Good Housekeeping

OUR ARTICLE

Inquisitive creatures we are, human beings. If there is something to be accessed by us that appears initially as elusive or mysterious, we find an extra spark of joy in seeking it out for ourselves. It’s true that with tools such as Instagram and Google maps at our fingertips, not much remains to be much of an enigma anymore. Although it is slightly concealed, it’s no secret at all that Highland Park’s quaint hideaway, Good Housekeeping, can be easily accessed through beloved Cafe Birdie’s back patio. No, the name has nothing to do with your mother’s favorite mag in which she stacked by the dozens in your family room, but instead, the monicker derives from the furniture store sign left over from the 1960s sprawled across the west wall of the building.

what makes Good Housekeeping stand out aside from its alluring and unpretentious atmosphere, is the strict attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into making each cocktail.

Highland Park is particularly known for its eclectic selection of eateries and nightlife. Without walking more than a couple of blocks, you could watch one of your favorite bands play at Lodge Room, bowl a few strikes at Highland Park Bowl, and still have time for dinner and a nightcap. Like a boozy backyard clubhouse, by day, the interior of Good Housekeeping is lush with an inviting haze of natural light hitting all the right corners of the room. By night, the atmosphere shifts and the marble bar top and leather-tufted seating areas are illuminated by candlelight and single hanging bulbs — which do a fantastic job of easing you right into your happy place. With an award-winning bar program lead by a team of hospitable experts eager to lead you in the right direction accompanied by a back-bar absolutely stocked to the nines, you are in good company the second you step foot inside.

There’s quite a bit of competition as far as Highland Park drinkeries go, but what makes Good Housekeeping stand out aside from its alluring and unpretentious atmosphere, is the strict attention to detail and craftsmanship that goes into making each cocktail. Their current cocktail list is adorned with both bold and approachable treats conjured up using a broad selection of bitters, syrups, and hand-picked ingredients. Liquid bangers such as Sage & Penny, a vodka-based elixir built with healing components of tumeric and ginger and other fresh ingredients such as apricot and lemon juice, can lift you from even the deepest trenches. For the patron looking for something to smooth over their palate with a rush of rich flavors, Hello Stranger features a blended scotch as a proper backbone to a sweet and herbaceous mix of sloe gin, Amaro Meletti, and absinthe.

There’s something to be said for the complete at-homeness you feel within Good Housekeeping’s brick, art-ridden walls. In the evenings, it’s an ideal spot to bring a date or even two to three of your favorite people to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. It’s also worthy of mention that GH offers a gratuitous happy hour menu Sunday through Thursday night. Served from 6pm-8pm, well cocktails and wine by the glass go for only $8, while you can get any beer for $5 or even a happy hour bottle of wine for $30. You can also catch Industry Night on any given Monday. Considering the fact that the weather is heavenly this time of year, and well, every other time of the year in Los Angeles (sorry everyone else), take a walk up Figueroa Street, stop into Good Housekeeping, and belly-up to your new happy place.