Add These Los Angeles Bars to Your “Must Try” List

BAR AVOJA

Photo Credit: Bar Avoja

Bar Avoja is the latest effort of Giancarlo Pagani and chef Evan Funke — the duo behind LA’s power-dining favorite, Mother Wolf. But this time, they’re turning the volume down (just slightly) and channeling something a little more intimate: a moody Roman villa meets modern-day street food scene. Named after Roman slang for “hell yes,” Bar Avoja is equal parts refined and rebellious. The former MARS space has been transformed into a velvety little hideaway layered with walnut wood, inky blues, and just the right amount of dimly lit drama. It’s not quite a bar, not quite a restaurant — it’s what the Italians would call a terzo spazio, a third place made for lingering. The vibe is indulgent, but not precious. While the menu leans into the evolving spirit of Roman street food — with cheeky, elevated spins on classics like fiori di zucca, pizza al taglio, arancini cacio e pepe, and dreamy dolci — the cocktail list is quietly glamorous. Expect elegant riffs on Italian staples made with top-tier spirits and seasonal LA produce — like the Morso Di Vita with Grey Goose, Chinola passion fruit, tomato, basil, and lemon, as well as the Santa Infuocata, mixing Malfy gin, Meyer lemon honey, and Olio Santo olive oil — like an enoteca with edge.

Photo Credit: Bar Avoja

1545 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, 90028

BAR NEXT DOOR

Photo Credit: John Troxel

Bar Next Door is one of West Hollywood’s cheekiest cocktail dens to date — a bold, buzzy love letter to the Sunset Strip’s wild past and glittering present. Helmed by hospitality heavy-hitter Lawrence Longo and creative bar director Brynn Smith of Rossoblu and Sotto fame, it’s a thoroughly modern neighborhood bar with an unapologetically LA point of view. The drinks? Iconic. Try the Olive Drive Martini (hailed as one of the best in the country), a clarified pink Paloma with Beverly Hills Hotel energy, and a high-low riff on whisky and coke that nods to the iconic Whisky a Go-Go. Every pour is a wink to local landmarks and legends — from the glam to the gritty.

Photo Credit: JOHN TROXEL

9159 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 90069

BAR BENJAMIN

Photo Credit: Marcus Meisler

There’s a new reason to stay out late in Hollywood — and it’s perched right above one of its buzziest restaurants. Meet Bar Benjamin, an intimate, design-forward cocktail bar tucked above The Benjamin Hollywood on Melrose. Dreamed up by Ben Shenassafar (of The Hundreds), nightlife veteran Jared Meisler (The Roger Room, Bar Lubitsch), and Kate Burr (A La Mode), Bar Benjamin feels like a glamorous throwback with just the right dose of modern irreverence. Inside, it’s all moody Art Deco elegance: caramel-stained wood paneling, high-back mohair booths, and a Hi-Fi sound system flanked by vintage Maxville speakers. The wraparound balcony delivers cinematic views of the Hollywood Hills — best taken in with one of the bar’s wildly inventive cocktails in hand. Speaking of which: beverage legends Jason Lee and Chad Austin are behind the menu, and they did not hold back. Think spicy mezcal laced with Szechuan peppercorns, parmesan-washed rum, coconut-lemongrass foam, and fig and mango brandies you’ve never heard of but now can’t live without. Don’t miss the Inherent Vice (Miami Vice, but clarified and genius), the umami-bomb Miso Caramel Manhattan. Guests can also expect a rotating welcome sip upon arrival.

Photo Credit: Marcus Meisler

7174 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046