"Bar by Red Door is positively California fresh. In this intimate cocktail bar, greenery drips from the ceiling in macrame hanging planters; bar stools have midcentury-cool hairpin legs, and tables—both communal and private—are a clean, simple blond wood. Located in Mission Hills, a well-to-do enclave three miles north of downtown, the bar attracts a mix of affluent, older locals as well as date nighters venturing over from nearby neighborhoods. Cocktails are the real draw, and there's something for every palate—boozy and straightforward numbers, right on through sweeter, more tropical ones. If you feel like you're in over your head, refer to the menu—there are helpful tasting notes listed next to each item." - Archana Ram