It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? And actually, something about being on a beach makes us okay with starting cocktail hour a little earlier here in Santa Monica—because an oceanside mimosa is what we all need every now and again. Here, we’re sharing our favorite cocktail bars in Santa Monica to check out this summer.
Bar Chloe
A few blocks in from the sands, Bar Chloe is an elegant Santa Monica cocktail bar and lounge with a stellar drinks menu—and a stylish happy hour to boot. Come summer, we love The Crisp, an aptly named blend of tequila, lime, agave, basil, cucumber and serrano pepper. It’s deliciously refreshing, and Instagram-worthy as well. If you get hungry, Chloe also serves ever-tempting small plates like avocado crostini and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Copa d’Oro
Another semi-formal cocktail bar in Santa Monica, Copa d’Oro is a dimly-lit favorite stop-over for locals and visitors alike. Wooden high-top tables and lounge-like seating areas make it a prime date spot, although it’s also perfect for groups of friends or individual travelers looking to mingle. Popular summertime drinks demonstrate a Latin American flair: Brazilian-style caipirinhas and Peruvian favorite, pisco sours.
Guest Room at Estate
Leather banquette and tufted ottoman seating, a sleek backlit bar, and, of course, excellent drinks, make Guest Room at Estate one of Santa Monica’s best cocktail bars. A speakeasy-style annex to popular farm-to-table restaurant Estate 1519, it’s on Wilshire, just a few blocks from The Ambrose. Away from the crowds of the beach, this is a local favorite. This summer, we’ll be sipping on signature cocktails like the Ethel Waters, with tequila, pomegranate, rose water cordial and lime.
212 Santa Monica
Grab an outdoor table at this minimalist hotspot on 3rd Street Promenade and order the Electric Daisy. One of 1212 Santa Monica’s top notch specialty cocktails, it’s an oh-so-sippable mix of gin, Lillet rouge, fresh raspberries house-made sour and a Szechuan buzz. Watch passersby and linger for an hour or so for a perfect Santa Monica afternoon after hitting up the beach.