11. Capri Club
- Cocktail bars
- Eagle Rock
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An ultra-trendy, picturesque aperitivo bar in Eagle Rock with an extensive amaro selection and a killer Negroni.
Why we love it: The retro Italian American charm might be slightly contrived, but the atmosphere of la dolce vita is wholly genuine at Capri Club. Unlike most L.A. watering holes, this intimate bar sits at the nexus of casual, stylish and cool. Always 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. The frozen Negroni is also the best adults-only slushie in town.
Time Out tip: Be prepared to jostle for a table or even just a seat on weekend evenings, when the see-and-be-seen crowd spills out onto the sidewalk.
Address: 4604 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4–11pm; Fri 4pm–midnight; Sat 2pm–midnight; Sun 2–11pm
12. Walt’s Bar
- Beer bars
- Eagle Rock
- price 1 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? A new-school watering hole in Eagle Rock known for its affordable, craft-inclined selection of craft beer, wine and cider.
Why we love it: What happens when a dive meets pinball meets meticulous throwback touches and hot dogs to match? You get Walt’s, which serves locally made beer and cider, plus 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 I’d rather haunt for a glass of beer and a giant pretzel. Hot dogs, vegan dogs and chips are all on offer, too. The casual atmosphere translates into a locals-heavy crowd and plenty of folks with dogs—so if you want a chill place to drink and bring Fido that isn’t a rowdy, ultra-crowded brewery, Walt’s is one of the best bets in town.
Time Out tip: Stop by at 8pm 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.
Address: 4680 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–midnight; Fri, Sat noon–2am; Sun noon–midnight
13. The Let’s Go Disco & Cocktail Club
- Lounges
- Downtown Arts District
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? A groovy Arts District cocktail lounge from the team behind De La Nonna next door.
Why we love it: The nostalgia cycle has come for the ’70s—and the Let’s Go 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. On the weekends, revelers fill up the tiny dancefloor, but even more relaxed weekend evenings feel a little festive soak under all those glittering disco balls. A nightclub, this isn’t—the space is just a tad too small for that—but dangerously delicious cocktails like the Miami Vice (a strawberry piña colada daiquiri) and a hi-fi sound system make for a glamorous night out that just might make you want to get up and dance.
Time Out 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.
Address: 710 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours: Thu–Sat 5pm–1am
14. The Wolves
- Cocktail bars
- Downtown Historic Core
- price 2 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An ornate cocktail bar in Downtown’s Historic Core serving unusually delicious cocktails and one of the city’s best burgers.
Why we love it: Stepping into the Wolves 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 features a serious specialty cocktail program by bar lead Nathan McCullough, who takes a culinary approach to mixology, plus a standout bistro-style burger crafted by consulting chef Laurent Quenioux. Here, you’ll find oddly delicious drinks made with unusual ingredients: asparagus (Answered Prayers), shiitake mushrooms (Let Them Talk) and salmon skin (Skin Deep). 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.
Time Out tip: There’s a small outdoor bar upstairs for taking in a bit of fresh air, but the best seats in the house are at the main bar.
Address: 519 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours: Mon 7pm–1am; Thu 5pm–2am; Fri, Sat 5pm–2am; Sun 5pm–midnight
15. The Bamboo Club
- Cocktail bars
- Long Beach
- price 1 of 4
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? Dollar for dollar, the best tiki bar in L.A. County—and one of the most destination-worthy bars in Long Beach.
Why we love it: 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 joint 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 greater Los Angeles; most drinks run about $14 to $16, 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 Bye Bye Birdie, where a classic piña colada gets a nutty twist with vodka and macadamia liqueur. What really seals the deal is the bar’s tasty island-inspired food menu, which includes Spam musubi, adobo pork belly over rice and fried chicken topped with teriyaki sauce. Compared to Silver Lake’s ultra-crowded Tiki-Ti and the booked-out nature of the newer Lucky Tiki in West Hollywood, we’ll take a longer trip down the 405 any day.
Time Out tip: If it’s your first time here, order the Thai tea brined fried chicken sandwich, one of the Bamboo Club’s most popular items.
Address: 3522 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804
Opening hours: Mon–Wed 3–10pm; Thu 3pm–midnight; Fri 11am–2am; Sat 9am–2am; Sun 9am–10pm
16. All Season Brewing
- Breweries
- Central LA
- price 2 of 4
- 3 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An expansive, all-purpose informal Mid-Wilshire bar that’s great for large groups and pet owners.
Why we love it: Housed in the historic Firestone tire station on La Brea, All Season Brewing hits the mark in terms of ambience, convenience and quality drink offerings. 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 happy hour menu (3–7pm) that includes $6 shots, $10 margaritas and $2 off select beers. It’s the perfect centrally located spot to catch the game or meet up for a casual hang with friends.
Time Out tip: If you’re frustrated by the lack of parking (the surrounding neighborhoods are strictly permitted after 6pm), All Season Brewing offers valet after 5pm every day but Sunday.
Address: 800 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 3pm–midnight; Fri, Sat noon–2am; Sun noon–midnight
17. Death & Company
- Cocktail bars
- Downtown Arts District
- price 2 of 4
- 3 out of 5 stars
- Recommended
What is it? An underground bar in the Arts District and the L.A. outpost of a famous NYC cocktail bar known for its use of rare spirits and high-quality ingredients.
Why we love it: The chances of you, a mere mortal, walking into Death & Co without a reservation on a weekend are slim to none, but the bar still has some of the best (and most expensive!) drinks in the city. Flavor profiles and vibes divide the menu under labels like “light and playful” and “boozy and honest.” The majority of drinks run in the $24 to $26 range—just the kind of the sky-high prices you’ll have to pay for time-tested techniques and a vast array of unique, hard-to-find spirits. If you’re in search of cheaper drinks, Death & Co. offers a happy hour (Mon–Wed, Sun 6–8pm) that includes $13 cocktails and half off bar snacks like popcorn and chip-and-dip.
Time Out tip: 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.
Address: 810 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours: Mon, Tue 6pm–midnight; Wed, Thu 6pm–1am; Fri, Sat 6pm–2am; Sun 6pm–midnight
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