LA's best nightcap spots

When you need one more to close the deal, stop by one of these.

Hollywood
Bar Delux
http://www.bardelux.com/
Perfect for Bioshock fans, this 1920s Art Deco-style bar offers late night
munchies and drinks like basil-infused martinis and the Hennessy and pomegranate
syrup-laced Pom Noir, as well a whole host of whiskey-based drinks (and
strutting flapper wannabes).
1624 N. Cahuenga Blvd. (323-461-6800). Open until 2a.

Library Bar
This as-yet-unannounced nightspot within the Roosevelt Hotel can be found just
off the lobby in the room with the button-tuck leather couches. Cocktails aren't
cheap ($15 a piece) but when the serious mixologist behind the bar is working
with cherry tomatoes and olive oil as ingredients, you don't really expect them
to be.
7000 Hollywood Blvd. (323-466-7000). Hours vary.

Velvet Margarita
http://www.velvetmargarita.com/
Purposely tacky, the bar's full of puppets, pinatas, and blacklight velvet
paintings, but potent $5 margaritas are the real draw for slumming celebrities
and rockers doing the afterparty thing after gigs at the Hotel Cafe across the
street. If you can only stay for one, the $30 Platinum edition made with Don
Julio 1942 is worth every penny.
1612 N. Cahuenga Blvd. (323-469-2000). Sun-Thu until 2a, Fri-Sat until 4a.

Silver Lake
Medusa Lounge
http://www.medusaloungela.com/
The space formerly home to famed restaurant Lowenbrou Keller is like a set from
a sixties vampire movie, complete with stone arches, stained glass and
gargoyles. Lay low with a draft German beer in a darkened corner or recharge
with a Zeus Juice (Bacardi 151, Midori, and a splash of citruses).
3211 Beverly Blvd. (213-382-5723). Until 2a.

Koreatown
Orchid Lounge
http://www.orchidlosangeles.com/
Flavored soju cocktails and more than 100 signature martinis keep throats loose
and confidence high at this K-town karaoke club. 18 private rooms allow you to
bring from four to 40 friends, or roll solo with the other night owls mangling
tunes from Rock Band 2. Beef carpaccio and ahi tuna appetizers are winners.
607 S. Oxford Ave. (213-251-8886). Tue-Thu until 12a. Fri-Sat 2a.

Venice
Del Monte Speakeasy
Though it's just blocks from the boardwalk, this intimate bar feels miles away
from the touristy crowd that slams Venice on warm weekends. Still operating
under the radar, only the bouncers know the password, so make nice and you've
got a shot.
52 Windward Ave. (No phone). Hours vary.

I Like 'Em Dirty!!

Dirty? Dry? Straight up with a twist? Whatever your perfect martini mix, this timeless classic cocktail goes with everything, from a night on the town to happy hour to liquid lunch. For a sip of master martini mixology, this Weekly’s filled to the brim with vodka and gin. Bottoms up!

In Beverly Hills, you'll find swank and style, along with "a chilled vodka tasting room just like Balalaika, equipped with ushankas and faux fur coats and a jazzy four-piece band" at Nic’s. Phoenix A also relays, "It's the kind of place I'd frequent just to try every martini on the menu!" Around the corner at Mastro’s Steakhouse, they've got beef and a Beefeater martini to which Nancy D adds, "If you like bleu cheese stuffed olives, try the CEO.” She meant the drink, right?

A hop, skip and a jump will land you at Liquid Kitty, where fun, frivolity and strong drinks prevail, making Roubi K exclaim: “If you like some home-grown sexy with your cocktail, go here. Do it.” Now you heard the lady. Traveling west towards that big blue sea, you’ll find the Veranda Bar at Casa Del Mar, where Kelley B urges, “Walk on the adventurous side with one of their specialty cocktails. Drinks are stellar... any martini they serve is a winner.” For a slight twist on the traditional, surprises abound at Venice’s Beechwood where Sarah J "had a lemon raspberry martini. I never get that kind of sweet crap, but this wasn't sweet at all. No sugar, just fruit and vodka." Gotta get that 5-a-day somehow, Sarah.

Despite the drink's historical ties so such iconic manly men as James Bond members of the Rat Pack, ladies can indulge their ultra-girly side at Purple Orchid in El Segundo, where Chrissy K raves: "They have $10 Martini & Manicure nights on Mondays!" For another killer combo, enjoy libations and live entertainment at Upper Manhattan Martini Lounge in the Southbay, where Amy B shook things up with “a live burlesque show." Indeed, a side of eye candy with your vermouth makes everything sweeter, so head down to Side Door where John M "likes the lady bartender," and Cathy C, "ordered the usual Ketel One exxxtra dirty with three olives and it was perfect thanks to the cute girl with the Betty Paige bangs who hooked me up.” Pretty and dirty? We’ll drink to that!

Time to Play...with your food.

Recess 1102 N. Brand Blvd (at Dryden) Glendale, CA 91202 818-507-0592 official website And that's okay. You can keep up. But there's one thing in your workday you've been missing lately. Recess. After your morning meeting, and before your afternoon conference call, you should still get recess. And now you can. For your low-key-getaway needs at any time of day, a low-key bistro-y hideaway called, yes, Recess is now open. Based on the idea that everybody needs a no-fuss escape, Recess upstages your old cafeteria pretty quickly—yes, you'll want to get a glimpse of what's behind the counter, but you should expect to see some pristine orzo salad instead of gray mystery meat. Or just order a non-boxed juice and a salad, pizza or panini (the Bully is salami, pastrami and prosciutto—guess your arteries are the victim), and they'll bring it out to your table on the sidewalk when it's ready. If you're worried the experience might be missing the one thing you never had at recess—beer and wine—not to worry, they're working on it. And take your time. There's no whistle.

Yummy

Chambord Margarita
1/2 part Chambord®
1 part Herradura Tequila®
1/2 part Tuaca®
3 parts sweet and sour mix
Blended: Add all ingredients except Chambord to blender. Add ice to top of liquid. Blend. Pour blended ingredients into margarita glass and drizzle 1/2 shot of Chambord over top. Rocks: Add ingredients to ice filled shaker. Shake and pour into ice filled rocks glass.

ummm...What??? Gotta Have it!

B or Not QB, That Is the Question
QB's Ice Cream Treats

When you said so long to Kitty Fuzzlebottoms and sent Brenna the Unicorn — er, sorry, Pegasus — packing, you thought you’d never make another imaginary friend.

Then you started following Esquival on Twitter.

You know he’s just a snack, right?

Okay, maybe not just a snack, but a QB, which is to say a good-looking hunk of ice cream inside a rice crispy treat shell. (Yes, we see the difference.)

Made with all-natural ingredients and kosher to boot, Esquival’s vanillaness will surely charm you. As will the rest of his frozen munchie QBFFs: Suzy Cube, a sweet but not too sweet strawberry-flavored number, and Dave, a classic chocolate kind of guy.

When they get together, it’s like a party in your freezer.

Just don’t get too attached; it won’t take them long to disappear.

Available at Whole Foods Markets. For store locations, go to wholefoodsmarket.com. Follow at twitter.com/esquival, twitter.com/suzycube, and twitter.com/daveqb.

Top Chef Timmy!

	your fave top chef winner, ilan hall, opens the gorbals, named for the glasgow 'hood where his father grew up. think affordable small plates inspired by his travels, israeli mom, and scottish dad, who taught him to cook. pass the bacon-wrapped matzo balls, lobster hummus, haggis burgers, gefilte fish, and have an identity crisis on the side. opens mid-august. 501 south spring street. at 5th. downtown. 213.488.3408. www.thegorbalsla.com

Life's a Beach!

Your Exclusive Beachside Hookups Now that August doldrums are under way, we thought you could use a little pre-Labor Day pick-me-up. And so did a few ocean-adjacent getaways, who agreed to offer you, as one of our favorite UD subscribers (we promise), some exclusive beachside bargains.

Two-for-One Malibu Martinis Head to the Malibu pier after work, take a seat at either the Beachcomber or the Malibu Pier Club, and tell them the Daddy sent you—magically, all drinks will be priced two-for-one. Agave Margaritas, martinis, beers, wines by the glass—just about anything that doesn't come in a keepsake glass. You can work with that. 411: Mon-Fri, 3pm-close, through Sept 7, 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, 310-456-9800

A Venetian Rooftop Finale Head over to Hash, inside Venice Beach's new Hotel Erwin, and mention UD for a three-course prix-fixe dinner for $30. You can't see the ocean yet—but that's where the gratis rooftop cocktail afterward at High comes in. 411: Reservations required, Mondays through Sept 7, 1697 Pacific Ave, 310-452-1111

Drinks on the Water, Literally After sunset on the patio of the Malibu Beach Inn's Carbon Beach Club restaurant, the waves will surge up underneath you. And if you've mentioned UD when you make your lunch or dinner reservation, the first round of Cruzan cocktails surge up to your table on the house. 411: Mon-Fri through Sept 7, 22878 Pacific Coast Hwy, 310-456-6444

Su Casa And over in the Veranda at Casa Del Mar, settle into a table by the windows and tell 'em the password—it's "Sea Spa." Yes, they're trying to promote health via hypnosis, and yes, the password grants you your choice of $5 beers. Order two bottles and they'll come with gratis sliders and a whiskey shot. You feel better already. 411: Mon-Fri, 5-8pm, through Sept 7, 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, 310-581-5533

New Ports But if you're in the mood to call in sick and really get away, our friends at The Resort at Pelican Hill have arranged the "Endless Summer Package" for those who mention UD. The 20-percent-off retreat includes a bungalow with private balcony, three-course dinner for two at Pelican Grill (complete with bottle of prosecco) and late checkout. We're sure you'll find a way to pass the extra time. 411: $795, available Sun-Thurs through Sept 8, 22701 Pelican Hill Rd S, 949-467-6800

Cute Place on Abbot Kinney

Lemonade
What: Salad and sandwichery celebrates its new Venice location with specialty take-out boxes packed with your choice of edible picnic essentials.
Why: You can squeeze it in.
When: Venice, daily, 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Beverly, daily, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 1661 Abbot Kinney Blvd., at Venice Blvd., Venice (310-452-6200); 9001 Beverly Blvd., at Almont Dr., West Hollywood (310-247-2500).

For the Puppy Owning Peeps in San Fran

Dog Days The Hot List: Drinking With Your Dog In a city where dogs outnumber kids, odds are your dog time and your booze time overlap by a fair amount. Here then, our list of spots where you can freely mix hooch and pooch—and perhaps attract a few female fans along the way...

BOWLED OVER Elixir You probably recognize the regulars from the Dog Wall of Fame who paved the way for other canines to hang out at this corner spot. Bring your bulldog and down a few handmade sazeracs—or get your gratis first pint of the day if you're a member of the Mug Club. Being that it's a saloon, you'll be hard-pressed to find a Chihuahua in the mix. 411: Elixir, 3200 16th St (at Guerrero), 415-552-1633

POLAROID PICTURE Lucky 13 The dog to human ratio is just shy of one-to-one at this neighborhood dive known as "The 13." So whether you duck into the photo booth, set up in the beer garden or stop inside at the ridiculously long bar for Pliny the Elder or Racer 5, rest easy that someone will give your dog a bone. 411: Lucky 13, 2140 Market St (at Church), 415-487-1313

BACON BITS 500 Club The only thing that might beat being dog friendly is being dog friendly and having a generous hand with the vodka and the bacon. Which is why you'll want to walk your dog straight to Guerrero every Saturday to get Bacon Bloody Marys for you and milk bones for your four-legged buddy. 411: 500 Club, 500 Guerrero St (at 17th), 415-861-2500

EYE CANDY Market Bar The tables in front of this Ferry Building restaurant and bar are magnets for people-watching imbibers on a sunny day. Score a two-top closest to the street and position your pup to catch the eye of a passing, long-legged runner. The rest is up to you… 411: Market Bar, 1 Ferry Building # 36, 415-434-1100

HAUTE DOGS Absinthe Some of the city's best cocktails are made behind the bar here, not to mention the gourmet hot dog with Guinness mustard. Being that the sidewalk seating is pretty narrow, you might reconsider this spot if you own a Great Dane. But feel free to bring anything pug-sized. 411: Absinthe, 398 Hayes St (at Gough St), 415-551-1590

FIRE HYDRANT Ducca If you find yourself downtown and thirsty, order a few Peronis or cocktails by the fire pit at Ducca. Since the patio is especially busy during happy hour on a sunny day, we think you'll find that your four-legged wingman will come in handy. 411: Ducca, 50 3rd St (inside the Westin Hotel), 415-977-0271

CHILD'S PLAY

Juiced up for foodie flick julie & julia? hit cézanne resto at le merigot beach hotel in santa monica to celebrate the culinary queen's birthday with a three-course prix fixe menu ($40) from childs' seminal cookbook, mastering the art of french cooking. the francophile fare includes scallops and mushrooms in wine sauce, beef braised in red wine, and a carmelized apple puff. august 15th. cézanne at le merigot hotel and spa. 1740 ocean avenue. near pico. 310.395.9700. www.lemerigothotel.com

Aced Out Have a drink at Manhattan's hippest new hotel bar

ACE BAR @ ACE HOTEL, LES NYC

Photo: Douglas Lyle Thompson Despite the buzz surrounding the arrival of the hyper-hip Ace Hotel (located in a former SRO planted on grubby lower Broadway, no less), the recent unveiling of its Breslin lobby bar has slipped under the radar. Consider this your good fortune. Before the fashion-forward hordes invade the soaring, mosaic-tiled space, claim a broken-in suede couch, eye the curios (taxidermied critters, mercury flasks, science posters) and get acquainted with the chalkboard drinks menu, which includes fresh twists on classic cocktails and vibrant new concoctions. The Hound on Fire adds a lip-tingling chile-salt rim to the standard gin-and-grapefruit Greyhound, while the Flatiron is a bracingly aromatic blend of ginger beer, lemon-whiskey bitters, basil and a hefty bolt of Rhum Clément. Even the Ace Old-Fashioned--in which smoky aged tequila stands in for bourbon--is new. Although the hotel's forthcoming Breslin restaurant (from Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig and The John Dory fame) remains under wraps, you can keep hunger at bay with the bar's offerings of salty scratchings (fried pork rinds) and crunchy potato chips flavored with malt vinegar and sea salt. Or try crafting one of the Ace's lively cocktails yourself; this thirst-quenching riff on lemonade is an ideal summer sipper--perfect at home or far from it. The Bitter Lemonade Recipe by Dennis O'Connor, Breslin Makes one drink ½ ounce Aperol ½ ounce fresh lemon juice ¼ ounce simple syrup Ice 4 ounces Prosecco, preferably Nino Franco Rustico Lemon twist, for garnish Pour the Aperol, lemon juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, shake gently and strain into a Champagne flute. Top off with the Prosecco and garnish with a lemon twist. Ace Hotel, 20 W. 29th St. (at Broadway); 212-679-2222 or acehotel.com