We Went to 7 of North America's 50 Best Bars in New York

We Went to 7 of North America's 50 Best Bars in New York

We spent our anniversary on a bite-and-sip tour through New York, hitting 7 bars from North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, including 3 of the top 4 and the current #1. We came home and asked the obvious question: where does LA actually stand? We break down what each bar does well, where we would go back, and take a hard look at where LA's bar scene trails New York, where it can compete, and what we think LA needs to do to close the gap. Bars in this episode: 0:00 – Intro 3:45 – Sip & Guzzle 12:17 – Angel's Share 16:08 – Attaboy 19:51 – Bar Snack 25:13 – Schmuck 29:10 – Overstory 31:18 – Maison Premiere 34:12 – NYC vs LA 42:38 – What LA Does Great 47:40 – Closing Thoughts 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else. Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #NorthAmericas50BestBars #SipAndGuzzle #NYCBars #CocktailBars #50BestBars

Gwen Review: Was the #41 World's Best Steakhouse Worth the Splurge?

Curtis Stone's Michelin-starred steakhouse Gwen is Hollywood's award-winning destination for dry-aged meat — ranked #42 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. ⁠ The space exudes modern Hollywood elegance without feeling gaudy, and features glass-enclosed dry aging rooms, open kitchen, and a fully operational retail butcher shop. ⁠ ⁠ The menu is anchored by seafood, vegetables, and dry aged meat cooked on an Asador-style grill using almond wood, as well as, an open-fire grill, and a coal Josper oven. Other offerings include house made charcuterie (also available for retail purchase), pastas, risottos, and market vegetables from local farms.⁠ ⁠ The beverage program at Gwen begins with a water menu, curated by renowned water connoisseur Martin Riese (https://linktr.ee/martinriese), that gives you an education in your own water preferences. It might sound pretentious, but the prices of the water menu are quite approachable and are a fun addition, especially for those who don't imbibe.⁠ ⁠ Aside from the boujee water, there is a nice selection of wines by the glass, and curated cocktails that often feature ingredients from the butcher shop operation (i.e speck stuffed olives, duck fat washed vodka.)⁠ ⁠ As a whole, Gwen provides a singular steakhouse experience, in that you can have a classic meal, or you can eschew steak altogether and happily eat your way through the rest of the many offerings. Either way, you’re sure to go home happy and full.⁠ https://www.gwenla.com/ IG @gwenla 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #Gwen #GwenLA #CurtisStone #HollywoodRestaurant #LAsteakhouse #MichelinStarLA #LAMichelin #DryAgedBeef #DryAgedSteak #LiveFireCooking #ButcherShop #WorldsBestSteakhouses #SteakhouseLA #LosAngelesRestaurants #LAFoodScene #LAFoodie #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast #AftertasteLA

We Found Our Favorite New Bar in LA (#68 in North America) | Vandell Review

LA finally has an answer to NYC in the elite cocktail bar space — and it's tucked into Los Feliz on Hillhurst Ave. We're calling Vandell our new favorite bar in Los Angeles. In this episode of Aftertaste LA, we break down why this neighborhood cocktail bar is the real deal. It only took 4 short months after opening for Vandell to be named #68 on the 100 best bars in North America. It's creative, it's cocktail nerdy, and it has all the momentum to become one of the best bars in the country. Vandell feels like a relaxed neighborhood bar but the high concept cocktails, many of which take several days to prepare, take it up to another level. That might make it sound like it would be stuffy and uptight, but the best part about Vandell is that you can also get a shot and a beer and leave perfectly happy. ⁠ ⁠ They do classic cocktails extremely well (Martini, Negroni, Old Fashioned, etc,) with a few vintage options using spirits from the 70s and 80s. All their cocktails are extremely creative and incorporate market-fresh ingredients like bell pepper, smoked tomato, mango, and blood orange, to name just a few. ⁠ ⁠ But it’s not only about the drinks. Vandell’s food menu leans on some must-have staples like great fries, a solid burger and spiced bar nuts, but throws in some delicious curve balls like chicken liver toast and anchovy toast. https://punchdrink.com/articles/most-popular-best-cocktail-recipes-april-2026/ Note: Vandell is majority walk-in — limited Resys drop 1 week in advance. Get there early! Book Vandell on Resy: https://resy.com/cities/los-angeles-ca/venues/vandell Our Meal At Vandell | Los Feliz | Los Angeles | California | Opened December 2025 https://www.thevandell.com/ @vandell.losangeles 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Sip = Skip it 2️⃣ Sips = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Sips = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Sips = Can’t miss #vandell #vandelllosfeliz #losfeliz #losfelizbar #losangelescocktailbar #bestbarsinla #labars #cocktailbar #losangelescocktails #50bestbars #northamericas50bestbars #lacocktails #aftertastela #larestaurants #lafoodie #cocktailreview #barreview #neighborhoodbar

Why Hermon's Is the Best Bar & Grill in Los Angeles

The restaurant has positioned itself as THE neighborhood ⁠bar & grill; a place that does the simple things right. Easy on paper, but a tough feat to actually pull off. ⁠ A classic bar & grill MUST nail specific essentials to be great. A burger, a steak, fries, a martini, comfortable seats, and a staff that knows how to make you feel like you're in your living room. It seems they have done their homework. ⁠⁠For 122 years, Hermon - a small, largely overlooked neighborhood of northeast LA-went without a single restaurant. But in this tiny hamlet, Last Word Hospitality saw something worth betting on. It took some persuading of the little enclave to get the green light, but naming it after the neighborhood sealed the deal. Chef DK Kolender and Last Word have made Hermon's one of the toughest tables in town to get. Why? The food and beverage program shines, with signatures like the Vongole Two Sheet Lasagna, Ode to Chez Cheeseburger, and Potato Fritters, which have the most appropriate amount of shaved parm we've seen on an appetizer anywhere (i.e. a LOT). ⁠⁠The restaurant itself lives in a converted church banquet hall with a large U-shaped bar at center stage and a semi-open kitchen behind it. The place feels cozy with lots of warm tones, natural wood, and classy decor. Last Word really knows how to dress up a place. ⁠⁠ Oh, and did we mention $10 martinis and yuzu margs before 6?⁠ Our Meal At Hermons | Hermon | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2025 https://www.hermonsla.com/ @hermonsla 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Chef Ray Garcia Brought Broken Spanish Back to LA — Here's What We Thought

When the pandemic caused the original Broken Spanish to close, Los Angeles lost an absolutely outstanding restaurant. https://brokenspanishcomedor.com Broken Spanish Comedor continues the ‘authentically inauthentic’ philosophy of Chef Ray with a more approachable price point and clear nod to Mexico’s comedores: small, typically mom-and-pop restaurants and stalls serving home style cuisine. Chef Ray Garcia, a born and raised Angeleno, has triumphantly resurrected an evolved version of the original in the former A-Frame space in Culver City. The bar program is heavily tequila and mezcal based, with some premium Mexican wines available by the glass. With a brand new patio space and daily happy hour, Broken Spanish Comedor is a cozy, welcome return of an LA favorite. Broken Spanish Comedor | Culver City | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2025 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #BrokenSpanish #BrokenSpanishComedor #ChefRayGarcia #CulverCity #CulverCityRestaurants #MexicanFood #ModernMexican #LAFoodie #LAFoodScene #LADining #LosAngelesRestaurants #RestaurantReview #AftertasteLA #LARestaurants #MexicanRestaurant #CulverCityFood #LAEats #SoCalFood