A true hidden gem, this upstairs dining area has been a popular West LA wine bar for years but has recently gotten a refresh from Francois Renaud and a team of industry vets. Bartender Chris Grosso, formerly of Blind Barber and Viale dei Romani, mixes new takes on classic cocktails like the Liquid Sunshine, blending rye, Cointreau, honey, and lemon.

Beverly Hills loves a ritzy new addition, and the fancy steakhouse from Mastro’s co-founders Jeff and Michael Mastro stands as a towering example of the area’s glitzy vibes. The center of the space features a half-circle bar and plenty of lounge seats that cater to the after-work and business crowd. Steak 48 mixes some of the best Old Fashioned variants in this part of 90210, perfect preambles to the parade of seafood and steaks

Featuring one of the prettiest new interior designs in Los Angeles, Juliet comes from the restaurateur behind Norah and Margot, which also offer great-looking spaces to go along with polished fare. Juliet leans more heavily into French bistro, with the cocktails following suit, like the cognac, rye, and Benedictine sipper called Mon Coeur or the Special Potion, mixing calvados, absinthe, apple, and egg white.

Expect rooftop decadence from this West Hollywood newcomer at the Mondrian, where a mostly coastal Mexican menu leads diners to lots of tequila and mezcal, a house margarita, and (in a bit of a surprise) a charred pineapple tepache, also made right on site.

Spread across two bars, this sequel from the Mírame crew plays with agave spirits like tequila, mezcal, and bacanora infusing flavors like papaya and anise-y Xtabentun liqueur that have the inventive perspective of chef Joshua Gil’s Baja-inspired menu. Former Gracias Madre bartender Max Reis shakes a mean margarita too, except it’s made with aquachile, nopales granita, and coconut.

Bar Clara not only has a stunning view atop the Hotel Per La, but its airy central bar also features an array of cocktails, from straight-up classics to new takes on popular pours. There’s also a focus on craft beer and wine, given the coming early-summer months.

Above De La Nonna sits this terrific gateway to the Italian disco clubs of the 1970s tucked into the Arts District. Previously a Japanese listening bar, the incredible sound system remains along with a colorful new decor and sprawling lounge seating arrangement. Expect tasty drinks too, such as a sesame leaf-infused gin martini or saffron soda-flavored Campari and white wine spritz.

Bartender Huy Pham worked with Steep’s owners Samuel Wang and Lydia Lin to prepare a set of tea-infused cocktails that go along with the teahouse’s creative bites. A pu’erh tequila with blackberry liqueur chrysanthemum vodka with cucumber and sesame oil make for thoughtful, lighter-spirit cocktails that feel appropriate in the relaxed setting. Think of Steep After Dark as an antidote to the loud, party-like bars in Downtown.

With relaxed thrift store vibes and a friendly neighborhood dive bar feel, this new entrant in Long Beach from two established LA bar veterans keeps things simple with approachable but well-crafted drinks and a ’70s-style menu of easy bites, from crudites to honey-drizzled flatbreads.

Pasadena’s rather fetching new bistro from seasoned fine dining chef Douglas Rankin also sports terrific cocktails in an intimate bar and lounge area featuring illuminated drapes. Drinks are slight variants or strict versions of classics, from the Chambord-tinted French 75 to a very au courant Negroni sbagliato. The brandy crusta works for those who like their cocktails spirits forward but lower on sugar.

Sporting one of the coolest spaces in the eastern SGV, 19 Town serves modern Chinese fare and baijiu cocktails to a well-heeled crowd. Bartenders work in elderflower and even plum juice, a nod to a popular Sichuan beverage that helps quell spicy flavors.