(Credit: Ken Hively/LATimes)
Tequila bars guide
They're like wine bars, only drunker
By Robin Lee, Special to Metromix
April 23, 2008El Coyote
7312 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles323 939-2255
This place has been in L.A. longer than Bret Michaels has been lurking around the Roxy. The restaurant and bar is always loud with margarita-induced laughter from tables of glassy-eyed young things trying to sober up on fists full of chips. Waiting for a table? Get a head start on margarita-drinking at their bar; the 45-minute wait will definitely go by faster.
La Velvet Margarita Cantina
1612 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles323-469-2000
If Carrie Bradshaw’s clique met the guys from “Entourage” for a drink, they’d meet here for $30 Platinum Velvet margaritas and tequila cosmos. The drink list, though not cheap, is fun with cocktails such as Frida’s Brow, Pink Puta and Velvet Elvis. Apologize to your liver, and your wallet, before you are seated.
El Carmen Restaurant
8138 W 3rd St, Los Angeles323-852-1552
You don’t really come here to eat; you come for the tequila and an over-the-top kitschy Mexican atmosphere. El Carmen offers over 450 different kinds of tequila. There’s the sipping kind, and then there's the kind that rips off clothes and makes you run home like a hungry bear is chasing after you. They also serve margaritas for those who aren't quite that extreme.
L'Scorpion
6679 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles323-464-3026
Located in a sceney part of Hollywood, this bar is true to its tequila roots, serving 100-percent-blue-agave tequilas and mezcals. The drink menu gets creative, offering flavored margaritas and drinks such as the Matador—a combination of Corzo tequila and Red Bull that only a UFC cage fighter would drink.
La Cantina
6541 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles323-871-1363
This place is perfect for a meal and a margarita, or a post-bar burrito. It’s run by the same guys who own L’Scorpion, so the drinks are just as good but cheaper than their Hollywood hermanos down the street.
Mexico City
2121 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles323-661-7227
Like many restaurants and bars in the area, Mexico City attracts Hollywood people who like to live under the radar as well as vintage-dressed, fashion-mulleted locals for margaritas and the occasional worm.
El Guapo Rock n' Roll Cantina & Sports Bar
7250 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles323-297-0471
A Mexican sports bar that offers a margarita almost the size of a Super Big Gulp—need we say more? On Taco Tuesdays, this place is packed with people who love cheap tacos and the cheap tequila shots that go with them.
Cabo Cantina - Sunset Strip
8301 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles323-822-7820
If you’re headed here, upscale tequila and fancy margaritas are not in your future. Prepare for the same crowd you saw in TJ during spring break of ’01—except everyone is older and still can’t handle their liquor. The long list of strong margaritas and fun drinks makes happy hour two-for-ones a tough drunk decision.
Fiesta Cantina
8851 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood310-652-8865
Like its straight brother bar, Cabo Cantina, Fiesta is neon and drunk. It serves strong margaritas to a young crowd of cute gay boys. By the time you’ve finished your two-for-one drinks from the first happy hour, chances are it’s time for the second.
Mexicali Cocina Cantina
12161 Ventura Blvd., Studio City818-985-1744
The food may not be anything special, but the Margatini tastes like the big sombrero in the sky. No one knows what’s in it, and we’re done winking at the bartenders in hopes of finding out the recipe.
Border Grill
1445 4th St., Santa Monica310-451-1655
This vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurant offers flavored margaritas made from freshly muddled fruit shaken to chilled perfection. They also have a long list of aged tequilas, the kind you sip rather than shoot back. We assume these come without the worm, because worms are people too!
El Toro Cantina
5368 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles323-525-2618
Located underneath Busby’s, this tapas bar and cantina serves gourmet tacos, quality tequila and not-too-fancy margaritas. After the booze kicks in and the game is over, move the party from the patio to the dance floor, and pop and lock it until you're sober.
The Bridge
3256 Cahuenga Blvd., Universal City323-969-1934
This unassuming bar specializes in martinis and tequila, but you won’t see any fancy tacos or a mariachi band here. Located in a Universal City strip mall, you’ll have a hard time finding it unless you’ve got eyes like a hawk and a nose that can sniff out Don Julio.
Pink Taco
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles310-789-1000
After a Pink Taco Margarita, you’ll either be sick from the outrageous interior or snickering at the restaurant's name. The bright pink margaritas match their bright pink tacos, which match the bright pink decor of the dining room and bar. Go for the drinks, go for the name, go because Posh Spice took her kid there for his birthday.
Malo
4326 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles323-664-1011
This Silverlake Mexican restaurant has a separate bar to one side that offers over 170 types of tequila. Specialty drinks include organic margaritas, tequila infusions, and something that sounds like a mix between a cosmopolitan, a mojito and a margarita. For an extra dollar, you can also make a margarita from your favorite tequila.
Adoro Mexican Grille
735 S. Figueroa St., St.e 315, Los Angeles213-955-9204
The Downtown Mexican restaurant serves up delicious margaritas—the kind that taste so good, you forget all about the tequila part—and house-made sangria. Agave snobs will be delighted when they see that Adoro offers 84 different kinds of tequila behind the bar.
Amaranta Restaurant
6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park818-610-3599
If you love tequila, you’ll love Amaranta’s ginormous selection of tequilas and tequila cocktails. Stick to the usual margarita, or branch out and try the Agave Rose martini—a delicious blend of Cazadores and cherry brandy. Fans will also love the restaurant’s tequila tastings, held the last Monday of every month.
La Cabana Venice
738 Rose Ave., Venice310-392-6161
Here you’ll find pitchers of margaritas with fine tequila, served with a slice of lime. Try one of their flavored margaritas—mango-peach sounds amazing. Or if you’re feeling saucy, order their tasting menu of three different types of tequila.
Mucho Ultima Mexicana
903 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach310-374-4422
The restaurant and bar offers California inspired Mexican food and drinks made from fresh juices, house-made mixers and lots of tequila. Try a blended fruit margarita—they have eight different kinds including chipotle-pineapple—or a tequila flight served with sangrita and lime. Note to beginners: The sangrita and lime should be alternately sipped while tasting, not shooting, the tequila.
The Spanish Kitchen
826 N La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles310-659-4794
You love tequila, but don’t know that much about it. Thankfully, Spanish Kitchen has Tequila School. Similar to a wine-tasting event, students will learn the history of tequila and how to find good the good stuff. And, of course, sample some fine examples.
