Whether you’ve come to spend, surf or clinch that all-important Hollywood deal, Los Angeles is the city that has it all. Little wonder then, that its lively bar scene is just as rich with possibilities.
From tiki bars to cocktail lounges and mojitos to merlot, the choices from Downtown to Santa Monica are endless and its hotel bars are some of the most impressive on the West Coast.
To whet your appetite for the perfect lounge cocktail or whiskey on the rocks, here is our roundup of some of the best hotel bars in Los Angeles.
BAR MARMONT, CHATEAU MARMONT
If walls could talk, the mural-adorned sides of Chateau Marmont’s bar would have a few stories to tell: famous patrons have included everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Jim Morrison.
Much like the rest of this legendary hotel on Sunset Boulevard, Bar Marmont is dripping with faded Hollywood glamour, becoming something of a hipster hangout in recent years.
With a low key party atmosphere at night, sip on a Sunset Sour or Cucumber Collins and mingle with the glitterati until the early hours.
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LIBRARY BAR, HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL
For the best cocktail concoctions on the Sunset Strip, head directly to the Roosevelt’s Library Bar.
Drinks here are ordered omakase-style, meaning there’s no menu; you simply tell the bartender what it is that you’re looking for.
Whether that might be something short, long, sugary or sweet, it’s entirely up to you, but the bar’s expert mixologists will whip it up for you in next to no time, giving you a couple of minutes to survey your fellow patrons – an impressive mix of Hollywood’s hottest movers and shakers.
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(Image Credit: Jakob N Layman)
SKYBAR, MONDRIAN LOS ANGELES
Overlooking the city’s impressive sprawl, there are few sexier nightspots in West Hollywood than Mondrian’s Skybar.
A chic poolside lounge by day, it transforms into a trendy venue to see and be seen at night. With a legendary reputation to maintain, this ivy-covered pavilion operates a strict door policy, so make sure you always dress to impress.
SUITE 700, HOTEL SHANGRI-LA SANTA MONICA
A venue with serious old school charm, Suite 700 was once the penthouse at Santa Monica’s Shangri-La Hotel.
This indoor-outdoor bar offers plenty of room to maneuver and you can watch the spectacular sunset over the pier, with panoramic 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.
Art deco stylings combine with a modern crowd, with a carefully selected drinks menu that is the stuff of ocean paradise.
THE BAR AT HOTEL BEL-AIR
Served in elegant Baccarat glassware, the cocktails at the legendary Hotel Bel-Air look almost as good as they taste.
The drinks menu here focuses on premium small batch whiskeys, with 20 cocktail concoctions created for the venue by Executive Chef Lee Hefter.
Recently refurbished, the hotel is a consistent favorite among high net worths. Sip on a classic cosmo at the bar while enjoying a Wolfgang Puck-designed menu that includes such delights as pan seared Atlantic salmon and artisanal cheeses with wildflower honeycomb.
THE ROOFTOP BAR, STANDARD DOWNTOWN
With no covers or lines for hotel guests, The Standard’s rooftop bar is the perfect place to spend a relaxed evening with friends over a couple of cocktails.
Its biggest draw is undoubtedly its spectacular view: a majestic 360 degree panorama of the skyscrapers of downtown LA.
With a nightly DJ and a small dancefloor, there is also a Biergarten and red waterbed pods perfect for sharing a romantic moment. Staff are friendly and attentive – plus the bartenders will rustle up whatever drink your heart desires.
THE CLUB BAR AT THE PENINSULA BEVERLY HILLS
The Club Bar at The Peninsula Beverly Hills may look unassuming, but as we all know looks can be deceiving.
This warm and inviting cocktail lounge has an Old Boys’ Club feel and is a regular spot for meetings between Hollywood’s top producers and agents.
Allow a white suited bartender to pour you a drink at the counter or opt for a comfy leather chair beside the stone fireplace. With a mature, low key atmosphere this is the perfect place to clinch a deal; not for late night partying.
THE LIVING ROOM, SHUTTERS ON THE BEACH
If low key luxury is what you’re after, look no further than Shutters, nestled right on the white sands of Santa Monica beach.
Infused with New England charm, the aptly named ‘Living Room’ bar offers comfortable couches, two roaring fireplaces and lamp lit elegance.
But the pièce de résistance of this beach-house style bar is undoubtedly the extraordinary view of the Pacific Ocean through its white French doors. Cocktails on the heated patio are a must.
