Inventive cocktails
Palmilla Cocina y Tequila
The selection of liquors at Palmilla is impressive – not just the array of tequilas and mezcals that are standard at an upscale Mexican restaurant, but fine whiskies, rums, gins, and amari. The bartenders do justice to those fine ingredients in mixed drinks that use fresh juices and fresh ideas. They make the expected margaritas and some unexpected variations, rum drinks with a hint of tiki fruitiness to pair with the spice in the food, and draw on tradition to craft the best sangrias you’ll find anywhere.
Palmilla Cocina y Tequila
39 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 374-4440
Runner-up:
Georgia’s Lounge
1500 Aviation Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(424) 398-0436
Liquor store
Mickey’s Italian Delicatessen & Liquor Store
“Mickey’s sells liquor?” asked one person when they heard about this award. Yes, they do, but you may not have noticed it because your eyes were drawn to the pizzas in their deli case and the rows of wine and beer. It can’t be said that this is the widest selection in the Beach Cities, or even the best selection within a three-block radius, and we assume people voted for it because of the general friendliness of the people there and the convenience of getting the materials for a cocktail to match that pizza or sandwich you’re taking home.
Mickey’s Italian Delicatessen & Liquor Store
101 Hermosa Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 376-2330
Runner-up:
Roberts Liquor
74 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
Margarita (restaurant/bar)
Palmilla
Back in the dawn of time, there was one kind of margarita. (We know that sounds unlikely, but it’s true.) Now we expect any place that serves Mexican food and cocktails will have one or two variations on the margarita, and at the better ones you won’t see a bottle of commercial mix behind the bar. Palmilla goes way beyond that, with a dozen margarita variations made with different tequilas and mezcals along with fresh juices, herbs, chillies, and fruit. Like it spicy? You have your choice of jalapenos, serranos, or pasilla salt. Have a sweet tooth? Go for the one with muddled watermelon and berries. Palmilla has inventiveness to spare, and they apply it to the most Mexican cocktail with panache.
Palmilla
39 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
Runner-up:
Riviera Mexican grill
1615 S Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach
