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Have you ever wondered which bars celebs call their favorite watering holes? Does the idea of sipping a cocktail alongside an A-lister interest you? Head to these bars in Los Angeles and you might just meet someone famous.

The Ivy on Robertson Blvd

The Ivy

Bar, Restaurant, American

Bar Marmont cocktails
Courtesy of Tory Daily
The Ivy is one of LA’s leading celebrity hangouts, attracting a who’s who of Hollywood glamour. With its open patio seating, there are often paparazzi camping out across the street yearning for snapshots of arriving celebs. The Ivy Restaurant has been the set for many Hollywood movies and is surrounded by a white picket fence covered in ivy to go with its French rustic theme. The restaurant is all about seeing and being seen, particularly outside on the terrace or near the fireplace in the front dining room. Try one of their cocktails with fresh kumquats, DeLeon Diamante tequila, fresh lime, organic agave nectar and serrano chiles or one of their most popular cocktails, the Ivy Gimlet, made with Svedka vodka, fresh lime and homegrown mint.

Bar Marmont (at Chateau Marmont)

Bar, Restaurant, American

Katsuya
Courtesy of Travel & Leisure
Bar Marmont is a legendary Hollywood hangout near the Sunset Strip. The bar is usually full of celebrities and, if you stop being mesmerized for a moment, you will notice the excellent cocktails being served as well. It is a truly romantic bar with an old Hollywood feel, located within the iconic Chateau Marmont Hotel and Bungalows. The design and architecture are spectacular, and the moody decor pulls the celebs in. If you spend enough time there, you’ll probably spot Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio imbibing in some classic cocktails. If you love fabulous cocktails, try Bar Marmont’s Sun Goddess – an amazing mix of Elyx, Lillet, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, mint and muddled grapes.

Katsuya

Bar, Restaurant, Sushi, American

The Polo Lounge
Courtesy of The Polo Lounge
Hollywood’s plethora of starlets love sushi, especially when the presentation is as glamorous as it is at Katsuya. You might just catch a glimpse of celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz,or Gwyneth Paltrow sipping a fresh Watermelon Cucumber Mojito at the bar. Whether it’s for a casual dinner or a girls’ night out, female celebrities reportedly regularly flock to Katsuya. Finish off a meal there with the Burning Mandarin cocktail comprising mandarin vodka, hand-crushed serrano chili and splashes of cranberry, lemon and orange juice. It’s the perfect way to end a dining experience fit for a star(let).

The Polo Lounge

Hotel Restaurant, American

pololounge
© The Beverly Hills Hotel
In the lounge’s Golden Age era, the Rat Pack and upcoming stars like Marlene Dietrich and Elizabeth Taylor gathered here for romance, intellectual conversation and business deals. Deep booths and dim lighting provide a glamorous Old Hollywood feel, while the current cast of patrons includes New Hollywood stars like Mary Louise Parker and Natalie Portman. Sip a house cocktail like the Primavera Margarita, made with muddled fresh raspberries, pineapple-infused Peligroso tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lemon juice and agave syrup, or a classic Gibson. Listening to jazz on the patio makes you feel like you’re in the movies.

Musso & Frank Grill

Restaurant, American

musso-frank
© meltwater / Flickr

For a taste of old-school LA, head over to Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood. The restaurant, which was once frequented by movie stars like Charlie Chaplin and Rudolph Valentino, has been catering to the Hollywood elite since 1919. For the past half century, bartender extraordinaire Ruben Rueda has been in charge. Ruben has made the signature Musso’s Dry Martini for people such as Keith Richards, Steve McQueen and Orson Welles. He made a potent combination of brandy, grenadine and pecan liqueur punch for Bing Crosby. To bartenders and cocktail aficionados, it doesn’t get any better than the Musso Martini, which is poured from a small carafe with the remainder served on the side, a classy touch that is rarely seen these days. It is a place loved by locals, tourists and celebrities alike.

About the author

Michael Nagy is a freelance spirits and cocktail writer, liquid bar chef, spirits sommelier and bar consultant based in Harrisburg, PA. He is owner and operator of ‘Raise Your Spirits’, an elite bartending and top shelf cocktail service providing specialty cocktail menus to bars and restaurants. He can be reached at mnagy@tailsfromthebarstool.com. He contributes regularly to Chilled Magazine and other trade publications.

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