What's not to love about a Tiki bar? The fun retro vibe, frou-frou drinks topped with paper umbrellas, and cocktails served in pineapples -- it's always a good time. One of SoCal's most beloved tiki bars, Tonga Hut, whips up zippy drinks in a festive atmosphere that's fun to visit all year long.
Summertime in Southern California isn't complete until you've had a drink or two at a fun and festive Tiki bar. And the Tonga Hut is tops on everyone's list for the ultimate Tiki bar experience.
The Tonga Hut originally opened in North Hollywood back in 1958. Its sister location in Palm Springs may not have been around as long but it still has that awesome retro vibe we all know and love.
Do you have a favorite tiki bar in Southern California where you can experience a taste of island life? If you'd like more details about Tonga Hut you can find additional information by heading to the official website right over here.
Anyone who has seen the mini-jungle that is my office knows how much I love green plants. I also happen to be a wine-lover, which is why when I learned about Cosette Wine Bar in Studio City, CA, it earned a coveted spot on my *wine and dine* bucket list. Aside from coffee and chocolate, I cannot imagine a more lovely pairing than plants and wine.
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The wine bar is hiding on the upper level inside another must-visit business, Rolling Greens garden center, where you can shop for all sorts of indoor and outdoor foliage. The shop itself is just beautiful and also carries lots of lovely home, patio, and garden decor, so get ready to be inspired.
Whether you grab a glass of red at the bar or wander outside with a glass of Champagne, you'll find yourself surrounded by a bit of European elegance married with a fresh, comfortable California flair.
In addition to wines - some served in vintage-inspired stemware that echoes the Bohemian vibes of the plant shop below - Cosette also makes some lovely coffee and tea drinks.
Come to the wine bar from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday for happy hour, featuring a selection of wines and small bites.
An all-day food and snack menu offers an impressive array of choices that perfectly complement the wines, including olives and nuts, cheese and charcuterie, whipped sheep's milk feta (which is mentioned in several glowing customer reviews), and a summery celery salad. You'll also find Bay scallops, Steak Tartare, and a few indulgent dessert items on the list.
You can stroll in for a snack and a glass of wine or make reservations ahead of time. Cosette will also be scheduling jazz nights and other events on select Sundays each month.
Doesn't Cosette Wine Bar In Studio City, CA just feel like the happiest place to spend an afternoon? Have you ever been to this hidden wine bar or shopped at Rolling Greens? We definitely want to hear about your experience! Find out more on Cosette Wine Bar's website or Facebook page. And if you're a wine-lover like me, check out my recent wine-tasting getaway in Temecula Valley. There are so many incredible and unique places to wine and dine in SoCal; be sure to peruse more of our favorites!
Let me start by saying I am not a bar person in general. But there is something alluring about a speakeasy. Obviously, it has nothing to do with legality as we are far beyond the Prohibition era, but I love the idea of a hidden, cozy, dim-lit space that whisks you off to another time. I see all of these places that have really cool immersive themes and I have been dying to visit one. Until I was invited to Thompson & Twain in Temecula, CA, I had only been to one speakeasy in my hometown, and it was lovely, but not exactly this kind of spot. This was a real trip to the Old West, and I loved it.
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Per journalistic integrity, we disclose that the writer of this piece was invited to this location by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this piece are their own.
If you have never been to Old Town Temecula, it is definitely worth a visit with its historic buildings, boutique shops, and vibrant dining scene. Thompson & Twain Prospecting Co. is hidden (appropriately) inside Crush & Brew, one of several Temecula restaurants worth checking out, and a sister company to Leoness Cellars in the Temecula Valley wine country.
As we headed to the back of the restaurant and through the red saloon doors, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. To be completely honest, I would have thought this led to the restrooms! But the doors, which don't exactly match the vibe of the restaurant, are a clue.
Once through another door and into the hallway behind, it was like we entered a portal to the past - the horseback riding, gun-slinging, duels in the street at high noon, with a little comedy mixed in (for example, the famous black and white pic of Marty McFly and Doc Brown at the clock tower in Back to the Future.)
Welcome to the coolest bar on the frontier in what the speakeasy reminds you was "a dark and dangerous time in American history." After my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, it was a blast just to look around the room at the myriad of details that make this place what it is. The staff even wear period costumes to really top things off.
It is all about fine cocktails at Thompson & Twain with a heavy focus on "time-appropriate" spirits like gin and whiskey, but it is a full bar so you can order anything your heart desires. Or you can really live it up and let the bartender create a custom drink for you with a few questions to see what you like.
I have to say one of the most entertaining things was reading the names of the drinks on the cocktail menu. I almost ordered a "Court Ordered Goodbye" but decided on the "Hit The Town Like Your Parachute Failed" - partly because I couldn't help myself with a name like that, and partly because it just sounded delicious. And it was! I tasted some of the other drinks that were ordered, and they were literally all fantastic. These guys know what they're doing.
If you are visiting Temecula, do yourself a favor and grab a drink in the Old West. You'll have to just show up and try to get a table because as the website says, "there were no phones in the 1800s and there ain't none now in our bar to accept requests..." Even if you have to wait a bit, it's worth it. Have you ever been to this awesome hidden speakeasy in Temecula, CA? Tell us what you think; we'd love to hear from you. Visit the Thompson & Twain Prospecting Co. website for more information, or follow Thompson & Twain on Facebook to find out about special events, tastings, etc. Looking for a unique place to stay for a little weekend getaway in Temecula? Check out this charming little apartment in the heart of Old Town.
