Cocktail Bars in Los Angeles with Good Music: Good Neighbor Bar in Altadena

File under cool cocktail bars in Los Angeles with very good music.

When enjoying drinks at a bar in L.A., nothing can kill the vibe faster for me than bad music. Thankfully, Los Angeles is a gold mine for cool cocktail bars with good music. And by good music, I mean a diversely curated playlist that doesn’t sound like basic tunes straight off a radio hits playlist.

Good Neighbor Bar in Altadena not only offers delicious (and potent) craft and classic cocktails, but the vibe at this spot is straight up on point. Immediately upon walking in, you’re welcomed by great music. Over the course of two drinks each, we heard songs from Justice, MGMT, Tame Impala, and other tracks that took us back to the indie aughts, along with some fresh contemporary tunes.

Dimly lit, Good Neighbor Bar is lined with sleek booth-like seating just waiting to welcome your bum. Even on a packed night, I was surprised at how quickly we got seats. Their long bar is lined up with plenty of barstools, too. On the weekends, you might stand for a bit waiting for a seat to open, but that’s part of the fun in a setting like this, where everyone is pretty darn friendly and gazing at each other’s drinks while they ponder the expansive cocktail menu for what to delight the tastebuds with next.

When chilling at a cocktail bar, I want conversation and good tunes. Bonding over the nostalgia of songs from your past and discovering new tracks is one of the ways we music lovers commune over drinks, and Good Neighbor Bar in Altadena is the perfect spot to do that.

And while Good Neighbor Bar is a welcoming respite for partons of all 21+ ages, I must admit, I felt incredibly at home with the 35+ clientele. There were still plenty of 20-somethings cozied up in the nook near the door, but there’s something special about a hip bar with a bunch of folks who aren’t shy to don their salt and peppered hair or dad shoes and mom jeans. It’s truly a warm vibe.

Whether you reside in Altadena and Pasadena, are a hop away in South Pasadena, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park, or are visiting the Los Angeles area, specifically Pasadena, be a good neighbor and experience all the goodness of this beloved neighborhood bar, that is still quite new to the neighborhood.

Like many small businesses that survived the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena, their doors may have reopened, but the same clientele is no longer there. Much of our community has temporarily relocated, while many neighbors still haven’t warmed up to visiting the area. I get it. Like many folks in the Denas, we were devasted and affected by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. While the pain of such a tragic loss is still there, we can all help rebuild this wonderful community by supporting the local businesses still standing. The Good Neighbor Bar is one of them.

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If you dig the new music we write about here and share on our Instagram, and newsletter, we promise you won’t be disappointed. You can even bring your own food if you hongry. Good Neighbor Bar often collabs with Triple Beam Pizza (usually on Thursdays), where they pop up in the parking lot so patrons can grab a slice to bring in over drinks. Folks can also grab some delicious Jalisco-style tacos from the neighboring Tacos Don Pillo. Or if you want something light, help yourself to the Good Neighbor popcorn. It’s always popin’.

And did we mention Happy Hour? Yes! Good Neighbor Bar has a bangin’ Happy Hour. With $5 beers, $8 glasses of wine, and $10 cocktails, it’s seriously the bees knees (which we highly recommend, btw).

Drinks We Love:
Mezcal Paloma – so refreshing
Whiskey Sour – a classic with a nice egg white froth
Never Ask What A Painting Means — a little sweet, a little bitter, sip, sip

And if cocktails aren’t your thang, Good Neighbor Bar has a nice selection of natural wines, beers, and mocktails.

Good Neighbor Bar is located at 2311 Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001. Follow them on Instagram and visit their website for hours, menu, and more.

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