If you're like us and don't know a socket wrench from a pipe cleaner, then the moment you step inside a hardware store you're thinking, "Jesus, I need a drink." Well, then head to West Hollywood where Laurel Hardware has cleaned out the tools and set up communal tables, comfy booths, and one hell of a courtyard. The cocktails are infused, the meats are lean and red, and a fix-it guy can be dialed from one of the houndstooth lounge chairs pretty easily. What? You're busy.

Up north, Spanish-style tavern Bow & Truss just opened up, offering Latin American dishes (yes, tapas) in a 3,000 square-foot dining room and a gorgeous 2,000 square-foot patio. We recommend the paellas, the tacos, and the charcuterie. And bypass the classic cocktails for one of their signature drinks:  the Lankershim Fizz.