High Rooftop Lounge

There are surprisingly few rooftop bars on the Westside, which makes High at Hotel Erwin a highly sought-after destination at sunset—and yes, that means rubbing shoulders with Venice’s many tech bros, the boardwalk tourist crowd and anyone else west of Lincoln Boulevard in search of a view. Even if you’re staying at the hotel, be sure to make a reservation; there’s nothing like a multi-hued sunset over the Pacific with a cocktail in hand to get Angelenos buzzing. An all-day food menu includes crowd-pleasers like grain bowls, fish tacos and flatbreads, and there’s even a strawberry creme brulée for dessert. On the drinks side of the equation, breezy drinks like the Sunset Sour (vodka, blood orange, lemon, bitters) and the Surf’s Up (jalapeño tequila, passionfruit, tajin) evoke an endless Southern California summer. For the best seats in the house, note that you’ll have to pony up for one of High’s VIP tables or lounge seats, which require an upfront fee of $25 to $50 per person.