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Los Angeles has officially entered the cocktail big leagues—again. Two local favorites, Mírate in Los Feliz and Daisy Margarita Bar in Sherman Oaks, just landed on the 2026 list of North America’s 50 Best Bars, coming in at number 28 and number 44, respectively. Not bad for a city that likes to pretend it prefers green juice to mezcal.
The annual ranking, unveiled this week in Vancouver, pulls together votes from more than 300 bartenders, writers and industry insiders across the continent. And while New York and Mexico City tend to dominate, L.A.’s showing this year proves the city’s cocktail scene is anything but an afterthought.
Mírate, the Los Feliz stunner tucked above street level, sits in a sprawling, three-story space centered around an open-air dining room and anchored by a towering tree. Beverage director Maxwell Reis leans into agave spirits without getting predictable, mixing smoky, herbaceous cocktails alongside harder-to-find pre-Hispanic fermented drinks like tepache and pulque.
Across town, Daisy Margarita Bar takes a more focused approach, but no less fun. From the same team as Mírate, the Sherman Oaks spot is a love letter to the margarita, done with serious technique and a little bit of flair. Reis is behind the drinks here, too, turning out everything from classic builds to playful riffs, like a guacamole-inspired green slushie or a mangoneada topped with popping boba. Somehow, it works. Chef Alan Sanz’s menu also pushes beyond typical bar fare, with takes on aguachile, grilled branzino and clever snacks like chicharrón del parque.
New York’s Sip & Guzzle took the top spot this year, but cities across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean all made strong showings. For L.A., landing two spots on the list feels like a long-overdue acknowledgment. Just in case you needed an excuse to order another round, here it is.