Must hit bars in Los Angeles?

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Matthew Rowley replied on 1 Dec 2008 6:59 PM

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Suggested by Matthew Rowley

Seven Grand is a grand place to visit. Invariably when I'm in town and hit it, I run into whiskey sales staff, visiting distillers, bartenders off their home turf, and others in the know. Dark, plush, a few pool tables, and juleps I'm not afraid of ordering.

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Jacob Briars replied on 21 Dec 2008 8:08 PM

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Suggested by Liberty - Bar

If you have only been in LAX then you have seen the very worst of the city, and so the only way is up!

Unlike many cities there are a few good bartenders in LA but they are very periapetic and so can be hard to follow or keep track of. You can go to a place that was staffed with passionate bartenders a few months back to find that the personnel have changed and the 'cocktail programme' - a term LA seems to love more than any other city - has collapsed and its back to Patron-pome-ritas and Jager bombs.

So these recommendations are based on my visit in July and then again in August, that's a long time in Angeleno mixology, it seems, so take it with a pinch of salt. The highest concentration of good bars is around West Hollywood and in downtown, in fact apart from a few good bars, a train station and the Disney Concert Hall there doesn't actually seem to be much else in downtown!

My faves:

Seven Grand, already recommended here, excellent if you like whiskey, even better if you like rye

Edison, downtown, amazing drinks in a fabulous room with bartenders that care almost too much

Doheny - can be hard to find and hard to get in to but a worthy addition to a night out

Jones - Santa Monica Blvd, ask for ET, a great Italian restaurant with excellent cocktails

Comme Ca - Melrose, French food, 'cocktail programme' by legendary NYC bartender Sam Ross, good ice too

Hungry Cat - Hollywood and Vine, raw/sushi bar, local and seasonal cocktails in a tiny bar

Bar Marmont - on Sunset outside the hotel, highly recommended for a great crowd and atmosphere

Fat Fish - Robertson, sushi place with a nice little bar, Josh Dov makes unique and excellent 'culinary' cocktails

I also tried a few nice drinks when I was in Culver City, try an excellent restaurant called Akasha, where all the drinks are organic and seasonal, very LA of course but still delicious.

Not quite as 'classic cocktail' but still fun, you might enjoy an early evening drink at Crown Bar in West Hollywood, Santa Monica Blvd, just along from Jones, and Bar Lubitsch, a vodka/burlesque sort of place where the music is good and the bartenders reasonably friendly. The crowd is mostly 'working on their screenplay' so if you say you are staying on the Fox lot you can probably drink for free!

Also worth a look, the actual bar at the Chateau Marmont and the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills for olde world charm, Trader Vics at the Beverly Hilton for faded tiki culture, Sky Bar at the Mondrian on a dusky evening (but the drinks are terrible, there is no denying it) and Isla on Sunset, just along from the Mondrian, for its great tequila range and fresh Mexican food.

And then if you are out late, head to Red Rock on Sunset, its a dive bar in the best sense of the word, especially if Randy or Mike are working.

You should also go to Gordon Ramsay at the London on Sunset, where Vincenzo Marinello is/was holding court, he seems to be the 'spirit guide' of LA tending and can give you great pointers on where to go and who to ask for. Or anywhere you hear the name Marcos Tello will also be a sign the drinks will be reliably excellent.

And if you are out in Silverlake way then be sure to pop into Joe Keeper's store. Bar Keeper, on West Sunset Blvd, he will have advice for you, or drop Natalie Bovis-Neilsen a line at the Liquid Muse blog.

Best wishes, and enjoy LA,

Jacob