Where Craft Cocktails Meet Culinary Fearlessness: Inside Bar Benjamin

At Bar Benjamin, a cocktail might arrive crowned with coconut lemongrass foam or a whisper of nori mist, while a martini can taste like tzatziki and a tequila drink comes loaded with sweet onion, white chocolate, and Calabrian chile. This is not your average Los Angeles cocktail bar — it's a laboratory of flavor, where savory, sweet, and unexpected collide in a glass. Tucked upstairs on Melrose Avenue, Bar Benjamin has quickly become a destination for drinkers and diners who crave the unconventional, and its menu reads like a love letter to culinary experimentation.

A Hidden Gem on Melrose: Background and Location

Bar Benjamin lives above the hustle and bustle of Melrose Avenue, its discreet entrance at 7174 Melrose Ave inviting guests to “come see us upstairs.” The speakeasy-style setup rewards those who look for it, offering an intimate, moody atmosphere that stands in sharp contrast to the street below. Operating Tuesday and Wednesday from 6PM to midnight (with food served until 11PM) and Thursday through Saturday from 6PM to 1AM (with food until 12AM), the bar is designed for those who appreciate a late-night scene that feels both exclusive and welcoming.

The bar takes its name from a central character in the Los Angeles hospitality world, and it shows in the meticulous attention to detail. Every element, from the house-baked rye bun on the pastrami sandwich to the clarified milk punch-style cocktails, has been considered. The result is a space that feels equal parts neighborhood haunt and destination bar — a place where regulars and first-timers alike are invited to explore flavors they won’t find anywhere else.

The Menu: Cocktails That Break Every Rule

Bar Benjamin’s cocktail list is divided into categories that sound more like album tracks than drink categories: Savory, Bright, Unexpected, Boozy, Martinis, and Zero Proof. Each drink is a study in contrast and balance, often using ingredients that would be at home in a chef’s kitchen rather than a standard bar back.

Savory and Unexpected Libations

The Savory section includes the Onion Knight, made with blanco and reposado tequila, rhubarb, sweet onion, white chocolate, Calabrian chile, lime, and pandan — a drink that sounds impossible but somehow works. The Last Laugh mezcal combines yellow bell pepper, fermented mango, saffron, and acid-adjusted pineapple, while the Tommy Boy uses olive leaf gin, coconut rum, red curry, ginger, cilantro, mushroom green tea, and coconut lemongrass foam. These are cocktails that challenge the palate and reward curiosity.

In the Unexpected category, the Bad Bunny mixes blanco tequila with aquavit and mango four ways, while the Mojo Priest brings mezcal, aguardiente de caña, hatch chile, pineapple, and allium tincture. The Cuban Missile Crisis pairs rum with amaro, cola, Champagne, and cordial. These are drinks for the adventurous, crafted with layers that reveal themselves slowly.

Martinis With a Twist

Martini lovers will find familiar territory and far-flung variations. The Tzatziki Martini — gin, aquavit, cucumber, dill, mint, lemon, yogurt, and clarified — is a modern classic, while the Dirtier Martini delivers exactly what it promises with house dirty mix and olives. The Girl Dinner martini leans into green tea umeshu and yuzu bitters, and the Ben’s Martini is a salute to tradition with Monkey 47 gin, Noilly Prat dry vermouth, and lemon oil, served with chips.

Zero Proof, Full Flavor

Bar Benjamin doesn’t treat non-alcoholic options as an afterthought. The Zero Proof list features drinks like Bangkok Dangerous, which layers smoky NA spirit, peanut butter, red miso, gochujang, and fish sauce into a savory-sweet tour de force. The Aura Farm combines tequila alternative, St. Agrestis Phony Negroni, Bordelet pear cider, strawberry, gochujang, and lemon, while the Smiley Face uses agave NA distillate and fermented mango. Even without alcohol, these drinks stand on their own as full sensory experiences.

Snacks and Small Plates: Food Worth the Trip

The kitchen at Bar Benjamin is just as adventurous as the bar. The Snacks & Small Plates menu is built for sharing, with creative takes on bar classics. The Bowl of Chips features Kennebec triple-fried potato chips tossed in sherry vinegar and chili flakes, while the Fried Pickle Dip & Crudités comes with whipped ranch, pickles, crispy breadcrumbs, and farmers market vegetables. For a lighter bite, the Marinated Olives include garlic and sherry vinegar, and the Deviled Eggs are topped with crispy capers.

For a truly indulgent experience, the Chips & Caviar pairs 1 oz. of Golden Osetra Kilo Caviar with crème fraîche and those triple-fried chips. The Shrimp Cocktail is another classic elevated with paprika aioli and cocktail sauce. The Steak Tartare features hand-cut petit filet, Calabrian chile, crispy capers, and Mustard’s bagel chips, while the Petit Pastrami uses RC Provisions Wagyu pastrami on a house-baked rye bun with pickled fennel and Raye’s mustard. The Tuna Toast is bright and briny, and the Cheese Plate draws from The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, a nod to LA’s culinary pedigree.

Don’t skip the Something Sweet menu. The Ben & Jared’s Naughty Nightcap is vanilla ice cream loaded with The Benjamin’s brown butter chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate-covered potato chips — a salty-sweet triumph. The Kate's Carrot Cake comes with Chantilly mascarpone cream cheese and candied walnuts, while the Mint Chocolate Truffles are made in collaboration with Valerie Con, a local chocolatier.

What Makes Bar Benjamin Special

At its core, Bar Benjamin is about fearless flavor pairing. The cocktail program treats ingredients like savory elements — onions, mushrooms, peppers, curry, and fish sauce — as essential components, not novelties. This approach requires precision and balance, and the bar’s team clearly has both. The use of clarification and fat washing, alongside house-made infusions, ensures that every sip is both surprising and refined.

Another differentiator is the commitment to inclusivity. The zero proof menu is not a token afterthought but a genuine showcase of technique, with drinks that are as layered as their alcoholic counterparts. The food menu follows suit, offering everything from casual chips and caviar to wagyu pastrami, all in an atmosphere that feels intimate and unpretentious.

• Unconventional ingredients: Sweet onion, black trumpet mushroom, nori, fermented mango, and red miso appear in cocktails.

• Culinary craft: Clarified drinks, fat-washed spirits, and house-made tinctures are standard.

• High-end touches: Golden Osetra caviar, wagyu pastrami, and cheese from The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills.

• Thoughtful non-alcoholic options: Zero-proof cocktails are designed with the same complexity as the rest of the menu.

• Local collaboration: Desserts made with Valerie Con chocolates and ingredients sourced from LA purveyors.

Who Is Bar Benjamin For?

Bar Benjamin is for the curious — the cocktail drinker who is tired of the same old old-fashioned and wants to try a martini that tastes like tzatziki. It’s for the food lover who wants to pair a triple-fried potato chip with caviar in a dimly lit room. It’s for the designated driver who deserves a drink that’s just as exciting as the ones on the regular menu. It’s also for the late-night crowd, since the kitchen stays open until 11PM or 12AM depending on the night, making it an ideal spot for a date night, a post-dinner digestif, or an after-theater rendezvous.

The bar’s Melrose location puts it in the heart of LA’s creative district, abutting galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. That clientele — creative professionals, food industry insiders, and adventurous night owls — has already embraced Bar Benjamin as a place where the boundaries between bar and restaurant blur beautifully.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to experience one of the most inventive bars in Los Angeles? Bar Benjamin is located at 7174 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046, with the entrance right on Melrose. Hours are Tuesday–Wednesday, 6PM–12AM (food until 11PM) and Thursday–Saturday, 6PM–1AM (food until 12AM). Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

Call (323) 500-1122 to book your table, or visit bar-benjamin.com to secure your spot. Whether you’re in the mood for a luminous Galaxy Quest with kiwi-infused vodka and glitter, or a savory Onion Knight that defies expectation, Bar Benjamin is ready to take you on a journey. Just come see us upstairs.