The best holiday bars in L.A.

In a surprising show of Christmas cheer, this critically acclaimed, ultra-serious basement bar in the Arts District will host a holiday pop-up in its Standing Room space from November 30 to December 30, Tuesday through Sunday. Kitted out with festive lights, specialty cocktail and a comfort-oriented food menu, the Death & Co bar team will serve drinks like "vintage" eggnog made with cognac, bourbon and rum. Note that Season's Greetings will only be available in the smaller Standing Room—not the entire bar. (This is the usual area for walk-ins and guests waiting for table reservations.)

We shudder to think of what Casa Vega’s electric bill looks like after the month of December. A kaleidoscope of floor-to-ceiling Christmas lights with garland and tinsel cover this throwback every holiday season, and have for more than 40 years—making it one of the most festive spots in town. This year, owner Christy Vega has pulled out all the stops: Christmas trees, tinsel, string lights, light-up Santas, reindeer and garlands galore will deck the halls, including a newly renovated outdoor patio area with string-lit trees. This year, patrons can also enjoy a to-be-announced holiday menu of drinks and bar bites, which will include a Snowball Margarita.

This brand-new Southern restaurant in Downtown L.A. is decking the halls with plenty of decor and strong line-up of ten unique holiday drinks. Sip on eggnog spiked with bourbon and rum out of a leg lamp-shaped glass (Fra-Gee-Lay), or maybe warm yourself up with a mulled red wine (Santa-gria). Other seasonally inspired cocktails include the Papa Elf (gin, lemongrass ginger syrup, lime, pomegranate ice) and the Yippie Kai Yuletide (bourbon, housemade gingerbread syrup, sassafras, sorghum bitters), which comes top with an adorable decorative cookie. 

It’s never a question of whether Los Feliz’s ultra-cozy Big Bar is going hard over the holidays. The only question is how hard they’ll go, and this year, they're offering hot toddies, Irish coffee, a citrus-y tequila-based creation known as Here's to It to Do It, plus an apricot-flavored eggnog. On the non-alcoholic side, Big Bar's sister spot, Alcove Cafe and Bakery, is also offering peppermint, eggnog and gingerbread lattes, as well as non-spiked apple cider and peppermint hot chocolate. Continuing their at-home cocktail tradition from last year, Big Bar is also selling bow-topped drink kits for St. Germain spritzes, Irish coffees, martinis and more.

For a truly luxurious holiday bar experience, this iconic Century City hotel is offering a $105 per person "apres-ski" dining experience (5–11pm) inside five outdoor dining areas styled as Swiss chalets. With a two guest minimum (each table holds up to eight), each reservation-only experience includes your choice of soup or salad, main (braised beef check, chicken schnitzel or grilled trout) and milk chocolate fondue.

It's a Jersey City Christmas at this Eagle Rock aperitivo bar, where this buzzy watering hole in Northeast L.A. is now decked out in full holiday cheer and offering a trio of spirit-forward seasonal cocktails by head bartender Patricia St. Peter. Sip on By the Fire, a hot toddy-inspired drink made with Flowerhead chai, amaro, whiskey and oat milk or a Lovely Branches—a seasonal  forest-inspired Negroni with St. George Terroir gin, amaro and bitters.

Every December, this Culver City speakeasy hidden behind FIN Asian Tapas throws down for the holidays with seasonal cocktails and plenty of festive decor. This year, they're offering the Candy Cane Crush, made with rum, coconut cream and peppermint syrup; the North Pole Express-O, a vanilla-infused take on an espresso martini; the Grinch, made with green chartreuse, pineapple juice, dry curacao and melon liqueur; and other themed cocktails meant to invoke the holiday season.