New York is considered the capital of US bar culture, but when we talk about the West Coast, Los Angeles can also compete for this title. The legendary Sasha Petraske played at The Varnish bar. This year the establishment became 14th of the best in the world.
The classic cocktail bar never goes out of style. Trends come and go, but there is a certain pattern whose appeal never fades. The combination of a dark, warm interior and carefully prepared drinks always wins. The Varnish is just the latest in a long line of establishments that cast a respectful glance back to more sophisticated times. Hidden behind an oak door marked with a small image of a cocktail, the downtown bar specializes in top-notch drinks made with well-chosen ingredients: juices, berries, herbs and a wide range of high-quality spirits. Inside, you’ll find a well-appointed space with wooden booths and a low-key, Great Depression-era atmosphere. The crowd is elite and the mood is appropriate.
Cocktail makers Sasha Petraske, Sadd Moses and Eric Alperin opened The Varnish in the former Cole’s French Dip Saloon warehouse in 2009, helping to launch a new era of cocktails in the City of Angels. Since then, the prohibition-inspired speakeasy bar has served as a bastion of reliable quality. The sophisticated, romantic space is small but civilized – first come, first served, no big parties, lit mostly by flickering candles, and cocktail attire is “admirable, not necessary.” Classics are the institution’s specialty with a limited seasonal menu and an extensive program to choose from. Live jazz is the icing on the cake: sitting comfortably in one of the wooden booths of the bar with the perfect Manhattan and a singing piano creating the mood, if you close your eyes, you can forget that it is the 21st century.
