Because the rickets industry NEEDS TO BE STOPPED, it is your personal duty to spend as much time drinking outside as humanly possible. And in order to do so, here are our picks for the top seven outdoor bars in LA:
7. Villains Tavern
1356 Palmetto St; Downtown; 213.613.0766
Though it's now partially covered with a circus tent (thanks to complaints from an overzealous, obviously very cool neighbor), a move which drops it down this list, Villains is the only spot that comes to mind where you can eat, drink, hear live music, and smoke (!!...?) semi-outdoors in the city.
6. The Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt
7000 Hollywood Blvd; Hollywood; 323.466.7000
Sure, you sometimes have to be on a list (PRO TIP: Tell them you're Ed Begley, Senior), and there's not much to talk about drinks-wise, but the poolside scenery and the massive lawn (which often has movies showing on a giant screen during the Summer) make this a win.
5. High
1697 Pacific Ave; Venice Beach; 424.214.1062
Pool-lessness drops this down the list, but, amid a flurry of totally great seaside beach-hotel hangs (including The Bungalow and the Shangri-La), High stands out for being, well, high: it's on the top of the tallest building in Venice, so you've got a literally unparalleled view of the whole city. PRO TIP: It's especially awesome on the fourth of July.
4. Cliff's Edge
3626 W Sunset Blvd; Silver Lake; 323.666.6116
Silverlake's got a few notable patios (Red Lion FTW!), but Cliff's takes the cake due to its foliage/hidden-ness/Matt Biancaniello's drinks.
3. Cat & Fiddle
6530 W Sunset Blvd; Hollywood; 323.468.3800
There're no real specialty drinks, and the food's never been totally on point, but, if you're looking for a place to hang out in a wrought-iron chair and spend, say, eight hours sucking down beers while meeting fresh-off-the-bus actresses in between auditions, there's no better spot in town.
2. The Standard Downtown
550 S Flower St; Downtown; 213.892.8080
Every time someone's all like "Let's go to the rooftop at the Standard!", you're all like, ""I have to drive downtown? And deal with that elevator ride? And get on some list?", and then you do it, and you're like, "Oh yeah, these lounge-beds are awesome. And the food is great. And I've never seen better-looking people in one place." And then you're happy.
1. Stark Bar
5905 Wilshire Blvd; Mid-Wilshire; 323.857.6180
It's a near-perfect outdoor bar: cushy, sofa-style seats (and art-deco loungers), crazy-good cocktails, and, perhaps best of all, relative proximity to the entire city. Added bonus: jazz on Fridays during the Summer and LACMA exhibits, like the recent Stanley Kubrick retrospective.
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1. High Rooftop Lounge
1697 Pacific Ave, Venice Beach -
2. Villains Tavern
1356 Palmetto St, Los Angeles -
3. Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood -
4. Cliff's Edge
3626 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles -
5. The Cat and Fiddle
6530 West Sunset Blvd, Hollywood -
6. The Standard LA
8300 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles -
7. Ray's & Stark Bar
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Get high... above Venice at this serene beachside lounge, where you can sip on drinks like the Sonoran Sun (tequila/chilis/citrus), or enjoy a High Dog (sausage/cream cheese/jalapeno) from the section of the menu labeled "Munchies".
This vintage-feel tavern fits in perfectly at the edge of the Arts District: it has two monster, church pew-abetted patios, an antique bar sourced from an 1880s-era NYC tavern, and a gothic church window repurposed as a mirror behind the bar, all from a woman who started out as an interior designer before becoming the owner of spots like 4100 and The Bordello Bar. Grab one of their signature artisanal cocktails, like the BellaDonna (Maker's Mark, mint, citrus, blackberries), and head out to the larger side patio for some live music.
With its breezy palm trees and sleek design, the Tropicana Bar blends old Hollywood glamour with contemporary California cool. Guests can sip on refreshing mimosas and fresh fruit smoothies, enjoy live DJ music, or simply float in the pool and watch the Hollywood elite in action. Be sure to check out the underwater mural painted by David Hockney.
Get your fill of local ingredients and seasonal craft cocktails at this somewhat-swanky hipster hang, which features a sick patio.
In Hollywood, the intersection of affordability and location takes place at the massive garden patio of The Cat & Fiddle, an institution for over 30 years.
The Standard turned the old Superior Oil building into a downtown hotspot, with a rooftop pool bar, a biergarten, and a billiards/ping pong lounge where you can always have next... because everyone else is hanging out at the pool bar.
Located at LACMA, this swanky bar and restaurant takes museum dining to new levels with an upscale American menu, killer cocktails, and an expansive outdoor patio. Expect wood-fired pizzas, plenty of veggie plates, and classic entrees like a burger with caramelized onions and grilled fish. The Stark Bar has an impressive spirit selection sourced from across the world, and the craft cocktails taste just right at happy hour.