Los Angeles, CA
For Cocktails in Los Angeles, the local food press points to Thunderbolt, Mirate, and Death & Co Los Angeles. Picks from The Infatuation LA and Resy LA, updated April 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in The Infatuation LA, Resy LA, and Eater LA. Updated April 2026.
Thunderbolt · Historic Filipinotown
Mathew Biancaniello and team's zero-waste program puts it on North America's 50 Best Bars every year; the spec-forward highballs and the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award make it LA's bartender-favorite bar.
Mirate · Los Feliz
Max Reis's agave program — rare mezcals, pre-Hispanic fermented drinks, and one of LA's best cocktail lists — has landed Mírate on World's 50 Best Bars' longlist and every LA publication's top-5.
Death & Co Los Angeles · Arts District
The NYC icon's LA outpost is the reference-point subterranean lounge; Eater and Infatuation point to the ever-evolving menu as the city's gold-standard cocktail education.
Bar Benjamin · Melrose Hill
The 2024 opener that every LA critic added to their 2025 rankings — intricate drinks like the tomato negroni and Sichuan-peppercorn margarita pair with one of the best restaurant burgers in town.
Tiki-Ti · Los Feliz
The 12-stool tiki A-frame operating since 1961 is untouchable LA picks; Ray's Mistake and the Blood & Sand are mandatory pilgrimages per Eater, Infatuation, and LA Times.
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