Long Beach cocktails and spirit choices—joining their mocktail, coffee, tea, or soda counterparts—have never been stronger, with Long Beach churning out its best drinks ever. Bar owners are beginning to better own and market their spaces as brands. Bar managers and tenders are creating a new era of hospitality and drinkability—and when I say this, I mean in an array of styles that fits the quirky, diverse, and oftentimes stubborn attitudes of Long Beach drinkers.
Here are some of the shining examples that proved 2025 to be our city’s best mixed yet. And yes, some places will feature multiple drinks—because yes, they are that good.
“Dream Boat” from Baby Gee Bar
1227 E. 4th St.
Freaky Little Potation: Swedish Aquavit | Austrian Herbal Apertif | Blueberry | Gentian | Giner | Lemee Leaf | Sparkling Coconut Water
What kind of drink? Perhaps there is no drink I would use to describe as “Gianna in a cup” than the Baby Gee owner’s “Dream Boat” creation—and that’s why I felt so obligated to put it on this list. Making a return from the space’s first menu back in 2023, it’s a wonderfully warming yet airy and layered. And this slightly tweaked version adds vanilla to bring you a cocktail that, if you’re as big of a fan of Baby Gee as I am, it will give you all the feelies.
“Spine and Silk” from Tokyo Noir
1731 E. 4th St. (inside El Barrio)
Spine and Silk: Gin | Sake | House-made vermouth | Uni air
What kind of cocktail? The one that is, well, an ode to two powerhouses: the martini and the ocean. Tokyo Noir’s Kevin Lee has a wonderful obsession with umami—and this might be his most umami-forward cocktail, where the worlds of sea urchin, rice, florals, and creaminess meld into a spectacularly sexy concoction.
Earl grey cream soda from Can Do! Formulation
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What kind of drink? A dreamy, creamy, earthy, carbonated ode to two classics thanks to Can Do! founder Robby Hainley. You might have seen him at Steelhead and, if you’re a real OG, you would know him from Makai (which is now Jugband, which was formerly Deja Brew on Broadway and Temple). Can Do! Formulation helps people create shelf-ready canned drinks, be it coffee or cocktails. My favorite of his creations so far? His Earl Grey cream soda is the perfect match for people who love the earthy, herbal distinctness of Earl Grey but want it cold, carbonated, and creamy. It is an outright beautiful concoction worth ordering multiple times.
“Fair Verona” from Michael’s on Naples
5620 E. 2nd St.
Fair Verona: Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon | Meletti Amaro | Juliette peach liqueur | Absinthe
What kind of drink? Well, the one that won’t ever be served again—at least at Michael’s on Naples. The long-loved Italian eatery shuttered to make way for Bacari earlier this year. And it was the the partership between Chef Eric Samaaniego and general manager Massimo Arrone, along with leading their teams like bar manager Jocelyn Jolly, that made the space a gem that will be sorely missed, particularly by me. And Jocelyn? A gem of a cocktail composer, churning out boozey concertos that honored both a masculine and feminine touch with her drinks. This one was no exception—and one of the finest of her tenure at Michael’s on Naples. A peachy, booze-forward cocktail worthy of Shakespeare’s words.
“Planet Hopping” from Wood & Salt
4262 Atlantic Ave.
Planet Hopping: Gin | Falernum | Carrot | Passionfruit | Pineapple | Lemon | Aquafaba | Cinnamon
What kind of cocktail? A carrot-centric concoction that uses gin and falernum as its base with the brightnesses of passionfruit and pineapple to slice through, exemplifying bar manager Gabriel Ducharme’s talent with balance.
“The Italian Job” from CoffeeDrunk
2701 E. 4th St. | 913 E. Wardlow Rd. | 4374 Atlantic Ave
The Italian Job: Espresso -or- matcha | Milk | House-made pistachio syrup | Dark chocolate | Tart cherry juice float | Maraschino cherry
What kind of drink? CoffeeDrunk co-owner Matthew Church and I both admit we missed out on using “Italian Stallion”—but this drink was simply amazing. A collaboration between CoffeeDrunk and me for my Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025 event, I wanted to play with the idea spumoni in a drink—and man, did Matthew’s wife, Breezy, nail it with that perfect little tart cherry floater and pistachio syrup. And soon, the brand will have its fourth Long Beach location in Belmont Shore.
“Ocho Rio” from Panxa Cocina
3937 E. Broadway
Ocho Rio: Tequila Ocho Reposado | Gran Marnier | Dark Rum | Pineapple | Orange | Orgeat | Mint
What kind of drink? A masterful, tequila-centric take on the mai tai from cocktail master Bryce Kaesman.
“Final Lap” from Sky Room
210 E. Ocean Blvd. (inside the Fairmont Breakers)
Final Lap: Gin or vodka of your choice | Vermouth | Orange bitters | Eastern oyster | Tsar Nicoulai caviar
What kind of drink? The one that was only served on Grand Prix weekend. Where a perfectly made, classic martini—orange bitters included, for the love of the gods—is topped with an oyster and caviar. All. Of. This.
“Sweet Marlowe” from Our Spot Coffee
5640 E. 2nd St. (inside Wine on 2nd)
Sweet Marlowe: Hikari matcha | Good Mylk raw almond mylk | Acid-adjusted peach reduction | Burnt wildflower honey | Brûlée’d peach
What kind of drink?
“Frosty Fern” from The Attic
3441 E. Broadway
Frosty Fern: Mezcal | Branca Menta | Crème de menthe | Heavy cream | Absinthe
What kind of cocktail? The masterfully minty, dreamily creamy concoction that is as refreshing as it is surprising. And happily named after its creator, Fernando Moncada, a nearly decade-long staple at The Attic.
“Coquito Bonito” from Buen Provecho
301 The Promenade N.
Coquito Bonito: Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum | House-spiced coconut milk | Coco Lopez | Sweetened condensed milk
What kind of cocktail? When you are vying for the best coquito in the city with Baby Gee and stand tall, it is always worth celebrating. Co-owner Stephen Ramos—who has another drink on this list when he headed the bar at Broken Spirits—has created a holiday gem with this.
Spaghett service from The Stache Bar
941 E. 4th St.
Spaghett Bottle Service: 32 oz. Miller High Life | Aperol | Lemon
What kind of drink? The awesomely fun one that is as surprisingly refreshing as it is just outright Long Beach in all the feels—and reminds Long Beach of its drinking roots. The Stache is the perfectly dive-y-meets-pseudo-elevated joint where you can have a pour of a really stellar spirit or a decently made cocktail right next to your PBR and well whiskey.
“Voyager” from Roe
5374 E. 2nd St.
The Voyager: Gin | Italicus | Jasmine tea | Bergamot | Simple | Lemon | Clarified Milk | Orange
What kind of cocktail? Yet another we won’t see again. Now, I’m not going to go too much into how Roe has become a shell of itself within the latter part of 2025: In a double-whammy, the space lost its bar manager, Emilee Comeau, and its star, general manager Gillian Poe. And since? Well, it doesn’t remotely reflect its previous embodiment, where a drink like this was a milk punch gone bergamot-y and outright gorgeous. Now, the place is stacked with flavor Stoli bottles… Le sigh.
“Jolly Roger” from Port City Tavern
4306 E. Anaheim St.
Jolly Roger: Bourbon | Pear | Maple | Lapsang Tea Tincture | Lemon
What kind of drink? Port City Tavern—taking a cue from Stache Bar—is that wonderful Long Beach in-between. If you need your Modelo and shot, they have you covered. If you want a decently concocted cocktail, they have you covered. They make their syrups and tinctures. They juice in-house. And they never take themselves too seriously—like this dangerously downable drink from bar manager Kody Hill.
Coconut water drinks from Foodologie
195 Claremont Ave.
Foodologie, Maria Leyesa’s vibrant bake shop just off the maindrag of 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, did its largest menu expansion in years thanks to a new array of drinks in 2025. And it’s Maria’s Filipino roots that give the drink menu its most distinctive touch. Drawing inspiration from the coconut water–based drinks trending in cafés across Southern California, she infused her creations with Filipino flavors like pandan and ube, blending them with coconut water and matcha cold foam.
“Clandestine” from Selva
4137 E. Anaheim St.
Clandestino: Aguardiente | Pisco | Japanese whiskey | Chartreuse| Lulo | Celery
What kind of cocktail? The intent of Selva always been simple: Reflect the food of Colombia while also distinctly being the food of Chef Carlos Jurado himself—and when it comes to cocktails, this is where mixologist Mike Borowski comes in. Continually creating drinks that pair well with Chef Carlos’s food, Mike has managed to create this somewhat-savory, Aguardiente-laced wonder of a cocktail that lets chartreuse shine.
“Calico Queen” from Baby Gee Bar
1227 E. 4th St.
Calico Queen | Gin | Avocado | Orange blossom | Tangerine aperitif | Hemp | Thyme
What kind of drink? I love when Baby Gee swings for the bleachers. Botanical gin and hemp vodka meld with avocado and citrus for a kinda savory, definitively creamy drink. It is a quiet ode to who they are: funky, fierce, first-rate.
“Cindy Lou Who” from The Social List
2105 E. 4th St.
Cindy Lou Who: Bahnez Mezcal | Selva Chocolate Rum | Giffard raspberry liqueur | frothed raspberry cream float | walnut bitters
What kind of drink? The one that tastes exactly like a Gansito—and also welcomes former beverage director, the much-missed Erik Rios-Wentzky, to oversee the creation of the cocktail menu.
“Mermaid Mischief” from The Wicked Wolf
2332 Pacific Ave.
Mermaid Mischief: Seaweed gin | Creme de Violette | Kleos | Salers | Lavender-green tea syrup | Lemon super-juice
What kind of drink? Umami-meets-citrus-meets-floral concoction that is as sexily subtle as it is masterfully complex.
“Nashi & Nice” from Tokyo Noir
1731 E. 4th St. (inside El Barrio)
Nashi & Nice: Fermented Asian pear | Douglas fir | Mezcal | Vermouth | Lemon
What kind of drink? The completely complex, undistressingly umami, beautifully balanced cocktail expected from Kevin Lee at Tokyo Noir, the Japanese speakeasy inside El Barrio.
“Catalan G&T” from Telefèric
6420 Pacific Coast Hwy #160
Catalan G&T: Bombay 1er Cru gin | Grapefruit | Rosemary | Juniper | Tonic
What kind of drink? The one paired with the finest flamenco on the West Coast. And also, let’s clear one thing: Telefèric only keeps getting better and better. And yes, I know their gin and tonic menu isn’t new—but it is always satisfying.
“Pickle Tini” from Beachwood Distilling
3630 Atlantic Ave.
Pickle Tini: Choice of Beachwood Vodka or Gin (please pick gin) | Beachwood Pink Peppercorn Tincture | Beachwood House Pickle Brine | Dry Vermouth
What kind of drink? Beachwood’s incredible barwoman Sarah Foss is an equally incredible cocktail maker. And surely, while she is rightfully using Beachwood Distilling in all its capacity—she has them craft everything from a Long Beach Sfumato to green chartreuse to macadamia liqueur—this drink makes a savory drink lover outright swoon.
“Cindy Lou Who” from The Social List
2105 E. 4th St.
Cindy Lou Who: Bahnez Mezcal | Selva Chocolate Rum | Giffard raspberry liqueur | frothed raspberry cream float | walnut bitters
What kind of drink? The one that tastes exactly like a Gansito—and also welcomes former beverage director, the much-missed Erik Rios-Wentzky, to oversee the creation of the cocktail menu.
“Parrots in Paradise” from Broken Spirits Distillery
300 The Promenade N.
Parrots In Paradise: Broken Spirits Rum | Aperol | Lime | Turbinado Sugar
What kind of drink? Happily citrusy while dangerously sweet in the most balanced way possible, former bar lead Stephen Ramos now owns the neighboring Buen Provecho.
“4th Street Lover” from El Barrio Cantina
1731 E. 4th St.
4th Street Lover: Los California Gin | Pomegranate | Orgeat | Lemon | Bitters
What kind of cocktail? Fruity’n’happy, this all around simple sipper is a reminder of spring, the upcoming summer, and the fact that drinks are always pretty in pink.
“Match-Gato” from Recreational Coffee
237 Long Beach Blvd.
Matcha-gato: Vanilla ice cream | Matcha
What kind of drink? Okay, okay, the definition of a drink is a loose when it comes to a shake-like concoction. (And yes, they also offered a matcha shake, part of their Long Beach Food Scene Week 2025 offerings.)
“Mexican Firing Squad” from Marlena
5854 E. Naples Plaza
Mexican Firing Squad: Celaya Blanco | Lime | House-made grenadine | Bitters | Orange zest | Cherry
What kind of cocktail? This porch pounder—or what some inappropriate lady lovers are inclined to inappropriately call a “panty dropper” of a drink—is heightened by former bar manager David Castillo’s house-made grenadine that eschews cherry in favor of pomegranate and orange blossom.
“Rum Rum As Fast As You Can” from The Bamboo Club
3522 E. Anaheim St.
Rum Rum As Fast As You Can: Pussers Rum | Trader Vic’s macadamia nut liqueur | Licor 43 | coconut | ginger | lemon | nutmeg | cinnamon
What kind of cocktail? The Bamboo Club is unquestionably the epicenter of Long Beach’s love of tiki bars and drinks. It took over what used to be the dilapidated, full-of-regrets space that was The Liquid Lounge. It was then that former owner Brett Gallo and current owner Jim Ritson—joined by bar masters Brian Noonan and Dustin Rodriguez, along with a then fairly unknown Chef Melissa Ortiz—truly had what could be considered a Long Beach dream team. And to this day, Dustin heads the city’s best tiki program.
“Drunken Instigator” from Ambitious Ales
300 The Promenade N.
Drunken Instigator: Maple | Brown sugar | Coffee | Neutral alcohol
What kind of drink? Long Beach coffee powerhouse CoffeeDrunk—now four locations deep following their Phoenix shop—collaborated with Ambitious Ales—serving up some of the city’s finest brews for six years straight—to, well, get you actually drunk with coffee. Using the coffeeshop’s famed Instigator drink melded with Ambitious Ales’s ability to create what is basically an uncarbonated, unflavored hard seltzer, this dreamy thing was born. Bring it back, dammit.
“Li Hing Mui for Me” from Midnight Oil
255 Long Beach Blvd.
Li Hing Mui: Plum powder | Gin | Campari | Sweet vermouth
What kind of cocktail? This lovely play on a Negroni from former Midnight Oil bar director Peter Ross—a program that is now headed by Sherwood Souzankari—wasn’t even fully on the menu when it was crafted. And I already miss it.
“Feliz Navidad” from Angel’s Share
5110 E. 2nd St.
Feliz Navidad: 1800 Coconut Tequila | Amaro Montenegro | orange cognac | lime | coconut | cinnamon | milk clarification
What kind of drink? The holiday margarita from Rachel Zimmerman, the barwoman who is turning Angel’s Share into a cocktail space (as well as one of the largest whiskey collections regionally).
