You’ve heard people talking about Silver Lake. You’ve heard people talk about Echo Park. Now let’s talk about their neighbor: Atwater Village. Atwater may not have the buzz of those other spots, but it’s got quite a bit to offer, especially in the form of some really great watering holes.

Whereas some parts of the city are mostly just beer-friendly, Atwater Village offers plenty of great cocktail and fancy drink options to imbibe as well. 

Bon Vivant Market & Cafe

Photo courtesy of Bon Vivant Market & Cafe

In the heart of Atwater Village, you’ll find your first stop, Bon Vivant Market & Cafe. Don’t let the name fool you. Bon Vivant isn’t a normal market. While they do have food, it’s all about the alcohol here. 

Some people come here for dates, others gather for a brunch with friends, and others still use the Parisian backdrop as a place to get some work done (they’ve got WiFi). It gets pretty cozy in the evening, but you should note that they’re only open until 10 p.m. on the weekdays and midnight on the weekends.

The Roost

Photo courtesy of The Roost

The Roost is a divey and loud bar with a jukebox so patrons can have some say as to what music gets played. Heads up, they’ve been known to put some ridiculous things on their TVs, you’ve been warned. You’ll see a mixed crowd of neighborhood regulars as well as people who are there just to say they’ve been there. With Atwater’s close relative proximity to Dodger Stadium, you may also see some Dodgers fans sitting at the bar watching the game. 

The Griffin

Photo courtesy of The Griffin

Ah, The Griffin. Fans of the show “New Girl” may recognize this bar because, in early seasons, characters would frequent this nondescript bar. TV fame aside, The Griffin is a great destination if you’re on a date (we speak from experience). The bar includes a fireplace and plenty of spots to sit near it. It’s dimly lit, not very loud, and the drinks are fairly inexpensive.

Bigfoot Lodge

Photo courtesy of Bigfoot Lodge

Other locations: Culver City

Last up on this list of Atwater Village musts is the original Bigfoot Lodge. If you’re thinking you might have seen this name before, you have, but this is the original. Other locations include Bigfoot West in Culver City and the now-closed Bigfoot Lodge in San Francisco’s Nob Hill. 

The old-school original Bigfoot Lodge is worn down in a most delightful way. The theme here is the woods and wilderness. The bar resembles a campground. The walls look like wooded forests. Your bartenders will be dressed as either Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, complete with uniforms (and tattoos). Cocktails have names such as Girl Scout Cookie or Toasted Marshmallow, which comes with an actual toasted marshmallow.

Bigfoot Lodge has a few special events throughout the month. There’s trivia, bingo night, and even pinewood derby car races. Folks can bring their pinewood derby cars to the bar once a month to race and be judged in several different categories. Good luck finding that someplace else in the city.