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Hollywood Bar Crawl Guide

hollywood 610
(credit: Shutterstock)

Everyone seems to have favorite go-to bars for a meet-up or after work drink. Planning a bar crawl often takes a little more thought than just walking down the street in the neighborhood. Hollywood has so many bar and lounge options, how do you narrow it down? These five Hollywood bars are some of the premiere spots in the area which you are encouraged to add to your next bar crawl.

no vacancy bar
(credit: Lana D./Yelp)

No Vacancy At Hotel Juniper
1727 N. Hudson Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-1902
www.novacancyla.com

No Vacancy welcomes patrons into the glamorous Hollywood speakeasy past. The bar, which resides in an old Victorian mansion, brings locals and celebs for live jazz music, DJs, sexy burlesque acts and delicious cocktails crafted by a variety of mixologists. Cocktail favorites include Fernie’s Gin and Jameson created by Dave Fernie and "The Professor" made of Bois Genever, Solerno blood orange liqueur, aperol and fig bitters from bartender Francois Vera. Groups indulge by sharing No Vacancy’s punch bowl — choose gin, rum or vodka.

Good Times at Davey Wayne's
(credit: Frank Ishman)

Good Times At Davey Wayne's
1611 N. El Centro Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 962-3804
www.goodtimesatdaveywaynes.com

Set up in an Airstream trailer, Good Times at Davey Wayne’s pays homage to the 70s. Good Times has a laid back retro vibe, a perfect stop on a Hollywood bar crawl. Priced at $12 each, cocktails here celebrate the groovy chicness of the 70s. Ones to try include "Some People Call Me Maurice," a delicious creamy alcohol delight made with crème de menthe and crème de cacao; "The Regal Beagle" made with rum and sherry, lime juice and a salted pistachio syrup; "Fuzzy Britches," crafted from vodka, crème de peche, peach preserves, orange peel vermouth and the "Painkiller" (think Pina Colada). Good Times guests party outside in the “backyard” while having alcohol-infused sno-cones.

Sassafras bar 1
(Credit: Sassafras)

Sassafras Saloon
1233 N. Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-2800
www.sassafrashollywood.com

Sassafras Saloon is an excellent choice for Southern flavor, and the history and spirits of New Orleans. The bar pays homage to storied NOLA cocktails, and new takes on classic concoctions and refined barrel-aged libations, with a bar bites menu celebrating creole. Elevating classic drinks such as the "Hurricane" with three diverse rums Cana Brava, Atlantico Reserva and Stolen Rums, transforming an "Old Fashioned" into "The Yellow King" by adding Café du Monde chicory, Sassafras helps guests enjoy an easy breezy night. Specialty bar bites featured are fried green tomatoes served with burrata, crawfish mac ‘n cheese made with gouda, red pepper jumbo shrimp and grits and beef short ribs served with horseradish mash.

Related: Best Cajun Food In Los Angeles

harvard&stone
(credit: Harvard & Stone)

Harvard And Stone
5221 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 466-6063
www.harvardandstone.com

For a sophisticated collegiate bar experience, Harvard and Stone is the place to visit. Live music including blues, rock ‘n roll and jazz set the mood here. On Saturday nights burlesque dancers shimmy to that old kind of rock and roll. VIP patrons access upstairs for a more private gathering. Harvard and Stone features an r&d bar for guest mixologists to visit and create specialty crafted cocktails such as "Baby’s First Bourbon" with Bulleit bourbon, St. Vincents Orgeat, Parlour Punch No. 2 also made with Bulleit bourbon, a vanilla celon tea simple syrup and a splash of seltzer. Or try the "Bull Shot," which is a shot of Tito’s vodka, beef stock and lemon and celery bitters.

The Pikey
(credit: thepikeyla.com)

The Pikey
7617 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 850-5400
www.thepikeyla.com

Known for only serving organic and local ingredients, The Pikey is L.A.’s go-to gastropub. This British pub is a great choice for bigger friend meet-ups as well as happy hour drinking. Cocktails are tributes to British icons — "The Twiggy" (champagne, Bombay dry gin, aperol and St. Germain elderflower), "Prince Albert" on the rocks (Jack Daniels, mint, and sambucca ramazzoti), "Divine Brown" (ancient aged whiskey and Dr. Pepper). PBT Tall Boy (Pabst Blue Ribbon ale) is on the happy hour menu along with distinctive pub fare such as Welsh rarebit, potted chicken liver, chip butty with pickle relish and more.

Related: Best Little Pubs In LA

Sheryl Craig is a writer with a passion for interesting finds and treasures in Los Angeles. She has a background in journalism and public relations. A mother of two daughters, Sheryl integrates her healthy lifestyle into raising her children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


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