If you order a drink at any restaurant where Julian Cox helms the cocktail program—Sotto, Short Order, Picca, Playa and Rivera included—you can be assured that your beverage will be as memorable as any dish on the menu.
Bartender Cox is one of the mixmasters who spearheaded L.A.’s cocktail renaissance by shaking up L.A.’s best restaurants with carefully crafted sips worth savoring. “I wanted to make good drinks and make people happy; it was something L.A. needed,” says Cox.
Career Highlights
Winning StarChefs 2010, winning the Domaine Select Roadshow National Competition in New York, which yielded a trip to France, and the James Beard recognition for the bar program at Rivera.
Why Los Angeles
People are fun here, and more and more people are getting into food and cocktails. Other cities seem to have cultures where people have had an understanding of an exciting dining scene, while in L.A., it’s just getting started.
Typical Day
It starts with training in the morning. After that, I go to one of the restaurants to train the bar staff and take care of administrative work. At the end of the day, I jump behind the bar at one of the other restaurants to serve drinks and do what I love. Ultimately, each day usually involves a trip to two to four different restaurants.
Los Angeles Moment
Back in 2009, Chivas Regal, a Scotch whisky brand, purchased kilts for me and some other handpicked bartenders to wear during a master dinner with Chivas. This happened just before we went off to embark on our own projects and make names for ourselves.
Favorite Los Angeles Places
Go to Manhattan Beach, and M.B. Post from chef David LeFevre. I love restaurants—Providence, for special occasions—as well as running in Griffith Park; shopping on Melrose Avenue; barhopping downtown at Bar & Kitchen and The Varnish.
Must-See Los Angeles
LACMA. It’s fun, and you can see the different exhibits and chill at Ray’s and Stark Bar. If you can’t tell, I’m obsessed with food.
Off-Time Hobby
Going to the movies, playing basketball.
Details
Bar & Kitchen 819 S. Flower St., downtown, 213.784.3048
Griffith Park 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, L.A., 213.473.0800
Los Angeles County Museum of Art 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000
M.B. Post 1142 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.5405
Picca 9575 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A., 310.277.0133
Playa 7360 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.933.5300
Providence 5955 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.460.4170
Ray’s and Stark Bar 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6180
Rivera 1050 S. Flower St., downtown, 213.749.1460
Short Order Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.761.7970
Sotto 9575 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.277.0210
The Varnish 118 E. 6th St., downtown, 213.622.9999