50 Best Cocktail Bars near Playa Del Rey

“This bar is awesome! We heard that it was the smallest bar in LA and expected to be greeted by regulars who resented our presence. We experienced the complete opposite. The bartender Pete immediately recognized my Midwest accent and engaged myself and my 2 adult children in conversation. The locals at the bar were also very engaging. Many reviews I have read described it as a dive. I completely disagree with that assessment. It is a local bar that is very welcoming to any patron. Keep in mind it is cash only! Looking forward to going back!“

“Good neighborhood Mexican food.“

“Mo’s Place is excellent. Breakfast is the best we have had anywhere and the price couldn’t be beat. Christy Anne is a wonderful, pleasant and happy waitress who served us.“

“Since Or Bar opened in the old Gold Coast space, it has become my favorite local place. Good drinks, great people. I love all of the staff here!“

“Farmhouse kitchen is the best Thai restaurant I’ve ever had. On top of the food being great and delicious, the presentation makes you want to order everything from the menu. Chef Bo was so nice to come out to our table and all I can say is she was a very nice, young & talented person. She even made me a special dessert for my birthday. Thanks Bo❤️ I highly recommend this place if you want an authentic, excellent and delicious food. In addition, the place is so full of life. The decor is amazing! I can’t wait to go back and try some of the fancy drinks and dishes on the menu.“

“I’ve been to Felix multiple times over the years, and in general, I think it’s a fantastic restaurant with consistently high-quality food. That’s why this review is disappointing to write.

The last two pasta dishes I’ve ordered have been underwhelming. My previous visit, the carbonara fell short, and this time the cacio e pepe was even more disappointing.

The cacio e pepe was overwhelmingly peppery, lacked the rich, creamy Pecorino Romano flavor that defines the dish, and tasted like it had little to no cheese. It was nothing like a proper cacio e pepe should be. I had just returned from Italy a few weeks ago, where I ate authentic cacio e pepe at small local trattorias, so I know exactly how beautifully simple and balanced this dish can be. Unfortunately, Felix’s version completely missed the mark. Considering the restaurant’s reputation and premium prices, I expected much more.

To make matters worse, the service at the bar was disappointing. Not once during the meal did anyone ask how the food was or whether everything was okay. A simple check-in could have given us the opportunity to share our concerns while we were there.

I genuinely hope the team takes this feedback constructively because Felix is still a great restaurant overall, and I’ve had many excellent meals here. That’s exactly why these last two visits have been so surprising. I hope they address these issues and bring the pasta back to the standard that made Felix such a standout in the first place.“

“Absolutely delicious food. Chulita Bowl was fantastic, hibiscus mimosa and latte were so good. Friendly staff too! Thanks for the wonderful brunch. 🙏🧜🏽‍♀️“

“We are vegan and went with the Spicy Miso Ramen, it didn't disappoint. One suggestion, if you want the extra spice kick, ask for their chili oil, it really amped up the ramen overall.
Our kid enjoyed the mushroom bao too.

For parking, you can get lucky by finding a street parking behind the restaurant.“

“Great atmosphere friendly staff and amazing food 😎“

“The food is phenomenal!! Everything is amazing“

“Great service , great ambience, great margarita drinks overall, an awesome place with outdoor patio. Just beautiful.“

“I have been coming to this restaurant from the beginning and the food is just the best. Fresh ingredients, simple recipes and wonderful atmosphere. Not to mention the deserts, they have such lovely, delicious sweets. The service is fantastic too.“

“Booked a reservation here for my husband’s birthday and let me tell you all - It did not disappoint! We came in and brought us to our seats right away.

We ordered the tasting menu for 2. From the bone broth to the cafe panna cotta — SPEECHLESS, my husband and I loved every bit of it. The flavors were AMAZING.

Also they cook their steak warm red & at first I was hesitant because I love my steak medium well, but this one !! It was so soft and well-seasoned. So delicious!

10/10 no notes. We are definitely coming back!!!“

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!“

“I had the warmest experience at The Arthur J, from the hostess at the front door, the wait staff and the manager. I had recently lost my husband prior to my reservation and was determined to enjoy our anniversary dinner. Not only was a the food delicious, but the overall experience was beyond memorable. Thank you…. thank you. Can’t wait until I return for his birthday.“

“Saltie Girl is still top 5 in LA. Always relaxed, very inviting, the courses were served timely. Oysters were delicious, love their mignonette, crudo full of flavor with a hint of spice, and caviar service unmatched. Love coming here for a mid-day wkd Spritz. Our server was very kind, friendly, and checked in on us attentively. I know every time I come here is always a positive experience.“

“A perfect stay!! Celebrating my husband’s 60th! From the time we arrived, the service and attention to detail was impeccable! The entire staff was so welcoming and went out of their way to make sure my husband was enjoying his birthday celebration. It was our first stay at the Maybourne. It will be the only place we stay from now on. Thank you so much to the entire staff for making our stay so special.“

“First time dining here, and it definitely did not disappoint! The food was delicious, the service was warm and welcoming, and the staff was attentive and friendly. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely be coming back!“

“Tonight we, my husband and I, with our dear friends, the Crays, dined at Tomat for the first of what will be many times. The restaurant features a dining room and a roof top patio. A welcoming, comfortable space. The staff were all friendly and very knowledgeable about all menu items. Our server Miley took excellent care of us throughout dinner and dessert. She assisted us with choosing items that would pair well with each other. She was never too busy to stop to see if everything was to our liking. She brought the chef to our table so we could let him know personally how much we enjoyed his creations. He gave us a bit of background on his plan of sustainability and creativity for his restaurant. The food was amazing. We had several appetizers. The tuna carpaccio was amazing, light and dark tuna with the freshest tomatoes. The welsh rarebit was so delicious. The weiser melon with strawberry kimchi was a delicious surprise. The house milled saffron rice was amazing. Our mains did not disappoint. The trout and chips were excellent. Everyone at the table said “best trout we have ever had”. The vegetable chips were outstanding. The vaca vieja ribeye was perfectly cooked. The pork three ways with chamoy was also perfectly cooked. Dessert was madelines, warm from the oven, with the strawberry sorbet and the saffron ice cream. All were outstanding. Overall, this was a fabulous dining experience. Great food with great service in such a comfortable atmosphere. And, we have already made reservations for next month!“

“myself & wife called in without a reservation Sunday evening, Had a beautiful meal in a very busy and friendly place our waitress Tamera was absolutely awesome friendly and gave great recommendations for us being from England helping with menus information highly recommended 5 star June 2025“

“Amazing place!! Do yourself a favor and go! Make it“

“The food and the atmosphere are AMAZING“

“Our server Sean was amazing!“

“Atmosphere was great! Service was fabulous. Drinks were tasty! Margarita Pizza lacked cheese but the Sweet Cheeks was amazing 🤩.“

“Hollywood's Best & Most Consistent Food & Drinks by far!“

“Really good food but not spectacular. Wonderful ambiance and our server was fantastic. Parking lot underground is very convenient. Prices were not exorbitant. But at the end of the day, I didn't really eat anything that would make me go back“

“Great crowd around the pool table! Right between a dispensary AND a Japanese infused, vegan hotdog joint!“

“Love this spot! Bartender was great and atmosphere is upscale, classy and sophisticated-great when you wanna stay in Hermosa but get away from the Pier!“

“We catered a Christmas dinner for 8 with Il Moro and all the food was delicious! We especially loved the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs, divine vegetables and pasta with olives dishes. We will definitely be back!“

“Good food in casual friendly local restaurant & nice bar hangout ⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Walked and found this little gem ❤️“

“Everything is amazing. Yellowfin The tuna tartare, perfect seasoning, delicious salsa, fresh ingredients. Spectacular view, the service all the staff Maria, Jonathan, Abraham, Mateo everyone super friendly. Excellent atmosphere. The Chef Javier Lopez creates an innovative flavor combination, the presentation of the dish is impeccable. It's look like a work of art. We love 71 Above“

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!“

“Amazing staff, fantastic food, great atmosphere. 10 out of 10 for me!“

“Delicious food and drinks!“

“The food is absolutely brilliant, the parking is okay, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is great“

“The food at Lunetta is always reliable and nicely prepared....tasty, too! The service is also very nice. The interior of the restaurant is worn and dated and could definitely use a refresh. Also, the noise level was way up which poses a problem if you can't shout over other people at other tables in order to be heard by your people at your table. If you are hearing challenged, the noise problem is even more challenging. To be fair, this noise issue, unfortunately, seems to be pervasive at most Los Angeles restaurants.“

“One of my girlfriend's favorite spots. Plenty of seating, but it definitely gets busy. We started with the guac and chips, and the taro chips were insanely crunchy and so good. I ordered the Tremendous Burger, and it definitely lived up to the name. Juicy, flavorful, and one of those burgers I'd happily order again. The pizzas looked delicious too, so I'll definitely be back to try one. The whole staff was super friendly which made the experience even better“

“Great Bbq! Great service!“

“We loved this place; delish food, great location and lovely Parisian vibe!“

“Wonderful food! I got the salmon with my salad and it was delicious! Get the June salad for lunch!“

“Beautiful little restaraunt by Manhattan Beach Pier. I’m there every year end of Aug.“

“I order the Pollo Asado and my wife gets the shrimp burrito. I don't say this lightly ... I love the burritos here and the potato taquitos . Honestly one of my favorite burritos. I know I know, but seriously I can't think of a place better. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. It's a hit or miss with employees. Some days you'll get someone friendly other days not so much.“

“It's a really beautiful and bright space and the service was great. They have a pretty healthy and vegetarian menu. I thought the food was simple and prepared well. I think the restaurant itself is so pretty and is the main attraction.“

“Valentine's Day preset menu was delicious. Service was very slow from checking in to getting our waiter to the table to take our order and finally take our payment. The atmosphere was casual and relaxed. Convenient Valet parking. It was our first time visiting Dear Jane, so we'll have to give it another try during not too busy time.“

“If you’re going to the Academy Museum for a visit or a screening make sure to stop at Fanny’s (located inside the museum’s first floor) for a coffee, snack or meal. They have a cafe and restaurant, both offering quality food and beverages and a full bar. The restaurant has comfortable seating options and the cafe offers outdoor seating. The service is friendly and attentive. You’ll definitely have a great time and a good meal!“

“The best thing I've eaten since arriving in LA.

We stopped by for lunch and everything was absolutely delicious. A special thanks to Ryan for taking great care of us, and to Jackson, the chef, for coming out of the kitchen to greet us personally. It was a small gesture, but it made us feel very welcome.

Highly recommended.“

“My favorite place to hang in LA. The staff is super sweet, the food is fantastic, the drinks are amazing, particularly the Ginger Margarita, the atmosphere is gorgeous—whether you’re inside the stunning deco bar or outside on the beautiful patio. It’s a true gem.“

“Love the burgers and sushi.“

“We have been going to Horses ever since they opened since it’s right in our neighborhood. The most friendly staff with a big shout out to Amanda. The most amazing craft cocktails and absolutely delicious food. I think we’ve almost tried everything on the menu and have not been disappointed once. Can be hard to get a reservation, but we usually get there at 5:15 and are able to sit at the bar with no problem.“