The Varnish – Los Angeles

The Varnish opened to immediate critical and popular acclaim in 2009, co-founded by partner and 213 Hospitality Cocktail/Beverage Director Eric Alperin with proprietor Cedd Moses, and Sasha Petraske (Milk & Honey, NYC). The Varnish features meticulously constructed cocktails made with passion and precision by some of the city’s most lauded bartenders. Housed inside a refurbished storage room in Los Angeles’ oldest public house — Cole’s The Originators of the French Dip Sandwich restaurant in downtown L.A. — The Varnish pays tribute to both classic and updated cocktails with a focus on thoughtful service and hospitality. In 2012, The Varnish won the prestigious title of Best American Cocktail Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail® 2012 Spirited Awards® in New Orleans, recognizing it as the bar with the most prominent influence on cocktail trends within the United States.