After a long day of work, or a busy day of sightseeing, a great happy hour can provide an invigorating late afternoon break. The following list comes from happy-hour connoisseur Denise Miller, who chose the following five for their good deals, good vibes, and comfortable environs for re-grouping and connecting with your crew before heading back out on the town (or going home to get some sleep):
1. Bar Bouchon in Beverly Hills. Thomas Keller, most famous for The French Laundry in Napa, wanted to open a casual, comfortable place in Beverly Hills with an emphasis on bistro-style french food and Voila! Bouchon. Sitting outside in the late afternoon is lovely, and along with simple French fare, he has a house red and white that he has blended specially for the restaurant, and they’re both quite tasty.
2. Drago Centro, downtown. Italian chef Celestino drago has six restaurants throughout L.A. and they’re all worth checking out. Drago Centro is in the middle of vibrant downtown L.A. and has excellent pizzas and a variety of tasty and difficult to pronounce (unless you speak Italian) small plates. Try out the summer heirloom tomato tasting, through mid-September.
3.BOA in West Hollywood or Santa Monica. The deals are good, the vibe is even better. Known best for its steak, BOA offers many more subtle pleasures, like the Chanterelle Mushroom and Tellaggio Cheese Bruschetta and Goat Cheese Baklava. And it’s hard not to feel like you’re on Entourage or in some other hip Hollywood movie.
4. P.F. Chang’s, several locations. P.F. Chang’s is best known as a great spot for business lunches or family dinners. Less well-known are their happy hour deals. Here’s the catch: happy hour runs from 3 to 6 P.M., so you might have to sneak out of work a tad early to take advantage of a good deal on their famous lettuce cups. Good news? You don’t have to sit at the bar, you can be seated at one of their big comfy booths.
5. Waterloo and City, Culver City. Waterloo and City is named after the London Underground Railway where executive chef Brendan Collins began his youthful adventures. He continues to be adventurous, continuously updating the menu with an emphasis on season and market availability. The options range from simple pizzas to much fancier upscale pub fare. The pate is particularly delicious and a real deal at happy hour. Waterloo and City offers one white and one red wine option in addition to well drinks, and a specialty cocktail.
