LA’s Thunderbolt was just voted one of the 10 best bars in the U.S.

One of Los Angeles’s most acclaimed cocktail destinations is once again garnering national recognition.

The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has named Thunderbolt one of the Top 10 nominees for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2026 Spirited Awards, widely considered the drinks industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. The annual awards honor the country’s top bars, bartenders and hospitality professionals, with winners set to be announced in New Orleans this July. 

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For Los Angeles cocktail fans, the nomination comes as little surprise. Since opening in Historic Filipinotown, Thunderbolt has built a national reputation for inventive drinks, meticulous technique and a welcoming neighborhood-bar atmosphere that manages to feel both cutting-edge and approachable. The bar has become a fixture on major industry rankings and frequently appears on lists of the best places to drink in America.

Thunderbolt is the only Los Angeles bar to make this year’s Best U.S. Cocktail Bar shortlist, placing it alongside heavyweight contenders from New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. New York dominated the category with nominees including Bar Snack, Double Chicken Please, Martiny’s, Overstory, Sip & Guzzle and Superbueno, underscoring just how competitive the field is this year. 

Los Angeles also earned recognition in the individual awards categories. Linda Douglas of Donna’s was nominated for U.S. Bartender of the Year, putting another local hospitality star in contention for one of the industry’s highest honors. And Los Feliz favorite Mirate scored a nomination for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar, while Daisy Margarita Bar and Vandell earned nominations for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar.

The Spirited Awards, now celebrating their 20th year, are presented by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and judged by more than 200 industry experts from around the world. Finalists will be announced in June before winners are crowned during the annual Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans on July 23. 

For now, Angelenos can raise a glass knowing that one of the nation’s most celebrated cocktail bars is right in their backyard, while two more are building big followings of their own.