Innovative cocktails
From martinis to snow cones, these are definitely not your average sugar rimmed drinks
March 5, 2008S Bar
6304 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles323-957-2279
S Bar is teeming with exciting concoctions made with organic ingredients like celery, ginger and a horseradish-pomegranate combo. Our favorite elixir on the menu, however, is the Pepper Delirious, made with hand-pressed yellow bell peppers, mint, lime juice and gin. It renders your taste buds—and your head—utterly delirious.
blue on blue
9400 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills310-407-7791
The refreshing snow cones at blue on blue don’t come in a paper cup, but they are sweet and icy like the original. There’s the Sublime Snow Cone, made with Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka and lime juice, but if you have more of a sweet tooth, it’s all about the Raspberry Colada, concocted with Stoli Razz, Malibu rum, Coco Lopez and raspberry puree.
X Bar
2025 Avenue of the Stars, Century City310-551-3332
Here’s a reason to grab tea with the ladies this week: X Bar’s Green Tea martini. Blending high-quality Japanese green tea leaves and premium herb-infused neutral spirits, it’s a refreshing take on an old tradition.
Abode Restaurant & Lounge - CLOSED
1541 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica310-394-3463
Santa Monica’s Abode Restaurant went floral with their drinks and has ladies swooning over its nectar-like Elderflower Green Tea martini, made with organic green-tea-infused vodka and elderflower liqueur and garnished with edible flowers.
Blue Velvet
750 Garland Ave., Los Angeles213-239-0061
The Berry Lemonada is the type of drink you crave when lounging in the sun. Made with Bacardi Limon, Chambord and muddled berries with mint, it’s one of the most popular drinks at Blue Velvet.
Parc
6683 Hollywood Blvd.,
Los Angeles
323-465-6200
We love organic and we love to drink, so Parc's Blueberry Lavender cocktail satisfies on two levels. It’s a sweet, chilled concoction of lavender-infused simple syrup, fresh blueberry puree and organic Ocean Vodka.
The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St., Hollywood323-462-2155
The Hungry Cat's Greyhound, a prettier and tastier version of your old college favorite, is made with Plymouth gin, fresh grapefruit juice and a dash of grapefruit simple syrup; it's also garnished with candied grapefruit. Needless to say, it’s pretty tart and very good.
Bar Lubitsch
7702 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood323-654-1234
Bar Lubitsch’s gimlet, made with potato vodka, muddled cucumber, fresh-squeezed lime juice and a pinch of sugar, is so refreshing that ladies compare it to spa water. We'd like to know which spas they go to.
Nic's Restaurant & Martini Lounge
453 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills310-550-5707
Nic's What a Nic Pear You Have martini not only has a classy name, it’s also totally interesting. Grey Goose La Poire vodka and pear juice could be enticing enough, but it’s the Parmesan cheese garnish that has our taste buds intrigued.
Katsuya Hollywood
6300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles323-871-8777
Yum, yum, yum! Made with Absolut Mandarin and fresh lemon, lime and cranberry juices, Katsuya's Burning Mandarin cocktail gets its burn from a muddled serrano pepper slice.
Social Hollywood
6525 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles323-462-5222
Social Hollywood's Pomegranate Blossom doesn’t just taste good, it looks good too. It's a gorgeous pink concoction of Belvedere Cytrus vodka and fresh lemon and pomegranate juices. An edible-flower garnish tops the whole thing off.
Bar Nineteen 12
9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills310-273-1912
The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Bar Nineteen12 lists some seriously interesting drinks on their menu, including Bubble Gum Jelly Shots and Apple-Cucumber-Lemongrass-Foam martinis. But if you’re craving something totally unique, try the Cereal Milk martini, made with Chambord, Frangelico, and half-and-half.
Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City310-845-1700
For those craving a vegetarian feast with an equally fresh cocktail, Akasha’s Adam and Eve fig martini combines muddled figs, Rain vodka and organic apple juice. Get to know your drink—biblically.
—Compiled by
Alexandra Le Tellier, Robin Lee , Caroline Pardilla, Dan Dunn and Natalie Bovis-Nelsen
