Los Angeles' Best Romantic Bar

Music maestro Herb Alpert helms this intimate Bel-Air steakhouse and jazz club.

Reviews:

• “Excellent dinners for special occasions”
• “Pricey but worth it for a fancy occasion”
• “This Restaurant SUCKED!”
• “Romantic and good food”
• “lazy sevice, bad food and overpriced”

Tips: Expect in very rare cases, there’s no cover charge or a drink minimum. Call ahead to confirm.

Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. or email Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc.

Where Hollywood suits sip trendy spirits and seal movie deals.

Reviews:

• “Great Bar Service!”
• “lovely views of the pacific”
• “that explains it….”
• “When You Need to Relax and Indulge”
• “Wonderful!”

Tips: Order a flute of champagne to toast the gorgeous ocean view; Veranda Bar offers four by the glass. Feeling daring? Try the signature Darlini, a refreshing raspberry, orange juice and champagne concoction.

The Veranda Bar at Casa Del Mar Hotel or email The Veranda Bar at Casa Del Mar Hotel

Hybrid martini-and-wine bar livens up subdued Santa Monica neighborhood with stylish drinking enclave.

Reviews:

• “Great DJ and Courteous Doorman”
• “nice atmosphere”
• “It clearly isn’t air conditioned…”
• “bottomless sangria!”
• “Nothing to get all hot & bothered about”

Tips: Most of the surrounding side streets are permit restricted, so guests can park at meters along Pico and the rear parking lot.

AIR CONDITIONED

Mountain resort vibe breezes through Eagle Rock’s hipster watering hole.

Reviews:

• “WORST "
• “Great Local Bar; Strong Drinks”
• “Great Ambience, Great Staff, Excellent Times!”
• “best in eagle rock”
• “Weak drinks, not so friendly staff”

Tips: There’s no valet or paid lot, but street parking is available on Colorado and in the surrounding neighborhood. Some people take their chances in the Tritch Hardware lot just east of the club.

The Chalet

The Mondrian’s bar is a luxurious poolside oasis—and a Sunset Strip velvet-rope institution.

Reviews:

• “Worst Experience Ever. Stupidest Excuse Ever For Throwing Someone Out!!!”
• “Terrible experience…”
• “A great view, but ridiculous food and drink service ordering policies”
• “Skybar Halloween Party”
• “upscale, swanky, expensive, but worth the view!”

Tips: How to get in: Call ahead and drop industry connections; book a room at the Mondrian, which includes four spots on the list; dine at Asia de Cuba and migrate; or show up before the doorman—he doesn’t appear until 8pm.

Skybar

Popular San Diego bar opens its second Westside branch, with boldly styled supper club in Venice’s former El Marquez space.

Reviews:

• “No shorts, no notice, no entry…”
• “Great music, lame crowd”
• “Worst Bartender Ever…”
• “I’ve never been disappointed here”
• “Awesome music, glitchy bartender”

Tips: The bar (and crowd) is best on Thursday and Saturday nights between 11pm and 1am, with rarely a line or any hassles at the door.

AIR CONDITIONED Supper Club

Comfortable basement-sized martini bar fills a niche between the stuffier and scruffier neighborhood spots.

Reviews:

• “Great Ambiance, Awesome Music, Unique Martinis”
• “Best Ambiance Best Service – anywhere”
• “Dig the Atmosphere”
• “Best date place Ive been in a while”
• “Got a losuy waitress/food tasted like it was frozen deep fried and a lot of salt.”

Tips: There’s no sign and the entrance is located just north of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, on Ninth Street.

The Side Door

Swirling dragons and a massive Buddha—the Far East comes to this Eastside bar.

Reviews:

• “Hollywood in Silverlake”
• “sweet atmosphere”
• “great late night cocktail”
• “Worst Bar in Silverlake!”
• “Horrible! Worst. Night. Ever.”

Tips: The small lot in front and neighboring streets fill up fast. Take a chance in the mechanic’s lot next door, or look west of the club on Santa Monica.

4100 Bar

There’s a full-blown scene at this exotic Eastside spot—the delicious food is merely a bonus.

Reviews:

• “Not what I expected”
• “great!”
• “Part 2 – Don’t go there for Dinner…maybe for an after drink”
• “fun place”
• “Very nice”

Tips: Daily from 5pm to 7pm.

Tangier Restaurant & Lounge

Upscale neighborhood lounge in the midst of the suddenly hot Valley nightlife scene.

Reviews:

• “Fun night out, but way too dim”
• “best bar in studio city”
• “fun spot in the valley”
• “Great bar not in Hollywood”
• “A TRUE Lounge”

Tips: Sapphire’s tiny parking area fills up fast. After 10pm, some people take their chances in the Trader Joe’s lot just east of the bar on Ventura.

The Sapphire—CLOSED