WHY Because mall shopping requires constant refueling with mocha-espresso martinis and chile-lime crab cakes.

WHAT Cocktails with cheesy names like the astrology-inspired Leo and Scorpio (which arrive tableside in the appropriate birthstone color) are actually pretty good, if overpriced and on the sweet side. Garlic fries with chipotle aioli will come to the rescue to temper the sweetness. A pleasant spot for a Century City drinks-and-hors d’oeuvres rendezvous.

WHO Shoppers and CAA agents who have discovered this gorgeous open-air outdoor patio, as well as out-of-towners convinced that all L.A. bars are required to have the same slick designer with a penchant for white-on-white.