Te'Kila

This is hands-down my favorite bar in Los Angeles.

First off, a couple years back they adopted the Seahawks, thanks to efforts by several of the employees and several of us regulars who are Seattle transplants who just wanted a place to watch our team and scream our heads off. Well, we've got it—just in time for Seahawks to start really winning (I like to think it's because we started this!), and if you're a 12th Man looking for a place to watch with fellow fans, you gotta come in. In fact, just search YouTube for In Hollywood TV's Seahawks videos and you can see how loud and fun this place is during games. The bar has outside tables and indoor tables that are kid-friendly too, so if you're in town visiting L.A. and thinking about taking a tour with City Safari Hollywood, you can hang out and eat something while waiting for the tourbus (get tickets right outside, the bus picks up right in front).

However, that isn't all. Their food is really good. No microwave in back! Everything is made fresh that day, from the fajitas to the horchada. Happy hour has some great deals—my favorite is the steak tacos, I ask for them to add guac and cheese and bam I'm done.

And the drinks... these bartenders make amazing margaritas. They've got a pretty creative margarita menu. I prefer mine with jalapeño for a little kick. Or, if you want to venture into the world of premium tequila, they have a huge selection of some really great tequilas! My go-to is now Fortaleza Reposado, but occasionally I'll treat myself to a Clase Azul. Just ask the bartenders for a recommendation and give them a price range and you won't be disappointed.

I can't not mention how amazing the staff is. Super friendly, really fun people. One of the owners said to me at one point, "these people are like my family. I like them to feel like this is their place too." And you get that sense—I've been in for evenings when it happens to be one of the servers' birthdays and all the staff and regulars and anyone that happens to walk in join in for cake. I never see that anywhere else. Really fun.

That reminds me, the last thursday of every month they do a tequila tasting. It's usually around $25-$30, and they do three or four seatings. You probably have to call the bar to reserve a spot, but I've also found tickets by searching Event Brite. The owner, Kevin, walks you through the differences between highlands and lowland tequila, gives tastes of 5-6 premium tequilas. They include chips and salsa. Some of these shots are $15-20 shots on their own, so it's pretty unbeatable.

There's also a couple DJs that rotate through through the week. These guys do a great job of busting out music. I've seen impromptu dance floors pop up several times as people get down.

And then from Te'Kila, you can head back to Secret to smoke a hookah, or next door to 504 for a New Orleans style hurricane. No Vacancy, Dirty Laundry, and Butchers and Barbers are all within about 50 feet. Right up the block are a couple clubs, and a bunch of other great bars like Jamesons, Rusty Mullet, Loaded, etc. I've found it's fun to start my night getting some food and a couple drinks in me at Te'kila, then roaming up and down the street bar-hopping, and then ending the evening smoking a hookah... fun stuff.

The light rail stops are at Vine and at Hollywood—Te'Kila is probably right smack in between—and there's taxis everywhere, so it's pretty easy to drink and not drive and get home easily.