Bartender Eric Alperin | Recommendations - Find. Eat. Drink.
Bartender Eric Alperin, The Varnish, Los Angeles, CA, California, Where to drink, Bartender’s Recommendations, Los Angeles, Where to drink in Los Angeles, Where to eat, Restaurants, Bars, Cocktails, Drinks, Bartenders, Best Bars in LA, Mixers, Sodas, Liquor, Spirits, Pisco, Cane Sugar, Local Recs, Where the locals eat, Insider Recommendations
Recommendations
BAR KEEPER SILVERLAKE
Silver Lake
Antique Barware
Los Angeles, CA
Find | Bar Tools - Los Angeles, CA
For bar tools, antique glassware, craft/artisanal spirits. Bam! Ask for Joe. He is a great man and a pioneer for the Los Angeles cocktail movement.
BACO MERCAT
I usually go for lunch or an early dinner. They have these sandwich/taco fusions called “Baco’s.” I get the el pesco (crispy shrimp, sirracha and chive) and a good craft beer. At times they have razor clams, pork di testa (head cheese) and Caesar brussels sprouts dishes to start the meal that kill.
Downtown
Spanish
Bartender Eric Alperin | Recommendations
Who
Bartender Eric Alperin heads up the bar program at the speakeasy The Varnish in downtown Los Angeles, CA.
Why
Eric Alperin is respected by fellow bartenders for his creative drinks and tremendous hospitality. To get to The Varnish, you enter in the back of downtown L.A.’s legendary Cole’s French Dip and stop at the secret oak door with a picture of a coupe glass on it.
July 5, 2012
The Varnish - Los Angeles, CA
Photographs courtesy of The Varnish
Eat | Restaurants - Los Angeles, CA
THE SPICE TABLE
Downtown
Southeast Asian / Singaporean
I would go to Spice Table in Little Tokyo and order just about anything, but the Lamb Heart Satay and the Kaya Toast are a must to start. I’m also a sucker for Laksa (rice noodles, laksa leaf , spicy coconut-seafood gravy).
COPA D’ORO
On the Westside is Vincenzo Marianella at Copa d’Oro. He’ll make you cocktail concoctions with jams and mustards.
Santa Monica
Lounge
Drink | Bars & Cocktails - Los Angeles, CA
GUISADOS
Boyle Heights
Mexican
Guisados for Mexican fare. Drink a few Margarita’s before going and then bring one for the owner. Just east of downtown on Cesar Chavez. After all this drinking, you’re gonna need some tacos!
THE KING EDDY SALOON
Want to feel like you’re drinking where Charles Bukowski would have? Then King Eddies Saloon on 5th and Los Angeles just by Skid Row is an adventure. I got four Seven & Sevens for $12 at happy hour and I didn’t get knifed. Glorious.
Downtown
Dive Bar
THE PIKEY
Hollywood
Californian
For Damian Windsor’s “Dirty Brown” made with Texas Dublin Dr. Pepper.
THE RAYMOND
I like getting out of downtown and heading to South Pasadena to have some drinks at 1886 at The Raymond, where the hotel used to be before it burned down. Go Bartender’s Choice. The talent behind the stick is bar none.
Pasadena
American
THE TASTING KITCHEN
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291
T: 310.392.6644 (make a reservation)
Venice
American
If I am on the Westside the crew at Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney has it down.
KAPPA
I just got my hands on some very memorable Kappa Pisco. The Marnier-Lapostolle family makes it. I make the most typical drink with it, but I love this one: Pisco Sour.
Liquor / Spirits
Chile
Drink | Liquors
DUBLIN DR. PEPPER
Soda
USA / Texas
Well, when I’m feeling down and dirty and want a Jack & Coke variation, I pull out some Texas Dublin Dr. Pepper made with Imperial Sugar Cane and pour it over ice with some Bourbon. One of my friends, Damian Windsor, over at the new Pikey has it on his menu and calls it “Dirty Brown.” Sadly Dublin Dr. Pepper is no longer in production as of January, so what we all have out there is it.
Drink | Mixers
Recommended By
- Bartender Jim Meehan of PDT in New York, NY
- Bartender Todd Thrasher of PX in Arlington, VA
- Bartender Daniel Shoemaker of Teardrop Lounge in Portland, OR