- Italian
- Beverly Hills
- price 3 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
Photograph: Courtesy Giada Paoloni
What is it? The ritzy 90210 rooftop outpost of an award-winning New York City cocktail bar with amazing drinks and sweeping views of the hills.
Why we love it: While the coastal Italian cuisine is hit-or-miss, Dante Beverly Hills serves some of the best all-around drinks in town. There are 10 different iterations of the martini (all equally great), plus Dante’s signature “fluffy” orange juice Garibaldi and a few agave-based creations unique to Los Angeles. Given the area code, drink prices are higher than average; most run in the $19 to $30 range, but the overall quality and consistency makes them well worth the price. Since opening in 2023, the hype has finally subsided to the point that it’s possible to drop in more casually for a drink, though I’d still recommend making a reservation on the weekends or to catch the sunset. Plus, the luxurious ambience and a ninth-floor vantage point make for a wonderful backdrop whenever you’re enjoying a drink. One more unique aspect of Dante for the caffeine-sensitive: It’s one of the few places in town where you can find a decaf espresso martini.
Time Out tip: Not in the mood for a whole drink? Many of Dante’s signature cocktails can be made in half-portions, including a mini version of a Bloody Maria.
Address: 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Opening hours: Mon—Sat 11am–midnight, Sun 11am–11pm
5. Everson Royce Bar
- Cocktail bars
- Downtown Arts District
- price 2 of 4
- 5 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? A relaxed indoor-outdoor cocktail bar in the Arts District serving some of the city’s tastiest, most reasonably priced cocktails.
Why we love it: 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 Ginger’s Last Kiss, which involves, you guessed it, ginger. A newly added daily $12 and under menu includes an old-fashioned, a daiquiri and ranch water.
Time Out tip: Order the single cheeseburger—it’s on our list of the best burgers in Los Angeles.
Address: 1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Opening hours: Tue–Thu 4–10pm: Fri, Sat 4pm–2am
6. Accomplice
- Cocktail bars
- Mar Vista
- price 2 of 4
- 5 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An L-shaped bar inside Mar Vista’s Little Fatty serving the Westside’s best cocktails.
Why we love it: the ever-changing cocktail menu somehow makes even the most de rigueur drinks feel exciting. During daily happy hour (5–6pm, 10–11pm), you’ll find $11 drinks, including an apple martini made with Thai basil and Granny Smith apple cordial. But Accomplice impresses us most with the regular cocktail menu, which dares to be different with savory ingredients like black vinegar brine and crispy chicken skin. The current menu features inventive, well-balanced creations like Walking in LA (which involves Hainan chicken-infused mezcal) and So Fresh & So Clean (a breezy concoction made with lavender-infused gin). These days, you can also order some of Accomplice’s most popular drinks from over the years, like the Little Ritual, which combines salted cucumber, sandalwood and citrus.
Time Out tip: Accomplice has long been one of my favorite places to grab a mocktail—so if you want a drink without the booze, head here.
Address: 3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Opening hours: Daily 5pm–midnight
7. Apothéke
- Cocktail bars
- Chinatown
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An apothecary-themed bar at the edge of Chinatown and the West Coast spinoff of New York City’s Apothéke.
Why we love it: The East Coast original first 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 includes DJ sets on the weekends. While there are no listed non-alcoholic options on the menu, the bartender is happy to create something to your liking, and a few of the house signatures can usually be made booze-free.
Time Out tip: Don’t forget to close out your tab before you leave; Apothéke will automatically add 20% gratuity to any credit card tab left at the end of the night.
Address: 1746 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Opening hours: Thu 7pm–midnight; Fri, Sat 7pm–2am; Sun 7pm–midnight
8. Big Bar
- Cocktail bars
- Los Feliz
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? A converted Craftsman bungalow in Los Feliz that’s home to one of the most creative cocktail programs in the city.
Why we love it: The boozier counterpart of Alcove, a charming neighborhood café and bakery that operates next door, Big Bar is the IRL equivalent of Cheers. The bar team whips up housemade 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 wonderful, well-heated patio. Follow Big Bar on Instagram for the bar’s latest creation; most recently, the bar team whipped up a new menu inspired by road trip destinations across California. Think an apple-infused rye cocktail (Julian), a gin-based creation flavored with tangelo shrub (Orange County) and a CBD-spiked brandy drink (Humboldt). A five-hour-long weekday happy hour (2–7pm), dubbed “Eastern Standard”, also features $10 cocktails, $8 wines by the glass and small plates under $12.
Time Out tip: If you love Bloody Marys, Big Bar is your spot—they serve a top-flight rendition of the tomato-based vodka cocktail all day, not just during brunch hours.
Address: 927 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Opening hours: Mon—Thu 9am–10pm; Fri 9am–11pm; Sat 8am–11pm; Sun 8am–10pm
9. Dan Sung Sa
- Korean
- Koreatown
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? The quintessential Koreatown drinking spot, known for its dim lighting, wood panel interiors and delicious anju, or Korean drinking snacks.
Why we love it: The food’s delicious, affordable and available until 2am, but the real reason why so many Angelenos head to Dan Sung Sa are the impeccable vibes and cheap drinks. 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. Laminated 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.
Time Out tip: Come here early if you know what’s good for you; wait times on weekends and most evenings can stretch to an hour or more. For a similar experience with little to no wait, I recommend Hanshin Pocha down the street, though the ambience there isn’t quite as fun.
Address: 3317 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Opening hours: Daily 4pm–2am
10. Melrose Umbrella Co.
- Cocktail bars
- Fairfax District
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? A Prohibition-themed cocktail bar on Melrose Avenue known for affordable, well-balanced drinks and excellent atmosphere.
Why we love it: The antique decor might seem passé by today’s standards, but the great cocktails, fairly affordable prices and date night-friendly ambience 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.
Time Out tip: 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.
Address: 7465 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Opening hours: Tue–Thu noon–midnight; Fri, Sat noon–2am; Sun noon–midnight
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