It’ll never be New England, but Los Angeles still gets plenty cozy come autumn and winter. These bars make the most of the seasons, with our favorite warm cocktails in the city.
Hot Buttered Rum at Tam O’Shanter
Stepping into Tam O’Shanter feels like getting off a plane. Air feels different in its wood-beamed living room, the smog of Los Feliz Blvd suddenly suffused by the freshness of the Scottish Highlands.
It’s a trick of Tam O’Shanter’s architecture. Built in 1922, the storybook style building features thick stucco walls and heavy tartan drapes that have kept Angelenos cool for more than a century.
But Tam O’Shanter’s charms multiply tenfold in the winter, especially while sitting next to their fireplace with a drink. The Hot Buttered Rum, made with a house rum blend, brown sugar and high-quality butter, is a festive pick.
Tam O’Shanter (Atwater Village)
2980 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Rüdensheimer Coffee at Red Lion
The Red Lion Tavern has been an east side institution for more than 60 years, and that’s not just because it has a cigarette machine. This charmingly acrid vestige of 1950s Los Angeles still boasts fantastic food and vibes for miles, especially during the holidays.
Enjoy the decorations with their decadent Rüdensheimer Coffee, a traditional German coffee drink made with brandy, sugar and chocolate.
The Red Lion Tavern (Silver Lake)
2366 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
The Hot Toddy at Firefly
This cozy bar on Ventura Blvd. feels like a sexy library, a designation only Firefly can really lay claim to.
It’s a great place to lounge away an autumn afternoon over hot toddies, made here traditionally with bourbon, honey and lemon.
Firefly (Studio City)
11720 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
Mulled Wine at Wirsthaus
This casual beer garden has been a Fairfax favorite for years, with a good schnitzel, wide selection of beers and a particularly delicious mulled wine around the holidays.
Wirsthaus’ rendition, called Glühwein, has the option of arriving in a commemorative take-home boot mug, served with a side of apple strudel, of course.
Wirsthaus (Fairfax)
345 N La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Spiked Hot Chocolate at Hotel Erwin
Located on the top of Hotel Erwin, High Rooftop Lounge offers great views of Venice Beach. A rooftop bar might not be an obvious choice for winter, but in November Hotel Erwin rolls out blankets and festive drinks, like spiked hot chocolate and a good hot toddy.
High Rooftop Lounge (Venice)
1697 Pacific Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
Whether you want to hole up in a dark booth or take in one of the west side’s famous fall sunsets, these warm cocktails are the perfect way to usher in L.A.’s cooler months.
