Best-of list · City Guide
The best bars in Downtown Los Angeles, from Arts District cocktail dens to rooftop terraces with skyline views. Our editors have been to all of them.
The short answer
10 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
The best bars in Downtown Los Angeles are not where the tourists look. They are tucked into converted warehouses in the Arts District, hidden behind unmarked doors in the Historic Core, and perched on rooftops with views that remind you why people moved here in the first place. We have spent years in this part of the city — the ones worth a detour and the ones you walk past without knowing what you missed.
Downtown has changed faster than any other part of Los Angeles in the past decade. What was once emptied out after 6pm is now one of the most concentrated bar scenes in the city. The Arts District alone could keep you busy for a week. Here is where we send people first.
How we picked
Downtown Los Angeles has become a genuine bar destination rather than an afterthought. The Arts District drives most of the energy, but the Historic Core and Financial District hold their own with cocktail bars and rooftop spots that would rank highly in any city. Build your evening around The Varnish for cocktails and Perch or 71Above for views — and if you want something looser, R Bar is the honest end-point. For rooftop drinking specifically, our Los Angeles rooftop bar guide covers every option worth knowing across all of LA.
Marcus covers the West Coast and Latin America for barsforKings. He has been drinking in Los Angeles since 2009 and has strong opinions about which neighbourhood has peaked and which one is about to.
Last reviewed 2026-02-22 · The editors recheck hours and closures against current local coverage.