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Mama Lion, Koreatown
Mama Lion, Koreatown
Wonho Frank Lee

15 Hottest Cocktail Bars in Los Angeles, June 2017

Warm up at these cocktail bars as the weather cools down

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Mama Lion, Koreatown
| Wonho Frank Lee

As the weather cools down, there is no better way to warm back up than with a smooth libation. Luckily for the denizens of Los Angeles, the city has a wealth of outstanding cocktail bars to imbibe and entertain. And right now, there's no better time to sip on stirred, aromatic cocktails like negronis, manhattans, and old fashioneds (though honestly, those are good any time of year).

Whether you're in the mood for tiki drinks, daytime sippers, or even spiked cereal milk (or beer and wine, if that's your inclination), here now, a guide to where to drink cocktails right this moment in the City of Angels.

Removed: The Corner Door, The Edmon, Pacific Seas, Genghis Cohen, 71Above, Double Take

Added: Mama Lion, SOCA, The Slipper Clutch, Felix, Wabi Venice

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Accomplice Bar

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Status Kuo has now split into two concepts: Little Fatty, which remains in the former Kuo space, and now Accomplice, which is now overseen by Gaby Mlynarczyk. Accomplice is now a dark, modern cocktail lounge that's ideal for the rather sleepy part of Mar Vista. If you live on the Westside, this place is perfect place for you.

Here's Looking at You

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Here's Looking at You has come into its own as a cocktail den that more than stands up to the food from chef Jonathan Whitener. The restaurant's recently-launched menu is an ode to Koreatown's past, like the rum-forward Cocoanut Grove with coconut cream, lime, and curaçao.

Gwen might be one of LA's toughest tables. Luckily those unable to score a golden ticket ($190 for two) can sit on the lovely Sunset Boulevard-adjacent patio or at the bar inside to enjoy sips that come by way of bartender Mitchel Buschell.

The Venue

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This underground lair in Koreatown is the weekend (and mid-week) party vibe that the area was always looking for, with classy, sleek environs, bumpin' music, and quaffable drinks designed by journeyman Devon Espinosa. Snack on some terrific bites from Kayson Chong, and hit the karaoke rooms afterwards for late night singing.

Birds & Bees

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Barman Marcos Tello consulted on the opening menu of this subterranean hideaway, where big, classic cocktails match the 1950's 'bomb shelter chic' interior. Make sure to spring for the Pat Boone, an almond-infused rye whiskey, sherry, and absinthe mix that's period-piece perfect.

h.wood group is back with this Art Deco-inspired hangout in West Hollywood that takes over the former DBA along Santa Monica Blvd. Like most h.wood spots, expect it to be hard to get into on busy nights, so make a reservation ahead of time. The cocktail program by Matt Seigel and Adam Koral offers new takes on classics drinks. In addition to some very likely celebrity-spotting, Delilah offers live music performances regularly.

Elizabeth Daniels

Beauty & Essex

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One of the most gorgeous (and expansive) new restaurants in Los Angeles, it seems like there's as much lounge and bar space as there is dining room area for this New York City transplant. The drinks are going to veer toward the clubby and sweet, but that's honestly what most people want at places like this, right?

Verlaine

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This lovely dining room was once Dominick's, a legendary West Hollywood haunt. Now Baja California chef Diego Hernandez and the team behind Hinterland in Santa Monica have opened Verlaine. Aaron Melendrez is behind the bar here with composed, creative aperitifs like a pamplemousse creme de mezcal and Aperol drink topped with champagne. There's also a selection of pitch-perfect classic drinks composed of original recipe cocktails.

Bar Angeles

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This easy-going Silver Lake restaurants has seasonal fare and pizzas to go along with solid cocktails that'll please most palates. Try The Black Lodge, mixing bourbon, Laphroig scotch, Cynar and Montenegro for a rich sipper.

Black Rabbit Rose

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The Houston Brothers have remade the former Butchers & Barbers into a magic show and cocktail lounge (you need to buy separate tickets for the magic show). Crying Tiger, a Thai and Chinese concept from the Luv2eat Thai Bistro folks is available if you're hungry, while there's a set of magical drinks to sip on before the show begins.

Though the bar isn't very wide here, it's more than capable, with barman Brandyn Tepper at the helm. The ice is perfectly clear, the drinks are approachable and sip-worthy with Evan Funke's Italian dishes, and the vibe is ever so slightly European in a way that only Venice could pull off.

Mama Lion

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Koreatown has a sleek new cocktail lounge with barman Todd Eames overseeing the clubby sippers like the Alpine Lift, mixing gin, aperol, zirbenze, and white vermouth. The four-sided bar is the heart of the space, but be sure to order some bites by chef Michael Hung.

This swanky Valley restaurant comes from the team behind Boneyard Bistro, with an international approach to flavors. The cocktails veer heavily toward gin, which is a good thing if you love tonic. The happy hour itself has six different kinds of gin and tonic, featuring everything from Malfy gin with Fever Tree Indian tonic and shiso leaf to Mahon gin with tonic, grapefruit, and celery leaf.

The Slipper Clutch

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Simplicity is key at The Slipper Clutch, a throwback back tucked away in Downtown Los Angeles. You'll find club-style classics like vodka cranberry, bourbon and root beer, and seven & sevens as the highlights on the highball menu.

Wabi Venice

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The reformed menus at this rather gorgeous Venice mainstay gives the place a completely different feel. The food menu feels very much like the vibe-y Japanese food you'd find in West Hollywood, while the wine and cocktail offerings feel updated for 2017. Step in, hang out, drink up, and enjoy.

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Accomplice Bar

Status Kuo has now split into two concepts: Little Fatty, which remains in the former Kuo space, and now Accomplice, which is now overseen by Gaby Mlynarczyk. Accomplice is now a dark, modern cocktail lounge that's ideal for the rather sleepy part of Mar Vista. If you live on the Westside, this place is perfect place for you.

Here's Looking at You

Here's Looking at You has come into its own as a cocktail den that more than stands up to the food from chef Jonathan Whitener. The restaurant's recently-launched menu is an ode to Koreatown's past, like the rum-forward Cocoanut Grove with coconut cream, lime, and curaçao.

Gwen

Gwen might be one of LA's toughest tables. Luckily those unable to score a golden ticket ($190 for two) can sit on the lovely Sunset Boulevard-adjacent patio or at the bar inside to enjoy sips that come by way of bartender Mitchel Buschell.

The Venue

This underground lair in Koreatown is the weekend (and mid-week) party vibe that the area was always looking for, with classy, sleek environs, bumpin' music, and quaffable drinks designed by journeyman Devon Espinosa. Snack on some terrific bites from Kayson Chong, and hit the karaoke rooms afterwards for late night singing.

Birds & Bees

Barman Marcos Tello consulted on the opening menu of this subterranean hideaway, where big, classic cocktails match the 1950's 'bomb shelter chic' interior. Make sure to spring for the Pat Boone, an almond-infused rye whiskey, sherry, and absinthe mix that's period-piece perfect.

Delilah

h.wood group is back with this Art Deco-inspired hangout in West Hollywood that takes over the former DBA along Santa Monica Blvd. Like most h.wood spots, expect it to be hard to get into on busy nights, so make a reservation ahead of time. The cocktail program by Matt Seigel and Adam Koral offers new takes on classics drinks. In addition to some very likely celebrity-spotting, Delilah offers live music performances regularly.

Elizabeth Daniels

Beauty & Essex

One of the most gorgeous (and expansive) new restaurants in Los Angeles, it seems like there's as much lounge and bar space as there is dining room area for this New York City transplant. The drinks are going to veer toward the clubby and sweet, but that's honestly what most people want at places like this, right?

Verlaine

This lovely dining room was once Dominick's, a legendary West Hollywood haunt. Now Baja California chef Diego Hernandez and the team behind Hinterland in Santa Monica have opened Verlaine. Aaron Melendrez is behind the bar here with composed, creative aperitifs like a pamplemousse creme de mezcal and Aperol drink topped with champagne. There's also a selection of pitch-perfect classic drinks composed of original recipe cocktails.

Bar Angeles

This easy-going Silver Lake restaurants has seasonal fare and pizzas to go along with solid cocktails that'll please most palates. Try The Black Lodge, mixing bourbon, Laphroig scotch, Cynar and Montenegro for a rich sipper.

Black Rabbit Rose

The Houston Brothers have remade the former Butchers & Barbers into a magic show and cocktail lounge (you need to buy separate tickets for the magic show). Crying Tiger, a Thai and Chinese concept from the Luv2eat Thai Bistro folks is available if you're hungry, while there's a set of magical drinks to sip on before the show begins.

Felix

Though the bar isn't very wide here, it's more than capable, with barman Brandyn Tepper at the helm. The ice is perfectly clear, the drinks are approachable and sip-worthy with Evan Funke's Italian dishes, and the vibe is ever so slightly European in a way that only Venice could pull off.

Mama Lion

Koreatown has a sleek new cocktail lounge with barman Todd Eames overseeing the clubby sippers like the Alpine Lift, mixing gin, aperol, zirbenze, and white vermouth. The four-sided bar is the heart of the space, but be sure to order some bites by chef Michael Hung.

SOCA

This swanky Valley restaurant comes from the team behind Boneyard Bistro, with an international approach to flavors. The cocktails veer heavily toward gin, which is a good thing if you love tonic. The happy hour itself has six different kinds of gin and tonic, featuring everything from Malfy gin with Fever Tree Indian tonic and shiso leaf to Mahon gin with tonic, grapefruit, and celery leaf.

The Slipper Clutch

Simplicity is key at The Slipper Clutch, a throwback back tucked away in Downtown Los Angeles. You'll find club-style classics like vodka cranberry, bourbon and root beer, and seven & sevens as the highlights on the highball menu.

Wabi Venice

The reformed menus at this rather gorgeous Venice mainstay gives the place a completely different feel. The food menu feels very much like the vibe-y Japanese food you'd find in West Hollywood, while the wine and cocktail offerings feel updated for 2017. Step in, hang out, drink up, and enjoy.

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