clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

The 16 Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles, June 2023

16 Essential Beverly Hills Restaurants

The 14 Hottest Cocktail Spots in Los Angeles

More in Los Angeles See more maps

Visit The Green Fairy at 10 Places In LA With Absinthe Cocktails

Love the Bohemian lifestyle? Fancy yourself a tortured artiste? Here are 10 places to get absinthe cocktails in Los Angeles.

by Lucas Peterson
View as Map
by Lucas Peterson
cocktail week logo

"The first stage is like ordinary drinking, the second when you begin to see monstrous and cruel things, but if you can persevere you will enter in upon the third stage where you see things that you want to see, wonderful curious things." - Oscar Wilde

Ah, absinthe. That sweet, pale green alchemical marriage of wormwood, anise, and fennel. Strictly legal in this country only since 2007, this mind-bending, body-warming, heart-swelling, brain-fogging liquid was the drink of choice for many of the 19th and 20th Century's greatest men (and women, no doubt) of arts and letters: Hemingway, Van Gogh, and Picasso, just to name a few.

Perhaps its psychoactive properties have been exaggerated; maybe it won't instill its drinker with great, heretofore untapped artistic abilities. There's still nothing quite like it, however, and while straight-up absinthe is available for consumption at many LA bars these days, a slightly preferable entrée into the green palace for first-timers is with an absinthe cocktail. Here, then, are 10 ways to channel your inner Degas.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The Edison

Copy Link

Where else but The Edison? Not only do they have absinthe, but this converted 1910 power plant, LA's first, even has an "Absinthe Fairy" who walks around in costume pushing the stuff. Their "Moonlight" cocktail contains gin, pisco, Swiss Kubler absinthe, and grapefruit juice.

108 W 2nd St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
(213) 613-0000

Also featured in:

The Varnish Bar

Copy Link

The old speakeasy-style lounge in the back of Cole's has a few tricks up its sleeve, one of which is a mean absinthe cocktail called "The Sea Fizz:" Pernod Absinthe, lemon, sugar, egg white, and soda.

118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 622-9999
(213) 622-9999

Also featured in:

Pour Vous

Copy Link

What's not to like about a Parisian-style cocktail lounge and nightly burlesque dancing? The adventurous should sample their "Chateau de Cognac," a libation featuring absinthe, cognac, bitters, egg whites, and lemon.

5574 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 871-8699
(323) 871-8699

Bar Noir

Copy Link

This cute bar in the boutique Beverly Hills hotel Maison 140 is rarely overcrowded and does a daily absinthe happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Try a classic absinthe martini for an interesting twist on the classic.

140 S. Lasky Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(407) 527-5937
(407) 527-5937

The Thirsty Crow

Copy Link

You may love or hate the clientele, but this popular Silver Lake drinking hole makes a pretty good cocktail. Their "Absinthe Minded Tuesdays" features $5 absinthe cocktails. Try the "sex, drugs & romance," which contains Mata Hari absinthe, geranium liquor, strawberries, and champagne.

2939 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 661-6007
(323) 661-6007

Also featured in:

Oldfield's Liquor Room

Copy Link

Another 1933 Group mainstay, Oldfield's features a couple of excellent absinthe cocktails. Try the "Indy Stutz," which mixes absinthe with Irish whiskey, creme de cassis, lemon, strawberry, and bitters.

10899 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 842-8066
(310) 842-8066

The Roger Room

Copy Link

Come for the freaky wall decor, stay for the cocktails. Located next to the Largo, The Roger Room has a speakeasy vibe and handful of simple but well-done absinthe cocktails. Try "The Grifter," which combines Mata Hari absinthe with mint, simple syrup, and club soda.

370 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048
(310) 854-1300
(310) 854-1300

Also featured in:

Kendall's Brasserie and Bar

Copy Link

This Patina Group mainstay has always been a decent pre-show option for those going to a show at the Music Center, but they also have a fantastic "Green Hour" Tuesday-Friday during which they serve $1 oysters and a nice selection of absinthe cocktails. Their classic "Death in the Afternoon," a nod to Papa Hemingway, contains champagne and La Clandestine absinthe.

135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-7322
(213) 972-7322

Also featured in:

Faith & Flower

Copy Link

Haven't heard enough about Faith & Flower yet? Their potent "English Milk Punch" (check out our longer feature on this particular drink) combines several rums, bourbon, arak, Pernod absinthe, Sencha tea, pineapple, and milk.

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 239-0642
(213) 239-0642

Also featured in:

Seventy7

Copy Link

Absinthe is popular among the speakeasy-style establishments in the city, and Seventy7 in Culver City is no expection. Enter through the alley under the "cocktails" sign and try their "Lucidly Remembering," which combines absinthe with pomegranate liqueur, strawberry, gin, cointreau, bitters, and lemon juice.

3843 Main Street, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-7707
(310) 559-7707

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

The Edison

108 W 2nd St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Where else but The Edison? Not only do they have absinthe, but this converted 1910 power plant, LA's first, even has an "Absinthe Fairy" who walks around in costume pushing the stuff. Their "Moonlight" cocktail contains gin, pisco, Swiss Kubler absinthe, and grapefruit juice.

108 W 2nd St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
(213) 613-0000

The Varnish Bar

118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

The old speakeasy-style lounge in the back of Cole's has a few tricks up its sleeve, one of which is a mean absinthe cocktail called "The Sea Fizz:" Pernod Absinthe, lemon, sugar, egg white, and soda.

118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 622-9999
(213) 622-9999

Pour Vous

5574 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

What's not to like about a Parisian-style cocktail lounge and nightly burlesque dancing? The adventurous should sample their "Chateau de Cognac," a libation featuring absinthe, cognac, bitters, egg whites, and lemon.

5574 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 871-8699
(323) 871-8699

Bar Noir

140 S. Lasky Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212

This cute bar in the boutique Beverly Hills hotel Maison 140 is rarely overcrowded and does a daily absinthe happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Try a classic absinthe martini for an interesting twist on the classic.

140 S. Lasky Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(407) 527-5937
(407) 527-5937

The Thirsty Crow

2939 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

You may love or hate the clientele, but this popular Silver Lake drinking hole makes a pretty good cocktail. Their "Absinthe Minded Tuesdays" features $5 absinthe cocktails. Try the "sex, drugs & romance," which contains Mata Hari absinthe, geranium liquor, strawberries, and champagne.

2939 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 661-6007
(323) 661-6007

Oldfield's Liquor Room

10899 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Another 1933 Group mainstay, Oldfield's features a couple of excellent absinthe cocktails. Try the "Indy Stutz," which mixes absinthe with Irish whiskey, creme de cassis, lemon, strawberry, and bitters.

10899 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 842-8066
(310) 842-8066

The Roger Room

370 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048

Come for the freaky wall decor, stay for the cocktails. Located next to the Largo, The Roger Room has a speakeasy vibe and handful of simple but well-done absinthe cocktails. Try "The Grifter," which combines Mata Hari absinthe with mint, simple syrup, and club soda.

370 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048
(310) 854-1300
(310) 854-1300

Kendall's Brasserie and Bar

135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

This Patina Group mainstay has always been a decent pre-show option for those going to a show at the Music Center, but they also have a fantastic "Green Hour" Tuesday-Friday during which they serve $1 oysters and a nice selection of absinthe cocktails. Their classic "Death in the Afternoon," a nod to Papa Hemingway, contains champagne and La Clandestine absinthe.

135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-7322
(213) 972-7322

Faith & Flower

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Haven't heard enough about Faith & Flower yet? Their potent "English Milk Punch" (check out our longer feature on this particular drink) combines several rums, bourbon, arak, Pernod absinthe, Sencha tea, pineapple, and milk.

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 239-0642
(213) 239-0642

Seventy7

3843 Main Street, Culver City, CA 90232

Absinthe is popular among the speakeasy-style establishments in the city, and Seventy7 in Culver City is no expection. Enter through the alley under the "cocktails" sign and try their "Lucidly Remembering," which combines absinthe with pomegranate liqueur, strawberry, gin, cointreau, bitters, and lemon juice.

3843 Main Street, Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-7707
(310) 559-7707

Related Maps