Best Craft Beer Bars in Los Angeles

The flagship taproom of one of LA's most respected craft breweries sits in a converted warehouse in the Arts District. Fourteen taps of house beers, rotating seasonal releases, and a food menu that goes well beyond bar snacks. The Mosaic IPA has won a California craft beer award three years running.

Three blocks from Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), Boomtown draws a pre-game crowd before Lakers and Kings games but holds its own as a serious craft beer destination year-round. The experimental small-batch series is released on the first Friday of each month.

The tap room of one of LA's most influential craft breweries serves as the neighbourhood's unofficial living room. Expect low-ABV session ales, wild fermentation projects, and a zero-pretension vibe that somehow manages to also be extremely cool.

The Hawaiian-themed brewery in Culver City makes beers that are genuinely distinctive, with tropical fruit hop profiles that reference the aesthetic without being gimmicky. The Poke bowls are an ideal pairing.

The original craft beer pioneers of the South Bay still produce some of the most interesting beers in LA County. The Amarillo Sky IPA has a cult following, and the taproom's chill atmosphere makes this a destination worth the drive.

The sprawling warehouse taproom in the Arts District runs 18 taps of house beers with regular cask and specialty releases. The outdoor courtyard handles large groups well. One of the best spots in LA for a big group.

Three locations across LA, each running 40+ taps of California craft beer alongside a solid pub food menu. The staff are knowledgeable and patient with first-time craft beer explorers. This is where people come to learn.

Worth the drive to El Monte for the experimental releases that rarely make it into distribution. Progress makes bold, weird, sometimes challenging beers that remind you what craft brewing is supposed to be about. The taproom is no-frills but the beer is exceptional.

The family-run taproom three blocks from the Staples Center combines great English-style ales with a welcoming atmosphere that has made it a local favourite. The Sunday brunch session with bottomless mimosas alongside great beer is an unexpectedly good combination.

The converted warehouse taproom hosts regular events alongside a solid rotating tap list. The collaboration releases with other LA breweries are consistently among the city's most interesting new beers.

The irreverent name masks a serious brewing operation. The Grandma's Pecan Brown Ale has become an LA craft beer institution, and the seasonal releases maintain a high baseline of quality.

The furthest afield on this list, Bravery in Lancaster is worth knowing about for the Antelope Valley contingent. The taproom runs live music on weekends and the beer programme is surprisingly sophisticated for the location.