– Words by James Tir, Photos by Nicole Evalle
The summer sun has been rising in Downtown Long Beach, and the scene is abuzz with drinks designed to quench, from light and refreshing to bold and nuanced, here are some of my favorite drinks in DTLB.
Olive & Rose
This stunning midcentury modern marvel is not only a fine dining restaurant but also has a fantastic mixology program. The “Garden Mélange” is comprised of vodka, watermelon, cucumber, basil, feta, and citrus. It’s crushable. Not too sweet. Delicious. If you’re looking for something that’s bolder? Try the “Avo Maria”. It’s like guacamole in a cocktail. Tequila, avocado, herbs, jalapeño, bell pepper, pineapple, and citrus. Sounds weird, tastes good.
Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House
Did you know that this legacy Korean BBQ spot has cocktails? Well, they do, and they’re perfect for a Korean BBQ outing. The drinks include the “Call Me an Uber” which is a boozy mango slushie that comes in a massive fishbowl, and the “Pineapple Express” which is bright and citrusy.
Midnight Oil
This bar has three maximalist bar concepts in one space, with a Chinese apothecary motif featured as the main bar. Our favorite drink? It’s the Apple Blossom, which can only be found in their speakeasy. It’s designed to look and feel like you’re in an illicit Chinese gambling den. Dark. Moody. Romantic.
The Apple Blossom has acid-adjusted green apple juice, centenario tequila reposado, chrysanthemum, and shaoxing wine. It’s tart. It’s refreshing.
Buen Provecho
This bar has the strongest party vibe in Downtown Long Beach with a stunning indoor-outdoor situation. The thing to do here is to go with a large group and order the massive “Cantarito” which is over a liter of margarita that’s made tableside.
BO-beau kitchen + roof tap
One of the few rooftop bars in the city, Bo-Beau helps to define vibe city whenever conventioneers and tourists come into town. Two stunning summer drinks include the “C’est La Vie” made from Tito’s, basil, cucumber, lemon, and lavender bitters. Following that is the “Le Pistolet Fumant” which is made from Olmeca altos plata, mezcal, licor 43, jalapeño, lime, and pineapple. Both drinks are for those who like the fun fruit-forward cocktails.
Long Beach’s premier five-star hotel has multiple bar concepts, and the one that’s most overlooked is the lobby bar. It’s called “La Sala”, and this bar captures tons of natural light, conveying a perfect “bougie summer” atmosphere. The drink to get is the “King’s Cure” which is comprised of Gin Mare herbal, Strega Gentian, lemon, lavender, and soda. Light, fizzy, and floral.
The Stave
This is the go-to whiskey bar on the Promenade and is often overlooked as a cocktail bar. The move? The “Blackberry Blossom Sour”, another gin-based drink, has an incredibly berry-forward flavor and aroma. The addition of egg white adds a creamy texture to the whole affair.
That’s just scratching the surface of Downtown Long Beach’s legendary bar scene. The Ordinarie has over a hundred classic cocktails. Altar Society is housed in a historical 1903 building and is much more than a brewery. The Auld Dubliner if you’re an Irish pub aficionado. Homareya for Japanese tailored shochu drinks. And let’s not forget about the hotel bars that include the Westin and Marriott, all of which have stepped up with a serious cocktail program. All in all, if you’re looking for next-level sips, this is the place to be.