Apothéke
A good cocktail can cure almost anything that ails you—at least that’s the philosophy at Apothéke, the West Coast outpost of the award-winning New York City bar. In keeping with the playful apothecary theme, barmen don white lab coats and serve drinks that are categorized on the menu as stimulants, pain killers, stress relievers, and aphrodisiacs. If you feel a headache coming on, the prescription may be the Catcher in the Rye, made with rye whiskey and chamomile bitters. After a day of battling traffic, try the Dizzying Intellect, a bright combination of gin, jicama, cumin- and caraway-flavored Kümmel, and lime, topped with spruce beer bitters. Ingredients are all house-made, -muddled, or -infused, from charcoal-infused vodka to tequila tinted green from the addition of spirulina and eucalyptus. Decor plays into the old-fashioned apothecary theme. Everything centers around the glowing and generous pink marble bar, both inside and out, and the deck offers intimate nooks with Biedermeier wicker sofas. A D.J. spins a sultry, sophisticated selection nightly, keeping the mood relaxed. Pro tip: Make reservations ahead for weekends. Don’t miss the gratis “amuse” shot, made daily to prime, or cleanse, your palate.
