Cocktail Hour at Riviera 31

Man, Friday nights are the best. The work week’s over and there are two free days to look forward to. No need to make my lunch, prep my wardrobe and go to bed early. The night is mine to sit back, relax…who am I kidding? It’s cocktail time! On a recent Friday night I was invited to swing by Riveria 31 at the Sofitel Los Angeles to check out their summer cocktails. Quick as a flash I grabbed Shannon and we were on our way.

Have you ever been to a Sofitel Hotel? This was my first visit and it’s a pretty classy spot. Located across the street from the Beverly Center it’s a nice center point to the action on the west and east side. Riviera 31 is the lounge located just off the main lobby but don’t think of it as just any hotel lounge. It’s stylish and swanky and offers an extensive cocktail menu curated by mixologist Ferrari Watts.

On our visit we were given sample shots of the featured summer cocktails. There are a lot to choose from and each is a unique flavor experience.

For instance, there’s the Zephyr which features mezcal, lime juice, agave, mango puree and a pink peppercorn rim. Or the Coup de Soleil featuring tequila, agave, habanero and carrot, grapefruit and pineapple juice.  If pressed to choose my personal favorite it would be a toss up between the Juan Les Pins  (gin, grapefruit, blood orange, cardamom and honey) or the Myrtille Smash (bourbon, lemon, walnut, simple syrup and blueberry jam).  Both were insanely delicious.

                                        photo courtesy of Riviera 31

Tasting all those delicious cocktails could have been dangerous on an empty stomach. Luckily, Riviera 31 had us covered in the food department with a menu of tasty bar bites. We opted for the flight of fries (truffle, sweet potato and herb) and the Provencale Flatbread (tomatoes, mozarella, basil and caramelized onions).

It all was so tasty that we couldn’t help but chow down. Add to that live music from Niko and the Gypsies (a Gypsy Kings cover band) and it was a fun evening out. In fact, it was the perfect way to start the weekend.