Brilliantshine

Star bartenders Julian Cox and Josh Goldman’s cocktails have always been distinguished by their far-flung international flavors and ability to pair with food. At their signature Santa Monica bar—a spacious seaside tavern that resembles a mashup of a Japanese tea room and a Frontierland saloon—both characteristics are in ample supply. There are complex and sharply flavored riffs on classics like the Negroni (dubbed the Jabroni), the Zombie, the Hotel Nacional and the Creole, as well as a number of originals. All play nicely with the menu of refined bar snacks like sticky Korean-style chicken wings and shrimp ceviche flecked with Peruvian hominy.