The Gangster - Cucumber Vodka w/ fresh juiced watermelon

Where do I begin?

Once upon a time, Laurel Hardware was a…you guessed it! A hardware store.

Keeping the original, vintage signage out front and utilizing a smidgen of a hardware theme to portions of the restaurant, there’s more to Laurel Hardware than meets the eye.

There’s a small dining area in front but then you pass through Narnia’s wardrobe into an enormous back lounge and outdoor drinking patio.

Why didn’t we sit back here in the first place!?

I was wondering where all those people who kept filing past us were headed!

Now, the food was good (I really enjoyed the pizza) but it seemed apparent folks were here to get their drink on.

Laurel Hardware is a bustling cocktail lounge posing as a restaurant. In drag, if you will.

As you can see above and below, we enjoyed numerous, inventive cocktails.

I know that everyone is doing the mixology thang, but since when is creative ways to black out a bad thing??

Go ahead! Put beets and black pepper and blowfish livers in my drink! I’ll never remember you did it…

The most amusing aspect of this place is the obvious collision of Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Blvd.

If you don’t live in LA, this means a West Side Story like clash of the Sunset hoochies and Weho power gays. And while everyone seemed to be getting along, it was entertaining to see the two worlds comingle.

Especially after 18 drinks in me….

Mom, pretend you didn’t read that.

7984 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 656-6070
http://www.laurelhardware.com/

Laurel Hardware on Urbanspoon

Pork Belly w/ apple cider/green barley/apple lounge oil

Kale Salad w/ quinoa/feta/sunflower seed vinaigrette

Merguez Sausage Pizza - w/ dandelion green/ricotta/fennel pollen

Last Request - fresh cucumber infused tequila w/ lime & a 4-chile/salt rim

Creeping Fig - Bourbon, lemon, fig, black tea, barrel age bitters

Exuberance - Tequila & St. Germain w/ grapefruit & salt/grapefruit foam

Mule's Apprentice - Kaffir Lime & Mandarin Blossom Vodka w/ fresh lemon, ginger beer

After Party - Pisco and Satheney Peche w/ kumquat preserves, ginger beer, BUZZ BUTTONS! Buzz Buttons are the bud of a member of the sunflower family, used in soothing tooth aches! Your entire mouth starts to tingle, I kept thinking I was foaming at the mouth!

Woman gently nibbling...

Communal bathroom paper towels