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!“

“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!“

“What a wonderful restaurant! It's in the Hammer Museum, but there's no museum fee. Just go to the second floor and it's a new world. Calm, wonderful menu that varies weekly, fabulous service, lovely wines and non alcoholic drinks. We will definitely be back“

“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!“

“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.“

“Margarita flights are ‘da bomb!“

“Stylish. Good food. Fun place!“

“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!“

“Always a good time there!“

“Good food, not great, very wide variety on menu, some of which is unusual and tasty. Server was warm, friendly, helpful.
Atmosphere was noisy and not conducive to easy conversation. Sitting at a table for four, or friends on the bench were noticeably higher than we were in 2 chairs. A bit uncomfortable.“

“This place was awesome, super local clientele. The food was nice, server was really busy but did a decent job, the restaurant was pretty slammed when we got there. We ordered the salmon and the chicken plate. Both were great, we also ordered the Cesar which was really good. Would recommend for sure, would go back.“

“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!“

“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“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

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

“Delicious food and drinks“

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

“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,“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

“First, my wife loved it. I thought it was ok. The kitchen was stretched. The waitress really didn't explain the menu. This was Americanized tapas. Too much food, no space between tables making it too crammed and no privacy. This was Valentines after all. And there's the nut, what is it like on a normal night? I haven't decided whether to find out.“

“Tried the DineLA dinner special for $45/pp, a great way to try a few things on the menu since it was my first time here. I appreciate management accommodating my table's allergies and our server Chris for making sure we were good throughout the night! The cannolis were delicious“

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

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

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

“Es un excelente lugar,muy buen ambiente,y riquísimo el menu😘👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😋❤“

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

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Looks like a nice hotel with great service.“

“Great food! Friendly staff and quick service. Casual atmosphere.“

“Great Bbq! 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!“

“BOIIIII I GOT WHAT I DESERVED 😂😂😂me and da bois were looking for the nes for Nintendo switch ts place was phenomenon and next was a barber shop that was a quarter so me and the city bois got no menu but we got what me deserved definitely a five out of five😂“

“I recommend the Bbq chicken, Rack of Ribs and Brisket overall everything I ordered was delicious.“