Bars/Food

[Bruinvoice]

So I'm newly 21 and am looking for fun/friendly bars on the Westside. Good drinks, cute bartenders, interesting patrons, and of course tasty food is always a plus. Please suggest any bars that are must visits, also any that might be obscure.

[Emalish57]

you should check out main street in santa monica. It is a whole block of bars. There is a place called world cafe that serves food and drinks... on fri. and sat. they searve 6 dollar mojitos after 10 pm

[yogachik]

Don't forget to visit Montana Lounge, while it's still there.

[handlertaper]

What about Nic's in Beverly Hills on Canon? Fun martini's, music on weekends, 1/2 price appetizers that are really good.

[kinipela]

oh i like that bar in marina del rey right across for c & o (the c & i closest to the beach) it's a small place... i think they have good sake and good martinis....

do you have access to a car? besides doing the ucla college spots in westwood, there are places like the dresden and spots on sunset, which are more places to see type of things...

also, the crowd is always changing every 6 months or so in la, so you'll have to just keep your ear out... =)

happy 21st =) don't go too crazy.... hahahahah i should talk... sheesh.... oh to be 21 again... hahahahah =)

[Bruinvoice]

Thanks to all that have posted with their recs, and please keep them coming. I know their are a few more hole in the wall places out there that need to be explored.

[Pei]

I'll add O-Bar to this list. Great mojitos and other cocktails, plus either the full dinner menu or a less fancy bar menu.

[ElissaInPlaya]

Fun thread.....Love the suggestions. I also recommend Minotaure in Playa del Rey. Lots of good recs here -- but I would skip the food at Baja Cantina, Canal Club, Monsoon and Temple Bar.

[teach]

Temple Bar has a beautiful, diverse crowd and live music. I think they also serve food. Renee's Courtyard down the street is fun, but I don't think they have food. Both are in Santa Monica on Wilshire.

[mollyomormon]

Renee's actually does serve food. I don't think the food at either place is great, but both places have fun crowds. Temple bar is at 10th and Wilshire, Renee's is between 5th and 6th on Wilshire. Warszawa, on Lincoln and Santa Monica, is a Polish retaurant that also has a really fun back patio that sometimes has live music on the weekends. There's also Ma'Kai, at Ocean and Broadway, which serves food and usually has a DJ on weekend nights.

[mc michael]

Voda if it's still there. In Santa Monica.

[mollyomormon]

Voda is still there, but it's generally an older crowd than the OP is probably looking for. Busby's has decent food and a lively bar scene for early 20's. I love the nachos at Cabo Cantina, although the rest of the food is pretty lacking. You could go there and then head over the Q's.

[hrhboo]

Beechwood, James Beach, Canal Club and Nikki are all lively fun places with cute barstaff.

[LisaStitch]

I just went to Beechwood in Venice for the first time on Saturday night - very fun place, great crowd, and tasty food - lamb meatballs, sweet potato fries... yum!

[danikm]

It's not quite on the westside, but I recommend 3rd stop on 3rd st near La Cienega if you're looking to eat out at a bar. The food there is good (my boyfriend loves the burgers, I like the pizzas although I know some people are more skeptical) and they have some non pubby food as well (a wonderful beet salad, some fish dishes, etc). There's a massive selection of beers and some decent wines as well.

[Diana]

I second 3rd stop. Great beer, good vibe.

[SauceSupreme]

I like 3rd Stop a lot. One of the few places where you can get Delerium Tremens as well as one of my favorite San Diego micro-brews, Alesmith (they offer the "Horny Devil" variety).

The food there is surprisingly good.

Most complaints I've heard about the place is the service, but the way to get around that is to remember you can only order at the bar. They'll bus the tables, but they're not walking around looking to take your order. My complaint about 3rd Stop is the parking, as it is quite a premium in that neck of the woods.

[Diana]

You can get Delerium Tremens at Mc G's, Lucky Baldwins, The Four Points Sheraton near LAX (in the bar, I forget the name) and lot of other places.

[SauceSupreme]

Sweeeeet. I still wouldn't go to Moose of my accord, but now if someone else suggests it, I won't mind.

[chica]

Whist at the Viceroy - fits all your criteria, and for dessert, I suggest the dessert sampler, or even just the hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies. :)

Saddle Ranch Chop House (I find if you go up to the bar, eye contact might get you a better, special addition to the drink but in any event, the drinks are (tall) and good and food portions are huge. A plus: riding the bull you have to be over a certain age for)

I didn't find Bodega very interesting...food wasn't appealing to me, and the place was too small. But, it's a nice place to meet for after-work drinks.

The bar at Josie.

Sidebar at CUT.

Upstairs at Mastro's.

[LisaStitch]

Note that the upstairs bar at Mastro's has interesting people, but they are definitely in the older age range. And this, as well as Cut and Josie can be expensive.

[hrhboo]

I agree, the vibe at these places is definitely much older.

[LisaStitch]

Bodega Wine Bar in Santa Monica is fun and loud. I love their artisan pizzas Good-looking people all around.
http://www.bodegawinebar.com/

The Arsenal is also a favorite of mine. Great sliders (3 for $6) and pretty inexpensive food in general. Great space, friendly service, gets busy pretty much every night.
http://www.arsenalbar.com/

Ye Olde King's Head is fun too but pretty casual - British pub, has darts, sometimes karaoke, usually a soccer game on TV. Food is fish and chips, Scotch eggs, etc.
http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/

I also like Baja Cantina on Washington - laid-back, very tasty Mexican food, and it gets crowded and fun, especially for sporting events. Nice patio too.
http://www.bajacantinavenice.com/

[Cinnamon]

2nd King's Head.

Also for casual hang-out and whatnot, on Third Street Promenade, the Monsoon bar. Either the little one in front or the big elaborate shindig type one in back.

[locklite]

Father’s Office at 1018 Montana Ave in Santa Monica

[Diana]

waaaay overrated.