Los Angeles
13 venues ranked by our editors. Happy hours, rooftop terraces, and Downtown classics. Updated 2025.
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French-inspired rooftop bar on the 15th floor of a Downtown office tower. The 5pm to 7pm happy hour brings half the neighbourhood's legal and finance crowd here. The views of the Arts District are what keep them coming back. Rooftop
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The after-work crowd fills the first-floor beer hall from 5pm onward. The choice of four distinct rooms means you can escalate or retreat depending on how the meeting went. The cocktails in the mezzanine bar are the city's best reward for surviving a difficult Thursday. Multiple Rooms
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The definitive westside after-work bar. The front garden fills by 5:30pm on Fridays. A mix of tech and entertainment industry draws. The house wines are reliably good; the cocktails are better than the crowd would suggest. Garden
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Book-lined walls and a cocktail list that takes itself appropriately seriously. A quiet refuge for creative industry professionals who want a drink without the noise. Quiet
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71st floor of the US Bank Tower. The happy hour from 4:30pm to 6:30pm cuts prices significantly on a cocktail list that's worth paying full price for. The view justifies the detour. Rooftop
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Heritage building, exposed brick, and a after-work crowd that skews creative. Eight taps plus a focused spirits list. The burger deserves more attention than it gets. Craft Beer
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A transatlantic railway bar concept with exceptional cocktails and a crowd that looks like it arrived from a different era. Happy hour until 7pm on weekdays. Bring someone interesting. Cocktails
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Plant-based Mexican food and excellent margaritas. The patio fills with the WeHo after-work crowd by 6pm. The lavender margarita converts skeptics without effort. Margaritas
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Beach-adjacent dive bar beloved by the South Bay crowd. Cold beers, no fuss, honest prices. The afternoon light through the windows is its own kind of beautiful. Dive
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Gothic Arts District bar with live music most evenings. The rum cocktails are the best thing on the menu. The crowd skews creative and tolerant of conversation. Live Music
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Natural wine bar with a serious kitchen. The bar seats at the counter are the best deal in Venice for a 6pm drink and small plate combination. Crowded on Fridays. Wine
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Euro-style cafe bar in a renovated historic building. The wine list is built for drinking, not collecting. Knowledgeable, unhurried staff. Wine
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Converted theatre with 72 California craft beers on tap and the neighbourhood's most eclectic after-work crowd. Order the flatbread and stay for two hours. Craft Beer
French-inspired rooftop bar on the 15th floor of a Downtown office tower. The 5pm to 7pm happy hour brings half the neighbourhood's legal and finance crowd here. The views of the Arts District are what keep them coming back.
The after-work crowd fills the first-floor beer hall from 5pm onward. The choice of four distinct rooms means you can escalate or retreat depending on how the meeting went. The cocktails in the mezzanine bar are the city's best reward for surviving a difficult Thursday.
The definitive westside after-work bar. The front garden fills by 5:30pm on Fridays. A mix of tech and entertainment industry draws. The house wines are reliably good; the cocktails are better than the crowd would suggest.
Looking beyond Los Angeles? See our guide to the best after-work bars worldwide, or compare after-work bars city by city.