If you like to drink, check out these LA Weekend events. Friday, September 14 Sassafras Bar Opens Gawd, I love the name of this place. The Interwebs have been abuzz about this new Southern-inspired bar from the 1933 Group (Thirsty Crow, Oldfield’s). Barrel-aged cocktails, make-your-own-buck cocktail menu, housemade sasaparillas and live music. Yup, it’s the…
When bartender Mia Sarazen first walked into The Churchill gastropub in West Hollywood, she immediately thought the space could use an Old Fashioned. And looking around at its Edison light bulbs, reclaimed wood communal tables and antique decor, I’d say she’s right. But she didn’t just stop there. Mia’s entire new cocktail menu was basically…
Some things you won’t find at the cocktail bar in Los Feliz’s new and much–buzzed–about MessHall restaurant: standard martini glasses, olives and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Why? Bar director Erik Lund (formerly of Rivera), who took over the cocktail program from Julian Cox, basically doesn’t want to serve club drinks (martini glasses “look so tacky,”…
Hate to break it to you but despite our perfect, pool-party weather, summer vacation is over. The good news is that we have new fall cocktail menus to look forward to. Case in point, the new fall Rivera cocktail menu by bartender extraordinaire Julian Cox debuts at the downtown restaurant on Wednesday the 12th. And…
This past Saturday at The Taste LA Cocktail Confidential 2012, six of L.A.’s top bartenders brawled on stage. Only one of them could limp away winner of this cocktail competition judged by the very discerning palates of LA Times nightlife writer Jessica Gelt, master bartender Julian Cox and award-winning food writer Jonathan Gold. OK, actually…
Don’t be intimidated by £10 (10 Pound Macallan Bar), the Beverly Hills Macallan-dedicated bar located in the Montage upstairs from Scarpetta restaurant. Sure, it has fanciness the average drinker can’t fathom like Lalique touches throughout the bar and glassware, the world’s most expensive whiskey ($64,000 for 2 ounces of a Macallan 64 Years Old) tucked in the…
Forget waiting until fall for new cocktails to drink. The Alcove’s Big Bar Los Feliz just debuted its brand-new midsummer cocktail menu. Bartender Dan Long said he was inspired by the bar/restaurant’s expansive patio, which is perfect for brunch and those Monday movie nights. These “Patio drinks” — tasty takes on daiquiris, Negronis and even…
When West Hollywood gastropub The Churchill first opened in October 2011, I wanted to like it. But, big problem, the cocktails just weren’t doing it for me. The beverage director back then hailed from sister location, Hudson House, and had concocted this cocktail list of uber sweet and overcomplicated drinks. So unsurprisingly, I haven’t been…
If you lovvve drinking you’ve probably already bought your ticket for Los Angeles Times’ The Taste: Cocktail Confidential this Saturday, part of the weekend-long multi-event food fest on the Paramount Studios lot. And if you haven’t yet, you better get on that. Hosted by ubiquitous bartender Julian Cox (Rivera, Playa, Picca, Short Order) and LA…
So how does 213 Nightlife‘s brand-new Seven Grand San Diego whiskey bar, which just celebrated its grand opening last Thursday, differ from its L.A. sister? 1) It’s got double the beer taps (25 versus 12 in L.A.), which makes sense considering San Diego is America’s beer capital. 2) It also boasts a Jackalope-esque Room with…
