5 Best Bars in Highland Park, Los Angeles

Once an ambitious restoration project, Highland Park Bowl now serves as a massive throwback to its Prohibition-era roots, formerly an alcohol-prescribing doctor’s office and drugstore with its own bowling alley. Although the hooch-pushing doctor and druggist are long gone, the bowling alley remains, complete with the original pin machine. Revel in the nostalgia, but expect a wait for a lane on weekend evenings.

A cocktail lounge ideal for romantic evenings and much-needed gossip sessions with friends, this 2,200-square-foot-room maintains a moody brasserie vibe with its velvety arm chairs and foliage-draped ceilings. The Arroyo Club serves an interesting assortment of cocktails, such as the Midnight Kiss, which features rice-washed tequila, cinnamon, cold brew, and chocolate. Head to the back of the room for savory bar bites like beef or plant-based smash burgers and tater tots.

This Highland Park outpost of an NYC institution started an arcade bar revolution in Los Angeles, serving elevated yet accessible (and more importantly, affordable) cocktails and American fare amidst rows of beloved retro arcade games and pinball machines. Barcade has built a community here, holding events like a pinball league to encourage loyal patrons to form bonds with like-minded individuals. You may want to block off the entire evening to visit or revisit classics like Pac-Man, Marvel VS Capcom 2, and Mortal Kombat 2.

The Hermosillo is the kind of laid-back pub every neighborhood should have, with an excellent selection of locally focused draft beer on tap, a rotating wine list, and mouthwatering bites like fried pickles and smash burgers. To add to its allure, award-winning Highland Park Brewery got its start in the pub’s back storage room and is still featured prominently on the menu.

Everyone could use a little more mezcal and tequila in their lives. La Cuevita has a lot of it, often in its collection of savory and sweet cocktails. This long-standing establishment—complete with free Taco Tuesday, a moody red interior, and papel picado that brightens the ceiling—has one of the most generous happy hours in L.A., making it the perfect place to start your evening.