WHY Art deco elegance reminiscent of old Hollywood, with superb cocktails and Mark Peel’s take on bar food. Great happy hour, too.

WHAT More luxe than the north La Brea address would suggest, this cocktail lounge by Campanile’s Mark Peel is as retro as they come, from the steak Diane to the high-backed white leather banquettes. Don’t wuss out and have a cosmo—instead, try one of Tar Pit’s creations (all $12), like the Jamaican Firefly (rum, house-made ginger beer, lime juice) or the Lil Gig (tequila, yellow chartreuse, Thai basil). We’re less impressed with the restaurant food than the smaller bar snacks, and we wish it wasn’t so noisy at peak times, but the cocktails and the setting are worth the trip.

WHO A crowd as well-dressed as the setting.

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