Best-of list · Neighbourhood Guide
Discover the best bars in Echo Park and Highland Park, Los Angeles. Natural wine bars, mezcal lounges, and indie cocktail spots in East LA. Updated 2026.
The short answer
10 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
Echo Park and Highland Park represent the beating heart of East Los Angeles's drinking renaissance. These adjacent neighborhoods have evolved into essential destinations for those seeking genuine innovation in bar culture, where established wine shops operate as natural wine bars, dive bars serve excellent mezcal, and neighborhood cocktail lounges prioritize community over crowd. The lake views and eclectic mix of longtime residents and creative newcomers create an atmosphere distinctly different from West LA.
What makes Echo Park and Highland Park special is the commitment to authenticity and community. You won't find sleek corporate chains here—instead, you'll find bars built on genuine passion, local ownership, and real relationships between bartenders and customers. These neighborhoods honor both heritage and innovation.