionary resource that breaks down cocktails by their ‘mother cocktail’ and guides readers on how to build unique creations from these foundational recipes. Much like great cocktail books of the 1800s and 1900s, you can juice fresh ingredients, make a relatively simple syrup and use accessible spirits and modifiers. What makes this book a great resource is that all of these cocktails do not call for proprietary ingredients. Milk & Honey, Sasha and the people who worked with him are part of the reason we are still here today talking about cocktails the way we do. “This is always at the top of my list of recs for my bar teams. I think it’s a book all bartenders should read; it’s an incredibly insightful view on not only what agave is but was one of the first books to talk about terroir’s impact on tequila.

• This Kingsland Road cocktail bar is a 1980s fever dream.
• Since then, the Heyday has become a popular hangout across the street from the Arrive Palm Springs hotel.
• A laid-back basement bar ensconced within the beloved Zedel complex.
• The cocktail has inspired many spin-offs, including the “Caipiroska”, which uses vodka instead of cachaça, or the “Caipifruta,” which incorporates various tropical fruits.

Venture past the DJ booth, and you’ll discover its not-so-secret-anymore chiller sibling, Alter Ego Cocktail Bar – where the cocktails are just as delicious and the food menu fuses Japanese and Latin flavors. The newly opened Eos & Nyx is housed in a sprawling two-story space decorated with soft beige tones, dotted with trees, and filled with natural light. Date or no date, this downtown San Jose staple has been impressing people for over a decade, whether it’s a lively Friday happy hour or a late-night Saturday hang.

Forepaugh’s Restaurant

Waitresses in Chuck Taylors navigate between μπρουσκέτεσ με προσούτο mod booths, delivering tiki-inspired concoctions that pack a punch. This retro oasis, with its pastel hues and tropical flair, feels like Don Draper's ideal vacation spot (if he ever actually took one). Descend into "Sip," a speakeasy that feels like the inner sanctum of a steampunk galleon, where candlelight dances off lacquered oak panels.

Friends of Friends

Sharing a courtyard with Quarterdeck, this spot is a pre-or post-meal must… Among the sips to savor are its Harbor Beach Margarita made with pear nectar, and the Las Olas Lush, a blend of mezcal, guava, basil, and more. This neighborhood joint landed in Tarpon River in mid-2022 and quickly became a favorite for its food trucks, long bar, and cocktails. When you’re done noshing on a pie at adjacent Pizza Craft, dip into this speakeasy for a cocktail to remember.