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    BAR Ama

    3.9 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order BAR Ama Takeout or Delivery

    BAR Ama Photos

    BAR AMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - BAR Ama

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    Salad
    Carlo B.

    Wow .. amazing ... hidden gem! Upscale Mexican food at a casual fare - all day happy hour at the bar, cute little dining area. The restaurant next door has a Michelin star and it's the same chef. Menu is constantly changing and being updated to even more delicious food. Staff is always awesome and friendly. Great margs too!

    Tara L.

    Really like the vibes of this place. It was very chill and I liked the decor. I was with a group and we all sat at the bar. The bartenders were really nice and gave us good recommendations. We only ordered drinks, no food. The margaritas were good and the Snake's blood drink was pretty good. I also liked that they had non alcoholic mixed drink options as well. Not sure every drink was worth the price but I would go back to try the food.

    Pollo Baco
    Brian V.

    4++ this might be the most 'chic' restaurant I've ever been to that specializes in Tex-Mex. I came here on a weeknight and the place was pretty chill. I was able to get a seat at the bar right away. I like that they have a pretty straightforward simple menu. Everything seems reasonably priced in the mid range and there are offerings that are in the upper range as well. I came here, hoping to just have kind of a casual dinner by myself and a drink. This place definitely did not disappoint. I ended up ordering one of the 'bacos' and I thought it was tasty. It had me all nostalgic for the chef's old restaurant - Baco Mercat. Just a great place to enjoy a meal with friends or by yourself at the bar.

    Truffle Caviar Nachos

    I tried this spot during Dine LA this year (specifically Le Dräq, which is the newest restaurant inside of Bar Ama) and overall the food wasn't anything exciting, but that's not to say it was "bad" either. We tried several things from the DineLA menu (i.e. Pesto Cauliflower, Caesar Brussels), as well as some other additions that we thought sounded too good to not try (i.e. Truffle Caviar Nachos, Lobster Flauta). The only things that truly stood out would be the le dräQ bäco (wagyu short rib "taco") and the pineapple upside-down cake, which reminded me of an apple crisp. Both of those were very delicious and flavorful, but most of the other food options we tried were a bit underwhelming from a flavor perspective. The lobster flauta was fine, but tasted more like cheese than it did lobster, and the caviar truffle nachos, which I'd expect to have that wow-factor solely based on its description alone, simply fell short and was not nearly as flavorful or unique as I expected (the $25 price point also did not warrant the portion or the taste in my opinion; a few items here seemed priced a bit high for what you get, but I chalk that up to the current state of our economy more than anything else rather than to the fault of the restaurant themselves). On the flip side, the service was amazing and they were very attentive. And the overall ambiance of the restaurant/bar is chic and cute. TL;DR: While a lot of the food was just average in my opinion, I didn't have any complaints on the service or ambiance. I think this would be a nice spot to grab drinks at, with a couple light bites (including the wagyu bäco - in my opinion, the standout that you must try if you do come here), but I wouldn't come here solely for the food expecting culinary excellence.

    Queso & Chips
    Christina G.

    Hidden gem, indeed! I was invited to Bar Ama for a small birthday dinner - table for 6. Clean, dim setting and not too crowded. Our waiter Nate was great! I ordered his favorite items and wasn't disappointed at all. I had the Snakes Blood (whiskey with hibiscus) and the chicken ranchero plate (I think). It was sooo yummy. The order consists of one large soft taco with a good portion of shredded chicken on top. It was SO flavorful. I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but it almost tasted Mediterranean. There were many appetizers and desserts involved as well. Everything was delicious. The queso was especially popular, we reordered that maybe 3 times. Service was lovely. Everyone was nice and very attentive. Great place to pop in with colleagues after hours if you work nearby

    Brizylla A.

    I came here once last year and really enjoyed the food but I came back this weekend and was beyond impressed~ We came here after specifically looking for piri piri chicken (this dish is originally from Portugal) and have had trouble finding a dish similar to it in LA. Stumbled upon the menu for Bar Ama for their fajitas with piri piri chicken. Ordered the fajitas and it was amazing! The piri piri chicken fajitas had the piri piri sauce and seasoning, so juicy and tender. It was sauteed with green bell peppers and onions. It also came with two different salsas, and one mayo sauce along with rice & beans mixture and four flour tortillas. Their guacamole is also one of my favorites! I'll be back to get more fajitas next time.

    Nijole T.

    The food here is incredible! They are so friendly and welcoming, everything was ready in minutes. They're off menu, secret item. Puffy tacos are an absolute must, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. They have a great happy hour as well. One of our favorite restaurants downtown Los Angeles, highly recommended if you're looking for elevated Mexican food and a casual environment.

    Stewart L.

    At long last I finally tried Bar Ama, chef Josef Centeno's Tex-Mex cantina. I have dined at his adjacent Italian-Japanese omakase tasting menu Orsa and Winston; they share restrooms. That was during the pandemic, when both restaurants were serving in the adjacent alley. Bar Ama entwines traditional Tex-Mex offerings with lots of fresh vegetables, plus a selection of off-the-menu puffy tacos (an ode to chef's hometown of San Antonio). The restaurant has a regular menu, while the bar has a Super Nacho Hour menu. Note that during the first 2 hours of service, the bar menu is also available in the dining room, and there are deals to be had. I ordered a medley of dishes off both menus and had lots of leftovers. From the Super Nacho Hour menu: 1) Ama's margarita. Classic, with a chile-salt rim. 2) sweet potato mole dorados. Two crispy empanada-like half circles of deliciousness topped with a pretty complex mole. 3) Squash blossom quesadilla. Although I could see the squash blossoms, there wasn't a lot of flavour. The chile crunch dipping sauce was smoky but not too spicy. Had I not been dining solo, I would have ordered the Super Nachos, which looked nice on an adjacent table. From the regular menu: 4) Grilled baby corn. Delish! Tiny baby corn with the husks still attached perfectly grilled. 5) Mom's green chicken enchiladas. Apparently based on chef's mom's recipe; classic and comforting in the best way, baked and served in a hot cast iron skillet. Definitely has some spice! Off the menu (just ask): 6) shrimp puffy taco. There were several filling options, but the server recommended this one. It was fab. This crunchy dish as well as the crispy dorados were finished here so as not to lose the texture. Dessert was a plate-size bunuelo, a disc of fried dough flavoured with cinnamon sugar and honey. Also finished at the restaurant. Overall a very good and ample meal. So many other things I'd like to try in the future.

    Queso Super Nachos with Chicken Picadillo Kit
    Yula K.

    Came back over this past week with some friends and had a better experience than last time apparently! We sat at the bar for a few drinks and snacks and I didn't make a huge mess this time around The nachos were killer, just as yummy as last time. I also tried the sweet potato dorados and a pulled chicken taco which were great Margs were yummy but what stood out the most was the spicy rim. Tasted more than just salt and Tajín, a nice sweetness to it that added a lot to the margarita

    Ryna D.

    Nice vibes for a cocktail with friends or colleagues! We also had food and I loved the aguachile! Definitely a place to keep in my back pocket.

    Crunchy Duck Quesoritto

    The restaurant environment is good. The service was nice. My friend commented the Fish Taco are the best fish taco they've ever had-- really crunchy and tasty! The Crunchy Duck Quesoritto though, is not crunchy at allit's just not that goodtoo much meat flavor for me.

    Carolyn M.

    Cool spot with a great vibe for Mexican fusion food! I repeat this is not your typical Mexican street taco menu. With that said nacho (happy) hour is a great deal and an awesome way to try everything! Tortillas thin and light made of flour and the filling is meaty! I had the shredded chicken and ground chicken. I also forgot to mention they are vegan and plant based friendly! So for those of you that enjoy that give them a chance. Queso also great and desserts? Order them all and share. The tapioca was so light i could eat 2 every day. Rice pudding thicker but not sugary. Come and enjoy and try something different. Parking lot nearby one block away, street parking pay attention to signs. Must try: squash blossoms and puffy bread!! And all desserts lol.

    King & Hen of the Wood Mushroom Birria

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    BAR Ama Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - BAR Ama

    Is parking available? How close is parking to the restaurant?

    This is right downtown, in the Theater District area, so parking is never a gimme. Sometimes a few laps around the block is needed to find a spot.

    How is the store operating during Covid?

    Hey, just a friendly update since I'm a frequent fan of the place. Hand sanitizer is also available for check in underneath the door bell when your first arrive. Social distancing is maintained with outdoor patio seating. Drinks are served in… Read more

    Hello, y a t-il des solutions végétariennes? Merci

    Oui - végétariennes et aussi végétaliennes!

    View All 5 Questions

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    The Lucky Tiki - Whatever floats your boat was also delicious.

    The Lucky Tiki

    4.5(46 reviews)
    5.2 miHighland Park

    I have always loved tiki bars because I love themed experiences. But recently, that love has ramped…read moreup a notch. I've been going to them more and more, and The Lucky Tiki was one I definitely had to try out. First off, I have to praise 1933 group because I have loved every single bar they have revitalized and this one is no different. In keeping with their MO, The Lucky Tiki is a speakeasy with a vintage vibe. I won't give away how to get in but let's just say, it's near the front of Highland Park Bowl. My husband and I didn't have a reservation, but we were able to put our name in and got seated about an hour or so later. I was amazed as soon as I walked in the door! It's just floor to ceiling decorated with everything tiki. So many fun details and even interactive elements that turn on when a particular drink was ordered. That was probably my favorite part honestly. We ordered the Tiki Diablo, which is a large tiki drink with a flaming volcano. And yes it does have an interactive element. It was really good. Very fruity and strong, but not overly so. Service was excellent. Our waitress was on it and even waited to make sure my husband was back from the bathroom before lighting our drink on fire. We didn't try any food this time, but a lot of people were ordering the Hawaiian pizza. Do with that what you may. Will definitely be back ti try more drinks and food. Was the perfect spot for a lively date night!

    FYI this place requires reservations, yet they apparently do not honor reservations…read more I have friends coming into town from Greece, so I made a reservation because they love tiki but have no way of experiencing it in Greece, and so they even got aloha shirts to wear. So after having a reservation for weeks, I get a text from this place saying someone booked a private event so my reservation is cancelled. How about instead of accepting $$$ for a private event that will deny customers their reservation, they make the private event work around what is available? Terrible way of doing business, but I hope they get lots of $$$ and engagement for the privileged private event attendees.

    Photos
    The Lucky Tiki - Funky & cool décor.

    Funky & cool décor.

    The Lucky Tiki - Tiki pole

    Tiki pole

    The Lucky Tiki - The Diablo was delicious and it does say for two. But really it's good for one person.

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    The Diablo was delicious and it does say for two. But really it's good for one person.

    Wolf & Crane Bar - Don't Be Shy-Pisco, Pear,Gruner,Citrus, Lychee,Jasmine Green Tea,Bubbly Water, Sage, Bachelor Button.

    Wolf & Crane Bar

    4.2(821 reviews)
    0.5 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
    $$

    Sleek cocktail bar located smack dab in the center of the high foot traffic area of Little Tokyo…read more A great selection of whiskey and a solid cocktail menu with good happy hour specials. It's not surprising given the neighborhood and decor, but I think they lean towards more Japanese spirits and beers. For someone like me who's never been to Japan I feel like there's a traditional Japanese theme going on inside with lots of wood. A few friends and I came here on a holiday before dinner. Happy hour specials were still going on. I'm not sure if they thought they were gonna get that much business on a holiday but I think there's only maybe one or two people behind the bar. Since it was early when we got there, it was still not that crowded. I got the special which was a shot of Japanese whisky and a beer. Great price! Haha. I've walked by before where this place is really crowded so I assume there's a lot more people working behind the bar during the regular busy hours. Just a great place to grab drink drinks.

    We were at Little Tokyo over the weekend and saw this business with the catch-y name and had to go…read moreinside. You must be 21 to enter. No exceptions, as I witnessed a family who really wanted to come in but had an 18 yr old so they weren't allowed in and because they had a minor with them they couldn't even sit outside in their seating area. Always good to know. Inside the bar got super busy. The inside was a bit dark but again it is a bar. I like the decor and the bar seating was packed. The drinks were good if you like whiskey they have it along with lists of beer options. Nice spot to try out.

    Photos
    Wolf & Crane Bar - Seasonal cocktails

    Seasonal cocktails

    Wolf & Crane Bar - Ichigo ichie

    Ichigo ichie

    Wolf & Crane Bar - IG: @ammysalamii

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    IG: @ammysalamii

    Florentín Rooftop Bar

    Florentín Rooftop Bar

    4.5(112 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown

    I absolutely loved this place and will definitely be going back! I went at night, and the…read moreatmosphere and the view from the rooftop were amazing. The service was also pretty fast. As for the drinks, I had their Long Island, carrot margarita, and paloma. All three were excellent and tasted wonderful, but the carrot margarita was my favorite. The people I went with loved it too, so be sure to try it when you're there. Overall, this was a great spot to hang out with friends and have a good time. Whether you want to dance or just sit and chill, you can't go wrong coming here.

    Hi, I don't usually leave reviews, but after three separate visits, I felt it was necessary to…read moreshare my experience. A group of my friends and I have come here three different times, really wanting to like this place because the atmosphere is beautiful and lively. Unfortunately, each visit has been consistently disappointing due to the same bartender--a shorter male with visible tattoos and facial hair, who seems to regularly work one side of the bar. On all three occasions, we experienced being ignored while trying to order, even as other guests who arrived after us were served first. The first time, we were eventually told "you guys can wait" in a rude tone of voice while he continued taking other orders. The second time, we were never helped at all and had to move to another part of the bar, where a female bartender provided much better service. The third visit was the most concerning. When we tried to get his attention, he responded in a dismissive and rude tone, and as he walked away, we overheard him make an inappropriate comment about us under his breath calling us out of our name and we felt very disrespected so much so that we just left. We completely understand that weekends can get busy, but consistently dismissive and disrespectful service--especially across multiple visits--is not acceptable and we've also seen him be rude to other guests as well. Aside from this issue, the venue itself is great, which is why we gave it multiple chances. I really hope management can address this, as it impacts the overall appearance and experience of the establishment. Thank you.

    Photos
    Florentín Rooftop Bar
    Florentín Rooftop Bar - Appetizer

    Appetizer

    Florentín Rooftop Bar - Spicy yuzu mezcal // florentini

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    Spicy yuzu mezcal // florentini

    The Mulberry - Cheesecake

    The Mulberry

    4.1(101 reviews)
    11.3 miSawtelle

    Absolutely LOVE this place. The Mulberry is a very warm and intimate place where you can enjoy…read moremodern Korean comfort food. All dishes are carefully crafted with its colorful details, and its simple but bold flavors prepared for you through an open kitchen. This place gets busy the minute they open their doors so make reservations prior. 1. Korean Aguachile: fresh tilefish sashimi with finely sliced cucumber and white floral decor simmered in ice cold kimchee broth they pour at the table. Soooo good. Must order. 2. Soy Marinade Blue Prawn: My favorite dish of the night. Huge raw blue prawns (head attached) marinaded with soy sauce. Served with barley rice topped with Ssam jang (type of bean paste sauce), and seaweed paper. You wrap all ingredients in the seaweed paper to make a hand roll. Soooooo delicious. Can't walk out without trying this. 3. Beef short ribs: good but nothing unique in its flavoring . Beef steak(medium rare and super tender) that's lightly marinaded/glazed (so not overly sweet) with kbbq/short rib sauce. This is one of their fan favorites so I suggest you try it.. 4. Chilled Acorn Noodles: chewy cOLD noodles made with acorn (just like the acorn jelly side dish we eat). The noodles are seasoned with Korean Cho-go-chu-jang (Gochujang paste), crispy cucumber slices, loads of dried seaweed flakes, and perilla oil. And you just mix them all together. Sooo good and paired well with the short ribs. Incredible. 5. Bluefin tuna and trout Bibimbop: like a poke bowl but so much better. Rice at the bottom with loads of lettuce strips, bluefin tuna sashimi, radish slices, and cavier. Seasoned with Korean Cho-go-chu jang (Gochujang paste with a twist of vinegar). Very good as well. For drinks we tried the shikhye slush (shikhye is a Korean sweet rice drink dessert). They used a slushy shikhye base with warm cinnamon and ginger spices and pisco for a kick. Also tried the Sujinggwa manhattan which is sujunggwa (traditional Korean cinnamon ginger dessert tea served cold) and a single malt. This was fabulous. Overall fantastic experience. Fantastic food, cool ambiance's. And great service. Highly highly recommend this place!

    Parking: street parking can be rough to find during peak dinner time on weekends but not bad early…read moreevening on weekdays Reservations: Limited availability on Resy makes it seem harder to get though we were able to make one. Tables looked available around 5pm though so walk-ins could be possible. Ambiance: Outside was nice and inside looked dimly lit and romantic. We were seated promptly and service was good. Food: Rice slushy had a strangely strong cinnamon-like taste to it that traditional rice punch doesn't have which was so overpowering, it made it difficult to go back for more sips. Oysters - good though small, enjoyed the kelp mignonette Korean Aguachile - Delicate tilefish completely overwhelmed by cold kimchi broth with actual icy slush in it and small amounts of fish Steak Tartare - The hot stone bowl seemed to defeat the purpose of a tartare, as it cooked the steak once mixed. The perilla leaves were also cut in large strips relative to the beef. Chilled Acorn Noodle - The perilla oil was nonexistent in flavor though the dish didn't need it and was good without. Overall, portions were small for the price and dishes weren't well-executed so despite being excited for more Korean options in West LA, I'd much rather make the drive to Koreatown for better portions, prices, and flavors.

    Photos
    The Mulberry
    The Mulberry - Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10

    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10

    The Mulberry - Acorn noodles

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    Acorn noodles

    The Obscure Distillery - First drink on the wall.

    The Obscure Distillery

    4.5(205 reviews)
    1.1 miArts District, Downtown

    Obsessed with this place. It's giving spooky, moody, slightly witchy vibes,, in a willow-era Taylor…read moreSwift kind of way. Cocktails are strong and actually well done, but what makes it stand out is the experience. There's a learning component woven in, which makes it feel more intentional than your average bar. It's one of those spots you go to when you want something different... not just another loud bar.. something immersive and a little mysterious.

    I had such a great experience and definitely worth checking out! The overall vibe was amazing, and…read moreyou can tell they really care about the experience from start to finish. The drinks were strong (in the best way ) but still super smooth and enjoyable. Shoutout to Rich for being such an incredible host--he made our group feel welcomed, taken care of, and really elevated the whole experience. A couple things to note: there is parking available, but it is paid (you can either text to pay or use the kiosk machines). The experience itself lasts about 40-60 minutes, which felt like the perfect amount of time. The only downside for me was that the bathroom is shared for both genders. For safety reasons, I personally wish they were separate--so ladies, I'd recommend going with someone just to be safe. You just never know. They also give you a little treat afterwards, which was a really nice touch and a sweet way to end the visit! Overall, I'd definitely come back and recommend it to others

    Photos
    The Obscure Distillery - Divine Paradox

    Divine Paradox

    The Obscure Distillery - Upon entering

    Upon entering

    The Obscure Distillery - The scenic bar

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    The scenic bar

    Library Bar

    Library Bar

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown
    $$

    Took some friends here who were visiting and wanted a Speakeasy experience…read more It was maybe 9:30/10pm on a Friday and it wasn't super busy. We were able to get a seat on the coach and order drinks from the bar relatively quickly. Prices were pretty typical of LA ($18-25 a cocktail) but I would say I probably won't come back this late as it's in a shadier part of town. They have a bouncer and it was fine inside, but it's not a place where you can bar hop if that's what you're looking for as the area is seedy. Would be interested to try the food next time, but again, the safety and comfort of the light of day.

    NOVEMBER 26.2025…read more I've been through many iterations of The Library Bar over the years... from small and cozy secret bar for those that work in the looming skyscrapers of Downtown LA to being some noisy urban hip hop affair that served godawful drinks (see my past review!), and on back to being a calm and casual neighborhood bar again. The interior never changes... dark... illuminated by candlelight... the bust of Shakespeare over the fireplace, the shelves of old books-- all of it remains intact. But this latest Library Bar seems to have finally dialed in what was always sorely missing in that it showcases a conscientious staff that all seem to know how to mix drinks while treating the customer well by leaving them be. On one night my date and I share a "Black Manhattan," basically a Manhattan with the generous addition of Averna, and it's terrific. On another night, I go for Happy Hour and a few pints of Guinness on draft that are surprisingly proper and go well with their excellent and, I'm told, homemade Hummus & Veggies Plate. The music at this current Library Bar is pretty much on point and is never so loud as to interfere with the conversations that patrons seem to come here for... something you should come here for too, and maybe at Happy Hour specifically if you're looking for a nice bump in your day and to spend an hour, well, happily.

    Photos
    Library Bar - French 75

    French 75

    Library Bar - Classic Burger

    Classic Burger

    Library Bar - The Black Manhattan ~ the classic with the addition of Averna... delicious.

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    The Black Manhattan ~ the classic with the addition of Averna... delicious.

    The Green Room - Cocktail lounge hidden inside Castaway with stunning views

    The Green Room

    4.6(683 reviews)
    11.2 mi
    $$$

    We really enjoyed our Friday evening here! It's a beautiful bar/restaurant with quite the view of…read morethe surrounding area; the decor is open and upscale and it's great! The service was friendly and pleasant and prompt, and our food and wine were great. Absolutely will recommend and return!

    The appeal of this place is not offset by the negatives…read more It's really marketed as more of an exclusive experience. Kind of like a speakeasy. The service is a one out of five for sure. We had two separate servers because one went home during the middle of our dinner and both were equally horrible. Not even exaggerating when I say we waited at least 15 minutes after we asked for the check and there were probably only 10 tables in the entire restaurant. And we had to call her back over to ask for a second time. SMH. The food although flavorful was so ridiculously priced it was not even funny. I got a "ribeye ". Was literally eight thin slices of steak, like 1" x 1" size for $42! No, I will not be coming back here for so many reasons. The view is great. Castaways is definitely not what it used to be in the way of quality but at least you get more and you get the view. But definitely not worth it going to this place. It was quite a frustrating evening. Also, if you do decide to go here, just bring a coat when it's a little bit cooler in the evenings cause it does get cold up here and getting the staff to manage the heaters correctly is a whole other frustration. Oh, and valet is your only option for parking up here. It's kind of crazy because a few years ago you could just go park in the lot or the garage that's available there but now they're charging you $11 and it's chaos. I will say that the view up here is great though so if you're willing to forgo all of that for a view for like a one time date or something like that, it might be worth it

    Photos
    The Green Room - Three Wishes Cocktail

    Three Wishes Cocktail

    The Green Room - Parmesan Proscuitto Croquette

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