The Pikey brunch cocktail White Sangria with kumquats, California citrus and rhubarb.

It’s no secret that brunch is my absolute favorite meal. I look forward to it all week because what could be better than having both breakfast AND cocktails? If only it was every day. Throw that in with an outdoor patio where I can bring my dog Mya and I’m in heaven. The Pikey‘s patio right off Sunset Boulevard isn’t new but it is to me. The last time I visited the gastropub by Jared Meisler and Sean MacPherson was when it first opened last year and it was still patio-less. But now there’s a cordoned off dining area with umbrellas for those sunny days, making it a premium spot for car-watching and day drinking. So many new Porsche 911s driving by on Sunset.

Now for spring, The Pikey has debuted a new cocktail menu, one that is also available during brunch! Yes, the full menu is $14 after 5pm but $9 before. Anyhoo, I had a chance to check out the new drinks at a hosted brunch. Lots of new day drinking options with a couple that will make the day-to-night transition nicely.

Here they are with my notes.

White Sangria: When I think of a white sangria, I think of something honeyed and uber light but this one was surprisingly not sweet. Although its lightness makes  it ideal for a hot day of pinky-up drinking.

The Curry Mary with housemade spicy curry mix. Uber spicy, lots of heat and very savory. Made by the sous chef Drew Coleman. Potent so it would be best to have something to eat before tackling this. Not as meaty as I’d like to stand up to the heat. Spice wimps, be prepared that this is an ouch-hot drink.

She’s a Lover: Chamomile infused Bacardi Rum, crushed blackberries, mint,
lemon juice, honey. Boozy and jammy, but not sweet. Love this one. Tastes like Cherry NyQuil but in a good way.

Mountain Woman: Blanco Tequila, pineapple juice, lime juice, mezcal, chili-salt rim. Pineappley and sweet. Can’t taste the mezcal, no smokiness or any booziness for that matter. Drink it from the rim instead of the straw for a better experience.

Jean Genie. Bombay Dry Gin, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Maraschino. My favorite! Gin and grapefruit bittersweet. My pick for how I’d want to booze it up for day drinking. Or a great way to kick off the evening.

East India Cocktail: Brandy, Cointreau, pomegranate syrup, Angostura bitters. Found this too syrupy for my tastes but I’m not crazy about pomegranate.

The Pikey
7617 W Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90046 (map)
(323) 850-5400
Hours: 11:45am-2am Monday through Friday
11am-2am Saturday & Sunday
Twitter: @thepikeyLA