L.A.’s new premier cocktail bar La Fête is now open in West Hollywood! The Weho hotspot offers elegantly handcrafted cocktails, in an environment intimate enough for a date, but energetic enough to celebrate an entire evening. Neighboring the stylishly eclectic Norah restaurant, guests are welcomed with a luxurious French feel and undeniably California lushness. The dramatic black marble bar is La Fête’s focal point, while the verdant tropical florals, palms and orchids adorn the room adding striking pops of color.
La Fête’s Cocktail Menu is spearheaded by Bar Director Dave Kupchinsky, whose illustrious twenty-year career has seen him grace establishments such as The Tar Pit, Little Dom’s, David Myers’ Sona and Comme Ca, Eveleigh, and Otium. Kupchinsky continues his cutting-edge artistry at La Fête with his innovative Cocktail Menu, described in his own words as, “A derivative of classic French cocktails, but progressive in a Franco-Californian approach, complementary to the frivolity of La Fête.”
The La Fête Martini Service, served with Kalamata, Picholine and Castelvetrano olives, offers three variations on this most quintessential cocktail, beginning with La Tuxedo, comprised of gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, Maraschino, and orange bitters. Elegant in its simplicity, La O.D.B. is Kupchinsky’s answer to the dirty martini featuring gin, olive-infused vermouth, house brine tincture, and golden olive dust. Offering guests, a snappy finish is La Sugar Snap, with Sugar Snap Gin, dry and blanc vermouth, and Kina aperitif.
Fashionably unique to La Fête is the Pastis Service, offering Angelenos the experience to become acquainted with this anise-based spirit that was once so ubiquitous that every village in France had their own unique spin on the simple recipe: cognac leftovers would be treated with anise seeds, infused and then used as an aperitif. As its popularity gained traction in the early twentieth century, pastis evolved, becoming refined and nuanced. Its high alcohol proof keeps this quaint libation at aperitif size, posing as the perfect beverage to start the festivities before a meal, or to lounge and ruminate over the absurdity of life.
Offering the perfect taste of summer, try the La Rosé Fraise comprised of Rosé, Pisco, homemade strawberry balsamic cordial, and fresh lemon, and La Spritz, created with Lillet Rose, homemade rhubarb-sage gastrique, Fever Tree tonic, and Cava. Or opt for the La Frappe, comprised of absinthe, dry vermouth, homemade matcha coconut crème, pineapple, and fresh orange juice. Kupchinsky describes this libation as “A bit unusual, a little intense, and with an undeniable mysterious vibe.”
By Kinya Claiborne, STYLE & SOCIETY
