HISTORIC LA

Opened in 1919, Musso and Frank Grill claims to be the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, but it’s quite possibly one of the oldest in all of Los Angeles. Steeped in history, it has been the hideout of some of Hollywood’s most elite, including movie stars, film directors, producers as well as some of the literary world’s greatest writers. Legend has it that Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks once raced each other down Hollywood Blvd, with the loser having to pick up the dinner tab at Musso and Frank’s. Named for original owners Joseph Musso and Frank Toulet, its interior remains mostly unchanged allowing much of the history to remain. You won’t find happy hours or drink specials here, but what you will find are simple, straightforward drinks served by barmen who have been slinging drinks here for several decades.

Martini
In a glass with ice, combine
Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth
2.5 oz Gilbey’s Gin
Pour into martini glass with green olives
Put the remainder into a mini decanter/carafe

Sidecar
Rim glass with sugar
2 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
1.5 oz Christian Brothers Brandy
Triple Sec
Flash blend with ice and strain into martini glass

Musso & Frank Grill | 6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 | (323) 467-7788

  Another Hollywood historical staple is the Tiki Ti, on the infamous Sunset Strip. Established in 1961, this former violin shop was transformed into a Polynesian-themed Tiki bar by owner Ray Buhen. Its claim to fame is its menu of tropical drinks, featuring old, new and top secret recipes. Famous drinksinclude the ‘Zombie’, originally created at Don the Beachcomber’s (LA’s original Tiki bar) in 1934, Ray’s own creation ‘Blood and Sand’ and more than 80 other unique and inventive cocktails.

  Across town, just near the Santa Monica pier on Ocean Drive is the well-known hideaway, Chez Jay. This tiny, nautical-themed, hole-in-the wall restaurant/bar serves seafood, steaks and chops, as well as classic cocktails, wine and beer. Opened in 1959, by proprietor Jay Fiondella, the sawdust and peanut shells strewn across the floor lend credibility to its unpretentious nature. Home to some great history, it’s a former Rat Pack hang out and is reportedly the place where President John F. Kennedy would meet up with Marilyn Monroe for pre-tryst drinks.

BEER BARS

  The recent explosion of craft beer, especially in California and on the west coast, has had a profound effect on Los Angeles with the emergence and growing business of craft beer bars. In Hollywood, there is no shortage of bars, but one of the most popular places to find great craft beer is the Blue Palms Brewhouse. With 24 rotating taps and one cask tap, there is something for everyone and with a beer list that changes daily, even the most seasoned beer drinker will be able to find something new. Owner Brian Lenzo prides himself on bringing the best and newest beers to the drinking public. One of the most unique features of this constantly changing beer list is Blue Palms’ constantly updated webpage, which lists all of the beers on draft, in real time. In addition to great beer, Blue Palms also serves up gourmet food, offers an extensive beer bottle list and features a full bar.

Blue Palms Brewhouse | 6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 | (323) 464-BEER

Other notable beer bars in the Hollywood area include Stout, located in the heart of Hollywood and The Surly Goat in West Hollywood.

  Just over the hill, in the San Fernando Valley, there has been a recent beer bar boom. Places like Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank, The Local Peasant in Sherman Oaks and Laurel Tavern in Studio City, offer patrons great beer and food in a truly west coast gastropub atmosphere.

On the other side of the city, in the quaint beach community of Santa Monica, you’ll find another great place for craft beer and great food: the Library Alehouse. This beer-and-wine-only bar features 29 unique microbrews and imports on draft as well as an impressive bottle list. Their rotating tap system ensures that patrons will always be able to sample something new. Nightly and weekly specials as well as special events, featuring new beers or breweries, take place frequently.

  Father’s Office, also in Santa Monica, is another Westside beer bar with a great selection of brews. This tiny bar, with dim lighting and meager décor is nestled among the designer boutique stores on Montana Avenue. One of the early entries into the LA gastropub scene, they are just as famous for their “Office Burger” as they are for their beer selection. They also have a newer location in Culver City.

BEER MAKERS

Unlike many other parts of California, the craft beer revolution has not yet exploded in Los Angeles. However, there are a handful of brewers making a name in the beer world for the city of L.A.

  One such brewery, Eagle Rock Brewery, run by the father and son team of Steve and Jeremy Raub, is making waves in the US craft beer community. Touted as the first brewery with operations based in Los Angeles in over 60 years, its located in Eagle Rock, one of Los Angeles’ many neighborhoods. ERB offers artisanal brews like Solidarity, their 3.9% Black Mild English-style session ale, and their most popular brew, the Manifesto, a wit beer brewed with spices, coriander seeds, orange peel and the unique addition of rose petals. Their taproom, which is open from Wednesday to Sunday, is located next to the brewery and although they don’t serve food, there are food trucks nearby on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tours are available on Sundays.

Eagle Rock Brewery | 3056 Roswell Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065 | (323) 257-7866

  Angel City Brewing which has been operating out of Torrance (just south of Los Angeles) since it was established in 2004, just moved into their new downtown Los Angeles digs. Owner/Brew Master Michael Bowe creates award-winning German-inspired ales and lagers. Classics include the ‘CHE Pale Lager’, ‘Angel City Pilz’ and their flagship, the “Angel City Ale’.

Other local beers come from Craftsman Brewing Company, located in Pasadena, whose beers can be found on draft around Los Angeles.

SANDY SIPS

  With miles of coastline, the Los Angeles area is littered with beachside bars. One of the best spots on the west side for true toes-in-the-sand drinking is Paradise Cove, located in the coastal community of Malibu. Located on a private beach off of the Pacific Coast Highway, this beach café offers indoor and outdoor dining as well as beer, wine, champagne, spirits and cocktails.

Malibu Zane
Half glass of Coconut water
Shot of Malibu rum and Cruzan Black Rum
Drop shot into glass of coconut water and chug

Cocolada
Malibu Rum
Orange Juice
Coco Lopez
Ice Cream
Serve in a fresh coconut, Float Myers dark rum on top, garnish with fruit and umbrella

Cazadores Mojito
Muddle Fresh Limes, Mint Leaves, Lime Juice and Fresh Pineapple
Add Cazadores Tequila and Fresh Sugar Cane Juice
Shake and pour into a fresh pineapple cup

Watermelon Daiquiri
Watermelon
Agave Nectar
Watermelon Liqueur
Melon Rum
Vodka

Paradise Cove | 28128 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 | (310) 457-2503

  Travel South on the PCH to Santa Monica and you’ll find another beach bar, Big Dean’s ‘Muscle In’ Café, located off of the walkway by the sand and below the pier. This oceanfront café also carries some history. In 1902 it was opened as Laring’s Lunch Room, making it one of LA’s oldest bars. In the 1970s it became Big Dean’s and has since served the likes of Cary Grant, Natalie Wood and Evel Knievel.

A little farther south, located along the famous and eclectic Venice Boardwalk, is another beachside dining spot: On the Waterfront Café. European inspired, this Biergarten serves the finest German beer and features indoor and outdoor dining, with great views of the ocean as well as a prime spot for people watching.

INTERNATIONAL IMBIBING

  Much like New York City, Los Angeles is a melting pot of different cultures, making it a city that is full of international bars and eateries. One such place is El Carmen, a Mexican bar and restaurant featuring Mexican wrestler-themed décor and over 400 different tequilas and mescals. Originally established in 1927 as a family-run Mexican restaurant, it was purchased in 1995 by Sean MacPherson and the venue became a pioneer on Los Angeles’ agave front. One of the first true, tequila joints in the city, it has become the frontrunner to the spirit-specific bar scene that has since followed suit. In addition to happy hours and ever evolving cocktail and dining menus, they also host quarterly tequila tastings led by some of the tequila world’s top authorities and mixologists.

Michelada
Salted rim
Lime Juice
Sangrita
Modelo Especial Beer

El Carmen | 8138 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048 | (323) 852-1552

  Located in the heart of LA’s Koreatown, is Manna Korean BBQ. Referring to the act of grilling your meats at your own table, Korean BBQ is a popular style of dining. One of the best deals in the entire city, patrons can enjoy Unlimited (yes, that means all-you-can-eat!) BBQ for just $16.99, while indulging on Korean beer like Hite and OB, and Soju, the Korean version of Sake.

Manna Korean BBQ | 3377 West Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019 | (323) 733-8516

German ex-pats will find themselves at home at The Red Lion Tavern, a German “Gasthaus” and Biergarten located near the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles. Offering typical German fare and an arsenal of German beers, liqueurs and spirits, it’s one L.A. landmark that will take you back in time. Celebrating more than 50 years in business, it lays claim as the oldest German bar in Los Angeles.

Drinking Your Way Through an Extended Flight Delay at LAX

DrinkingMadeEasy.com, 11/10

Los Angeles International Airport is one of the most frustrating places you will ever find yourself on purpose. From the parking structure, to the pay phones (yes, airports still have pay phones), chaos positively permeates LAX. It is nothing short of amazing so many people manage to do something as complicated and dangerous as fly in and out of here without expiring in a fiery ball of shrieking death.

Thankfully, there are thirty bars spread throughout LAX’s nine terminals, and a lot of them have abundant vodka and adequate lounge seating. Unfortunately, each terminal is undergoing simultaneous renovations to rival, in extent and duration, an Egyptian archeological dig.

If you are flying out of, or connecting through LAX, there is a 100-percent chance you will have an extended layover. Take this opportunity to get out of, and away from the airport, and get yourself a drink. There are free shuttles to most of the area hotels, or simply step outside the terminal and a cab will be along shortly to run you over.

A couple blocks down Century Boulevard, LAX’s main entrance/exit artery, is the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Inside is an inviting bar called Landings. Landings is elegant, plush, relaxing, everything LAX is not, and well worth the modest effort it takes to get here.

Take a seat at Landings, and you will honestly contemplate skipping your flight. The bartenders and servers are employed by Hilton, rather than the city of Los Angeles. No disrespect to the fine city of Los Angeles, but this simple fact is the difference between getting served and being offended.

You are met with a genuine smile, and a dish of Cajun snack mix. Landings offers appetizers, lunch, dinner and every brand of vodka you could want. Spoil yourself with a Ketel One Bloody Mary. When traveling, you are obligated to drink Bloody Marys; it’s kind of a rule. Watch a sporting event, and forget, for a time, what is waiting for you back at the airport.

You will be tempted, as the Hilton is lovely, and LAX is just awful, but do not linger too long. It will be difficult to get to your gate, so give yourself time to do so. Get a Bloody Mary to go before you leave the hotel. It is entirely legal, and there isn’t a taxi driver in the state that won’t let you drink in the cab if you flash a little cash.

When you begrudgingly get back to LAX to find your flight delayed or probably canceled, shuffle into one of your several bar options to commiserate with your fellow inconvenienced travelers. The Backlot Deli Bar, in Terminal 1, is a favored refuge. Not only is the combination of a bar and deli one of the universe’s more inspired bits of genius, but between the windows and the atrium adjacent, you stand a reasonable chance of forgetting, if only for a second and a half, that you are stranded in this flytrap of an airport.

Christopher T. Schmidt
San Diego, CA
www.examiner.com/vodka-in-national/christopher-schmidt