by Kelly Wardle - 21 Reviews - 17 List
There's a lot to be said for having a regular neighborhood watering hole, but sometimes you want to branch out and belly up to a new bar. We've rounded up information on new bars in L.A., from Hollywood spots (the re-imagined Les Deux Estate and the Spare Room) to neighborhood hangouts (the Wellesbourne in West L.A. and the Federal Bar in North Hollywood).
Updated: June 03, 2011
If your eccentric, wealthy British uncle had a bar in his manor, it might look something like the Wellesbourne, with dark wood paneling, leather seats, a fireplace and book-lined shelves filling the West L.A. space. Despite the fancy decor, the bar also features thoroughly low-key games such as foosball and shuffleboard to keep you entertained between drinks.
This new North Hollywood bar and gastropub, housed inside a 1920s-era bank building, is a welcome addition to the area with a good selection of draft and bottled beers, as well as a full bar. The two-story space features several different areas, so you can bank on (ahem) finding a sweet spot whether you want to dig into one of the hefty burgers or check out the upstairs music space.
Located in the space formerly occupied by North Hollywood bar Match, Tiki No brings retro tiki bar style to the Valley with a kitschy tropical decor scheme, and, of course, plenty of rum cocktails, including Mai Tais, Pina Coladas and Painkillers.
The Cutting Room in the Grafton Hotel pays homage to its Sunset Strip location with leather booths shinier than Axl Rose's pants circa 1988, walls covered in albums and guitars, plenty of rock n? roll on the sound system and bourbon behind the bar.
Bowling lanes might be the last thing you?d expect to find in a Hollywood hotel bar, but you can be kingpin at this bar and game lounge, located in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Drinkers can play backgammon and other classic board games or bowl a few games on the two vintage bowling lanes while sipping a craft cocktail. (The cost to bowl? $100 an hour--it is Hollywood, after all.)
Like big sister Toscana Restaurant, the focus at Brentwood's new Bar Toscana is on all things Italian, from the drinks to the small plates (stuzzichini). The atmosphere is more modern Milan than rustic Tuscany, and hand-muddled fruits and herbs are showcased in cocktails such as the Cinque Terre and Pearbellini.
Attached to the outdoor patio of cafe/bakery The Alcove, Big Bar is pretty small in size, but big on well-made cocktails and a menu of late-night bites perfect for enjoying on the larger outdoor patio.
The third outpost of British pub mini-chain Lucky Baldwin's recently opened on Colorado Avenue in East Pasadena, with dozens of international beers on draft and a food menu of British-style pub grub that includes fish and chips, meat pies and bangers and mash.
