On weekends, The Belmont has a make-your-own bloody Mary bar stocked with 20 different ingredients like stuffed olives, smoked oysters, shrimp, fresh horseradish and dozens of spices and juices. Get a seat on the blue tented patio, stare idly onto La Cienega Boulevard and drink away the hangover from last night, all for $10. Heaven.
Then there are the bloody Marys at the Cha Cha Lounge where on Sundays, they serve ‘em for $2. At that price, you’d expect cheap vodka and spicy V8 juice poured into a cup, right? Instead you get an indulgent concoction of Stoli Citros vodka, tomato juice and a swirl Worcestershire sauce, topped with celery salt, cracked pepper, two olives, a dollop of horseradhish, a pepporcini and pickled green beans, which owner Kevin Willis has dubbed “monkey beans.” Order a drink from Jake Manny (he makes them best) and prepare to get full and drunk for a whole week—or at least most of the night.
I’m throwing my vote to the Cha Cha Lounge, though I'm up for a debate. Are there better places? E-mail your vote to: aletellier@metromix.com.
The Beach on Sunset: $14 bottomless bloody Marys on weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Drawing Room: $4.75 booze-heavy bloody Marys every day starting at 6 a.m.
The Belmont: Bloody Marys start at $10 and the make-your-own bar is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundadys.
Cha Cha Lounge: $2 bloody Marys every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Alexandra Le Tellier is Bars & Clubs editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
