Everson Royce Bar

Everson Royce Bar was always built for a good time, with perfect bar food, a great drink selection, and the best patio in the Arts District. So it only makes sense that they also have lovely, large-format cocktails for you to share with nine or so of your best friends. Like everything else they do, the shareable cocktails are straightforward but never simple, and always immaculately executed. The Yo LA Tengo is a longstanding ERB favorite, a bright combination of mezcal, grapefruit, aperol, ginger, and lime. There’s also the Infanté, with tequila, orgeat, nutmeg, and rose, in addition to more familiar drinks like the Gold Rush and Moscow Mule. You can sometimes get them same-day, but it’s better to order in advance if you can.
How to book: Reservations available on Resy, and to order large-format cocktails it’s best to send them an email or fill out the form on their Big Party page.

The festive downtown bar from the Silver Lake Wine gang and chef Matt Molina may have the simplest burger in town, but it is also one of the absolute best. The burger is just prime chuck, cheddar, dijonaise, and a pickle on a brioche bun, but it hits exactly the right indulgent notes—it is intensely salty and super rich, a concentrated burst of flavor that punches way above its weight. You can get it as a double if you really want to, but it’s sort of a hat on a hat; you’re better off putting that stomach capacity towards their unreal buttermilk biscuits with honey butter, or another killer cocktail.