Sayulita Be Well cocktail: Grey Goose, organic apple, Valencia orange, lime, ginger, cayenne dust

The last time I went to Skybar LA at the Mondrian on Sunset Boulevard was during the 2012 Blogger Barhop. And my experience then was…not good, turning me off of that bar, for what I thought was at the time, forever. But this summer the hotel has saw fit to redo not only its communal mattress setup but the bar program! Yes! Now they have an honest-to-goodness craft cocktail bar featuring fresh pressed juice cocktails! The new summer series called Sayulita, which I covered for LA Magazine Digest, has transformed that sunken area of creepy mattresses to an oasis of lounge-y seating. It’s now colorful, inviting and conducive to all-day drinking if you so choose. For sustenance, there’s even a food menu of tacos and chips from hotel restaurant, Herringbone.

I had a chance to sample some of the new cocktails by Josh Goldman and Julian Cox of the Soigne Group and they’re pretty fun. Maybe too light for the likes of me but daydrink-friendly for sure. Instant favorites were Butterfly Kisses (reposado, mezcal, Aperol, lemon, strawberry, Firewater bitters) and the Coco Rickey (Absolut Elyx, coconut milk, orgeat, lime, soda, mint sprig). I didn’t get to try it but even Julian’s famous Barbacoa cocktail is on there!

Best cocktail to start the day with? “Michelada, man, come on!”

Best cocktail to go with the bacon and beer-battered shrimp taco? “Michelada and the Skybargarita, keep it light and classic.”

Best cocktail to soothe a hangover poolside? “Pretty much all of those from the pressed juice program. But the Pre-Game Swell is absolutely amazing. You have banana, and improved the mouthfeel with a little protein powder. A young man looking to impress a woman poolside might go to the gym for about half an hour. He can get his Pre-Game Swell on before he goes to the pool. Pecs are popping. Carrots, kale, coconuts. Obviously booze hair of the dog, get a little more in your body as quick as you can.”

Skybar’s Sayulita at Mondrian Los Angeles
8440 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90069 (map)
(323) 650-8999
Hours: Sunday-Monday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, 12 p.m to 2 a.m. (food is only served until 10 p.m.)