Not No Bar

This first-come, first-served Santa Monica cocktail and pizza bar was a top-10 honoree for Tales of the Cocktail's Spirited Award for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar. Taking over the former Little Prince spot on Main Street, it's cocktails first and foremost here, but Dudley Market alums have put the wood oven to good use, flipping Neapolitan-style pies that eat just as good as the cocktails drink. That green drink you see in every other hand? It’s the Soy Del Rancho (tequila, yuzu, poblano) and it’s damn easy to put down. Inside, the music is way louder than it needs to be (there’s a DJ on select nights), and it's hard to have a conversation of any real substance, but if you're trying to make eyes at someone, Not No Bar is a fine place to spend a Friday or Saturday night out. The indoors is filled with twenty-somethings on the prowl, while the outdoor communal table is a bit more subdued, with dates cozying up next to one another, and groups of friends sharing pies and swapping date stories worthy of Overheard LA. Pizzas rotate every month and a half or so, so don't get too attached to anything but the margherita (order a side of dill-packed ranch to go with it). If you like to take risks when it comes to pizza, this is a good spot to do so. Think Caesar piadina, which is exactly what it sounds like (i.e., a Caesar salad pizza); a clam and cream pie with crispy garlic; and a peach pie with hot Calabrese, fresh mozzarella, balsamic, and quince. A fun salad, ultra-fresh crudo (bay scallop on my recent visit) and some kind of appetizer are typically on rotation too. They also keep things fresh with happenings like Steak Frites Sundays, R&D Mondays and a guest-bartender series featuring $12 cocktail specials.