The 8 best Bloody Marys in Los Angeles

Just steps from the beach, brunching at Manhattan Beach Post (more affectionately known as MB Post) has become a South Bay right of passage. On weekend mornings, diners delve into ricotta-stuffed French toast and truffle honey-laced fried chicken, but they're also privy to the restaurant's crown jewel of brunch cocktails: the Blood & Smoke. This rye Bloody Mary is made with bacon-washed chopin wheat, celery seed, sriracha salt and speck for an incredibly smoky, savory pairing to that French toast you're scarfing down.

At LA's most popular vegan restaurant, veggies are the main focus—even when it comes to cocktails. Organic tomatoes are used in the housemade Bloody Mary mix, while the tall glass is topped off with pickled veggies, truffle dill and chive Kite Hill cheese. You don't have to wait for the weekend to drink your vegetables, either—Crossroads' brunch menu is offered daily from 10am-2pm.

The Los Feliz neighborhood spot is always packed during brunch, and for good reason. Here, mid-morning cocktails are worthy of a visit in their own right, in particular, the Breakfast of Champions, MessHall's version of a Bloody Mary. Serrano-infused vodka, Roma tomatoes, maggi, garlic and avocado make up this savory drink. It's like a boozy meal replacement, and we're totally okay with that.

This dark and sexy saloon from booze giants Proprietors LLC and 213 Hospitality, nestled in the rehabbed Hotel Normandie, is a testament to Koreatown’s budding cocktail renaissance—one that’s fast becoming an alternative to Downtown. Instead of going the stuffy cocktail-snob route, the guys behind Honeycut and Seven Grand cleverly chose to breathe new life into the classics, like the uber-savory Bloody Mary—loaded with fresh tomato, celery and red bell pepper juices, lemon salt and pepper, and the Scandinavian spirit Aquavit, which is like vodka but with a dill flavor. 

Cole's has sat in the same Downtown location since 1908, when it opened its doors as the city's first public house inside the Pacific Electric railway station. Today, the booze is still flowing, including the standout Bloody Mary offered during brunch at Cole's. The housemade mix is made with Atomic pickles, meat rub, blended tomatoes, horseradish and spices, and topped with another spicy Atomic pickle and celery stalk. It's smoky, thick and strong as hell.

This casual, family-friendly Italian restaurant in Larchmont Village is as much of a place for dinner as it is for a lazy Sunday brunch—with a glass of Maria Verde in hand. Osteria La Buca's modern take on the classic Bloody Mary uses lime juice and house pickling liquid combined with local Loft & Bear vodka and tomatillo mix. Cholula Hot Sauce and black pepper are sprinkled on top, and the whole glass is topped with an olive, green tomato and pickled onion. Green is the new red, clearly.

With beer casks stacked up against the wall and red leather booths lining the windows, this cozy neighborhood gastropub offers a particularly welcoming vibe. Even more welcoming, the Bloody Royale offered for brunch. Check it: garnishes include a celery stalk, a green olive, a pickle spear, bacon-wrapped roasted jalapeno, a pickled tomatillo, a fried onion ring, pepperjack cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts and a slider. It's basically a meal in a glass, though we won't stop you from ordering the Southern shrimp and grits, too.

One of a handful of old-school Mexican watering holes Downtown, La Cita serves as a bar, restaurant and club, complete with a dancefloor and an outdoor patio. But on Sundays, the space adds yet another component: a Bloody Mary bar. From 2-9pm on the outdoor patio, the bar sports everything from pickled green beans and asparagus to shrimp and bacon. Fill your glass of vodka and Bloody Mary mix with a bespoke medley of garnishes, add a little Tabasco and start sipping on the fruits of your labor.