661750 Fri Oct 23 11:08:18 -0700 2009 21 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5125554 Help ! I had been hoping to stop at The Varnish tomorrow evening for a great cocktail before our dinner at Animal, but just discovered that they don't open until 8 pm, and that won't work with our other plans. Are there any other places in the downtown area that are open earlier and have a cool vibe and serve very good cocktails ? Fri Oct 23 11:08:18 -0700 2009 19558 mikester 1 5125575 The Redwood, on 2nd just off Broadway, is a very fun, very old bar that's been well refurbished without losing the charm, and in my experience the bartenders know what they're doing. I love to go there to eat, but the drinking is good too. And the bar at the back of Cole's has been very well reviewed, though we haven't been there yet, so I can't vouch for it. Fri Oct 23 11:14:42 -0700 2009 5125554 11478 Will Owen 1 5125584 the bar area at Rivera would be a great choice. Fri Oct 23 11:15:59 -0700 2009 5125554 12268 mollyomormon 2 5125670 Seven Grand is another idea... Fri Oct 23 11:46:16 -0700 2009 5125584 12268 mollyomormon 1 5125614 The Edison. Fri Oct 23 11:28:04 -0700 2009 5125554 262696 sheila1 2 5125907 Second. Fri Oct 23 13:13:13 -0700 2009 5125614 10811 Das Ubergeek 3 5126150 I don't think the Edison opens before 8. Could be wrong... but on Saturday it's gonna be a zoo. Unless you like zoos; apparently plenty of people do! Fri Oct 23 14:46:39 -0700 2009 5125907 11478 Will Owen 1 5125887 I just wanted to check with you, you're coming from downtown? Because Animal isn't located downtown, it's on fairfax. Near to Animal, you could go to Lolas for interesting martinis or the Roger Room for the freshly made specialty cocktail trend that's all the rage. Roger Room also has a good vibe. I think they open at 7pm though, so that may be too late for you? If you are looking downtown, I would second 7 Grand. It's a great vibe there. Also, though they have a full bar and can make you anything, it is a whiskey bar, which is a bit of a unique experience in LA. Fri Oct 23 12:58:39 -0700 2009 5125554 90988 hyacinthgirl 2 5126010 Yeah, I'd checked 7 Grand, The Edison and so on, but most of them don't open till 7 or 8 on Saturdays, unfortunately. Ditto for The Roger Room (7p.m.) - otherwise that sounded really good.... Copa d'Oro would have been great, but it's on the west side of Santa Monica... Lola's sounds really good though ! I was also considering The Whisper Lounge (at The Grove). Anyone been there for drinks ? Fri Oct 23 13:48:11 -0700 2009 5125887 19558 mikester 3 5126098 Rivera opens at 5:30 on the weekends and the cocktails are among the best in the city. Although if you want something closer to Animal, the bar at Comme Ca might work and the cocktails are excellent there as well. http://riverarestaurant.com/pub/docs/Cocktail%20Menu.pdf Fri Oct 23 14:24:23 -0700 2009 5126010 12268 mollyomormon 4 5126216 Rivera does sound like an excellent choice.... Fri Oct 23 15:18:27 -0700 2009 5126098 19558 mikester 3 5128298 I like the Whisper Lounge. It's my drinketeria of choice when at the Grove. Sat Oct 24 17:11:21 -0700 2009 5126010 54511 jesstifer 3 5144275 I've also been to Whisper and enjoyed it. Not sure if I'd make a special trip to go there, but it's the best stop for a decent cocktail and maybe a bite before or after a movie at the Grove. Fri Oct 30 18:38:42 -0700 2009 5126010 1111160 LATrapp 1 5126108 Cheateau Marmont - 5 blocks west of Fairfax on Sunset Blvd: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=cheateau+marmont+los+angeles&fb=1&gl=us&hq=cheateau+marmont&hnear=los+angeles&cid=0,0,501737950188063993&ei=uB7iSoXjJYemsgOTteGzAw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAwQnwIwAA Fri Oct 23 14:26:41 -0700 2009 5125554 11205 JBC 1 5126385 Hey, we'll be at Animal tomorrow night too!!! It's our 12th anniversary. What time is your ressie? I would love to go to the Varnish. Maybe next time. What about Barbrix? Is that near Animal? Thanks to mollyo' for the recs for places to go beforehand. She's so good!!! Fri Oct 23 16:45:01 -0700 2009 5125554 90755 Phurstluv 2 5126427 I'm going to let my liver read this so it knows all the cocktails weren't in vain. Barbrix is in Silver Lake so not very convenient to Animal, although I really like the food (it's Don Dickman, formerly of Rocco in SaMo, if you ever got a chance to eat there). I actually went to Animal last Saturday night for a very late dinner and was looking for a place for cocktails beforehand. We ended up grabbing one at the Kibetz Room next door, but I doubt that's the ambiance you're looking for on an anniversary. Had we left the westside earlier, we were planning to grab a cocktail on the back patio at Dominick's. I think hyacinth girl's rec for Roger Room is a great one, although I think it gets crowded as it gets later. Fri Oct 23 17:12:00 -0700 2009 5126385 12268 mollyomormon 3 5126645 Okay! Thanks, you're a sweetie! I'm very happy with hanging at Animal, frankly, we'll be lucky enough to get there on time for our ressie anyway, once the babysitter's all set. But I've heard about all these cool spots, that I never get to go to, but thought I'd shout them out anyway, for those who have the leisurely time to search out the places before their reservation. As always, your insights and suggestions are spot on, and we seem to think a lot alike. I can always use the recs for a night out with the gfs, who believe it or not, have less of a "life" than me!!! Fri Oct 23 19:29:08 -0700 2009 5126427 90755 Phurstluv 2 5127768 FYI, if you hit up Varnish at peak hours 10:30 or so, there's a huge waitlist. Came around 10:30-11:00 one night and hostess said to check back in 20 minutes which to me was a good sign. Then when I came back to inquire, she made it sound like I was expecting too much, "there are 10 tables in front of you", then why did you tell me to come back in 20 minutes!? They won't allow you to hang at the bar and only have "seating" and you can't grab a drink inside then take it out to Cole's...lame. Anyway, they probably make good designer cocktails, but they do come at a price. The bartenders at Cole's were able to make us some drinks and the Ginger Rogers was fantastic (rum and ginger syrup). Sat Oct 24 12:08:21 -0700 2009 5126385 63444 groover808 3 5127856 Good to know, thanks. It may be lame, but it's probably a liquor license issue, that you can't take your drink outside to another establishment. Sat Oct 24 12:59:57 -0700 2009 5127768 90755 Phurstluv 1 5128154 This might be a little late...and out of the way, but Bar Centro at The Bazaar opens at 6PM. The cocktails there are first rate...magic mojito, "salt air" margarita, Jale Berry, and the Passionfruit martini are outstanding drinks. Sat Oct 24 15:50:13 -0700 2009 5125554 142682 attran99 1 5132750 Thanks to everyone for their input - as it turns out, we ended up going....directly to Animal, because traffic was very bad and we didnt' have time to stop anywhere along the way. Someday....someday...hopefully I'll have the opportunity to check out some of these places, they sound so good. Animal was fantastic, BTW. We got to try pretty much all of the "greatest hits" (poutine, foie, pork belly, pigs ear, sweetbreads...) loved them all, maybe my favorite being the melted Petite Basque with chorizo...oh but those sweetbreads... so good. Loved the eclectic wine list and the fact that pretty much everything is available in carafe (about 1/2 of a bottle), so you get to try more wines...Service was super-good as well, very attentive and right there if you need them, not if you don't, and great recommendations. So, are there any really great bars in OC, a la any of the places above ? Mon Oct 26 15:23:06 -0700 2009 5125554 19558 mikester 1 5144450 Hungry Cat (Sunset/Vine) makes incredible cocktails using the freshest ingredients. If you're coming from downtown, it's a straight shot off the 101 before you head to Animal. Fri Oct 30 20:29:43 -0700 2009 5125554 126840 treeboy