Rivera Bar & Restaurant (permanently closed)

Address: 1050 South Flower Street, (@ W. Olympic Blvd), Los Angeles, California, 90015, United States
Tel: +1 213 749 1460
Website: view Rivera Bar & Restaurant’s website

Door: Open door/walk-ins
Style: Restaurant bar
Food: Set menu

Review

Rivera is a modern and very well regarded Latin themed restaurant. Its bar is no less respected and continues the direction of the cuisine with “Latin-inspired craft mixology” and a focus on Tequila and Mezcal.

A “Latin themed restaurant” may conjure up images of cheaply appointed, brightly coloured cantinas. That is the polar opposite of the modern, designer decor at Rivera. The restaurant’s ‘R’ logo is repeated along it 200 foot façade and inside the sculptural bronze frames of four oversized chairs also form the logo. Bronzed mirrors, topical woods, rich caramel-brown leather upholstery and muted browns mean although contemporary, this interior is warm and homely. A glass walled wine cellar and wine saver machine outwardly display how seriously the Spanish-led wine selection, while the beer offering includes numerous craft brews.

There’s an impressive range of tequila and small batch bourbons put to good effect in resident mix-master, Julian Cox’s cocktails. Although Rivera is more restaurant than bar, drinks here are taken very seriously and served with huge custom made ice-cubes. Unlike many restaurant bars, drinkers just after a cocktail on their way home from work are also made to feel as welcome as diners.