My partner and I recently went on a tiki bar roadtrip from Tacoma down to Palm Springs, and I think…read morethat Lucky Tiki might be my top spot out of the 10 or so locations we visited. Drinks: Really, really good. My absolute favorite was the boat drink with foam on top, but we split several others and I liked everything we tried. Vibe: Unmatched. There are several drinks on the menu with a theatrical presentation that gets the whole bar involved. The space is small, so you'll inevitably have your conversation interrupted by an alluring siren's call or some ceremonial rowers. This is a crucial part of the tiki experience for me. The bartenders all have their different spin and clearly are in it for the love of the game. We had a lot of fun chatting with the staff. Food: I ate 2 orders of soup dumplings and probably could have bodied down 5 more. They were ridiculously good, but prohibitively expensive.

Some of my LA friends have frequented tiki bars for years, and after visiting Lucky Tiki recently,…read moreI finally get it. Tiki cocktails have expanded beyond rum into smokier tequila and mezcal drinks, which are more my speed. Lucky Tiki takes planning. You'll probably need a reservation weeks ahead and yes, they'll politely kick you out after 2 hours. These drinks are delicious and designed to ruin your decision-making skills. Worth it. Uber home, obviously. This spot is "hidden" in a bowling alley, and inside you'll find retro lighting and decor and tiki cocktails. One drink came with bubbles, another arrived flaming, and one to a soundtrack of thunder and lightning. It's part cocktail bar, part performance, and the staff is committed to the bit. They have two LA locations, which helps if one is booked.

Tucked away on the top floor of a pizza joint is this hidden gem! We were looking for a relaxing…read morelounge with good music and top whiskey, we found it here. The vibe is perfect, the bartender is friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the drink menu. There is no wine here but the cocktails are excellent, full of flavor, and so is the whiskey. The prices of the drinks are on the higher end but well worth it. The music takes you to all different eras and we had a really great time and highly recommend a stop here! Cheers!

If you're looking for a hidden bar tucked away from the Hollywood chaos, give this intimate vinyl…read morebar a shot. Located inside 800 degrees kitchen on the 2nd floor. They have a selection of vinyls that you may request to play. Me scanning through all of the vinyls to see what tune I wanted to hear...Unfortunately, not many updated music selections. However, I find it a perk that they give you a chance to pick and play whatever you're in the mood for. The bartenders were very mellow which I supposed it was matched to the ambience of the bar. Ordered the espresso martini and vibed out. I do believe they should carry more music selections with some updates to more legendary artists considering it is a vinyl bar.

Matt B. and I are living with my parents these days, and one of the benefits of this arrangement is…read morethat we can leave the house quite easily after the kids go to bed. We decided to get a drink to celebrate Father's Day, only to strike out at the first two bars we tried--I guess a lot of places are closed at 9:30 on a Sunday. This is how we ended up at Thunderbolt, a buzzy bar in Echo Park, just far enough away that we'd never made our way over. I loved it immediately. Thunderbolt has the friendly, comfortable atmosphere of a neighborhood bar and the hip aesthetic and high-level cocktails of a millennial boozer destination. (Not that young people can't or shouldn't hang out here, but it seems especially geared toward people like us, who drank at Walker Inn a decade ago.) We ended up sitting next to a guy who regularly drives up from Palos Verdes. I guess the place gets pretty busy, but it was ideal on a Sunday night. Happening but not crowded, with just enough space at the bar for us to grab two seats together. The bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming. He also made excellent drinks. Thunderbolt is one of those bars with an encyclopedic illustrated book for a menu. Not a long menu, just a detailed one, with a lot of information available about each drink. We got a Liquid Picnic and a Barcelonnette--just one round to close out the weekend. Both were delicious. The Liquid Picnic was a smooth, savory gin martini made with London dry gin, tomato, citron, vermouth, rosemary, and black pepper. I learned from the book that it used clarified tomato water. (There was also further reading about the clarification process.) The Barcelonnette was a mezcal sour with Suze, passionfruit, and lime, the foam made without egg white through some geeky mixologist process. Thunderbolt is not our neighborhood bar, but we plan to go back when we can to check out the rest of the menu. It's a wonderful place, well worth a jaunt on the freeway.

Was charged three times, totaling hundreds of dollars, and waiting for the pending transactions to…read moredrop (or stay :/) in 3-5 business days is no fun. We can't all be made of money, but this shouldn't have happened.

This place is awesome…read more First off the ambiance is like Disneyland (in a good way). It feels like you're in Encanto or Coco. Very cool. The service and staff is top notch as you would expect in this part of town. The food is absolutely incredible the steak was cooked perfectly, the appetizer are delightful and plentiful. Great place for a meal or a party

OMG! Are you serious?…read more Service - 0/5. Train your staff! Our order was forgotten every single time. They don't pour wine or takes more than a half an hour to bring any drinks, so there was absolutely zero service and I don't even know why we are tipping at this point. Food - 3/5. Very mediocre food for overrated price. Ambiance- 5/5. We are definitely paying only for the ambiance. If you don't care about the quality of food or service, this place can be a romantic date place. Otherwise, I do not recommend this place at all.

Her Little Bar is a great spot and the vibe is significantly improved under the new ownership. It's…read morealready attracting a fun and friendly mixed crowd of locals as well as people from across the city looking for an agro-free good time. The bar staff know what they are doing and they are welcoming, chatty and chill. It feels like they actually want you there! My wife and I already love to swing by for a couple of post dinner drinks but we'll be back for some game day fun too - they have a bunch of screens. They don't do food BUT the couple who now own Her Little Bar also own a bunch of the restaurants nearby (Her Thai, Met Him At A Bar, and the recently opened The Night We Met). There are other great options too and whatever you go for, you can eat it in the bar. There's a good selection of drinks and the cocktails are solid. We already have a solid pub/microbrewery but this is a great bar with a different vibe. A bar has been in this location for years but we really love this new incarnation. The corridor between Wilshire Blvd and W 9th is becoming a great pocket for food and drink with good people looking for BS free good times and the Her Little Bar crowd, staff and management are a great example that. A welcome addition to the neighborhood.

I came here with friends on a quiet Wednesday night. There are a lot of good choices for bars in…read morethe area but I am so happy we came here. They had a good selection of beers and my friends got their cocktails done perfectly. There was maybe one to two other people in this bar when we walked in. We had a booth all to ourselves. A good night at a solid bar in the neighborhood. I was a local, I'd be here more often.

Stepping into the venue felt like crossing a threshold into a world that operated on a different…read morewavelength--and honestly, it was exactly the shift I didn't know I needed. It wasn't your typical corner haunt. There was an intentionality here that turned a simple evening out into a genuine education. The curation of spirits was nothing short of impressive, but what set the experience apart was the conversation. I arrived knowing the difference between a glass and a bottle, but left with a newfound appreciation for the nuances of rum, the craftsmanship behind a smooth whiskey, and the unexpected complexities hidden within a well-made vodka. Each pour came with a story, a history, and a level of expertise that transformed every sip into a lesson. The atmosphere was the perfect anchor for it all--utterly chill and devoid of the frantic, forced energy you find elsewhere. It was the kind of place where the music sits at just the right volume and the lighting invites you to actually linger. It was refreshing to find a spot that treats its craft with such respect while keeping the vibe completely grounded. I walked out feeling a little more cultured and a lot more relaxed. Consider this my official notice: I'll definitely be back.

My friends and I recently visited Obscure, and overall we had a great experience…read more First, the venue itself is absolutely beautiful. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you've been transported somewhere else. Every room is thoughtfully designed, and the atmosphere is immersive and unlike anything we've experienced before. The storyteller was welcoming, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. I really enjoyed learning about the history of alcohol and the stories behind each tasting. The cocktails were definitely on the stronger side, but you could tell they were crafted with high-quality ingredients. Unfortunately, our experience was somewhat tainted by our hostess. She came across as impatient and unwelcoming, which set the tone early on. When we first entered, we were each handed a small glass of liquid, and then she immediately walked away without explaining what it was or what we were supposed to do with it. We assumed it was a welcome drink, so we all took a sip only to discover it was actually a palate cleanser. A little guidance would have gone a long way. The next room had a beautiful bayou-inspired setting. While the historical information was interesting, I found myself wishing the experience leaned more into the mystical or magical themes that the venue seems to promise. One thing worth mentioning is the restroom setup. I don't mind coed restrooms, but there was no signage explaining that the restroom is shared with two open stalls. Some guests may appreciate a heads-up, especially those who might feel uncomfortable or triggered by that arrangement. After the tastings, you're taken outside. A few of us stopped to use the restroom first, and when we returned, our friend had already left the table and all of our drinks had been cleared away. We were disappointed because we hadn't finished them. Our friend had been told she couldn't take the drinks with her, but when we returned we could take them outside. She was told that they'd be there when we got back. We were disappointed. The outdoor portion of the experience also felt a bit rushed. We barely had time to enjoy our drinks, let alone take photos of the beautiful space. The beignets at the end, however, were absolutely delicious and a highlight of the evening! Finally, we were escorted to the members-only bar, which was stunning. It gave off major Harry Potter vibes with its hidden, magical atmosphere. One of my friends was still finishing her drink on the patio since we couldn't legally walk on the sidewalk with it. Our hostess told us she'd come back for us but she never did. After waiting quite a while, another staff member happened to walk by and kindly helped us. Once inside, everything turned around again. The bartender was warm, friendly, and helped us choose drinks off the menu. I ordered the piña colada, and while it was much stronger and different from the traditional version I'm used to, it was absolutely delicious!!! Despite some service issues and inconsistent communication, I would still recommend Obscure. The concept is unique, the cocktails are excellent, and the venue is truly one of a kind. I'm hoping our hostess was simply having an off day, because with more attentive service, this experience could easily be five stars.

Such a great spot to stop by for a drink! In my experience it has always been busy and lively,…read morethere's indoor and patio seating. It smells great inside, they have candles lit on every table and incense on. It's a Mexican fusion cocktail inspired menu and all the drinks I've tried have been delicious! Bartenders are busy but once you order, your drinks comes out pretty fast. Bonus points for the cute stairwell

My friend had her phone stolen while we were at Bar Flores, and the experience afterward was…read moreincredibly disappointing. We notified staff immediately, but the response was surprisingly indifferent. We were told that phone thefts "happen," which wasn't reassuring at all. We also asked for help reviewing security camera footage since we were seated directly in front of a camera, but days went by with little to no communication despite multiple attempts to reach the bar through DMs and email. Whether or not the theft itself could have been prevented, the lack of urgency, communication, and concern for customers left a terrible impression. If phone theft is something staff are already aware happens, I would expect much more proactive support when a guest becomes a victim. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this bar based on how the situation was handled. If you visit, keep an extremely close eye on your belongings.

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.

very cute little place! love the interior here very moody with accents of orange and green. for…read moreparking, there is a lot nearby, but we just parked at the judge lot like 2 blocks up the street. it's a $6 flat rate after 5 pm so pretty good deal but be sure to walk back in a group lol. this is a whiskey bar and i don't like whiskey very much so i was tasting my way around the menu. the plumola is really nice but the grey wolf took the cake for me. its super refreshing and not very strong. dj was whipping tuuuuunes. disco ball turned on halfway thru the night that was very fun. a fun place to have a lowkey night and not get too crazy. bathroom was kinda dirty tho