How to choose your favorite happy hour in your LA neighborhood

Snacks, vibes, libations, conversations. Ah, the joy of a good happy hour.

Between the hustle and bustle of the city, work, and all the life things we juggle, a happy hour might be at the bottom of your list of things to discover.

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#309: Today we are back with our summer series about places to explore and discover in Los Angeles. We’ve done parks, museums, road trip, and this time we are talking about happy hour! The neighborhood spots featured include: Big Bar in Los Feliz, The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena, and Chulita in West Adams.

Our favorite neighborhood happy hour spots

#309: Today we are back with our summer series about places to explore and discover in Los Angeles. We’ve done parks, museums, road trip, and this time we are talking about happy hour! The neighborhood spots featured include: Big Bar in Los Feliz, The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena, and Chulita in West Adams.

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But I give you this: what if a happy hour was a way to connect with your community and the people who work and play in it?

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“I think one of the most beautiful things about having created a space, especially in neighborhoods where you live, is that you get to meet your neighbors,” Shireen Imani, owner of Chulita West Adams, told me. “It just becomes so enriching for the community.”

She lives in the Mid-City neighborhood and opened her restaurant in late 2023. It’s along Adams Boulevard, clustered nearby other popular eateries like Alta West Adams, Miz La La and Johnnie’s.

I live a few blocks away from Chulita, and this is why it has become my go-to watering hole whenever friends visit my area or when I’m in the mood for something mezcal or tequila-based. (More on why it’s my fave vibe later.)

Another thing: happy hours don’t always have to involve alcohol. There are eateries or dispensaries where you can hangout and partake in other yummy stuff at discounted prices — don’t knock those!

But there are so many places to choose from, so how do you pick?

Here are a few things that I’ve learned from scouting plenty of places for happy hours.

Cheers.

Ditch the car 

Eric Brightwell, a cartographer and bus enthusiast, once told me that bars shouldn’t have parking lots, so Angelenos are forced to catch public transit or explore their own neighborhood. I have to agree.

Ditch the car, look up an eatery that offers happy hours, and head on foot (or bus.) Not to dampen the mood here, but driving buzzed can lead to many things that we don’t want happening. Sure, there’s rideshare services, but explore where you live (or the area where you work) on a walk if you’re able to.

Look up the specialties

Are you into wine? Check out if the spot has a wine list. Maybe you’re a bourbon girl. Look to see if that’s their speciality. If there’s at least one type of drink they have on their menu that wows you, it’s probably a right fit.

Just FYI that many places have a slimmer list for their happy hour specials. My pro tip is to ask the bartender if there’s a way to make your fave drink at a discounted price, even if that’s coffee or tea. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Get there early

I don’t have to spell it out for you, but other than getting more time to happy hour, there are fewer people around and the staff are probably less busy. More time to decide on the perfect drink, snacks, or get your pick of good seating. Speaking of seating…

Sit at the bar

If you take away ONE thing from this guide, please sit at the bar. You know I love to talk because I’m a podcast host, but this tip also applies if you want solitude. Plop yourself near other patrons or sit in the corner with a book and figure out your vibe.

You can find community (or a date) by talking to at least one person there. My fave thing to do is talk to the bartender and ask them for their recommendations on the happy hour menu. Fun fact: I learned that Chulita’s bartender Carlos Dueñas lives a few blocks from me.

Our recommendations 

Chulita, West Adams

The spicy margarita from Chulita.

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Wonho Frank Lee

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Courtesy of Chulita

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This restaurant’s bar definitely has the Instagram aesthetic, but it isn’t the star of the show — that's two words, mezcal and tequila. Grab the spicy margarita ($10) and if you’re hungry, order the vegan nachos ($17), which tasted wonderful to this non-vegan. Carlos, one of the bartenders (and my neighbor, see above), gives great recommendations.

Raymond 1886, Pasadena

Some of the speciality drinks at Raymond 1886 in Pasadena.

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Courtesy of Raymond 1886

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On the happy hour menu at The Raymond 1886, bar manager Miguel Perez recommends the Medicina Latina ($12), a tequila-based Penicillin-style cocktail. It's made with lime juice, house-made ginger syrup for a "nice little spice kick," honey syrup, tequila blanco and a spritz of mezcal. "I love it myself," Miguel says. "I never get tired of it."

Many drinks can also be made non-alcoholic, just ask your bartender or server.

Big Bar at Alcove, Los Feliz

When we visited Big Bar at Alcove, Bartender Abigail pulled out what looked like a classic old school Thomas guide. Each page has a special cocktail made by a different bartender that’s personal to them and their histories in California. Abigail’s is called the Rain Shadow, a tequila-based Martini, and it’s inspired by the Mojave desert and her relationship with her fiancé. It's a must try.