The Copper Still - Los Angeles

The Copper Still is, without a doubt, the best bar in LA. Alex is a fantastic bartender. He knows how to make even the most obscure cocktails and puts his time and effort into every drink he makes. If you want a special, one of a kind cocktail then this is the spot for you. The vibe is chill. It's a small bar so don't expect a rowdy night out but if you're looking for a fantastic drink (or four), some quality music and the type of night that would make Don Draper jealous then this is your bar. First date? Copper Still. Making a big life decision? Copper Still. Comedy night out without the PBRs? Copper Still. Want some pupusas? They'll bring it to your seat! Check this place out. You wont regret it.

Provender: quaint dive bar in Ktown. It's across the street from Noshi Sushi on the north side of Beverly. It holds around ten people, and has a TV. They are connected to the adjacent Salvadorian restaurant. They also have an next door room where they host events, like comedy standup. Prices: reasonable. Parking: there's street parking and a small lot behind the building, but I'm not sure if they have a rear entrance. People: mostly hipsters, but don't let that deter you. Perks: great staff. Alex, the bartender, was excellent and he makes a mean michelada. It's a very intimate ambiance, and if the one table is available, then it would be a great date spot for privacy.

The Copper Still is a cool neighborhood bar with great classic cocktails at reasonable prices. I've been a couple of times, once for a show, and once for a round of drinks after dinner across the street. I live about a five-minute drive from here, and am starting to think I need to take advantage of this place more often. The first time I came here was for a variety show called the Junk Show, which is, I believe, a monthly event at The Copper Still, held in the big room attached to the main bar area, which must host a lot of these shows. It was mostly a stand-up comedy show, though there was also a sick magician, and through a weird series of events, I was asked to read an essay about basset hounds to change things up a bit. My part was kind of random, but the rest of the show was highly entertaining, and I enjoyed the venue, which was comfortable and casually set up, with those like stackable chairs you see at churches and makeshift recital halls. I was pretty hung over on this first visit, which is why I didn't recognize The Copper Still's excellence as a bar, even though my husband got a very good Old Fashioned. I came back for a drink with my friend June K., and though we couldn't stay long, we had a wonderful time. The bar was pretty quiet at around 9 on a Wednesday, and we seated ourselves right away. The bartender was attentive and friendly, and he made up our drinks as soon as we ordered them. There was a long list of classic cocktails for $10-12 apiece, definitely well priced for the quality. I had a Boulevardier, which I believe is Campari, vermouth, and rye, and it was delicious, on par with the $14 ones you see all around town. June asked for something spicy, and the bartender made her a mezcal cocktail with grapefruit, agave, and Ancho Reyes. This was also well made, with a nice balance of sugar and spice. I love the calm ambiance of this place, and intend to drop in for cocktails from time to time. At some point, I'd also like to try some of the Salvadoran food from the attached restaurant, Jaragua. The Copper Still may be a small bar, but between Jaragua and the stage room, you can get dinner and a show to go with your drinks. Not bad for a little neighborhood joint.

If you 're looking for a great bar to spend your evening, maybe for you and a partner or just yourself, this is the place to go. To put a list of adjectives that describe this great joint, it 's... intimate, relaxed, free-spirited, and fun. It starts off by Alex. Now you 're thinking Alex...? Yes. Alex is the bartender for Copper and probably one if the best bartenders/mixologists in town. Now you 're thinking no way , but this is not your DTLA bar with premixed solution through a dispenser. This is a personalized, made from scratch, to your liking type of place. Alex is a personable guy who will genuinely want to make you a drink that you want. You like it a bit heavy handed? Something fruity? Something just clean and to sip on? That 's your choice, but Alex will make the perfect drink for you. I 've been a regular here for a year now but I never had a bad experience. The management here is great and you 'll never have a sour experience. Now, if you 're still reading this review, you might as well take a step and venture to the outskirts of ktown and enjoy a cocktail... or two... or the whole night. Take a chance and trust me. It 'll be worth it. You never know if you never try. : you 're welcome.

Big thanks to Jane J for tipping me off to this place. I always pass by it, as Beverly Blvd is my route for all things coming and going, and was intrigued by the new signage that popped up a couple months ago alluding to a spirits bar. The perplexing part was that, number one, it was in Ktown, and two, it was attached to Salvadoran restaurant, Jaragua [hidden link] . On my way home recently I decided my night would be better spent on a stool at Copper Still rather than sitting in my studio apartment organizing receipts. I swim in receipts on a daily basis; this isn't a hoarding thing. I parked on the street, which is easy enough after 7pm, and walked in to find a very well lit but bland looking restaurant and a narrow section of it dedicated to a bar that you wouldn't expect to find in such a place. It feels very saloony, but with a pretty sophisticated drink menu. And the smell of pupusas permeates the place. I wish the bar portion was completely separate, to give it more of a legitimacy, but they've got Nancy, so that makes it pretty legit. Nancy made me a delicious gimlet and was a wonderful conversational partner since I rolled in by myself. She did a classic proud and I'm sure has the same finesse and touch with the bartender's choice style offerings she's highly regarded for, but again, the menu's got some pretty bold cocktail options, so it won't do you wrong either. The bonus? You can order from Jaragua! The pupusas are frisbee sized and come with a jar of cabbage/pickled slaw and your own personal hot sauce. And at $2.50 each, it's a nice alternative to street tacos or dogs, and you really only need one to build a tolerance for your mission to booze out on Nancy's drinks.