From Garden to Glass: Top Cocktail Destinations in Los Angeles to Welcome Spring

It’s springtime in Los Angeles and a chance for flowers, fruits and herbs to not only grow but to be harvested. The bars around town are getting their spring cocktails into gear as well, incorporating fresh fruits and produce into their cocktails. There are refreshing sparkling cocktails, liquors infused with herbs and more to get Angelenos into the blooming season.

Big Bar
Los Feliz favorite Big Bar continues to put out wonderful seasonal cocktail menus under the direction of their new bar manager, Cari Hah. The spring menu is a colorful spread that includes cocktails like Missy CRZA (Kappa pisco, malbec, Grand Marnier, Lustau PX Sherry, lemon essence, garnished with an edible flower). It’s also time for sparkling drinks and herbal cocktails, and Big Bar combines them both in Shrubbing Bubbles made with rosemary-infused barrel-aged Bols Genever, rosemary apple shrub, Lustau amontillado sherry, bubbles along with the final ingredient of charred rosemary aroma.

Terrine
Terrine’s outdoor seating is the perfect backdrop to sip cocktails as the weather warms. Start with a crisp La Marguerite (Tapatio tequila, yellow chartreuse, lime juice and freeze-dried white Barbados grapefruit). For something fruitier and sweeter, don’t miss Southern Drawl with Diplomatico Reserva rum, lime juice, passion fruit, and Ramazzotti Amaro. Bartender Ryan Wainwright has also put his own spin on the gin and tonic with Soleil Tonique, combining Bombay Sapphire gin with grapefruit juice, lemongrass and bergamot tonic, lime juice, and Cocchi Americano.

Harvard and Stone
This Houston Brothers establishment is a standby that’s still bringing their A-game and is as popular as ever. The spring menu is filled with fruits to celebrate the bounty of the season, from honeydew to mango. Try the Kiwi Paloma (Ilegal mezcal, kiwi cordial, grapefruit, lime, pineapple, jalapeno, cilantro, salt) or Strawberry-Pear Sour (Ford’s gin, pear brandy, lemon and strawberry-wasabi cordial).

A.O.C.
If you haven’t tried barman Christiaan Rollich’s drinks at A.O.C., this spring is a great time to start as he is one of the best in the city. Start with a refreshing Captain Shaddock made with St. George Agricole rum, grapefruit and chartreuse. If you still want something darker and vegetal with a spring twist, the Cardoon combines Rittenhouse rye whiskey and cynar with ginger, lemon and effervescence from a Lost Abbey blonde ale.

Bar Toscana
Brentwood’s neighborhood gem is one of those under-the-radar cocktail spots with resident bartender William Perbellini, an Italian import. The refreshing Angurita combines Partida reposado tequila with freshly juiced watermelon and lime, garnished with a sprig of torched rosemary. Ease into the warm weather with Pina Toscana made with Ciroc coconut vodka, freshly juiced pineapple and lime, topped with black sea salt and fresh thyme.

E.P. & L.P.
This West Hollywood supper club (E.P.) and its rooftop lounge (L.P.) have naturally become L.A.’s hotspot. The cocktails are created by E.P. and L.P.’s lead bartenders Adam Nystrom (formerly of Red Medicine) and Brittney Olsen (formerly of Melrose Umbrella Co.).  The rooftop’s menu consists of plenty of fun items like alcoholic bubble tea. Try Californication with rum, Campari, pineapple, fresh lime, toasted coconut syrup and passion fruit boba pearls. There’s a Sunday Spritz menu along with other cocktails you can order by the pitcher since you’re on a rooftop after all. The cocktail menu downstairs is equally strong with drinks like Machete Blanco (tequila, chamomile, Gentian, aromatized wine), available exclusively at E.P. Restaurant.

Butchers and Barbers
The first restaurant venture from The Houston Brothers will naturally maintain a solid cocktail program. A great complement to any meal at this Hollywood hot spot are cocktails like The Sunshine Band (Casamigos Reposado tequila, hibiscus falernum, Pamplemousse, cilantro, fresh lemon, habanero bitters) or the aptly named A Good Time For All (Botanist Islay gin, Pimm’s, cucumber, cloudberry & thyme and lemon).

Birch
One of 2015’s highly anticipated openings, this small plates and charcuterie-focused restaurant in Hollywood from Chef Brendan Collins also boasts a great cocktail program. The cocktails from bartender Gabriella Mlynarczyk are not named but labeled by numbers instead. This season, try the #5 made with turmeric, vodka, tikka masala, coconut, and galangal beautifully garnished with a flower, a perfect way to invoke spring.

Spring
Newly opened in February, this French restaurant behind the team from Church & State boasts a bright dining room filled with a glow from the skylight, two fountains and trees inside the dining atrium. Pretend you’re sitting in a courtyard in France while drinking Strawberries and Silence, made with Platinum 7 vodka, yellow chartreuse, strawberry syrup and lime. And it’s even better when it’s paired with Chef Tony Esnault’s French cuisine.

Kings Row Gastropub
While this Old Town Pasadena pub is popular for their beers, don’t miss the cocktails crafted by the capable hands of bartender Zulma Cobain. The new menu has a literary theme to it. To celebrate the season, try the drink called Spring & All made with Old Forester bourbon, Averna, passion fruit, and lemon. Don’t miss The Drunken Boat made with Damrak gin, green apple, lime and green chartreuse.

Faith & Flower
The fresh spring cocktail menu from Ryan Wainwright and Darwin Pornel at Faith & Flower is separated into three categories: “Bubbles, Refreshing,” “Crisp, Clean” and “Spirituous, Provocative.” Among the refreshing cocktails is the Parade Route made with a sparkling rosé to properly welcome the season along with the aromatic and herbal Shiso Easy with tequila, Contratto Bianco, shiso, cucumber and lime. Spice lovers should try the Mass Effect made with smoky mezcal, Ricard Pastis, habanero, mint, pineapple, lime and agave.