Neighborhood: West Hollywood
I have friends who have said that Red Rock Bar on Sunset Boulevard isn’t for them – crowded, loud, floors sticky with booze. Every single one of them confesses to being converted once they’ve dropped by for Red Rock’s daily happy hour (5pm - 7pm).
When I moved to LA, happy hours at good LA bars were few and far between. They’ve only started to take off in the past five years or so. Like a stable friend in a fast moving town, Red Rock’s good drinking deal has always been there for me from the beginning, offering staggeringly low prices for great tap beer and well-mixed cocktails.
An anomaly of sorts on the famed Sunset Blvd., Red Rock feels like a true neighborhood watering hole surrounded by rock clubs that charge exorbitant admission fees or clubby tourist traps. Never a cover here, never an attitude – and even though ALL drinks are ½ price – never too crowded at happy hour. Even parking here comes easy – valet in the back for about 5.00 instead of paying upwards of 20.00 in any of the other Sunset ripoffs, er, lots.
Grab some friends, and head directly to the west of the bar upon entering – that’s where the best seats in the house are. Get a menu because the food here is better then your average bar grub, with the crisp calamari being a consistent standout. Sit back and enjoy a $3.00 Heifeweizen in front of the huge open windows, which allow the warm breeze to flow in. Watch the Sunset traffic drift by, the people float in and out of neighboring institution Book Soup, and toast the sun as it sets behind the Hollywood hills. Can you think of a more classic way to spend a LA afternoon?
COST: All drinks 1/2 off between 5pm-7pm everyday. (About $3.00-4.00 a drink). Metered street parking should be available at this time, or, park at the bar for $4.50 valet (parking lot in back)
LINK: www.redrocksunset.com
