50 Best Cocktail Bars near South Pasadena

“My friends and I had a wonderful experience at Cannonball. First of all, the biscuits are to die for. We ordered the prawns and they were extremely tasty. We shared the sea bream and that was a very tasty and interesting dish. The presentation was beautiful especially with all the colorful ingredients.“

“Nice romantic atmosphere which you can actually hear others talk to you. Deep fried whole catfish is a spectacular dish! Great attentive service by staff.“

“I’ve been going to Towhey’s for over 20 years. I love their breakfast. I love their cheeseburgers. My daughter Micaela used to be a hostess in Alhambra. It’s one of my favorite go to restaurants. I love sitting at the bar. Also when they’re busy it’s a fun place to have dinner.“

“love the Quality of Food😍😍😍“

“Was awesome to find a restaurant with my two favorites…GF and Southern!“

“The little plates are yummy. I love the pita bread that came with the hummus (Salatim plate). The other plates were good also. I loved the bread pudding (I think it's better than the best cake). What I like the most about Bacari, besides the beautiful ambiance, is the friendliest staff.“

“Amazing, always come here before the Kings games!“

“This place is the epitome of chic and vibe! The food is spectacular and so is the service. Their new lunch sandwich’s are fantastic, my favorite is the Chicken Pesto. The owner is always present which makes this place feel very homey and cozy. 10/10
would recommend. Head in for lunch and stay for happy hour!“

“whipped feta app was incredible, it's been almost a week and I'm still thinking about how good it was! the drinks were all memorable as well. was super busy when we went but worth the wait. can't wait to go back for dinner!“

“Just the greatest tiki bar EVER!“

“Just tried MIRATE Restaurant the food was amazing! Definitely worth checking out if you love great flavors.“

“สนุกสนานอาหารอร่อย บรรยากาศดีมีระดับ“

“Being from out of town, I had been driving around for hours trying to find a place to eat late that wasn’t a dive or a loud party spot. I finally found Big Bar and ordered a salad and an old fashioned. It was busy and late, but the bartender didn’t seem to know how to make an old fashioned (there was no cherry or muddled orange) and the dressing in my steak salad seemed mostly oil and not much flavor. I think it was supposed to come with a roll I never got. I didn’t complain because I was just happy to be in a cozy spot and out of my car! The ambience was nice though, and staff were friendly enough. Not very impressed by other stuff. I would give it another chance if I’m in the area later.“

“I recommend Botanica to everyone. They use fresh hand picked ingredients and the food is delicous! Their cocktails and desserts are so yum. I picked up some chile oil and pickled local veggies for gifts for my friends! Chef Zarah and the staff are best. Will definitely be returning soon.“

“Small and cute bar in a completely unexpected place. Good vibes and good drinks. Loved naked & famous, but also enjoyed the crowd- down to earth and nice. Good little gem in the neighborhood. Something is between upscale and speakeasy dive bar, not too loud, so you can actually enjoy the conversation. Bartenders sweet and cool. Service fast and easy. Would definitely come back to check other drinks on the menu.

Also decent old fashioned“

“Great vibes. Bartenders and staff are fantastic. Definitely would come back again - the cocktails were creative and balanced. We tried the hamachi (yum) and steak frites (okay, but not our favorite version). The chimichurri flavor was a little off from what expected from a standard chimichurri.“

“🐅🐅🐅🐅 yum yummy.. crying tiger so good“

“I've been there once and it was fine last time. The cocktails were quick and the atmosphere was good. Overall, it was pretty good“

“Endroit hyper typique ! Bonne musique, cocktails d’un excellent niveau et à un prix tout à fait honnête, tous les classiques sont dispo et le barman tient la corde niveau cordes vocales !! Excellente carte de dîner ! Nous n’avons pas testé le grill … seul regret de la soirée. Il faut qu’on y retourne, absolument“

“We visited El Compadre to celebrate my uncle’s birthday, and overall it was a good experience. One of the highlights was definitely the famous flaming margaritas. They were fun to watch, very flavorful, and a great way to kick off the celebration.

I ordered the enchiladas, and they were rich, tasty, and very filling. The portion size was generous, and I couldn’t finish the entire plate.

The service was decent, but it took a while for the waiters to come and take our order. Also, the complimentary chips and salsa brought to the table at the beginning were disappointing. The chips tasted like old oil and had a strong oily smell, which wasn’t the best first impression.

The food and margaritas were the stars of the visit, but there is definitely room for improvement with the service and the quality of the chips.“

“Amazing cocktails in a cozy environment“

“recommended momed 💜️ hotel“

“Absolutely loved this place. We will definitely be coming back. We got Citrus Salad, Carne en su Jugo & Carnitas Wow, just Wow!!!!!“

“Such a vibe! Had an amazing experience. Highly recommend.“

“Spicy jalapeño cocktail 🍸💕“

“HATCH is a fantastic place that combines a welcoming atmosphere with high-quality food and excellent service. The space is modern, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, creating a great environment for a relaxed meal. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, with every dish prepared with attention to detail and quality ingredients. The staff was friendly, attentive, and professional, making sure that every part of the experience was enjoyable. Service was efficient, and the overall atmosphere felt warm and inviting. I was impressed by the consistency, hospitality, and care that went into every aspect of the visit. I would highly recommend HATCH to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience and look forward to returning again soon.“

“The food was delicious and a great place to dine. Next time bring some friends and enjoy the food“

“Great analog music and excellent drinks. The bartenders and dj's are top shelf.“

“Amazing food and atmosphere“

“Recently celebrated my partner's (surprise) birthday at The Goldfish and the night couldn't have gone any better. We had EXCEPTIONAL service in their new private party space. I was able to order food in party sized platters and my custom requests (they personalized a Happy Birthday sign!) were all executed with perfect attention to detail. The ambience and food I already knew is a 10/10 as I frequent Sticky Rice. Bar, food, arcade games, billiards, they truly have everything you could need for celebrating a special occasion or just for a great night out with friends. Highly recommend. BIG FAN, thank you The Goldfish!!“

“Very happy to have this bar in the neighborhood! It’s a perfect spot for the 20s/30s crowd. Love their spicy margarita and karaoke is always really fun, plus it’s never too loud so you can actually have a conversation here. Bartenders are also all really nice.“

“Free Spirited Bar is an absolute gem. It is incredibly refreshing to walk into a restaurant where the entire menu is vegan by default (they do offer an option to add halal chicken if desired), a total 180 from the usual experience of hunting for that one token plant-based option.
As a group with diverse dietary needs, we were blown away by how seamlessly accommodating they were. We ordered the Alfredo pasta with mushrooms, the marinara pasta, and the buttered scallops, finishing off with the Dirt Coupe mousse for dessert. Every single dish was amazing. The pasta is made in house, and most menu items are made from scratch. A special shout out goes to the gluten-free bread, it was so outstanding we completely forgot it was gluten-free.
It is a sober bar, they don't even have alcohol in their vanilla extract. However, their non-alcoholic cocktail list is extensive. We tried about eight different drinks among us, and each one featured incredibly unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentation.
The owners are so sweet and clearly understand dietary restrictions on a personal level. They took the time to patiently explain everything and made us feel completely at home. I don't live locally, but you can bet Free Spirited Bar will be my go-to spot anytime I’m in town!

Forgot to add they are dogs friendly and will even bring you out a water bowl for them.“

“Best cocktails in LA, beautiful space with matching beautiful people. Loved this place in New York for years, and this place brings an LA vibe to that legendary bar!“

“Sawa is easily a top-10 restaurant in my opinion. The chef deserves a star. The entire experience went beyond my expectations, truly outstanding. I had so much fun dining there; the environment is friendly, and every bite was delicious. The host was spectacular, especially for suggesting we split the sake pairing, for someone who doesn’t drink much, it was more than enough. I’m already looking forward to coming back.“

“I recently had the chance to dine at Sama Handroll in the Arts District, and it exceeded my expectations. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding, and every hand roll was prepared with great attention to detail. The menu offers a creative mix of traditional Japanese flavors and unique dishes that set it apart from other sushi spots.
The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. The atmosphere is modern, welcoming, and perfect for either a casual dinner or a night out with friends.
A few standout items were the hand rolls, grilled dishes, and the excellent presentation throughout the meal. It's clear that a lot of care goes into both the food and the guest experience.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for high-quality sushi and hand rolls in Los Angeles. I'll definitely be back.“

“Joselito’s is such an amazing restaurant! I had, probably, the best carnitas dinner and chips and guacamole (made fresh to order) I’ve ever experienced. A must go to whenever in the Tujunga area.“

“I'd like to share my experience at Encanto restaurant. The warm, welcoming atmosphere with soft lighting and pleasant music makes you want to stay, relax, and enjoy a good conversation. I came with my wife and child - we were greeted politely and seated exactly where we felt most comfortable. I started with the signature Margarita: perfect in presentation and flavor balance - it immediately set a great mood. Next, I ordered the ceviche set. The first two (Cona Konpachi and Aguachile) were truly outstanding - a symphony of flavors with perfectly balanced ingredients that complemented each other beautifully. The other two ceviches in the set, however, felt unbalanced - the dominant note was excessive acidity. For mains, I had the grilled fish - served on a sizzling hot pan, with a deep charred aroma and a well-judged marinade. Excellent. The steak, unfortunately, disappointed: first it was overcooked, then undercooked. But a special thank you to our server, Kristi - she was attentive and professional, and she turned my overall experience back into a very positive one. I highly recommend Encanto for its ambiance and service. As for the food - some dishes are fantastic, others still need fine-tuning. But with a team like this, I believe this restaurant can definitely bring you great pleasure.“

“A great place to be in Los Angeles‼️“

“Great cocktailsbatva reasonable price (around 12 bucks when I went) great staff, none of the usual having to flag down a bartender for 30 minutes, and REALLY COOL staff. It is cozy so it can be a bit hard to hear a conversation, but its a bar so yeah. Highly recommend.“

“Great music!!!! Great hang!!!!“

“Since moving from the East Coast over five years ago, my partner, our friends, and I have been coming to the Drawing Room almost every week. This bar is truly such a delight to be at! I have been coming every other day now that we are in the NBA finals!

The bartenders are always on point with the drinks and do an incredible job of making not only us, but all of the patrons, feel welcome and comfortable. I have never had a bad experience with any of the bartenders at this place! We always seem to stop by when Ashley is working, and that's no coincidence. She greets us the moment we walk in, offers snacks during major sporting events, and creates such a fun atmosphere that we never want to leave.

Ashley remembers our drink orders every time, is incredibly charismatic, and has a way of making the entire bar excited to be there. You can tell how much people love her—customers walk in, immediately give her a hug, and are genuinely excited to see she's working. It's wonderful to see such a strong local community gather here.

We can't wait to spend the summer at the Drawing Room. Thank you for being one of the most amazing neighborhood bars in Los Angeles!“

“In April, 2026, I was staying at a neighboring hotel and decided to go to Cabrillo, which is located inside the Proper hotel, for breakfast. I got a seat immediately after I arrived. The service was pretty good. I ordered oyster mushroom omellette, which is rarely found anywhere else, and toast. The food came pretty quickly and was awesome. The omelette had just the right amount of oyster mushroom. The toast, somehow, was extremely tasty. The food was plentiful as well. I took some of the toast with me and ate later in the day. The total bill was somewhat on the high side (at about $40), but I thought that the food was worth it. I would gladly go back there again.“

“Love this place, such a wonderful neighborhood gem. I'm so glad they're still here. Love the daily pop ups, especially my Triple Beam pizza! Cocktails are fantastic and love the wine selection. This place is on repeat for a reason. 🧡“

“The mentaiko spaghetti was delicious. The wings were juicy and crispy. The aioli sauce was amazing. The chef(s) really put there all in the dish because all the food I had was well balanced and cooked to perfection.

It wasn't busy or anything so no clue why the service was terrible. It did get better for others once more people for seated.

Our beers would be empty for about 10 mins before we had to flag make eye contact with our server to flag them down. My friend ordered a beer, the server came back about 5 minutes later empty handed. I ordered myself a beer and reordered my friend's beer. We wanted cocktails and waited but couldn't find our server. I got up to find them to order some drinks. I was about to directly order with the bartender but they saw me first and asked if I wanted drinks. I ordered them and more water with the bartender. We get our drinks. No water. Figured the server had to catch up on stuff. It wasn't communicated and our request fell through and we asked again.

I would go again because the food alone was worth it. I really want to try the Shanghai Triple Onion noodles.....and more spaghetti.

Drinks: a good mix of beers on tap. Something for everyone. Beer was nice and cold and poured well

Dqui boy....a tart little thing and incredibly delicious. The NOLA Baby cocktail with black raspberry was good. The menu did say spirit forward so do not expect to taste much of the black raspberry. Still a solid cocktail.“

“Great Food, Great Service...“

“The Angeleno Spritz was just what I needed after a long day of minor disappointments, that and the genuine smile from the tattooed guy working the bar this evening who was refreshingly upbeat and worked the room like a pro. So glad I stopped in!“

“Fun bar. Great drinks and great prices. I read comments that some people think it’s a racist bar, believe me, it isn’t. All are welcome. No predujices here.“

“Free chips! And ask for Reese and Ronan. Best hospitality, hands down, great recommendations for drinks. We had the Cheerios drink, the day and night, and the matcha lychee drink. You won’t go wrong with any of the craft cocktails here, they’re all good. Some of them have a “presentation” aspect that you should ask about with the waiters - it’s a pretty cool feature of this speakeasy.“

“We spent a few hours here on New Year's Eve. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. The owner greeted us and offered us snacks.
They have a live DJ spinning turntables, bumping music from the past to present. There's an outdoor patio in the back.
The drinks were tasty and affordable. Try the Adios MthrFckr. Bomb!“

“A great place to hang out in the afternoon and evening! The patio in the back is awesome when you just want to step away from the bar with your drink and chill. The staff goes out of their way to make sure everyone is well caken care of, so thank you Kiana, Ani, Nichole, Josh, and Daniel. You are the reason we keep coming back. Thank you Jordan and Marcie for your continued creativity in making the bar better for your patrons!“