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It might not seem like it now, but there will come a time when Southern California will get chilly. Heck, it even rains sometimes. (We're manifesting it, okay?) In preparation for those cooler days, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite places to enjoy a cocktail fireside. Here they are.
Photo courtesy of Tres
Tres by Jose Andres
This small enclave inside the SLS Hotel in BH is definitely one of the sexier fireside situations in town. Whereas the Bazaar is all about showmanship, Tres is a bit more comfort-oriented, offering classic fare for brunch as well as a more relaxed setting for afternoon tea. It's just the place to wind down over a drink on a cozy autumn evening.
Tres is located at 465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, (310) 247-0400
Dominick's
The floor-to-roof brick hearth at Dominick's classic Italian restaurant sets the tone for a warm, inviting evening. It's easy to see why so many Hollywood stars have hung out here, with the cozy combo of great cocktails, wonderful food, and a fabulous fire pit. Whether you've stopped by for their weekly Sunday Supper or just for a happy hour tipple, you'll leave feeling like it really is fall.
Dominick'sis located at 8715 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood, (310) 652-2335
Gracias Madre
Gracias Madre is a massive 5,000-square-foot restaurant that features high vaulted ceilings, wood trusses, brick walls, and a generous outdoor space that features some lovely fire pits and a really cool old rancho feel. So while you're noshing on your stone-ground heirloom masa tamales filled with sautéed butternut squash, poblano and onion or enchiladas con mole you can keep cozy next to the fire, margarita in hand.
Gracias Madre is located at 8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, (323) 978-2170
Photo of Gracias Madre's fireplace courtesy of Eric Wolfinger
The Church Key
The Church Key brings a really cool vibe—and amazing cocktails by Devin Espinosa—to Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. Inside the restaurant, servers push around little trolleys for guests to point at and pick up at their whim. The booze is also done tableside, with vintage PanAm drinks carts peddling Kool Pops, a frozen Appletini or Sex on the Beach martini made cooler by the added flare of billowing liquid nitrogen. What's more is that they have a giant fireplace in the dining room, making for a great experience any season.
The Church Key is located at 8730 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, (424) 249-3700
The Griffin
This dimly lit and casual neighborhood bar's clientele is of the Atwater Village hipster variety. It boasts not one but two fireplaces and is the perfect joint to get cozy in during those "winter" months in L.A. The decor just so happens to be equal parts Hobbit hole and Hogwarts; it's quirky and that's why we keep coming back. There's an old school jukebox in the mix so you can blast some classics. They also have a sweet happy hour with craft beer for $5, and finger foods like buffalo wings and tater tots for $5 as well. —Jean Trinh
The Griffin is located at 3000 Los Feliz Blvd., Atwater Village, (323) 644-0444
Photo courtesy of Bigfoot Lodge
The Bigfoot Lodge
It's a cozy log cabin in the woods...but in the heart of Atwater Village. When you walk into the Bigfoot Lodge, you're immediately transported to a kitschy world where antlers hang on the walls and a Smoky The Bear statue stands in the corner in the midst of faux pine trees. And this place does have a fireplace—although it's fake one—that we like to gather around because we like getting into the spirit of things. We also dig their extensive spirits list and their love for whiskey. —Jean Trinh
The Bigfoot Lodge is located at 3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Atwater Village, (323) 662-9227
The Raymond 1886
Marcos Tello and his well-trained crew push out bang-up drinks at this Pasadena bar. Outside the Craftsman house there's a stone-hewn fireplace you can perch next to while you sip. Their seasonal cocktails are always worth a try, but don't forget to order their honey nut old fashioned, one of our favorite cocktails in the city.
1886 is located at 1250 S Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, (626) 441-3136
Parq Bar
Comfy couches, a cozy fireplace, and a baby grand piano. Does it get any more romantic? Even if you're just meeting a friend for drinks on a rainy night this is the spot to be. Each night the lounge features a different musical genre such as jazz, R&B or blues from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. They sell nibbles too, like cheese plates and charcuterie, in case you're feeling peckish.
Parq Bar is located at 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, (310) 860-7800
The Churchill
Not only does this West Third Street gastropub serve great grub (the pork meatballs are perfectly succulent and well-seasoned), but also provides the perfect place to hang out on a chilly evening. Their bartender Karen Grill whips up some amazing cocktails to sip on while you're cuddled up, like the Templeton Manhattan on draft.
The Churchillis located at 8384 W 3rd St, West Hollywood, (323) 655-8384
Photo courtesy of Spago
Spago
Wolfgang Puck first opened Spago on the Sunset Strip in 1982. It then relocated to its current location in Beverly Hills in 1997, and has since gotten quite the face lift. The restaurant reopened in the fall of last year with a bright, fresh approach. The dining room is airy. There's a retractable rooftop on the patio so guests can dine outside no matter the season. And there's a hearth in the middle of it all to give a more inviting feeling. We dig.
Spago is located at 176 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, (310) 385-0880
AOC
With a gorgeous Spanish-style patio that gets a hearty dose of sunshine, it's sure to become springtime staple with the outdoor dining crowd. There are even little brick windows that looks out onto a lemon tree-lined street. It truly feels like a hacienda retreat in the middle of the city. The fireplace adds yet another element of irresistible charm, making it one of our favorite places to dine in L.A.
AOC is located at 8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, (310) 859-9859
Acabar
Acabar is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful restaurant spaces in L.A., with gorgeous Alhambra-esque arched doorways and tile work, and a lounge that's centered around a super sleek indoor fire pit. Their cocktail menu takes drinkers on a trip through the art form's history, starting with old school punches and ending with an ode to one of the country's finest craft cocktail bars, Milk & Honey. It's really a journey for the senses.
Acabaris located at 1510 N Stanley Ave, Los Angeles, (323) 876-1400
Photo courtesy of the Warwick
Warwick
The masterminds behind The Roger Room revamped this Hollywood hotspot to be a bit more welcoming. Though the space is still quite expansive, they've warmed things up by adding touches like exposed brick, fireplaces, and unfinished ceilings. There's table-side cocktail service—basically bottle service where the douchebaggery is swapped out for actual quality ingredients like house-made syrups, foams, and proper ice cubes—but you can also order from the bar if your legs are up for a walk.
Warwickis located at 6507 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, (323) 460-6667
Tanzy
One thing you might not notice driving past the new iPic luxury movie theater in the heart of Westwood is that there's a hip California/Italian joint, Tanzy, nestled inside of it. And the menu at the restaurant just so happens to be helmed by chef Bryan Podgorski, whose experience includes his work at French Laundry and Bouchon. They decor is very whimsical, with tangled trees all over the place, and a fireplace at front and center. Pair that with the Italian comfort food, and you're in a little Tuscan dreamland.
Tanzy is located at 10840 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood, (310) 307-7004
Hotel Casa del Mar
For a little Westside fireside action, head over to the Hotel Casa Del Mar. It's hardly a flashy Hollywood club, which is what makes the space so charming. Order a glass of red wine and sit in one of their plush chairs fireside with a friend or loved one and take in the Pacific Ocean view. They do a nice job of decorating for the holidays too, making an ideal place to reconvene with friends during the season.
Hotel Casa Del Mar is located at 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, (310) 581-5533
