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A margarita on a wooden surface at Madre.
A margarita at Madre.
Madre

For Seriously Creative Cocktails, Sidle Up to the Bar at These 14 LA Restaurants

Where stellar drinks and solid cooking go hand-in-hand

by Caroline Pardilla Updated
View as Map
A margarita at Madre.
| Madre
by Caroline Pardilla Updated

A few decades ago, restaurants were more concerned about building their wine programs than their bar programs. Back then, mixed drinks were an afterthought to be enjoyed before or after a meal. But over time, cocktails began to rise to the same lofty status as wine at restaurants. Today, bar directors create provocative drinks to complement the cuisines, and restaurants are judged for their cocktail programs.

Although there are plenty of LA restaurants with quality cocktails, the following, which have all been around for at least a year, are the standouts that go outside the box with creative culinary cocktails and highly curated spirits selections. Sidle up to the bar at these 14 restaurants for balanced cocktails infused with creativity and imagination.

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Accomplice Bar

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Barman Ramsey Musk (formerly of Causita) took over the program earlier this year, bringing his cutting-edge culinary cocktails to the bar attached to chef David Kuo’s Little Fatty. Expect sophisticated and inventive takes on cocktails such as the Grasshopper, made with cacao-infused rum, genepy, madrecuishe, creme de menthe, and a chapulín garnish. And don’t skip out on his Miami Vice punch, made with clarified pina colada and strawberry daiquiri dust.

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 574-7610
(310) 574-7610

Also featured in:

Manzke and Bicyclette

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Chef Walter Manzke’s two restaurants demonstrate exactly what bar director Shawn Lickliter can do with a bar program. At Bicyclette, he fills a cocktail book, not menu, with pages and pages of drink options, including aperitifs, Collins, sours, spirit-forward cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks. Upstairs at Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurant Manzke, which also won the Michelin California Guide’s Exceptional Cocktails award, cocktails are made with vintage spirits and range from $25 to $65, and one- to two-ounce pours can be for $15 to $400, depending on the bottle.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
(424) 500-9575
(424) 500-9575

Also featured in:

Madre

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This Mexican restaurant (with locations in Torrance, Palms, and West Hollywood) is a must-visit spot for both mezcal lovers and the mezcal-curious. Dive into its impressive inventory of 500 mezcal bottles, said to be the largest in the country and featuring private selections that can’t be found anywhere else in the U.S. Explore options as a flight, either from themed groupings or chosen from 15 states across Mexico. Owner and mezcal expert Ivan Vasquez has made it his mission to educate all about the spirit: its history, where it comes from, how it’s made, and how to drink it. There are a few well-crafted tequila and mezcal cocktails, including a mezcal margarita and a paloma spritz. But it’s really all about the mezcal.

801 N Fairfax Ave #101, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 850-8518
(323) 850-8518
A margarita on a wooden surface at Madre.
A margarita at Madre.
Madre

Also featured in:

Fanny's

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The elegant restaurant at the Academy Museum doesn’t just feature cocktails named after movies. That would be too easy. Instead, bar director Marisa Mercado goes so far as to consider what the movie would look and taste like in cocktail form. Think: the Everything Everywhere All at Once Negroni served with a bagel chip, and the Elvis peanut butter and banana Old Fashioned.

6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 930-3080
(323) 930-3080

Also featured in:

République

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The cocktails at chef Walter Manzke’s Mid-City restaurant in the historic building by Charlie Chaplin are constantly changing to keep up with the influx of fresh ingredients steadily coming into the kitchen. Bar director Shawn Lickliter and team use the ripest seasonal fruit for their creations. But the most special drinks can be found off the menu, such as the restaurant’s private barrel spirits, as well as the vintage spirits that are served at Manzke but stored here.

624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(310) 362-6115
(310) 362-6115

Also featured in:

n/soto

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For intriguing, well-crafted cocktails that showcase Japanese flavors, grab a reservation at the casual Mid-City izakaya spot by chefs and owners Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama. Enjoy their take on the Kir Royale — sesame and barley shochu, toasted rice, yellow Chartreuse, and sparkling sake — with an order of deep-fried maitake mushrooms. And finish off the night with Let’s Go Unmei, a mix of Oishii strawberry ice, gin, amari, and hojicha.

4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 879-9455
(323) 879-9455

Providence

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Quietly one of the originators of great cocktails in LA, Providence continues to make top-notch drinks in a small bar just to the right of the entrance that works as a waiting room before people enjoy their tasting menus. Or the move can be to just pop in and have a crafted cocktail at a classy establishment. —Matthew Kang

5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 460-4170
(323) 460-4170
Dining area in Providence.
Providence.
Daniel Collopy

Also featured in:

Here's Looking At You

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Ever since this beloved Koreatown restaurant opened in 2016 (and reopened in 2022), its cocktail program proved as high-quality and tantalizing as its food. Updated seasonally, the menus are built around themes, such as Gen Z-speak and origin stories. Expect mind-blowing cocktails by bar director Danny Rubenstein and team, such as a Tom Kah-inspired cocktail made with Fresno chile-infused gin, tequila, coconut, lime, and fresh herbs.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 568-3289
(213) 568-3289

Also featured in:

Bar Moruno

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At Spanish restaurant Bar Moruno, bar director Dave Kupchinsky (Eveleigh) is serving up imaginative cocktails, like a salmon-infused gin martini or the jamón Iberico-washed Old Fashioned, to go along with the Iberian cuisine. Ginthusiasts will want to dive into the extensive gin list with about 75-plus bottles from all over the world as well as try the variety of gin tonics.

3705 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 546-0505
(323) 546-0505
Salmon martini on a table at Bar Moruno.
Salmon martini at Bar Moruno.
Anne Fishbein

Also featured in:

All Day Baby

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For something fun and day-friendly, chef and owner Jonathan Whitener’s Silver Lake eatery offers everything to excite the whimsical 20-something inside. Try a creamy Ramos Gin Fizz shake, a Negroni float, or any of bar manager Jorge Figueroa’s creations such as the boozy milkshake take on the Pornstar martini. Amazingly, the restaurant still offers cocktails to-go when ordered with food.

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 741-0082
(323) 741-0082

Also featured in:

Asterid by Ray Garcia

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One shouldn’t wait for a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to stop by chef Ray Garcia’s restaurant, which is tucked under the landmark structure. Stop in for one of the best happy hours in town with $10 craft cocktails or for a nightcap of martinis, including a nonalcoholic one. But beverage director Chris Chernock’s cocktails are a must-try, featuring ingredients borrowed from the kitchen to create provocative flavor combinations. Case in point: His mezcal & rice cocktail is made with a pomegranate-cacao vermouth, while his mole milk punch features green tea, mole, and Oaxacan chocolate.

141 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3535
(213) 972-3535

Also featured in:

Redbird

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With a solid cocktail program built by Tobin Shea, Redbird is one of the classiest places to enjoy a beverage in Downtown. The elegant fare by Neal Fraser certainly pairs well with the drinks.

114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 788-1191
(213) 788-1191

Kato

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This Michelin Exceptional Cocktails award-winning program by bar director Austin Hennelly isn’t the best in town merely for its next-level cocktails (like that lychee martini served on shaved ice with almond jelly) but also for its thoughtful nonalcoholic options, which include zero-proof wine, beer, and flights. For the tableside Old Fashioned, staff will wheel over its custom-built bar cart to dinner guests, offering a choice of three cask-finished Kavalan whiskies that are then stirred with Taiwanese black sugar and bitters, and chilled with hand-carved ice.

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 797-5770
(213) 797-5770
Milk punch with cognac, bourbon, and rum at Kato.
Milk punch with cognac, bourbon, and rum at Kato.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Otoño

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There’s no shortage of compelling drink options to enjoy alongside chef-owner Teresa Montaño’s Spanish dishes. Beverage director Patrick Connolly and bar manager Tad Tobey create unique flavor combinations in their house cocktails, such as the Mush Ado About Nothing cocktail made with mushroom gin, Strega, amontillado sherry, black garlic, nori, and salt. The martinis are also not to be missed. The vermouth is infused with brine and sardines, imparting a subtle savoriness while allowing the gin to shine.

5715 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 474-6624
(323) 474-6624

Also featured in:

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Accomplice Bar

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Barman Ramsey Musk (formerly of Causita) took over the program earlier this year, bringing his cutting-edge culinary cocktails to the bar attached to chef David Kuo’s Little Fatty. Expect sophisticated and inventive takes on cocktails such as the Grasshopper, made with cacao-infused rum, genepy, madrecuishe, creme de menthe, and a chapulín garnish. And don’t skip out on his Miami Vice punch, made with clarified pina colada and strawberry daiquiri dust.

3811 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 574-7610
(310) 574-7610

Manzke and Bicyclette

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Chef Walter Manzke’s two restaurants demonstrate exactly what bar director Shawn Lickliter can do with a bar program. At Bicyclette, he fills a cocktail book, not menu, with pages and pages of drink options, including aperitifs, Collins, sours, spirit-forward cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks. Upstairs at Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurant Manzke, which also won the Michelin California Guide’s Exceptional Cocktails award, cocktails are made with vintage spirits and range from $25 to $65, and one- to two-ounce pours can be for $15 to $400, depending on the bottle.

9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
(424) 500-9575
(424) 500-9575

Madre

801 N Fairfax Ave #101, Los Angeles, CA 90046

This Mexican restaurant (with locations in Torrance, Palms, and West Hollywood) is a must-visit spot for both mezcal lovers and the mezcal-curious. Dive into its impressive inventory of 500 mezcal bottles, said to be the largest in the country and featuring private selections that can’t be found anywhere else in the U.S. Explore options as a flight, either from themed groupings or chosen from 15 states across Mexico. Owner and mezcal expert Ivan Vasquez has made it his mission to educate all about the spirit: its history, where it comes from, how it’s made, and how to drink it. There are a few well-crafted tequila and mezcal cocktails, including a mezcal margarita and a paloma spritz. But it’s really all about the mezcal.

801 N Fairfax Ave #101, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 850-8518
(323) 850-8518
A margarita on a wooden surface at Madre.
A margarita at Madre.
Madre

Fanny's

6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The elegant restaurant at the Academy Museum doesn’t just feature cocktails named after movies. That would be too easy. Instead, bar director Marisa Mercado goes so far as to consider what the movie would look and taste like in cocktail form. Think: the Everything Everywhere All at Once Negroni served with a bagel chip, and the Elvis peanut butter and banana Old Fashioned.

6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 930-3080
(323) 930-3080

République

624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The cocktails at chef Walter Manzke’s Mid-City restaurant in the historic building by Charlie Chaplin are constantly changing to keep up with the influx of fresh ingredients steadily coming into the kitchen. Bar director Shawn Lickliter and team use the ripest seasonal fruit for their creations. But the most special drinks can be found off the menu, such as the restaurant’s private barrel spirits, as well as the vintage spirits that are served at Manzke but stored here.

624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(310) 362-6115
(310) 362-6115

n/soto

4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

For intriguing, well-crafted cocktails that showcase Japanese flavors, grab a reservation at the casual Mid-City izakaya spot by chefs and owners Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama. Enjoy their take on the Kir Royale — sesame and barley shochu, toasted rice, yellow Chartreuse, and sparkling sake — with an order of deep-fried maitake mushrooms. And finish off the night with Let’s Go Unmei, a mix of Oishii strawberry ice, gin, amari, and hojicha.

4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(323) 879-9455
(323) 879-9455

Providence

5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Quietly one of the originators of great cocktails in LA, Providence continues to make top-notch drinks in a small bar just to the right of the entrance that works as a waiting room before people enjoy their tasting menus. Or the move can be to just pop in and have a crafted cocktail at a classy establishment. —Matthew Kang

5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 460-4170
(323) 460-4170
Dining area in Providence.
Providence.
Daniel Collopy

Here's Looking At You

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Ever since this beloved Koreatown restaurant opened in 2016 (and reopened in 2022), its cocktail program proved as high-quality and tantalizing as its food. Updated seasonally, the menus are built around themes, such as Gen Z-speak and origin stories. Expect mind-blowing cocktails by bar director Danny Rubenstein and team, such as a Tom Kah-inspired cocktail made with Fresno chile-infused gin, tequila, coconut, lime, and fresh herbs.

3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 568-3289
(213) 568-3289

Bar Moruno

3705 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

At Spanish restaurant Bar Moruno, bar director Dave Kupchinsky (Eveleigh) is serving up imaginative cocktails, like a salmon-infused gin martini or the jamón Iberico-washed Old Fashioned, to go along with the Iberian cuisine. Ginthusiasts will want to dive into the extensive gin list with about 75-plus bottles from all over the world as well as try the variety of gin tonics.

3705 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 546-0505
(323) 546-0505
Salmon martini on a table at Bar Moruno.
Salmon martini at Bar Moruno.
Anne Fishbein

All Day Baby

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

For something fun and day-friendly, chef and owner Jonathan Whitener’s Silver Lake eatery offers everything to excite the whimsical 20-something inside. Try a creamy Ramos Gin Fizz shake, a Negroni float, or any of bar manager Jorge Figueroa’s creations such as the boozy milkshake take on the Pornstar martini. Amazingly, the restaurant still offers cocktails to-go when ordered with food.

3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 741-0082
(323) 741-0082

Asterid by Ray Garcia

141 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

One shouldn’t wait for a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to stop by chef Ray Garcia’s restaurant, which is tucked under the landmark structure. Stop in for one of the best happy hours in town with $10 craft cocktails or for a nightcap of martinis, including a nonalcoholic one. But beverage director Chris Chernock’s cocktails are a must-try, featuring ingredients borrowed from the kitchen to create provocative flavor combinations. Case in point: His mezcal & rice cocktail is made with a pomegranate-cacao vermouth, while his mole milk punch features green tea, mole, and Oaxacan chocolate.

141 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3535
(213) 972-3535

Redbird

114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

With a solid cocktail program built by Tobin Shea, Redbird is one of the classiest places to enjoy a beverage in Downtown. The elegant fare by Neal Fraser certainly pairs well with the drinks.

114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 788-1191
(213) 788-1191

Kato

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021

This Michelin Exceptional Cocktails award-winning program by bar director Austin Hennelly isn’t the best in town merely for its next-level cocktails (like that lychee martini served on shaved ice with almond jelly) but also for its thoughtful nonalcoholic options, which include zero-proof wine, beer, and flights. For the tableside Old Fashioned, staff will wheel over its custom-built bar cart to dinner guests, offering a choice of three cask-finished Kavalan whiskies that are then stirred with Taiwanese black sugar and bitters, and chilled with hand-carved ice.

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 797-5770
(213) 797-5770
Milk punch with cognac, bourbon, and rum at Kato.
Milk punch with cognac, bourbon, and rum at Kato.
Wonho Frank Lee

Otoño

5715 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

There’s no shortage of compelling drink options to enjoy alongside chef-owner Teresa Montaño’s Spanish dishes. Beverage director Patrick Connolly and bar manager Tad Tobey create unique flavor combinations in their house cocktails, such as the Mush Ado About Nothing cocktail made with mushroom gin, Strega, amontillado sherry, black garlic, nori, and salt. The martinis are also not to be missed. The vermouth is infused with brine and sardines, imparting a subtle savoriness while allowing the gin to shine.

5715 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 474-6624
(323) 474-6624

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