LA hidden bars are spread across Downtown, Hollywood and Koreatown. The 10 below show how LA does the secret-bar form.
Part of our 50 Best Hidden Gem Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best hidden gem bars in LA
01 · Los Angeles
Downtown
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Through Cole's · Speakeasy
Through Cole's restaurant in DTLA.
Order: A Sazerac
02 · Los Angeles
Koreatown
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Tasting menu · Behind The Normandie
Behind The Normandie Club. Tasting-menu cocktail bar.
Order: The full tasting
03 · Los Angeles
West Hollywood
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Hidden · Behind a palm reader
Through a fake palm-reader storefront on La Cienega.
Order: A perfect Manhattan
04 · Los Angeles
Downtown
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Speakeasy · Through a hotel
Through an unmarked entrance in DTLA.
Order: A drink built around their seasonal honey-and-citrus combination
05 · Los Angeles
Hollywood
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Victorian · Multi-room
In a restored 1902 Victorian house. Theatrical entry.
Order: A garden-side spritz
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06 · Los Angeles
East Hollywood
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Industrial · Burlesque
Industrial-loft cocktail bar with mid-week burlesque programming.
Order: A whisky-based seasonal
07 · Los Angeles
Hollywood
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Southern Gothic · Garden
Southern Gothic-themed bar with a garden patio.
Order: A mint julep on the patio
08 · Los Angeles
Highland Park
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Bowling alley · 1927
Restored 1927 bowling alley with a serious cocktail bar.
Order: A boilermaker between frames
09 · Los Angeles
Koreatown
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Behind The Walker
Front-of-house cocktail bar. Sister to The Walker Inn.
Order: Anything off the seasonal menu
10 · Los Angeles
Historic Filipinotown
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All-day patio
Mia Sarazen's neighbourhood bar that punches at international weight.
Order: Negroni Sbagliato variant of the season
More LA hidden gemsThe full LA hidden-gem-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How LA hides its best
The Varnish and The Walker Inn are essential. Most peak between 9 and 11 PM.
