7 California Bars And Restaurants For Cocktail Lovers
The ability to craft specialty drinks with unique flavor profiles is an art form, and those with discerning palates will go a long way to find a capable mixologist. These bars and restaurants feature some of the best cocktails in California, allowing you to relax and put a delicious cap on your evening in style. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
7 Bars and Restaurants in California that Take Cocktails Seriously
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Bootlegger Tiki | Palm Springs |
| Manuela | Los Angeles |
| A.O.C. | Los Angeles |
| Driftwood Kitchen & Stateroom Bar | Laguna Beach |
| Smuggler's Cove | San Francisco |
| Parkway Grill | Pasadena |
| Ella Dining Room and Bar | Sacramento |
Get to Know Manuela in Downtown LA
Items to Help You Upgrade Your Home Bar
- Cocktail Shakers
- Bartender Kits
- Bitters
- Zesters
- Bartender Books
- Pint Glasses
- Paper Straws
- Martini Glasses
- Moscow Mule Mugs
- Ice Cube Molds
- Margarita Machines
- Cooking Torches
- Margarita Glasses
- Portable Blenders
- Unbreakable Wine Glasses
Sammy Hagar Visits Smuggler's Cove
In Depth
The state of California has been known as a haven for delicious food and drink for decades. Whether your favorite spirit is whiskey, gin, or something in between, there is surely an establishment that can satisfy anyone's cocktail cravings in the Golden State. Whether you're on a quick trip or are a long-time resident, here are 7 California bars and restaurants, in no particular order, for cocktail lovers.
At the #1 spot is Bootlegger Tiki. Located in the former space of the iconic Don the Beachcomber restaurant, Bootlegger Tiki has sought to carry on the Southern Californian tradition of this exotic-themed style of bar. Along with serving a large list of original cocktails, they also serve a number of classic drinks for patrons to enjoy.
Located just five minutes from Downtown Palm Springs, Bootlegger Tiki is near city mainstays such as the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Historic Tennis Club neighborhood, and a slew of local golf courses. For that reason, it's a great place to go for visitors and locals who are looking to recharge and cool down in the middle of the day, or top off an evening with a tiki-styled nightcap.
For that reason, it's a great place to go for visitors and locals who are looking to recharge and cool down in the middle of the day, or top off an evening with a tiki-styled nightcap.
Next up at #2 is Manuela, which is located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. Under the direction of Executive Chef Kris Tominaga, the menu celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from the best farms and producers in Southern California. The restaurant itself is filled with specially commissioned art works from an array of notable artists.
Serving a wide range of vegetables, grains, fish, and game, Manuela also features a bar program which features classic cocktails using house-made bitters and tonics. Local beers are on tap, while the carefully selected wine list is designed to pair with the flavors and style at the heart of their menu. Manuela has separate menus for brunch, lunch, supper, family style, and of course drinks.
Coming in at #3 is A.O.C. in Los Angeles, California. Opened by the award-winning duo of James Beard Award winning chef Suzanne Goin and James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year 2018 Caroline Styne, A.O.C. is a bar and restaurant that focuses on pairing an expansive list of wine by the glass with a menu of market-driven small plates.
Opened by the award-winning duo of James Beard Award winning chef Suzanne Goin and James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year 2018 Caroline Styne, A.O.C. is a bar and restaurant that focuses on pairing an expansive list of wine by the glass with a menu of market-driven small plates.
Along with their wine menu, A.O.C. offers a daily cocktail hour. They offer both specialty and mixed cocktails for patrons to enjoy. A.O.C. inhabits a beautiful open-air space that allows guests to enjoy the beautiful Los Angeles weather as they dine. It is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
At the #4 spot is Driftwood Kitchen and Stateroom Bar, located in Laguna Beach, California. This waterfront restaurant features an ocean-to-table dining experience of fresh seafood, steaks, and hand-shucked oysters. On top of a diverse food menu comes handcrafted cocktails that can be enjoyed while looking over the expansive California coast.
Driftwood Kitchen and Stateroom Bar has an eclectic drinks menu that offers many different options when it comes to champagne, white and red wine, and of course beer. Their cocktails are also quite diverse. Their Liquid Homage options pay respect to iconic Californian bars and drinks and their Stateroom Cocktails offer novel takes on many classic libations.
Their Liquid Homage options pay respect to iconic Californian bars and drinks and their Stateroom Cocktails offer novel takes on many classic libations.
Next up at #5 on this list is Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco, California. Since opening its doors in 2009, Smuggler's Cove has established itself as one of the top rum and exotic cocktail destinations in the world. They offer their guests a new approach to the iconic spirit by featuring the largest rum selection in the country, and cocktails from over three centuries of history. The bar's interior also features vintage Tiki artifacts that provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco.
The owner and creator of Smuggler's Cove, Martin Cate, is a rum and exotic cocktail expert who has conducted educational seminars and has officiated rum & cocktail competitions throughout the world. Smuggler's Cove has won a number of major awards and honors including being named the 2017 James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner, as well as being listed as one of the world's fifty best bars in "Drinks International" every year from 2011 to 2016.
For #6 we have Pasadena, California's Parkway Grill. Opening to rave reviews in 1984, the Parkway Grill has held a major presence in the American culinary movement. It has also been at the forefront of creating trendsetting cuisine by specializing in a seasonal, market-driven approach that incorporates diverse influences and classic French techniques.
It has also been at the forefront of creating trendsetting cuisine by specializing in a seasonal, market-driven approach that incorporates diverse influences and classic French techniques.
At Parkway Grill, mixologists prepare hand-crafted cocktails at the expansive bar, an original from 1920's Chicago. Parkway's award-winning wine cellar, comprised of upwards of three thousand bottles, includes a broad selection of wines served by the glass. The cocktails at this Pasadena mainstay include classic and original drinks that are made with fresh ingredients, some of which come from their own organic garden.
Finally, at #7 on this list is Ella Dining Room and Bar, located in the middle of Downtown Sacramento. Ella serves New American, farm-to-fork cuisine for lunch, dinner and happy hour. Its menu features entrees of seafood, steaks, and pastas, small plates, salads, fresh oysters and traditional caviar service. It also features an award-winning wine list as well as seasonal and classic hand crafted cocktails at its renowned bar.
Ella's classic cocktails include drinks such as a martini, gimlet, and gin and tonic with homemade rainforest quinine tonic. As one would expect, Ella's seasonal libations change depending on what fruit, vegetables, and herbs are in season at the time. Beyond that, they also offer buzz-free options, which allow those who do not drink alcohol to enjoy creative, homemade beverages nonetheless.
