With so many great cocktail destinations in Los Angeles these days, we thought a short list of our farmers’ market favorites for summer  was in order. Much to our happy-hour delight, we discovered there are far too many to list. Here’s a start.

Blue Velvet

Expect to fork over plenty ($14) for a blood orange-gin martini and a fresh honeydew and cantaloupe infused vodka version, but the drinks – and the view – are worth it when the commute starts to get steamy. The rooftop pool deck is stunning, and the view is just as lovely from inside the restaurant if the weather’s not exactly office-wear friendly.

Blue Velvet, 750 Garland Ave., Downtown, 213.239.0061.

Ciudad

Long before farmers-market cocktails became so trendy, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger had banned margarita mix from both this spot and Border Grill, their Santa Monica restaurant. Both have happening bars (Ciudad boasts an enclosed patio as well), and really good fresh-juice margaritas and specialty cocktails. This time of year you might find a cucumber-jalapeño margarita alongside classic mojitos, caipirinhas and sangrias. Those classic takes on fresh-squeezed are available for under $5 during the extended happy hour.

Ciudad, Union Bank Plaza, 445 S. Figueroa St., Downtown, 213.486.5171.

Copa d’Oro

The atmosphere here is more New York bohemian than summer beach home, but it’s hard to go wrong with anything cocktail guru Vincenzo Marianella or his talented crew of bartenders suggest. Ask what they prefer, and you’ll get a barrage of questions intended to ferret out your dream drink, such as, “Are you more the fresh rosemary or mint type?” Be prepared to pay top dollar for your one-of-a-kind creation, although from 6 to 8 p.m. you can snag some great deals from the Happy Depression Menu, which features cocktails and bar snacks for $5 each.

Copa d’Oro, 217 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310.576.3030.

Fig

Cocktails are going to cost you here, too ($12), but they’re a lot cheaper than a room at the Miramar. Grab a seat on the patio overlooking the pool and order a fig mojito, “bubble & squeak” (muddled cucumber, fresh watermelon juice and tequila) or the “blackberry & sage” (muddled blackberries and sage, bourbon, crème de cassis and lime juice). At least for a  few hours, you can pretend you checked in for a luxurious weekend escape.

Fig, Fairmont Miramar, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.319.3911.

Ortega 120

Ever since this cheery Mexican restaurant with a talented chef-owner opened a year ago (Thomas Ortega previously worked at Water Grill, Lucques and Patina), Ortega 120 has had a great selection of well-crafted margaritas and Caipirinhas. The summer berry version with the unusual addition of peach liqueur and fresh berries is great (and potent), and the margaritas are some of the best in town. The happy hour draw here is less about price and more about avoiding the rush, so you have plenty of time to linger on the outdoor patio with a margarita and some carne asada tacos.

Ortega 120, 1814 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach, 310.792.4120.

The York

Our favorite modern pub is more known for its beers and its food, but the bartenders are having lots of fun muddling fresh summer produce, too. Two good ones on offer now are the sparkling blackberry lemonade, a Stoli-based cocktail with muddled fresh lemons and blackberries, and the Ruby Cue, which mixes Absolut Ruby Red, Cointreau and muddled cucumber and raspberries.

The York, 5018 York Blvd., Highland Park, 323.255.9675.

Zimzala

The good news about the trend of fancy hotel restaurants investing as much in their restaurants as in their bed linens is that cocktail lists are now  almost as interesting as the views that come with then. The new Shorebreak Hotel’s restaurant, Zimzala, is one of those great sunset-hour cocktail destinations. It’s situated on the second floor of the Strand center overlooking the beach, which makes that raspberry-mint pisco sour go down all that much more smoothly.

Zimzala, Shorebreak Hotel, 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.861.4470.

— Jenn Garbee