extra dirty vodka martini + fries
where to — martini properly in la
extra dirty extra dry vodka martinis with extra olives and fries + aioli
the martini is so much more than just a beverage — it can be celebratory, emotional, or just because. there’s something special about holding a little chilled potent glass garnished with one too many (very brat-coded) olives. your go-to martini order says a lot about you — and unfortunately, mine’s pretty extra: (extra) dirty (extra) dry vodka (tito’s) martini with (extra) olives. it’s like a salty appetizer, best paired with fries + housemade aioli. here’s where to get the best (filthy) tinis in los angeles… bonus points if they have a sidecar component, and extraaa bonus points if there’s fries on the menu.
eastside:
capri club - capri might make my favorite dirty martini, but their new-ish caperberry tini is ideal if you can’t decide if you’re a vodka or gin girlie (it’s got both!)
l & e - sun-soaked happy hour with fries + oysters
bar stella - on the bougainvillea filled patio while the sun’s still up
botanica - gilda martini during tinned fish happy hour
loreto - oyster martini at the bar before your bang bang shrimp tostada
tee gee - in a dark booth after being out on the patio for far too long
greekman’s - the original freedman’s martini still hits
figaro bistrot - people watching/judging from the sidewalk
donna’s - with your hot little italian resy
ye rustic inn - order with fries! (and hot wings, or buffalo cauli for me)
silverlake lounge by well wishes - new ownership means better martinis + even has a cafe tropical (neighbors!) espresso martini
non east:
venture to hollywood (or even further west) for a real classic martini moment
musso & frank - quintessential hollywood
jones - made for tinis and sidecars
the benjamin - with fries + aioli in a proper booth
dear john’s - sip at the dark bar
chateau marmont - try not to stare at the c-list celebrity at the table next to you
tower bar - at sunset tower, also try not to stare at the celebs trying to sip their martini
smoke house - burbank but sidecar in a red booth with fries and you’re set
chez jay - when in santa monica
dan tana’s - with red sauce
kibitz room - they’re probably pissed you ordered a martini, but it’s not our fault they make them so well
taylor’s - for a steakhouse moment
hillstone / houston’s - i grew up going to suburban houston’s (pre-martini age), but everyone says theirs is perfect, with a sidecar, and that they’ll swap your glass out for a newly frosted one when it’s been room temp too long. so went to pasadena for myself and no frosted glass swapping! and hot take i know but honestly don’t know if i’m a houston’s girlie…
best martini outside of la:
bonnie’s - msg martini in brooklyn - still think about this one often <3
la happenings + openings:
bar sinizki - all day restaurant + bar, inspired by prague in the nineties from the dune + elf and kalidi teams, justtt opened in atwater
bia garden - newly opened lowkey german beer garden hidden in plain sight in a beaut garden area on sunset in echo park near bar henry
bar bene - think idyllic italian-food-dj-natural-wine-espresso-martini-bar recurring pop-up that just happened over the weekend at garibaldina highland park’s italian society
bridgetown roti - caribbean pop-up (with the best roti in la) gets a newly opened brick + mortar in east hollywood
ggiata - new sit down location in highland park with a modern day soprano feel, and breakfast and jumbo time wines on the menu
zizou - mentioned in my last where to sstack, but finally checked out the new lincoln heights patio and let’s just say that if zizou were in silverlake / echo park it would be the new it spot. makes you feel like you’re not in la and in another oasis. order natural wine and the calamari and stay for a while before everyone catches on
now playing:
femininomenon by chappell roan
unless you just fell out of a coconut tree, you know that we’re living in chappell’s world
pete’s caperberry martini is ELITE 🍸