Best Bars in Los Angeles

Looking for a great place to hang out in Los Feliz? Then Messhall Kitchen can't be beat. Located in the domed building that once housed The Brown Derby restaurant and later The Derby nightclub, the structure is now a protected Historical Cultural Monument of the City of Los Angeles. Messhall is an easygoing watering hole that locals seem to love, probably because of its wide-ranging (and funny) drinks menu. Try a sip of White Girls Can't Drink if you like vodka, or go for the Pride, w/Liberal Amounts of Prejudice if scotch is your poison. There are both a carefully curated wine-by-the-glass list and a tap beer selection, too. They even offer "Spirits Flights," 1/2-ounce sips of whiskeys from all over the world. The food's good, too, including everything from burgers to a raw bar, grilled meats and blackened tuna — you name it and they seem to have it.

If a fascination with fine wine rules your life, then Augustine Wine Bar is your must-visit spot in Southern California. This San Fernando Valley hotspot is always packed with locals who love vino — and for good reason. For the Augustine's staff adores a good glass of wine, and curates quaffs from all over the globe. Champagne from France, Prosecco Superiore from Italy's Valdobbiadene, Chardonnay from California, Tempranillo from Spain, Malbec from Argentina — think of your favorite and they probably have it in their cellar. Add in the congenial atmosphere in a place usually filled with like-minded wine lovers (they do offer beer for non-believers) and the party is ON. There are appetizer plates of cheese and charcuterie to pair with the wine, as well as other tapas-like dishes including braised octopus, diver scallops and even tater tots.

Downtown L.A.'s newest beer hall really brings it, with over 40 craft beers on tap and one of the longest bars in town. That's a slate-topped expanse where hops lovers can belly right up; but never fear, Barrel Down also offers plenty of specialty cocktails and fine wines for those whose palates shy away from the suds. Even teetotaling partiers will find Abita root beer and Mr. Q cucumber soda to help quench their thirst. Bar food is purveyed by Executive Chef Derrick de Jesus, ranging from burgers and fried chicken to a pecan-and-pear salad and a grain bowl overflowing with barley, wild rice and wheat berries.

Nic's Beverly Hills is a cool-cat spot on Canon Drive, just steps from the shops on Rodeo Drive. That's why the beautiful people seem to always be in here, sipping on one of Larry Nicola's luscious martinis and nibbling on his famous "cocktailing foods." Think oysters, shrimp, potato latkes, deviled eggs or Royal Osetra caviar. But whatever you decide to eat, be sure to try at least one icy cold vodka shot from Nic's famed VodBox. That's the place where things can get wild, starting when you slip into the faux-fur coats that Nic's supplies, to get you ready to go into the huge vodka refrigerator located at the back of the restaurant. There you'll find shelves filled with the best vodka money can buy, all offered up in tasting flights beginning at $21 per person. It's tons of fun in a quirky way, elevating the post-work cocktail to a whole new art form.

You'll feel just a tad smarter as you down one of Firefly's craft cocktails while relaxing in this sophisticated watering hole's library-like setting. Velvet sofas welcome you in the main room that's chockablock with books, but the well-heeled patrons aren't usually reading anything but their cellphones. The party goes on outside, too, where cozy cabanas and community tables await on the seductive back patio. Try Executive Chef Paul Shoemaker's easy-to-share appetizers or go all in with his Tasting Menu, a full meal (three courses) for $55. Weekend brunch is a favorite, with choices ranging from "scramblers" to salads to full-on meals. But the real fun here is the late-night scene, where cocktails flow and the party doesn't stop until 2 a.m. most nights.

In business and family owned since 1952, Tony's on the Pier in Redondo Beach has been a landmark watering hole literally for generations. It's got incredible views of the ocean from the main floor and there's a wonderful vantage point from the Top 'o Tony's, the upstairs eyrie that affords views up and down the coastline and out to Catalina. Watch the sun set and sip on one of Tony's famous Mai Tais or try the Fire Chief, adding a 151 rum floater to the Mai Tai for a serious kick. Enjoy live entertainment every night from about 7 p.m. on and if you order up the serious fried food platter (calamari, oysters, cod), you may never want to leave. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can hang out until 1:30 a.m.; closing time is 11 p.m. the rest of the week.

The Bowery is a little bit of New York City in the heart of Hollywood (literally, it's located at Sunset and Vine), a tiny place that changed the mood of Los Angeles a decade ago. Acknowledged as the first bona fide gastropub in Los Angeles, the place is the brainchild of NYC native George Abou-Daoud, whose idea for the place was simple. "I wanted to open a bar that had really good food," he says, and ten years later, he's obviously doing something right. The grass-fed beef burgers served on an English muffin are legendary, smothered in cheese and BBQ sauce with a choice of toppings like mushrooms, onions, bacon, avocado, etc. Belly up to the bar and chow down, or simply settle into the banquette and enjoy a glass of beer or bubbly. And don't be surprised if you see a famous face sitting nearby, for this is a popular place with stars who love the Bowery's hassle-free ambience.

Next Door Lounge is a classic Hollywood speakeasy, hearkening back to the Roaring Twenties when booze was illegal and drinking was just a bit sinful. There's a doorman on duty, so whisper a secret password (don't worry, he'll tell you what it is) and you'll be admitted to this cozy spot that's stocked with 1920s-era cocktails and barrel-aged spirits. Sip on those specialty drinks and order up one of the place's legendary beef sliders if you're feeling a bit peckish. There's steak, seafood and flatbreads, too. Later on, the dancing starts, on Fridays with a burlesque show first; Saturdays feature a live band that does two sets, then DJs spin until the wee hours. Next Door Lounge is only open on the weekends, with special events now and then, and reservations are key.

The High Rooftop Lounge in Venice's Hotel Erwin has the best L.A. city views you can find anywhere, hands down. Look one way and you see Catalina Island, the South Bay and LAX; look another and there's Santa Monica Pier, Malibu and the Getty Museum. Keep looking and you see the Hollywood Hills, Century City, downtown Los Angeles and beyond. It's the single best place to bring newcomers to town, for once you've shown them the layout of the city from this unique panoramic vista, they'll feel like locals. It helps that the sunset is usually stunning, too, and that the drinks and appetizers served up here in the open air just seem to taste better than in other bars. The lounge is so popular with locals and tourists that it is expanding, adding more bars to keep up with the demand.

Anejo Cantina & Grill opened in late 2015, much to the delight of Angelenos living in Sherman Oaks and the rest of the San Fernando Valley. For this convivial Mexican watering hole has it all, from luscious guacamole made table side and the greatest bacon-wrapped shrimp you have ever tasted to a rocking nighttime bar scene and live music every Thursday through Saturday nights. Flamenco or mariachi bands get the diverse crowd moving and the scene swirling. Happy Hour happens every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with margaritas for $3, sangria, wine and beer for $4 and plenty of appetizers to soak up the spirits. Big sports events make the bar the place to be, where specialty cocktails featuring house-infused tequilas and vodkas include a rockin' Pineapple Jalapeno Martini that bursts with spicy goodness. There's plenty of classic Mexican fare, too: be sure to try the housemade Tamales, Carne Asada and the Chili Verde.