Baby It's Cold Outside: LA's Coziest Bars

  • By: Ashley Joy Parker

Snuggle up and sip….

Lately, Angelenos have been putting up with some crappy weather. Sure, we don’t get the snow storms like our friends on the east coast, but the crazy amount of rain and blustery winds have made many of us wanting to stay in hibernate.

But don’t let the undesirable weather make you are hermit. Look it as the perfect excuse to head out to cozy-vibe bar, complete with fireplaces, rustic decor and free flowing whiskey. 

From a cabin-like to historic storybook hideaway, check out some spots in LA that are sure to warm you right up. Flannel attire options.

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Bigfoot Lodge

Designed with a mountainous roadhouse vibe in mind, Bigfoot Lodge in Atwater Village is a beloved watering hole inspired by the Wild Wild West offering a Yellowstone-esque ambience for city-dwellers. Guests can snuggle up next to Bigfoot, Smokey the Bear and other charming taxidermy as they indulge in the spot’s expansive whiskey list by the fire or participate in for various nightly activities like bingo, trivia and live music (our fav is bluegrass night).

Bigfoot Lodge
3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles
@bigfootlodge

Bigfoot West

Bigfoot Lodge’s sister bar Bigfoot West welcomes imbibers with a similar cozy cabin vibe to its Eastside counterpart. Location in Culver City, this beloved neighborhood saloon-like spot is adorned with Paul Bunyon-esque decor, like antler wrapped chandeliers and faded totem poles, and serves up craft beers and creative cocktails, plus an impressive whiskey collection that’s spans the globe. Don’t miss their Wild West Wednesdays with drink specials and live music.

Bigfoot West
10939 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles
@bigfootwest

The Wellesbourne

Get ready to be transported from the city grind into a new world 19th Century English Manor House staffed with knowledgeable mixologists looking to guide you through a journey of the senses. Welcome to the The Wellesbourne, a sophisticated book-lined bar in West LA featuring classic cocktails, old-world ambiance and British pub grub. The Wellesbourne was named after a small village near William Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford Upon-Avon and is inspired by the countryside estates and old English manor houses found in the area. Think rich leather couches, dark woods, a fireplace and leather-bound books. All of the paintings, decorative objects, mirrors and even the front door of this stately lounge have been sourced and shipped from England to provide the most authentic experience.

The cuisine is derived from classics from across the pond with a local LA twist. All food is served as small bites that are meant to be shared. The bar and service team, masters of their craft, will not only curate your experience, but will expand your thoughts on how cocktails are constructed and more importantly…how they should taste. Be sure to check out “the secret garden” patio where you enjoy a drink under the stars with heat lamps to keep you comfortable. 

The Wellesbourne
10929 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles,
@thewellesbourne

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Sassafrass Saloon

In the heart of Hollywood, 1933 GROUP converted a Savannah Townhouse to become Sassafras, a warm, welcoming little piece of the south highlighting deep-rooted southern history. An authentic New Orleans atmosphere is thoughtfully illuminated through Sassafras Saloon’s architecture and decor – antique bar tools and charms, wicker chairs, and a creaky conveyer belt above the bar that displays bottle-aged drinks that are in constant rotation.

On the cocktail menu, you’ll find some southern favourites like a Hurricanes and Sazeracs as well as some rich cold weather sippers like the I Wanna Be Loved Bayou made with Teeling Whiskey, salted caramel syrup, simple syrup and Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters.

Sassafrass Saloon
1233 N. Vine St., Los Angeles
@sassafrassaloon

Old Man Bar

Tucked away towards the rear of Hatchet Hall, the Old Man Bar is an intimate, low-lit, straight forward bar with an emphasis on American whiskey and spirits. With one of the best curated backbars in Los Angeles, there is a highlight on both current and sought after releases from different distilleries. The lodge-esque vibe is met through all vinyl music, a fireplace, and taxidermy adorning the walls, making it the perfect spot to drink on a chilly day. Hungry? Be sure to check out Burger Night, every Sunday and Monday night when The Old Man bar serves juicy prime beef burgers made by the Hatchet Hall Kitchen.

Old Man Bar
12517 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles
@hatchethall

The Tam O’Shanter

Delighting diners for over 100 years, The Tam O’Shanter is Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant operated by the same family in the same location. Established in 1922, the storybook style Scottish pub/steakhouse—which is a sister restaurant to Lawry’s The Prime Rib—is famous for being Walt Disney‘s favorite  restaurant with legend saying he used to sit at the bar and use cocktail napkins to jot down ideas he had for his future theme park. In fact, the original interior of “Toad Hall” in “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” at Disneyland is rumored to be inspired by The Tam’s main dining room.

Inside the decor features English and Scottish medieval weapons, kilts, family coats of arms and medieval family crests. If you have some Scottish ancestry, you might even find your family tartan among the extensive collection adorning the walls. A few years back, an outdoor patio space was also added featuring a cozy fireplace

At The Tam, plaid-clad waiters serve up its famous Prime Rib and Yorkshire pudding, as well as other hearty pub fare favs like Fish & Chips, Scotch Rabbit and the Corned Beef Platter. Behind the bar, they are pouring proper pints ranging from Belhaven Scottish Ale to Stone IPA, as well as wine and whiskey flights. The cocktails are also bloody great with standouts like the Salted Carmel Old Fashioned and tequila-based Mexican Radio. Feeling like royalty? Order the Scottish Rite, a rare $100 cocktail created for The Tam’s 101st anniversary, featuring ingredients such as “McTavish’s Tam Tipple”(scotch malt whisky society bottle #73 .154 from aultmore), Rémy Martin XO Cognac, housemade blessed thistle and more. It’s served in a keepsake crystal glass for you to take home, engraved with The Tam’s commemorative centennial logo.

The Tam O’Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles
@tamoshanterla

Cold Shoulder 

Cold Shoulder is a new speakeasy inside actor Vincent Laresca’ popular Blue Collar pub which has been a staple on the South Fairfax District landscape for the last decade. Cold Shoulder, adjoined to Blue Collar through a hidden bookcase, depicts a prohibition era style speakeasy bar, but with a twist. All of the furniture, decor and adornments are upside down, creating an immediate mind trip for the patron as they enter. Wall sconces are upside down as well as a row of presidential portraits, bar stools hang upside down from the ceiling as well as various other items in the wood-toned space that also feels like you are inside a 1920s train caboose. You even need a special invitation and rotating password to enter in pure speakeasy fashion. And the music is vibey as well with the tunes of Cold Shoulder skew ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.

The mixology is of another era as well, with 36 signature cocktail creations offered in a gorgeous hard cover book style menu with hand drawn watercolor illustrations of each drink in parchment paper. Standouts include the a S’mores-inspired cocktail called The Benjamin which has a full S’mores garnish on the top of the drink, the Midnight In Paris drink is made with fresh chocolate covered strawberries daily paired with Salted Caramel, Blue Caraco, Vodka, Violet, and a White Chocolate Strawberry Cream float. We also love the Molcajeteada Salsa cocktail features Smokey Salsa paired with Chips and the drink itself is a Smoky Mezcal base, showcasing the art of smoke, and paying homage to Laresca’s popular Roadside Taco eatery in Studio City. 

Cold Shoulder
359 South Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles
@coldshoulderbar

Seven Grand 

Located in DTLA, Seven Grand is a fusion of elegance and comfort and a go-to spot for whiskey enthusiasts looking for a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The vibe is is that of a gentleman’s hunting lodge, complete with dark woods, masculine plaids and animal heads on the walls. 

Seven Grand prides itself on its whiskey selection, offering everything from exclusive rarities to classic favorites. Here, you’re invited to explore a world of rich, complex flavors, guided by their knowledgeable staff. Imbibers can really immerse themselves in the world of whiskey like never before with Seven Grand’s Whiskey Society gatherings. This urban hideout also offers live music on certain nights, pool tables and solid happy hour specials.

While you’re there, be sure to check out Bar Jackalope, an eighteen-seat Japanese speakeasy-style whiskey bar tucked in the back boasting over 120 varieties of whiskeys, including rare international and domestic varieties.

Seven Grand
515 W 7th St 2nd Floor, Los Angeles
@sevengrandla

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