2 minute read
Best Bar
LEONARD ORTIZ, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Bartender JC Drake serves up craft cocktails created from herbs and house-made ingredients at Ruin Bar in Costa Mesa.
1. Ruin Bar
“Ruin bars” first cropped up in Hungary during the mid-2000s, where they took over abandoned buildings and neglected outdoor spaces. Owners made minimal changes and often left mismatched furniture, aged floors, and peeling paint intact, adding to the off-kilter charm. OC’s take on the concept includes a drink menu of craft cocktails and beers on tap.
According to General Manager Jennifer Eguiluz, The Lab Anti-Mall location has an energy that people won’t experience anywhere else.
“The artistry and eclectic pieces from all over the world definitely have a presence.” She describes her team as a “dedicated family of chefs with ice” and “well-traveled cocktail nerds” who “truly express the style of European cooking incorporated into cocktails.”
The ambience is created by burning candles and incense and a fresh herbs and flower-festooned bar top. “We have countless house-made bitters and tinctures” and Ruin makes syrups and sherbets with a distinct flavor profile.
Eguiluz cites Saged and Confused, a house-made mezcal cocktail, as its most popular. Another customer favorite is gin drink The Cat’s Pajamas, made from a date-infused catnip tea cordial.
“It’s as safe for humans as it is relaxing,” like a sweet Earl Grey tea, Eguiluz explains. “We have a ton of cat paraphernalia and people often refer to Ruin as ‘the cat bar,’ so we have a little fun with that.”
2. Pump Room
1532 W. Chapman Ave., Orange 714-978-6010; instagram.com/ocpumproom
Established in 1950, The Pump Room calls itself “OC’s original bikini sports bar.” Scantily clad female bartenders are on duty daily (check them out via the establishment’s social media) to serve drinks while a row of TVs display sporting events and patrons use a pair of pool tables. There is a limited food menu, but people can also bring their own food or order a delivery.
Local lore suggests the name was derived from staff having to manually pump the beer kegs. Back then it was frequented by bikers before transitioning into a bikini bar in the 1970s. Apparently one former proprietor was an ex-cop who kept a gun on his desk.
The Pump Room’s current owner says its most popular drinks include Jameson Irish Whiskey, Casamigos Reposado (plus other higher end tequilas), not to mention the old classic bar standby.
This Mexican restaurant and bar is located on the entertainment level of The Triangle. It has an outdoor bar, with five fire pits under two oversized palapas. The drink menu boasts an array of margaritas, both fresh (the Pineapple Jalapeño, Watermelon Mint, Blueberry Basil) and blended (Blood Orange, Cactus Fruit, Tamarindo); premium tequilas such as Guavarita and La Paloma; specialties like the Tropical Mojito; bottled beers and more.
Before Alex Petrosian became the owner in 2020, he was immediately taken by the spacious outside patio, figuring it would help “bring back the energy and vibe that the Triangle was known for back in the day.” Since then, the setup provides a “vibe that is second to none and gives people a unique bar/restaurant experience for parties, sports viewing, or just general nightlife.”
Petrosian also emphasizes the “fresh fruit margaritas are what people gravitate to. They are very delicious and Instagram-worthy.”
