50 Best Cocktail Bars near Tarzana

“Deep in the electric heart of Tarzana, California—tucked between gas stations and ghost stories—lurks a legendary watering hole where the spirits of rock, funk, and full-blown chaos still stomp the floorboards. It’s called Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, and if you walk through those creaky doors on the right night, you’re not entering a bar—you’re entering a living myth.

It was one of those nights.

Buck Stallion—part velvet hammer, part cosmic hype man—stood center stage, hosting like the reincarnation of a game show host who got lost at a rave and decided to never come back. The crowd howled before he even touched the mic. He wasn’t just introducing the show—he was conjuring it.

First up was Nerdy, hoodie up, eyes locked, fingers flying across his fretboard like he was inputting cheat codes into the universe. No vocals. Just riffs. Pure, distilled boss-level energy that sounded like a Sega Genesis console got struck by lightning.

Then came SpeedyFromda9, moving like his sneakers were powered by caffeine and prophecy. His flow was razor sharp, slicing through the beat with a voice that sounded like it had seen too much and decided to weaponize the truth. The whole room leaned forward like the floor tilted toward him.

And just when things were about to cool off—Doctor Striker took the stage. Think gothic punk warrior meets cybernetic cult leader. He and his band delivered a set that felt like getting electrocuted in the middle of a haunted sermon. Guitars screamed, drums exploded, and somewhere in the chaos, the audience found religion. Or at least a reason to sweat through their favorite black t-shirts.

The bartenders—Ariel and Sam—kept the drinks flowing like they were summoned by incantation. The sound? Flawless, thanks to the wizard behind the knobs, Nubs, who made every snare hit feel like thunder in your chest.

The walls were thick with stories. Dave Grohl, Jack Black, Slash—they’d all played here. Not as VIPs. As pilgrims. Worshippers. Just like the rest of us.

By the end of the night, nobody wanted to leave. They lingered like kids who didn’t want recess to end. Because at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, the music isn’t just sound—it’s a living, breathing jungle. And when it roars, you feel it.

Five stars. Ten shots. Infinite vibes.
This wasn’t just a show—it was Buck Stallion’s Mellow Saturday Night Fever… and the jungle still echoes.“

“They have the best KJ in town!“

“Luis was awesome! Excellent service!“

“No matter how many times we go to LuLu, we always leave feeling the same way - absolutely delighted. By the warm welcome, the atmosphere, the servers, the beautifully flavored food, the entire experience. Thank you for always treating us like royalty!“

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

“We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Casita! Brittany, the concierge, and our server Delilah provided exceptional, warm, and professional service that truly stood out. The food was not only delicious but also incredibly flavorful, and the atmosphere was simply stunning—inviting, elegant, and perfectly suited for a memorable evening. We can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed every moment. This was an experience to remember, and we’re already looking forward to coming back soon!“

“The best! If you are craving the tiki experience of a lifetime, you owe yourself a visit. The staff is freaking amazing, too! They all are so knowledgeable and friendly. Super recommend!“

“If you want to go to a bar with perfect seating, great airflow, excellent drinks, flawless service l, a fantastic DJ, a parking lot, a nyc vibe, no one rushes you and you can even reserve a table for drinks…go to the Chestnut Club. My favorite new bar. 14th & Santa Monica Blvd @TheChestnutClub same owners as scopa and black market liquor!“

“Hands down my favorite bar. We discovered this bar while working on the Fox Studio Lot and have become regulars ever since. The Mozzatini is to DIE FOR. And the bartenders are just so nice. This bar doesn’t have the pretentious feeling most bars have in Los Angeles. I will continue to be a regular for as long as it stays this way. But really, try the Mozzatini. Its so so good.

Parking: There’s always parking off from Pico, but you may need to walk a few minutes. Just check both sides of the road. And don’t park in the neighborhood, you will get a ticket.“

“Great Bartenders with good service. A good local bar...also there's shuffleboard,pinball & pool.“

“The food is both eclectic and delicious. The location is both artsy and industrial with warm and inviting staff. I highly recommend this place for a date, business, family, or anything because it’s fabulous.“

“My brother and I had the most amazing night of superb jazz and food this past Sunday, entertained by Betty Bryant and ensemble. Her fingers moved like liquid gold on the keyboard and her compositions were witty and mesmerizing. The word that kept coming to mind as they performed was "subtle." The music was powerful, but so discrete as to be gentle and gentile. Woodwinds, Bass, and Drums - all played with the kind of delight that makes everyone love the performers as well as the music. As for food, one dish stood out particularly: the creamed spinach with blue cheese. Please tell Chef I would love that recipe! I'm back home in Tennessee now and plan to attempt to copy it, but having the authentic recipe to serve to friends when we entertain would be over the top! Can't wait to visit my brother in LA again and return to Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill, Jazz, Etc. Just wow! And Thank You!“

“Always a good time there!“

“Stylish. Good food. Fun place!“

“Margarita flights are ‘da bomb!“

“I'm afraid that I found the food uneven. My shrimp and polenta wasn't good, the shrimp were smothered in a Cajun sauce that didn't go well with the Parmesan seasoned polenta. My friends meals were better. Also, they were out of 3 out of the 7 white wines. I like the restaurant but I think it needs work.“

“For it being u first timing dining out for Thanksgiving I was worried that the nostalgic feeling of a family gathering would be missing but I was definitely wrong. Everyone in the restaurant was having a great time and you could feel all the love and energy in the air. Started with some sourdough and truffle butter and some mezcal cocktails. Both were amazing. Dinner consisted of a 3 course menu and between our party, we were able to cover all items offered. The appetizers were a choice of scallops, crab cake, or pumpkin ravioli. All 3 were so delicious that we wish we don't want to share haha. The main courses were turkey, osso-bucco, or aJohn Dory fish plate. Again, all 3 were so delectable but the turkey and osso bucco were stars because they came with heaping sides. We paired our dinner with a couple bottles of Pinot noir from France. Dessert had a pumpkin pie, French applie pie, or a dark chocolate ganache tart. The pumpkin pie was probably the best I've had. The apple pie was also very good. The ganache tart was decent but very strong chocolate and orange flavors which I wasn't quite ready for. Service was excellent from all staff members and the decor gave you this feeling like you were at home. I will definitely be coming back to have a regular dinner because everything was on point.“

“Dee did such an incredible job. She was very polite and professional. She was super attentive and overall helpful. Definitely would come earlier in the day as the dinner period can get a bit loud but regardless a very benevolent experience!“

“A must place for a sports“

“A classic, traditional Jazz bar with old fashioned friendly rules, a casual, welcoming vibe and long-standing live music.

Don't dress like a slob, but you don't have to dress up. If you're in old Canoga Park, Casey's is not to be missed.“

“Service,drinks.food,ambiance.staff,etc.“

“as a newyorker in los angeles the fact that there is a bar open after 9pm in brentwood to eat and drink 🍹 😱.“

“Phish PHUN carpet, great drinks and fabulous VIBE!“

“Local bar, friendly staff, friendly patrons, pool table and darts. 🥂“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Great KJ, great bartenders and great customers! What more does one need?!“

“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!“

“Came in for a drink and to check out the area since we are new to the area. The place was kind of small and majority of the people inside were older. The tables had all the dirty cups on there and were still there when we were leaving. We ordered double shots of tequila and a few micheladas. We saw people eating McDonalds in there. They have darts to play and the music was nice,“

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

“The artistic name of the bistro matches the artistry and delicious flavors of the cuisine. A threesome: vegetarian, vegan, and carnivore found a multitude of savory options. Our waiter/thesbian: Chris was charming and anticipated our every request. Foreseeing a return.“

“best pastas ever!!! And the tiramisu was fabulous“

“The menu on the website had no prices. This was our first clue. And seeing the menu in print certainly validated our sleuthy intuition. \nThe food was very good and beautifully presented, no argument there. But over $200 before tip with one starter, two entrees and one dessert felt overpriced to me. Portions were sized well - they seemed small but were satisfying and we didn’t leave hungry. \nThe music was also a bit too loud, although I connected to the playlist. \nOverall a decent experience. I wouldn’t necessarily revisit, but would recommend with the cost caveat.“

“I really enjoyed dining at Taisho Sushi! The yellowtail serrano was perfectly balanced with just the right spice, and the salmon dry miso was incredibly flavorful and fresh. The presentation and service were both excellent — definitely one of my favorite sushi spots in town. Highly recommend!“

“One of my absolute favorite places to eat in Los Angeles!“

“So this is a new concept that just opened in Century City mall. In a sea of overpriced, watered down, “elevated mall” fare, this place is a revelation. The quality of Momofuku, in an accessible environment. Simon and Justin, the bartenders, are delightful and extremely competent. Every dish we ordered, including sides, was a flavor explosion. As much as I hate going to the mall, we can’t wait to come back here.“

“Beautiful restaurant and bar with tasty food and great service. I’ll be back!“

“Go for the Buffalo cauliflower, stay for the wine/beer 🍔🍟🍕🥗🍗🧇🍺🍷“

“We had a lovely experience at Ospi Brentwood! We were celebrating the end of a major project for school. The food was delicious and unique. We loved the pastas as well as the baked Parmesan and Eggs Benedict on fresh biscuits with Calabrian chile sauce. The service was attentive. The space itself is beautiful. The only weird thing for us was how it was empty for brunch! Your establishment definitely deserves more guests!“

“What a cozy welcoming atmosphere it has.. comfortable seating and friendly staff.. looking forward to going back soon“

“old school~ great food~ great host~ a treasure~“

“Dinner was superb tonight“

“Loved this restaurant! Everything was delicious and very authentic. Among our favorites were the brioche with anchovies, cod fritters, pan con tomate, patas braves, and tortilla espanola (the best ever, including in Spain). Everything we ordered was amazing. The chocolate dessert was amazing, almost a truffle pudding. Our wonderful server guided us through the menu perfectly. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. We will come back frequently.“

“Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!“

“Please give George - who I renamed GMoney - a raise! In all seriousness, he made me (a California newbie) feel so welcome and happy while I was out here visiting my daughter... beyond words. He was amazing and nothing like the East Coast bartenders I’ve been used to! A wonderful night was had because of him!“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Looks like a nice hotel with great service.“

“Fantastic service, delicious food, and a very authentic atmosphere. The staff is very friendly, attentive, and helpful! The chilaquiles with chorizo were excellent and the mole burrito was delicious. Their specialty drinks with mezcal were also great! Serving sizes are excellent for the value, very family friendly and wheelchair accessible!“

“This restaurant is phenomenal! First of all the food is dreamy, I particularly LOVE the shrimp pasta. The cocktails are also just insane i love the fresh fruit in them sooo yummy! We have come multiple times and every time is great. Staff is always so friendly. Came on Fathers Day w/ the hubby & sat at the bar. Our bartender Lexi was killin it. She was the ONLY BARTENDER on a holiday!!!! Two thumbs up for her thats one hard workin chickie and doing it all with a smile! Definitely come check Lure out!“

“Great out of the ordinary wine choices!“