Desert 5 Spot

Desert 5 Spot ranks 6th on the list of best bars for singles In Los Angeles. Desert 5 Spot, located in the same hotel as Ka'Teen, aspires to be your favorite relaxed, yet stylish nightlife destination the next time you're in Hollywood. (This, of course, assumes you want to visit the much-maligned area at all.) Cowboy-chic design inspired by Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, as well as an indoor-outdoor layout similar to the sibling location Bar Lis has definitely put this surprisingly laid-back rooftop bar on the map. However, plenty of fierce neighborhood competition—including Mama Shelter on the next block and the bar's more stuffy, French Riviera-inspired twin—keeps it from definitively leading the pack.

However, for a more relaxed evening, you might prefer Desert 5 Spot. The vaguely Western bar has an oddly winning combination of breathtaking city views, live rock and country music, and a rare L.A. crowd that genuinely, unironically, enjoys dressing up. The Tinseltown impersonation of a country saloon, named after a Mojave wildflower, has numerous charms, from a blinking pseudo-broken neon sign to the cactus-shaped cocktail glass that holds the mezcal-based Ring of Fire. Weekly line dancing classes on Wednesdays attract country enthusiasts on the week's slowest day, while Desert 5 Spot's still-quite-flashy aesthetic appeals to out-of-towners and more casually dressed locals looking for drinks and a view without much hassle.

It's all good vibes from there once you get to the roof. The house band performs nightly beginning around 10 p.m. within Desert 5 Spot's open-air interior, which looks nearly identical to the setup at Bar Lis, transforming the area in front of the stage into a small dance floor with a little spillover onto the outdoor patio. Prior to that, the bar's vibe is more laid-back hangout than upscale hoedown, owing to plenty of open seating areas and tables both inside and out. The bar's specialty cocktails, which are heavy on tequila and mezcal, are colorful, pricey, and refreshing. The drinks’ whimsical names take inspiration from country music greats like Johnny Cash (the aforementioned Ring of Fire, Walk the Line), Dolly Parton (Jolene, 9 to 5) and Charlie Daniels (The Devil Went Down to Georgia), and there’s even a giant cactus-shaped cooler full of margarita for large groups.

Vital

• The vibe: An upscale, vaguely Western themed casual rooftop bar with live music and a crowd that unironically enjoys dressing up in cowboy boots.
• The food: None available, though similarly destination-themed Ka’Teen on the ground floor of the hotel offers excellent Mexican small plates for those that can actually snag a table (it's normally fully booked) or an open seat at the bar.
• The drink: A breezy, well-curated cocktail menu that leans heavy on tequila and mezcal, as well as a small selection of wine and beer. While the cactus-stemmed Ring of Fire—made with mezcal, chile liqueur and prickly pear—and bright blue Walk the Line might catch your eye around the bar, the 9 to 5 made with cucumber, matcha and celery is a sleeper hit you don’t want to miss.
• Tips: Lean into the theme with a little Western attire of your own.

Adress: The Tommie, 6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, 90028
Contact: 323-410-6370
Opening hours: Weds 7pm–12am; Thurs–Sat 8pm–2am

Rating: 4.2/5.0

Website: desertfivespotla.com