Bar Figueroa

"What It Is: The pool bar at Hotel Figueroa Downtown Perfect For: Day Drinking The Hotel Figueroa downtown recently completed a massive renovation, and its new Spanish colonial/Medieval chic aesthetic is pretty great. That said, we recently checked out their newest pool bar, Rick’s, and it’s much less impressive. Due to its ground floor location, your only real view is of the neighboring Residence Inn, the drinks are pretty pricey, and the crowd is mostly scattered out-of-towners who are looking to get as drunk as possible before walking over to LA Live next door. The Verdict: Unless you’re staying at the hotel, you don’t need to come here." - jess basser sanders, brant cox, brett keating

"Will La Casita’s Mexican snacks blow your mind? Probably not. But you’re not here for that. You’re here because the sun is out, thus, your buns are out, and you're in need of a little refreshment. The scenic pool at Hotel Figueroa is on the ground floor, which means it can get a little noisy with downtown traffic, but there are plenty of beach chairs to spread out on, a DJ on certain weekends, and decent things to eat like sea bass ceviche and chicken tinga tacos. There are cocktails infused with strawberries, passionfruit, and something called "Garden of Eden" syrup. Bring a friend or two, a book you’ll likely never open, and lots of sunscreen. Open Friday through Sunday only.  " - nikko duren, kat hong, brant cox

"Diners can also enjoy a pre- or post-meal drink at Bar Figueroa, the laid back lobby drinking space visible from the entrance." - Farley Elliott