There’s no better way to celebrate Women’s History Month this March than actually supporting women and if that can include a cocktail, even better. Los Angeles is bursting with amazing ladies at the helm of businesses, breweries and bar programs and inspiring major change within the male-dominated industry.
So this month, show your sisters some love and check out these woman-led L.A. establishments.
Genever
Craft cocktail fans should run, not walk, to the art-deco style lounge Genever, located in the Historic Filipinotown neighborhood. This gorgeous hideaway where “drink is queen” is owned by three Filipinas, Patricia Perez, Roselma Samala and Christine Sumiller and operated by the Red Capiz Partners. This classy watering hole, known for its gin-based cocktails, is celebrating its two year anniversary this March.
3123 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles Geneverla.com, @genever_la
Eagle Rock Brewery
beer aficionado Ting Su is truly a boss babe. Not only did she found Eagle Rock Brewery in Northeast Los Angeles, but once a month unites female beer enthusiasts the monthly Women’s Beer Forum led by. This is a space where female beer enthusiasts share their joy for and knowledge of their favorite malted barley drink. This March, the forum celebrates its nine-year-anniversary.
3056 Roswell St., Los Angeles, Eaglerockbrewery.com, @eaglerockbrew
Vinovore Wine Shop
Local favorite Vinovore Wine Shop opened in the emerging neighborhood of Virgil Village on the border of East Hollywood and Silver Lake in 2017. Owners Coly Den Haan and Dean Harada stock hundreds of unique handpicked bottles from the world’s best female winemakers. Shoppers are encouraged to discover their own quirky wine personality based on their flavor profiles of choice. Vinovore also frequently holds wine tasting events spotlighting lady winemakers.
616 N. Hoover St., Los Angeles, Vino-vore.com, @vinovorela
Da Lat Rose
Helene An, who is often recognized as the “mother of fusion cuisine,” recently launched her passion project restaurant, Da Lat Rose. Located above her famed Crustacean in Beverly Hills, Da Lat Rose is not just another restaurant — it is a gastronomic-biography of Helene’s dramatic life events. Beginning with her birth as the daughter of a Mandarin Scholar in 1944, the menu shares course-by-course how Vietnamese people were affected by World War II, the Rise of Communism and the Vietnam War, and ultimately end up as refugees in America. Continuing through the culinary journey, Chef An’s rags-to-riches story magnifies the plight of Vietnamese-Americans to adapt in their new land and serves as a prism through which the Vietnamese-American Diaspora can be better understood. In her 40-plus-year career, she was first to introduce Vietnamese flavors to mainstream America, forever changing their palates with a cuisine that honors both cultures. In keeping with the Vietnamese tradition of iconography and oral storytelling, the 12-course tasting menu is presented to each table as a conical hat designed to reflect her journey. Wine and cocktail pairings are available with each drink incorporating ingredients that also relate to the story.
466 N. Bedford Dr., Beverly Hills, dalatrosebh.com, @dalatrosebh
Bar Franca
Opened in 2018, Bar Franca quickly became the neighborhood staple on Main Street in DTLA. The tunnel-like space features in a laid-back, tunnel-y kind of space with tall ceilings, festive floral wallpaper, a long bar, and semi-separate lounge seating up near the sidewalk. The European-inspired bar is owned by Rachel Thomas from The Must. On the menu, you’ll find classics such as a Paper Plane with bourbon. Aperol, lemon, and creative cocktails like the Fizzing Lifting Drink made with gin, Lillet Blanc, grapefruit, chamomile, honey lemon, Prosseco. Happy hour runs 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with drinks only $8.
438 S. Main St., Los Angeles, Barfranca.com, @barfrancadtla
Here & Now
Boasting a killer cocktail program and mouth-watering menu, Here & Now is one of the standout spots in the Arts District’s, helmed by Westbound founder Sarah Meade. Not does Meade wear the pants at the bar on a daily basis, she’s also the mastermind behind the bar’s ridiculous fun and inclusive initiatives including weekend brunches, the holiday pop-up bar Blitzen’s, dog-friendly events and the new Queer Tuesdays taking place at 8 p.m. every week filled with music, games such as Drag Queen Bingo, and of course plenty of drinks.
300 S. Santa Fe Ave., Suite N, Los Angeles, hereandnowdtla.com, @hereandnowdtla
Playa Provisions
Playa Provisions is a unique four-in-one concept from “Top Chef” winner Brooke Williamson and her husband, Nick Roberts. Nestled within one 7,000-square foot, beachside location, the space includes a bright and fun ice cream shop called Small Batch, a casual market counter serving breakfast and lunch, called King Beach, a more high-end dining space dedicated to seasonal seafood fare called Dockside and our favorite, a back-room whisky bar called Grain boasting 200 different types of whiskey, Scotch, and bourbon, as well as the couple’s in-house, barrel-aged propriety. Inspired by the city’s “country marts,” the four separate, yet cohesive dining experiences provide a taste for everyone. Day Boat Scallops and a decadent riff on a seafood chowder to a colorful, love-filled Red Salad and a Passion Fruit Panna Cotta to finish.
119 Culver Blvd., Playa Del Rey, Playaprovisions.com, @playaprovisions
Big Bar
Alcove in Los Feliz is the garden bistro housed in two of the oldest houses in Los Feliz: a Spanish duplex built in 1916 and a Craftsman cottage built in 1897, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and bakery options perfect for the local epicurean. Alcove also houses an intimate cocktail den, Big Bar. A go-to spot for happy hour (weekdays 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.), casual drinks or date nights, Big Bar is known for expertly-made and thoughtfully-curated original and rotating seasonal craft cocktails prepared with fine spirits, fresh juices and herbs by Bar Manager Cari Hah. House cocktail standouts include the #Tigermom Gimlet, the Exquisite AF Martini, the rum-based Welcome To The Junglebird and more. Just in time for Women’s Months, Big Bar recently launched BAM, aka Burgers And Martinis Night featuring the Big Bar Burger (cream corned beef, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, house pickles, griddled red onion, special sauce, sweet potato bun) paired perfectly with a Sipsmith Gin Martini, all for the price of $20. The weekly event from 5 p.m. to close, going on every Wednesday, also offer a veggie burger alternative and BAM merch so burger and martini-loving guests can take home a little piece of the coolest club in town.
1929 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, alcovecafe.com/bigbar, @bigbaralcove
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