I have hit most of the obvious rooftop spots and lately I am craving something with a little more mystery. A real cocktail bar, dim lights, someone behind the bar who actually knows what they are doing.
Bonus if it is tucked away and takes a little effort to find. What are the spots you almost do not want to share?
You want The Varnish downtown, behind Cole's. You walk through the back of the bar and it opens into this dim little room with proper craft cocktails and someone who actually knows the classics. It is not exactly a secret anymore but it still has the feel. Get there early, it is small and fills up.
If you appreciate a refined room, try the bar at the Tower Bar in the Sunset Tower. It is not hidden exactly, but it has that timeless, discreet feeling, and the cocktails are beautifully done. Perfect for a quieter, elegant evening.
Ooh I love this kind of night. There is a little spot on the Westside vibe I always send people to, but honestly the classic answer is still No Vacancy in Hollywood. You go in through what looks like an old house and there is a whole reveal. Touristy now, sure, but the first time is magic.
Ooh yes!! Downtown has a few. Besides The Varnish there is a tiny one called Wolf and Crane and also Death and Co which is incredible if you love a serious cocktail program. The bartenders there are basically artists. It is a little pricey but so worth it for a special night!
If you make it to Koreatown, The Walker Inn is the one to know. It is behind The Normandie Club and you basically need a reservation. Tasting-menu style cocktails, very intimate, feels like a real discovery. Easily one of my favorite bar experiences in the whole city.
Half the fun is that once a place gets named on a forum it stops being hidden. That said, The Varnish is the honest answer and it earns it. Go on a weeknight.
The Varnish is probably the first place I’d send someone. It’s hidden in the back of Cole’s and the cocktails are great. It's easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. Blind Barber in Culver City is another option. That one is kinda crazy. The entrance looks like a normal barbershop, but there’s a bar hidden in the back. Great spot if you want something low-key without the rooftop crowd.
I walked past it for years, not knowing it was there, until a friend actually showed me that place. I never heard about the Blind Barber. That one sounds different... in a good way, of course.