Seven Grand

Named for its location on the corner of Seventh Street and Grand Avenue, Seven Grand takes the taxidermy-as-décor theme to a new level. Visitors to this high-end bar are greeted by stuffed animals (not the cuddly kind) before they even walk in the door thanks to a storefront diorama devoted to whiskey culture. Inside, follow the trail of miniature skulls up a curving staircase to a bar that looks more East Coast hunting lodge than Socal nightlife destination. Along with more mounted heads (everything from boar to stag), the room is heavy on plaid wallpaper, leather tabletops and bottle after bottle of whiskey. Boasting the best whiskey list this side of the Mississippi, Seven Grand serves all of the old stand-bys and some extremely rare -- and expensive -- varieties as well. Of course, no self-respecting whiskey bar is complete without an ample amount of cigar smoke. Luckily, Seven Grand deals non-Cubans from behind its 150-year-old walnut bar as well.