The best bars in Los Angeles right now

A tropical escape materializes at the foot of Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach, where Tiki Kai transforms the South Bay into a slice of the Pacific islands. This vibrant tiki bar and island-inspired restaurant brings vintage Polynesian culture into sharp, modern focus — layering handcrafted cocktails, sun-soaked décor, and warm South Bay hospitality into a night out that feels more like an escape than a dinner reservation. The bar’s soul is its rum collection: an impressive array of premium spirits forms the backbone of a cocktail menu spanning timeless tiki classics and adventurous new creations, each built with fresh ingredients and a touch of mystery. Pair a mai tai with fresh seafood and savory small plates drawn from across the Pacific, and the table becomes something close to paradise. For a night that truly transports without a boarding pass, book your table at Tiki Kai and let the islands come to you.

Uptown Whittier has quietly emerged as one of the LA area’s most interesting bar corridors, and The Vandalist sits at its center. Tucked on Greenleaf Avenue within walking distance of live music venues and a buzzy strip of nightlife, this moody cocktail bar operates on a beautifully simple philosophy: keep the lights low, the music right, and the focus on outstanding drinks and outstanding people. Exposed brick, mural-style art, and soft neon lighting create an atmosphere that channels speakeasy cool without a trace of pretension — a true neighborhood local that happens to take its cocktails very seriously. The tightly curated menu rotates with the seasons, spotlighting classics executed with precision: a Kingston Negroni, a beautifully balanced Gimlet, the Sazerac, and the beloved house original Coffee and Cigarettes. Chef pop-up bar bites round out the experience considerably. 

A glowing red lantern and a neon Godzilla doorbell mark the entrance — blink and you’ll miss it. Tokyo Noir is an intimate 25-seat Japanese-inspired speakeasy tucked down a muraled alley in Long Beach, and one of the most talked-about bars in Southern California. Co-founded by restaurateur Jesse Duron and bartender Kevin Lee — the only certified Ice Master outside of Japan — the bar channels the precision and philosophy of Tokyo’s legendary cocktail culture into a California setting. Lee’s menus shift with the microseasons, and every detail is considered: hand-carved ice imported from Kanazawa, house-made bitters and vermouths, and techniques like cocktail throwing all speak to a level of craft that is rare anywhere. Standout drinks include the Hibiki old fashioned — served on a flawlessly carved ice ball — and the Dirty Soba, poured ceremonially into a miso bowl with freshly grated daikon. For a drinking experience unlike anything else in the LA bar scene, follow the lantern and make your reservation.

“Hollywood’s living room” takes on a new energy when match day arrives. The Penalty Box is the seasonal transformation of The Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills — an elevated match-day experience that brings the thrill of the game into one of the city’s most sophisticated hotel bar settings. Throughout the summer, this storied lounge becomes a lively gathering place anchored by curated cocktails, refined game-day dining, and the unmistakable service that only a Four Seasons property delivers. Expect plush seating, polished décor, and bespoke cocktails crafted to complement the on-screen action, with a menu sharp enough to stand entirely on its own. Whether you’re a devoted football fan or simply in search of the best hotel bar in Beverly Hills, The Penalty Box is as stylish as it is spirited. 

Tucked inside the landmark Castaway restaurant in Burbank, this lush, high-style cocktail lounge was inspired by the backstage sanctuaries of Hollywood’s elite — and the atmosphere makes that influence immediately clear. The Green Room wraps guests in immersive décor, sweeping views across the Los Angeles basin, and a tableside mixology experience that makes every drink feel like a small, considered performance. The team treats every guest like a star: top-shelf spirits are presented with theatrical flair, and the cocktail programme is built around technique and showmanship in equal measure. Elevated, intimate, and effortlessly glamorous, this is one of LA’s premier cocktail destinations — a bar that turns a night out in Burbank into a full-scale event. It’s a natural choice for a date night, a special occasion, or any evening that calls for something a cut above the ordinary.

High above Downtown Los Angeles, on the rooftop pool deck of the Freehand Hotel, Broken Shaker offers a welcome escape from the city below — an urban oasis that brings the flavors of the beach to the very heart of the grid. This nationally celebrated cocktail bar is a James Beard Award finalist and winner of Tales of the Cocktail’s Best American Hotel Bar award, and the drink menu more than justifies the reputation. Bartenders work with homemade elixirs and exotic ingredients to produce an eclectic lineup of handcrafted cocktails that is inventive without ever feeling overwrought — approachable in style, ambitious in execution. Small bites round out the offering, making it easy to linger over a long session or settle in for sunset drinks with the city spread out below. As rooftop bars in Los Angeles go, very few match this. Book your spot at Broken Shaker and let Downtown come alive from above.

The back patio alone is worth the trip. Christened the “hanging gardens of West Hollywood,” the open-air terrace at Tom Tom — co-founded by Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Lisa Vanderpump, and Ken Todd — offers fireplace seating and a rustic outdoor atmosphere that makes West Hollywood nightlife feel effortless. Inside, the room moves from intimate lounge seating to a disco-ball-lit party space, wrapped in a design that blends rustic Victorian with industrial romance: crystal chandeliers suspended by chains, a grand central bar, and jewel-toned cocktails served in cut-crystal glassware. Sandoval personally developed the cocktail programme, which includes the Pumptini, the Jalapeño Business, and the Clockwork Pink — each executed with serious precision. West Hollywood nightlife at its most maximalist, most photogenic, and most memorable.

After more than 30 years as a Manhattan Beach institution, brewco social has been reimagined for a new era — and the result is one of the South Bay’s most compelling evenings out. Community-forward and South Bay-inspired, this social hub sits steps from the ocean, drawing on local produce and a commitment to seasonality that runs through both the food and drinks menus. The craft beer selection is a standout: an encyclopedic lineup of local and regional brews — from South Bay favourites like Hermosa Brewing and Buzzrock Brewing — shares the menu with a California-leaning cocktail list, from a Blood Orange Gin Sparkler to a Picante margarita built on jalapeño tequila and coconut water. Interior trees, natural stone, brass accents, and tiled touches give the space a coastal intimacy that makes it easy to stay longer than planned. 

Set inside a stunning historic landmark at the edge of Downtown Los Angeles, Redbird has become one of DTLA’s most essential addresses — a destination that earns its reputation through great food, exceptional drinks, and a warmth of hospitality that is rare at this level. Named to the 2026 MICHELIN Guide, the restaurant and lounge is helmed by chef Neal Fraser alongside James Beard Award Finalist and beverage director Tobin Shea, whose bar programme features craft cocktails and an elevated nonalcoholic drinks list that treats both with equal seriousness. The lounge extends the dining experience deep into the evening: fine wines, precise cocktails, and an iconic setting that draws locals and destination diners alike. Cocktail classes with Shea are available for those who want to go deeper. Whether it’s a drink at the bar or a full evening of bold, modern cooking, Redbird welcomes everyone like an old friend. Make your reservation and discover why this MICHELIN-recognized Downtown LA bar earns every accolade it receives.