There are some venues that you feel thrilled to have found. If you like cocktails and are visiting Los Angeles, Varnish is one of those places.

The cocktail bar in hidden away in Downtown LA but it’s worth searching for. And when we say hidden, we really mean it. To get to Varnish you have to first find a diner/restaurant that will, most likely, be closed by the time you want to smash some cocktails. So at first, you will probably think you’re in the wrong place, but you aren’t. If you walk through the diner, there’s a door at the back – behold! You’re suddenly in a dark cocktail bar.

All the drinks on the menu are no-kidding-around cocktails and the wait staff and mixologists are serious about what they’re doing. That’s why, unless you really, really (really!) know your booze, we recommend going for a Bartender’s Choice – which means that you can guide them on your tastes, and they’ll create something for you. It’s almost a no-fail recipe.

Just don’t forget that they free-pour alcohol in America. You could end up sideways.

More here.