Best Hotel Bar: Poolside at the Hotel Figueroa’s Veranda

Whether it’s for brunch, after work or a romantic tryst, duck into downtown L.A.’s idyllic poolside Veranda, located at the beautifully renovated Hotel Figueroa. The relaxing outdoor urban oasis tucked amid 50-year old cacti overlooking the hotel’s iconic coffin-shaped pool is the perfect place to sip on one of their house specialties like the Tenderoni — gin, sloe gin, cherry herring, pineapple and lime.

The Mexico City-inspired menu  from young executive chef Adrian Garcia features seasonal ceviche with the chef’s daily catch, queso fundido with Oaxacan cheese, zarandeado (whole butterflied branzino), arrachera (8-oz. flat iron), enchiladas, and a selection of classic tacos prepared with hand-pressed tortillas and topped with fresh house made salsa.

Garcia’s authentic creations, some of which are inspired by his family’s recipes, make for the perfect pairing with tequila tastings and other inspired tequila and mezcal-forward drinks like the Guayaba made with blanco tequila, fresh lime juice and guava. The al fresco poolside brunch features Mexican French toast, steak and eggs, chilaquiles, avocado toast, and complimentary mimosas with the purchase of an entrée. —Michele Stueven

939 S Figueroa St., downtown; (866) 734-6018, hotelfigueroa.com.

A: Best Asian Bistro (Nomad); Best New Restaurant (Auburn)

B: Best Brewery (Imperial Western Beer Company); 

Best Brunch Bowl (Mar Vista Cranked Bowl)

C: Best Bakery Cafe (El Carrusel Bakery)

D: Best Donuts (Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts)

E: Best Eggs (Egg Tuck) 

F: Best Fried Chicken Sandwich (Preux & Proper)

G: Best Gelato (Gelateria Uli)

H: Best Hotel Bar (Poolside at the Hotel Figueroa’s Veranda)

I: Best Indian (India’s Tandoori)

J: Best Place to Get Japanese Whisky (Mrs. Fish)

K: Best Korean BBQ (Chosun Galbi)

L: Best Lasagna (Viale dei Romani)

M: Best Middle Eastern (Bavel);

Best Mexican Sushi (El Sushi Loco)

N: Best Latin Market (Northgate Gonzalez)

O: Best Oysters (Water Grill)

P: Best Pork Chop (Yours Truly); Best Plant-Based Cuisine (The Butcher’s Daughter)

Q: Best Quesadilla (Tacos 1986)

R: Best Rooftop (Margot)

S: Best Sunday Supper (Lucques); Best Seafood (Michael Cimarusti)

T: Best Tortilla (Sonoratown)

U: Best Udon (Marugame Monzo)

V: Best Vietnamese Experience (Crustacean); Best Breakfast Burrito in the Valley (Sloane’s Valley Village)

W: Best Chicken Wings (Ord & Broadway)

Y: Best Yakitori Bar (Hatch Yakitori + Bar)

Z: Best Peruvian Chef (Ricardo Zarate)

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