50 Best Cocktail Bars near Tarzana

“Maui Sugar Mill Saloon is one of those rare places that feels less like a typical night out and more like stepping into a living, breathing slice of local culture.

From the moment you arrive, there’s an immediate sense that this venue has its own personality. It doesn’t try to imitate modern, overly polished entertainment spots—instead, it embraces a more authentic, slightly vintage, and effortlessly cool atmosphere. That character alone makes it stand out in a world where many places start to feel interchangeable.

What truly makes this place special is its energy. There’s a certain unpredictability in the best possible way—you never quite know how the night will unfold, but you can be sure it will be memorable. The space feels intimate yet lively, with a layout that naturally encourages connection, conversation, and shared experiences.

One of the strongest impressions comes from the live entertainment. The performances here don’t feel like background noise—they feel like the heartbeat of the room. Whether it’s music, local talent, or spontaneous moments that happen throughout the night, everything contributes to an atmosphere that feels genuine and unforced. It’s the kind of place where you catch yourself getting fully absorbed in the moment without even realizing it.

The crowd adds another layer to the experience. There’s a nice mix of regulars and newcomers, all blending together in a relaxed, welcoming environment. It creates a sense of community that is increasingly rare to find. People aren’t just passing through—they’re part of the experience, even if just for the evening.

The staff plays an important role in maintaining that vibe. Friendly, attentive, and grounded, they help keep everything running smoothly while still preserving the laid-back spirit of the place. There’s no sense of rush or pressure—just an easygoing approach that lets the night unfold naturally.

What I appreciated most is that Maui Sugar Mill Saloon doesn’t rely on flashy gimmicks. Its charm comes from authenticity. It’s a place that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. That confidence translates into a consistently enjoyable experience where the focus is simply on good moments, good energy, and good company.

By the end of the visit, it’s not just about what you saw or heard—it’s about the feeling you leave with. A sense of having been part of something real, something local, something that still values atmosphere and human connection over trends.

It’s the kind of place you don’t just visit once. You return because it feels familiar, comfortable, and alive in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. A true hidden gem for anyone who appreciates live energy, community spirit, and a relaxed, unforgettable night out.“

“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!“

“When a restaurant takes their bread and simple salads seriously you know the rest of the meal will be excellent. That is this restaurant. Everything was excellent: freshness, flavors, choice of items on menu. The menu is small, but that just means each item has their full attention.“

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

“The quality of the food was not good at all. My steak was overcooked and heavily seasoned I had no choice but to send it back. The waitress took so long to come back and check on us after our food arrived by time she came back my friend already finished his meal. They need to revamp the menu and get a better chef. This is a very average place for steak. The music place was great though. I would skip the restaurant and convert into a night club!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Wonderful experience at JINYA Ramen Bar in Topanga! My daughter and I came for our usual quick lunch and were seated at the ramen bar. Gaby made our visit especially enjoyable — she was so warm, attentive, polite, and professional.

What impressed me most was when I accidentally wrapped my aligners in a napkin and they were thrown away. I asked if they could be found, not really expecting it, but Gaby went above and beyond, found them, and brought them back to me! I was truly so grateful.

Thank you, Gaby, for your kindness and for making our lunch such a wonderful experience. We’ll definitely be back! ❤“

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

“Always a good time there!“

“We had a very nice dinner here inside on a Tuesday night. I loved the whiskey cocktail which is brought smoking to your table. We shared the cheese plate and gen ceasar and the servings are quite large and perfect for sharing. The BBQ scottish salmon is a real standout and the fries and blistered spinach great sides. They also have a very nice selection of wines by the glass. The staff is very attentive and we enjoyed the night thoroughly.“

“Wen is super cool and their spring bank collection is pretty impressive. The secret is their cage bottles for such good prices taste amazing. I think especially their ex bourbon hazzelburns. Theyvare young but spring bank distillery knows how to do it and make amazing stuff. So cool of Wen to bring the bottles back and share them with us all!“

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

“Delicious food and drinks“

“Delicious food and drinks“

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

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

“Stylish. Good food. Fun place!“

“One night my friend and I were at Casey's, it was quite pleasant and we were enjoying the food and music. My friend had a polite disagreement with the waitress, the waitress 86'd my friend. No ability to discuss logically - just pulled the power ...I called the bar this evening and was told that their 86' status is a forever condition. I say management and owners need to take a look at this policy and their employee for a reasonable solution.“

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

“A must place for a sports“

“Oh my gosh Desvelados is the best Mexican food I’ve ever had!!! And I am a native Californian where we do have access to great Mexican food 😉 And the price is so good like it seems too good to be true!! I cannot wait to come back! It was all fabulous! The food, service, ambiance, music playing, everything!! Sebastian was our server and he made it an even better experience!! Give that man a raise! 👏🏼“

“This place is such a vibe!!! The drinks are great, they never stiff you on the 🍸 alcohol. The bartenders are phenomenal, especially Eve and Joe is always rocking it on the mic.

There's a pool table, darts, and karaoke 🎤. There are some people that really come through blowing down with the pipes. 10/10 recommend“

“Delicious food, eclectic menu, reasonable prices, friendly waiters, bar, nice ambiance.“

“Looks like a nice hotel with great service.“

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

“I was very impressed by the friendliness and service with Ollo for a recent catering delivery. I called around to several places and with very slow response times and abruptness directing me back to the website for Uber delivery. The host and manager Spencer followed up on the order and went out of the way to make sure it was a great experience for the group and the stressed out person (me:) trying to coordinate for the group. Highly recommend!!“

“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!“

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

“I really love this place! Cocktails menu is amazing, the Lychee Mojito 10/10, always a must for me.
Place was packed, of course it was a Friday night and the Lakers were playing, I recommend making s reservation.
Despite how busy the place was, out server David took care of us, great service and delicious food!“

“My wife and I had a fully immersive experience at Xuntos. The food was some our go to favorites, but prepared so differently, it was like we never had it before. The sauce the shrimp was prepared in was savory, buttery, and had a little spice. They used a Spanish pepper we never heard of. Fantastic! The pork chop was prepared in a sherry glaze. We could tell it was sherry, yet it was not sweet, just incredible. All delivered in a beautiful space, by a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff obviously dedicated to providing an experience, not just food. We heard Evan, one of the servers/team member describe one of the dishes. It was so detailed in ingredients and preparation, he could have been the chef. George the mixologist/team member was poetry in motion. Creating amazing cocktails! We sat at the bar, my wife is a Gold metal chef and owned her own cafe. She feels you can really see the operation from there. It was like a ballet, dishes and drinks being delivered and plates and glasses being removed by every teammate. Sorry to be so wordy, but Xuntos is a special experience.“

“The fries were hot, crispy and plentiful. The service was a little slow and the food runner seemed annoying and angry at having to do his job. The place is dark and dinghy. The chalkboard menus need to be redone so they are more easily legible in the dark light. Overall, it was a nice experience.“

“Sugar Suite is my favorite bar in the valley! I usually come on Monday and Friday after work to see the blonde bartender! She makes the best Michelada and is the sweetest! The atmosphere is always great. Don’t forget to stay for Karla after her on Mondays!“

“We had a great experience at Ospi Brentwood. From start to finish, everything was on point. The food, the service, and the drinks. We tried several pizzas: the Copione, Pepe-Roni, Hapa, and Funghi. All were delicious, though the Funghi was our least favorite the mushrooms were just a bit overpowering for our taste. The Arugula Salad was incredibly refreshing with the perfect amount of lemon juice. We also had the Spicy Rigatoni with vodka sauce, which was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. The cocktails came out quickly, and the food was served just as fast. Everything arrives hot and fresh, so be ready to dig in right away. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and we’ll definitely be back.“

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

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

“We had the Most Amazing Experience at La Monique. Exceptional Ambience, Food & Service.“

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

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

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

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

“Went here with a coworker the other night and had a great time! Our server was fantastic! I cant remember his name but he was quick and always there when we needed him! Food was great too. LOVED the truffle fries and sweet and spicy wings, no beer for me but the virgin mojito was refreshing! Will definitely be back to try more food! Thanks guys!“