Wolfgang Puck added world class cocktails to the menu of his famed Beverly Hills restaurant, Spago, to take it to the next level
Spago is at the heart of the Beverly Hills renaissance, which sees some of the world’s best bars and restaurants reinvigorating the neighborhood. Located on Canon Drive, Spago continues to serve up culinary icon Wolfgang Puck’s finest dishes alongside classic and contemporary cocktails that have turned the space into a go-to for drinks aficionados. The full menu is available at the bar, while a variety of desserts featuring specific alcohols is only available for those seated drinks adjacent.
Bar Director Adam Fournier tells us…
Please describe Spago as if you’re explaining the experience of walking through the doors and ordering your first drink.
The double doors open through the atrium as you enter. The immaculate lit lounge space gives your eyes time to adjust to see the bar stretching in front of you leaning to the main dining room with the gorgeous patio space to your right.
You are warmly greeted by our Maitre De who graciously guides you to a seat at the bar or one of the booths.
One of our bartenders now greets you with a smile and a menu. While you look over the cocktails and wine, you’re served one of our rotating bar amuse crafted by the kitchen as a welcome, so that every guest at the bar feels like a part of the main dining room.
The bartender asks you a few questions to guide you through the menu before serving you a balanced, delicious, and beautiful looking cocktail and maybe introduces you to the long standing regular or first timer that you’re seated next to and you settle in for an evening of hospitality.
How would you describe Spago in a three-word text to a friend that you’re trying to convince to join you?
Iconic, Innovative, Irresistible
Other than Spago, what else is happening in the neighborhood that you’re in?
Beverly Hills, especially Canon Drive, is having a moment. Not only is the bar at Spago going through a renaissance, literally across the street we have the Maybourne Bar and Dante Los Angeles. Within walking distance you have Ella and Umbrella Swim Club from the team behind Melrose Umbrella Company, and a little further out you have Wally’s and Funke.
You could come valet at Spago and have one of the best walking bar crawls not only in Los Angeles but on the West Coast.
Aside from Happy Hour, when is the best time to get to the bar?
Aside from grabbing a bar stool right when we open, the best bet is right after the main dinner rush, around 8:00pm. The guests waiting for tables have moved into the dining room and seats start to open up for the people who are looking to be here for the bar and the experience of dining at the bar.
Describe the average drinkers that you serve?
The average drinker is a cross section of Los Angeles. The dining room sees a lot of the old school Beverly Hills diner and socialites that have been enjoying Spago for years. While the bar and the lounge has its own vibe that leans more into the younger, more cocktail driven scene.
But what they all have in common is an expectation of quality, service, and hospitality. An expectation that we work to surpass every day.
Please tell us more about your drinks menu.
The current cocktail menu pulls heavily from the kitchen and the history of the space as a grand award winning wine program. The menu is themed around a tasting wheel with light, medium, and full bodied drinks to let guests know what kind of experience they’re in for with a solo drink but also helps to guide them in how to pair them with their meal.
It also offers Luxurious 7 Rare cocktails for those looking to indulge as well as a Spirit Free menu that is as thoughtful and deep as the main cocktail menu so that anyone who is choosing to not imbibe feels as a part of the experience as every other guest.
What’s your signature drink–or your favorite drink currently on the menu–and why should I order it?
Our current favorite drink on the menu is the Maenad. Named for the followers of Dionysus, it’s the perfect cross section of the history and the future of our beverage program.
It is a 60 day amphora aged cocktail. An amphora is a clay vessel that was traditionally used to store wine in the mediterranean area. This pays homage to the legacy of Spago’s wine program as well as to the previous bar program’s use of barrel aged cocktails.
For 60 days we rest a combination of Siete Misterios Doba Yej Mezcal, a house made rhubarb infused aperol, a strawberry amaro, byrrh grand quinquina and a little secret seasoning. This allows the flavors to truly harmonize and take on new characteristics from the interaction with the amphora.
After decanting the cocktail batch is then thrown, a technique halfway between a stir and a shake, to wake the drink back up and open up some of the more aeromatic elements of the ingredients, much in the same way you might decant a wine or use a porron to pour sherry.
It’s a marriage of tradition, technique, and time. Time being something that many restaurants and bars can’t afford in the current climate
How much do drinks cost?
Drinks run the gamut. A classic cocktail will cost you 18-19, with the house specialty cocktails running between 21-25, and some of the Luxurious & Rare cocktails running up to 70. You can really curate your own experience throughout the space.
Is there anything to eat? If so – what’s your favorite dish on the menu?
The full menu is available at the bar at Spago. That being said there are some dishes curated specifically for the bar that are only available in our Lounge and Bar space. Of particular note are the Coupe-tails. A series of desserts designed by Chef Della Gosset and our pastry team that are all themed around cocktails and incorporate a little alcohol into them. Like the Call Me Old Fashioned which incorporates our house single barrel of Elijah Craig Bourbon. Or the Violet Baroness, an aviation riff with violette grenade and Tanqueray No. TEN gin.
And don’t worry, just like we have a heavily curated Spirit Free cocktail menu many of these desserts can be done alcohol free as well.
What are the distinguishing features of Spago?
The distinguishing features of Spago are the quality of its ingredients, dishes, cocktails, wines, and above all else its people.
As Wolfgang says, we get the best ingredients, use the best technique, try not to f*ck them up while treating people the way that we want to be treated.
So while it is a classy, sexy building to spend time in, and the food and drink are world class, it is the hospitality that keeps you coming back again and again.
What’s that music we hear playing on the Spago stereo?
We recently partnered with GrayV to curate our music selection here at Spago so that it dynamically evolves over the evening.
We’ve thoughtfully created a music program that not only reflects the essence of Spago’s new chapter but also resonates with the discerning tastes of our guests. Each track has been thoughtfully selected to seamlessly blend contemporary alternative sounds with nods to the trailblazing artists who have shaped the genre. From soulful R&B melodies to energetic Hip Hop beats and the timeless allure of Rock n Roll, our diverse selection caters to a wide range of musical preferences, ensuring that every moment at Spago is accompanied by the perfect soundtrack. As the evening unfolds, our dynamic playlist evolves alongside our guests, enhancing the culinary journey and setting the stage for unforgettable memories. Our commitment to thoughtful music design not only elevates the dining experience but also reflects our dedication to charting a new course for Spago while remaining grounded in the influences that have made it an iconic destination.
Are there alcohol-free cocktails?
Yes.
Hours:
Restaurant Hours
Tuesday – Thursday 5PM – 10PM
Friday – Saturday 5PM – 10:30PM
Sunday 5PM – 10PM
Spago Bar Hours
Tuesday – Thursday 5PM – 11PM
Friday – Saturday 5PM – Midnight
Sunday 5PM – 11PM
Reservations:
Book a table via OpenTable.
Website:
https://wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/spago-beverly-hills/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/spagobh/?hl=en
Address:
176 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210