Best Hotel Bars: The LA Woman's List
Whether you're looking for a night out on the town with friends, looking to meet someone new or just entertaining guests in town, hotel bars make great - if somewhat pricey - destinations for cocktails. Here is a roundup of the best hotel bars for women.
Bungalow
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Resort
101 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 899-8530
www.thebungalowsm.com
Located adjacent to the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Resort, Bungalow has become the go-to spot for a fun night out. For ladies, if you love a good looking crowd full of achievers, this bar hotel bar featuring an upscale theme is your place. With a laid back, fun, relaxing environment, this hotel bar has pool and ping pong tables, and outdoor patio and multiple bars to have a great time with friends or to meet that special someone.
Related: Best Singles Bars in LA
Cameo Bar
Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica
1819 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-7500
www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
Step inside Cameo Bar at the Viceroy Hotel and you'll feel as if you've been whisked away into a scene from the 60's with their plush decor. Great for singles and for going out with friends, this Santa Monica hotspot features an indoor and outdoor setting. The outdoor setting, complete with cabanas by a few pools, offers the perfect night out under the stars feeling the ocean breeze. This hotel bar also features outdoor drinks making it easier for you and your friends to taste the expert cocktails Cameo makes.
The Veranda Bar at Casa del Mar
1910 Ocean Way
Santa Monica
(310) 581-5533
www.hotelcasadelmar.com
The Veranda at Casa del Mar is one of the best hotel bars in LA. This iconic beachfront bar (and hotel) was originally founded in 1926, and is reminiscent of days gone by. As you enter the vast lobby bar, you'll find plenty of comfortable seating in a sophisticated and relaxed atmosphere. Nab a table next to the 20-ft. high windows, and soak in the breathtaking view of the sand and sea. The bar menu offers light fare, salads and sushi. Try the deliciously crisp wild mushroom flatbread with sweet corn, talleggio and chives, along with a muddled blueberry mojito. Heaven. All in all, a great place to hang out with friends, bring out-of-town guests or make a Hollywood deal.
WP24 at the Ritz Carlton LA Live
900 W. Olympic blvd. 24th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 743-8824
www.ritzcarlton.com
Open 7 nights a week, this no reservations necessary bar is the perfect spot for girls looking for a night out. Ascend to the heavens, 24 floors above mere mortals, to experience Wolfgang Puck's latest restaurant and lounge, WP24. This stunning space features refined Asian fare in a chic and stylish atmosphere. Thin, horizontal strips of wood create giant basket-like pods that encase the seating enclaves. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the spectacular panoramic views of downtown LA and the dark décor helps to highlight the sparkling city lights below. The Lounge offers a more casual dining experience than the main WP24 dining room. Guests can snack on Asian small plates, sushi or nigri. Choose a bottle of wine from one of their 400 labels or go for some heat with a Dragon's Fire cocktail (tequila, jalapeno, grapefruit and Thai basil).
The Bazaar at SLS Hotel
465 S La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles
(310) 246-5567
www.thebazaar.com
As you enter the Bazaar, you'll feel like Alice, having just fallen down the looking hole. This unique venue is part bar/restaurant and part circus/museum. The space is a visual feast, designed by Phillippe Starck, that's both chic and playful – a perfect complement to the creative menu of tapas style cuisine and molecular gastronomy. Little mounds of cotton candy perch delicately in martini glasses waiting for limey liquid to transform them into Magic Mojitos. A server pushes a "smoking" nitro cart that freezes your Brazilian Caipinirha into a tasty sorbet-like treat. You'll also be pleased with the unique flavors and presentations of the food, such as the jicama-wrapped guacamole, foie gras lollipops and Philly cheesesteak on airbread. Don't forget dessert – just a few feet away at the patisserie bar. Be sure and browse among the bizarre collection of whimsical items displayed in glass boxes and available for purchase.