Los Angeles’ Best Martini Bars: A Guide to Classic & Creative Cocktails

Explore Los Angeles' vibrant martini scene, from classic gin martinis at historic venues like Musso & Frank to innovative twists at modern bars. This guide covers diverse spots across LA, highlighting customized, ice-cold martinis paired with unique experiences.

Initially a vodka aficionado, Mona Holmes changed over to gin after its mid-aughtsrenaissance. She’ll take a timeless gin martini drunk till unbearably cooled without any chunks of ice and minimal vermouth.

Discovering Los Angeles Martini Spots

Although practically any individual can book a reservation at the Tower Bar and consume the $45 burger and french fries, there’s still an air of exclusivity to the famous dining establishment on top of the Sunset Tower. Mid-day martinis really feel not out of the question (and perhaps even ideal), paired with sweeping sights of capitals and West Hollywood. This seems like what the ideal martini experience need to be: a little also elegant, a little unimportant, and rather boozy.

Oy Bar takes the ice-cold facet of martinis seriously. Whatever about the Fridge Freezer Martini is the optimal temperature, starting with the glass so chilly that a luster of frost appears on the outside, which melts right into microdroplets while drinking.

The Thirsty Crow is every little thing an area bar should be. The subtle Silver Lake room hasn’t transformed much since it opened in 2010, offering strong, durable drinks from knowledgeable bartenders. The trademark drinks like a blood orange Negroni are constantly fun, however this bar truly beams with the standards. Martinis are offered as damp or completely dry as the heart wishes, and requesting extra olives is level playing field. Try the Twelve o’clock at night Vesper with yuzu lavender liqueur for a twist on the classic. Head over during delighted hour for $12 martinis and various other reduced drinks. The Thirsty Crow does not serve food, but outdoors food continues to be welcome, and occasionally there are trucks and pop-ups right outside.

Fortunately, Los Angeles remains a martini town, with bars providing practically every interpretation of the beverage in venues, consisting of traditional Italian red sauce digs, a laid-back Silver Lake dive bar, and a fancy Japanese sipping bar. Right here are the most effective Los Angeles bars to sip on cold martinis, according to Eater editors.

At first a vodka fanatic, Mona Holmes changed over to gin after its mid-aughtsrenaissance. She’ll take a timeless gin martini trembled up until unbearably cooled without any chunks of ice and marginal vermouth.

Classic Martinis & Iconic LA Venues

It’s impossible to discuss martinis in Los Angeles without Musso & Frank entering the conversation. The over-100-year-old dining establishment has been a standby for solid drinks and outstanding solution for servers in red match coats considering that it opened in 1919 Sure, the wallpaper might be fading a little and the booths a little a lot more put on in than they when were, yet that’s just part of the beauty. Musso & Frank utilizes a smaller glass than what would certainly be seen at other bars to keep the mixed drink cold; a little sidecar comes offered on ice to replenish the glass when empty. If looking for a wet martini, look somewhere else. Musso & Frank uses its vermouth to wash the glass, leaving the liquor and olives as the leading flavors in the alcoholic drink.

Los Angeles was missing one of its finest martinis during the months that Jones Hollywood was closed after suffering damage from autos collapsing right into its building in 2023. Now that the restaurant has reopened, it has returned to be one of the best places to drink a cold martini in the evenings along with Italian recipes like bruschetta and rigatoni carbonara.

The martini is made of simply two active ingredients– a spirit and vermouth (to some degree)– it is one of the most personalized cocktails. There are likewise plenty of interpretations of the martini outside of the basic components, like the extremely popular coffee martini, the very ’90s appletini and lychee-tini, and the much more recent pairing of a martini and French french fries. The one point all martini fans can concur on is that the drink has to be cold to be excellent; a room-temperature martini is a negative martini.

Los Feliz’s new cocktail bar Vandell takes over the previous Nossa area with a menu of creative cocktails from market experts Shawn Lickliter and Vay Su. Presently, Vandell’s food selection functions 27 alcoholic drinks– 13 original and 14 variants on standards. On the menu, locate a handful of tackles a martini, consisting of the Vandell Martini with gin and tarragon vinegar, as well as the Olive Martini with vodka, shio koji, and smoked olive salt water.

There are likewise plenty of interpretations of the martini outside of the standard components, like the hugely preferred espresso martini, the really ’90s appletini and lychee-tini, and the more current pairing of a martini and French french fries. The one thing all martini fans can concur on is that the drink has to be cold to be great; a room-temperature martini is a negative martini.

Although the martini is made from just 2 components– a spirit and vermouth (to some degree)– it is just one of one of the most customizable mixed drinks. Normal martini enthusiasts are utilized to the usual inquiry of “unclean or with a spin?” and “vodka or gin?” Followers of the mixed drink tend to have extremely details choices, like a wash of vermouth in the glass instead of the fortified a glass of wine being stirred in or a martini so dirty that the materials are slightly olive-colored. There are additionally plenty of interpretations of the martini beyond the fundamental ingredients, like the wildly popular espresso martini, the extremely ’90s lychee-tini and appletini, and the a lot more current pairing of a martini and French french fries. The one point all martini lovers can settle on is that the drink needs to be ice-cold to be great; a room-temperature martini is a poor martini.

Martinis set well with Italian red sauce standards at West Hollywood’s timeless Dan Tana’s. Come for the hen Parmesan and set it with an unclean martini. The saltiness of the olives will certainly play well with the level of acidity of the tomato sauce and the fattiness of the cheese. Don’t expect anything as well fancy right here; the beauty remains in the history and the age. The martinis are chilly, the indoor really feels as comfortable as it ever before was, and there may also be some celeb spotting in shop.

Creative Takes & Neighborhood Favorites

Highland Park is lucky to have a bar like Gold Line, with its near 8,000 vinyl documents and high-fidelity sound system. Reminiscent of Japanese paying attention bars, the tunes are constantly perfect as the group settles right into barstools or sways along. The food selection here stays attractive no-frills, but the bartenders shine with the standards. Three-ingredient mixed drinks are bench’s specialized, which indicates an excellent martini remains in its wheelhouse. On more busy nights, head towards the rear of a space where a few sofas use a more easygoing spot to lounge and sip.

Rebecca Roland is a martini (and Manhattan) fan that drinks hers with gin, and generally completely dry and unclean, though exceptions are made. Several of her favored non-Tanqueray and non-Bombay martini gin options consist of Hendrick’s and Ape 47. She’s known to request a side of additional olives at bars, a technique that she would certainly encourage.

Thankfully, Los Angeles stays a martini community, with bars offering practically every interpretation of the drink in locations, including traditional Italian red sauce digs, a laid-back Silver Lake dive bar, and a fancy Japanese drinking bar. Here are the very best Los Angeles bars to drink on cold martinis, according to Eater editors.

Capri Club brings a little slice of Italian aperitivo culture to a busy stretch of Eagle Rock Boulevard. The indoor seems like a romanticization of an Italian dive bar with wood-paneled wall surfaces, red leather booths, and a rounded bar in the center. The bartenders here have their martini-making circulation perfected, asking each guest the essential concerns of whether they desire it wet or dry, with vodka or gin, and unclean or with a twist. On a great day, the pathway seats may be also better (and a little more quiet) than the inside. For the very best of both globes, order a table towards the front that rests under a huge window. Bar treats like seasoned olives, prosciutto, and fried sticks of polenta round out the menu.

There are also plenty of analyses of the martini outside of the basic components, like the wildly prominent espresso martini, the extremely ’90s lychee-tini and appletini, and the a lot more recent pairing of a martini and French french fries. The one point all martini fans can agree on is that the drink has to be ice-cold to be good; a room-temperature martini is a negative martini.

This popular spot prepares the utmost martini for lightweights called the Tiny Tini, which can be gone in 3 sips. During happy hour, order the $10 martinis with a cheeseburger.

Clients have been sipping martinis at the Dresden in Los Feliz because the Old Hollywood-esque bar and restaurant opened up in 1954. The dark inside and ageless natural leather bar supply the excellent backdrop for a traditional martini, bought to one’s choice.

Put listed below the 101, Thunderbolt withstands as an area bar that additionally serves superb Southern food. The often-evolving cocktail food selection provides innovative takes on timeless beverages, like a black woodland cake-inspired espresso martini and an Old Made with coconut-washed rye. For a more straight translation of the martini, try the vegetal Fluid Barbecue with gin and cleared up tomato water. Always add on snacks like a buttermilk biscuit, fried eco-friendly tomatoes, and apple pie to round out nights at Thunderbolt, every one of which occur to be gluten-free.

On the food selection, locate a handful of takes on a martini, consisting of the Vandell Martini with gin and tarragon vinegar, as well as the Olive Martini with vodka, shio koji, and smoked olive brine.

Refined Sips & Unique Martini Concepts

Diners have actually been settling into the red leather booths at Santa Monica’s Chez Jay considering that it opened in 1959. Vodka followers will certainly take pleasure in the 1959 Tini, made with Tito’s vodka and olives for this sharp, salty sipper. Pair the alcoholic drink with a superb Caesar salad and a side of truffle fries of what may be the perfect treat. On warm days, go to the outdoor patio deck and absorb the sea air.

Years out from opening in 2019 as a French great eating restaurant, cook Dave Beran’s Pasjoli has resolved into a new rhythm as an area restaurant– and it might be the ideal iteration of the restaurant. Seek the Mar-Tinys, which supply a smaller sized version of the dining establishment’s martini. The PJ features Magellan gin, Dolin vermouth blanc, and Angostura orange bitters, while The Jamie pairs gin and olive juice. Combine the martinis with a cheese-laden French onion souplette, steak frites, or the famous tableside pushed duck.

When Ben Shenassafar remained in the process of opening his art deco den, the Benjamin, he had a vision of patrons being available in, drinking on a cocktail or 2 at the bar, feasting on a burger, and completed with cozy chocolate chip cookies. While there are a lot of various other exceptional cocktails on the menu, in addition to red wine and beer, the trademark Ben’s Martini sticks out from the back with a mindful balance of flower Monkey 47 Gin and completely dry vermouth accented with lemon oil. On the side, a small stack of Ruffles-style chips made internal deals the ideal salty enhancement. For something saltier, select the Dirtier Martini; espresso fans will certainly like the Be Brilliant Martini.

Rebecca Roland is a martini (and Manhattan) fan that drinks hers with gin, and filthy and generally completely dry, though exceptions are made. Several of her preferred non-Tanqueray and non-Bombay martini gin choices consist of Hendrick’s and Monkey 47. She’s recognized to request a side of additional olives at bars, a technique that she would certainly encourage.

For a steak and martinis by the beach, head to the Arthur J in Manhattan Beach. The dining establishment leans upscale without being too expensive, offering itself to unique nights out. Beef remains the celebrity below, functioned as a New York strip, rib-eye, and a lot more. The classic martini is never ever the incorrect choice, however watch out for the restaurant’s interpretations of the beverage on the food selection also– the Cone of Silence Vesper martini does not disappoint.

This sophisticated performance of a martini originates from professional bartender Kevin Lee, whose speakeasy Tokyo Noir can be the most interesting bar to open in Long Beach in years. Influenced by Japanese whiskey bars, Lee utilizes ice from Japan and inventive strategies to create some of the very best mixed drinks in Los Angeles. The Black and white comes ice cold, mixing Ki No Bi gin, daijingo purpose, and housemade vermouth blanc with the significance of piney matsutake mushrooms. A savory-sweet plum adds a vibrant garnish and a briny aspect in a final result that was plainly influenced by martinis yet assimilate a lot more flavor.– Matthew Kang, Eater Southern California/Southwest lead editor