13 venues ranked by our editors. Happy hours, rooftop terraces, and Downtown classics. Updated 2025.
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5 bars
The downtown scene has exploded since 2015. The Perch, 71 Above, Lost Property, The Association, and Spring offer a genuine concentration of after-work options that didn't exist five years ago.
2 bars
The Bungalow is the definitive westside after-work destination. For those avoiding the drive east, this is the anchor. Close proximity to dinner options on Santa Monica Boulevard makes it easy to extend the evening.
3 bars
The creative sector after-work scene. Villains Tavern brings live music and rum cocktails. Mohawk Bend offers 72 craft taps and eclectic company. The Tasting Kitchen brings wine bar sophistication to Venice.
After-work drinking in Los Angeles is fundamentally shaped by geography and the cost of transportation. Unlike New York or Chicago, where offices concentrate near transit hubs, LA's sprawl means the after-work bar is almost always within a mile of the office. This simple geographic fact determines everything about LA's after-work bar culture. You pick a bar near your workplace, not a destination bar across the city. This shifts what matters: accessibility, happy hour pricing, and proximity to secondary dinner options trump character and buzz.
Downtown LA's transformation in the last five years has changed the entire game. The Perch, The Association, Lost Property, 71 Above, and Spring created a genuine after-work bar district for the first time in the city's history. Before 2015, downtown was largely empty after 6pm. Now it has real competition with West Hollywood, the Westside, and the Arts District. This concentration means you can actually pick a bar based on mood rather than geography, if you're downtown.
Happy hours matter more in LA than in any other city. The cost of parking and driving means people tend to arrive at an after-work bar closer to 5pm and stay longer than they would in New York. A good happy hour—either in price discount or in the quality of the venue—makes the difference between a quick drink and a proper evening. Look for venues with wine and beer programs rather than full cocktail bars for Tuesday-through-Thursday sessions. The serious cocktail bars are better on Friday when people are already in a social mood and the pricing doesn't matter as much.
The best after-work bars in LA understand they're competing for time between the office and home (or dinner). The Bungalow works because it's between most Santa Monica offices and restaurants. The Perch works because the happy hour cuts prices significantly and the views make the detour worth the 10 minutes from downtown offices. Good Hop Bar in Long Beach works because it's coastal and the quality is higher than you'd expect. Budget accordingly: expect $6 to $10 pints during happy hour, $8 to $12 full-price; cocktails $14 to $16.
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