Copa D'Oro

BY FAR one of my favorite lounges in all of Los Angeles. Food and drinks aside, Copa D' Oro has an amazing ambiance that's impossible to overlook. From the moment you walk in this place, you get a sense of it's intimate feel. The location is perfect, right at the heart of Santa Monica, around the corner from the promenade. There's a chill vibe on the weekends with music that's not too loud (a nice change from the typical bars / clubs where conversations are nearly impossible). It's a classy lounge, but not pretentious. Cozy, but not too small. The drink menu is one of the most unique that I've ever encountered and it definitely keeps things interesting, encouraging me to try new things. The perfect compliment to their drinks would be their amazing paninis.. particularly the ""parma & peppers"" panini (with fresh prosciutto di parma, roasted red peppers and mozzarella) -- My favorite panini of all time! more

\r If you want to be the master of your own liquid concoctions, then make a pit stop at Copa d’Oro in Santa Monica for a little choose your own boozy adventure. Step up to the plate or rather the bar and play the part of mixologist for a night in which you can either create a masterpiece or botch the batch . No need to fear as with master Mixologist Vincenzo Marianella and the rest of his crew including America's top bartender winner Joe Brooke in control, we have no doubt you’ll be able to create something somewhat drinkable. Pros: Best cocktails on the westside more

There's a renaissance in the world of cocktails and I'm all for it. The cocktail, more specifically what's dubbed a Vintage cocktail (a beverage composed of alcohol [duh], any kind of sugar, water and bitters) was created as a response to the changing times, gaining notoriety during prohibition to cover up the rough and crude taste of bootlegged liquor and that was just the beginning. (Okay, history lesson is over!) Today, with the long standing legalization of alcohol (thank god) this realm of beverages has been re-engineered for a new generation and, at one modern bar in particular, Copa d'Oro. I've never been a fan of the syrups or juices mixed with hard alcohol, mai tai, appletini, lemon drop... you get the point, the flavors, syrups, fruit juices were always too sweet, orange juice always too bitter and still to this day, just a way to cover up the alcohol. So for the past few years, I've been sticking to my dirty goose martinis - its not sweet and few bartenders get it wrong. But now, at Copa, I'm not sure what my drink of choice is and trust me, that's a good thing. A much welcomed change from the previous dark, dingy Bar 217, the decor is now dimly lit, classy and calm. Vincenzo, is the man behind the 40+ drink menu and a master in the art of cocktails, instead of covering up the taste of alcohol he articulates flavors that compliment one another, resulting in drinks that are refreshing, unique and delicious. His arsenal of ingredients includes: spices, such as rosemary, thyme, fresh and organic fruits and vegetables from the local farmers market and the use of traditional throwbacks like bitters, coca cola (with real cane sugar, aka Mexican cola). The only problem... figuring out what to order next. They don't have the standard premium vodkas and tequilas, so no Gray Goose, etc. They do have their own special premium labels. Drinks range from $9-$15. The food is limited to 5 or so sandwiches that I have yet to try. On weekends its standing room only and yes, expect a line, good for groups of up to 10, 15 is pushing it on the weekdays, happy hour is 5-8pm with $5 drink specials. Pros: $5 happy hour till 8pm. Cons: Limited food menu. Can get crowded more

I really dug this place. As a rule, I dig any place that serves pb&j sandwiches on their bar menu. That aside, I enjoyed a delicious $5 cocktail, the Jackrose, at Happy Hour. The atmosphere was great, they had an artist in house painting on the spot! Very cool. Will definitely come back. Pros: $5 specialty cocktails during Happy Hour Cons: service.. maybe ? more

LOVE the Copa, Copa d''Oro. (I can't seem to get Copacabana, that Barry Manilow song out of my head when I... more

LOVE the Copa, Copa d''Oro. (I can't seem to get Copacabana, that Barry Manilow song out of my head when I think of the name). It's a mellow, cozy ... more