Alley Lounge

While this indoor-outdoor bar hidden behind Culver City’s FIN Asian Tapas might not scream “speakeasy,” longtime patrons of the neighborhood pan-Asian restaurant know the Alley is one of the best low-key places to keep the night going after dinner on the Westside. Walk around the side of the building and you’ll find the Backyard, a pandemic-era addition with picnic tables, patio heaters and TVs for game days. Inside, the Alley’s original modern interiors play host to couples in intimate conversation, as well as groups of friends ordering round after round of the bar’s expertly made, fun-named creations. While most Angelenos have long acquainted themselves with mixology by now, a drink at Alley Lounge can make it feel like you’ve sipped a craft cocktail for the very first time.