The Best Bars For Holiday Office Drinks In Los Angeles 2014 | Tasting Table LA

How to spread the holiday cheer with your office mates? Toast the season with an impromptu round of eggnog and hot toddies.

No reservations lined up? Not a problem. This year, for your end-of-year fete, keep it casual at these group-friendly bars. From beers and wurst to pinball and cocktails, check out these 10 bars for on-the-fly drinks for a crowd.

① Mohawk Bend, Echo Park

Beer is the draw at this neighborhood standby whose motto is "local." Whether you're double IPA or Hefeweizen inclined, there are 72 craft brews on tap (plus six taps for winos) to make all of your cube mates happy. The front room of the 100-year-old vaudeville theater space has plenty of seating for groups, too. Grab a seat at the long communal table or the two long bars on either side. If your group is feeling peckish, even your vegan manager can get in on the action with buffalo-style cauliflower ($8) with dairy-free blue cheese dressing or one of the wood-fired pizzas ($11 to $14) from the vegan-heavy menu.

② Wurstküche, Venice

Ain't no office holiday party like a sausage party. Order your wurst and bier of choice at the counter, then stretch out at one of many picnic tables. Stick with the Bavarian theme: Order Belgian or German Tripel or kölsch by the bottle or draft, and pair with bratwurst ($6) on a bun and Belgian fries ($3.50 small, $5.50 large). The beer hall setup keeps it casual, and the limitless brew-plus-brat combos keep the night going until midnight.

③ Stark Bar, Mid-City

When beer and wursts won't do, class it up at LACMA's on-site bar. Aesthetes and culture vultures of the bunch can get behind the alfresco setting just steps from "Urban Light," and the Saarinen and Eames seating. The crowd here is the smart set, often filled with the museum's staff for after-work cocktails. To drink: an extensive selection of wines by the three-ounce, six-ounce, 12-ounce and three-pour flights; done-up cocktails; and even a 47-page water menu. If you're on an expense account, don't forget upgraded nibbles from next-door Ray's. Try the charcuterie plate with house-made duck rillettes and lamb salami ($23), veggies from the garden ($9 to $15) and wood-fired pizzas ($14 to $17).

④ The Spare Room, Hollywood

We would otherwise avoid Hollywood Boulevard with the co-workers, but this Roosevelt Hotel second-story bar is a no-fail spot for a group night out. Post up at one of the cushy couches for proper drinks and (hopefully not work-related) conversation. Ordering is easy: Get a punch bowl ($60 for four to six people, $240 for 16 to 20 people) for the group, or choose "tiki," "sour," "aromatic," "spicy" or "seasonal" classic cocktails from flapper-frocked servers. Encourage some friendly competition with Timber, Connect Four or Battleship.

⑤ Boardwalk 11, Palms

Looking for the ultimate office icebreaker? Round up the group for a night of cheap beers and karaoke at this Westside dive. Warm up with $3 happy hour beers, wine and well drinks (Monday to Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.), then let it all hang out on the mic. In between sets, refuel with heart attack-inducing mozzarella sticks ($8) and mac and cheese egg rolls ($8).

⑥ Acabar, West Hollywood

Stepping into this Sunset Boulevard restaurant/lounge/bar is like checking into a ritzy riad. The den of tiles, white marble, carved columns, pillows, candle lighting and gilded accents doesn't skimp on the bling. Groups can start with cocktails at the bar and adjacent fountain courtyard, then make their way to the lounge. Spread out and make bad decisions on low-slung sofas amid live music/DJ tunes and bites. Load up during happy hour (Tuesday to Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.) when oysters are $1.50 and share plates, cocktails and wine are $7 apiece.

⑦ EsCaLA, Koreatown

Sure, there are plenty of long-standing, late-night pubs in K-town. But this new-school bar/restaurant in Chapman Plaza means not having to squeeze in too close to your co-workers and upgraded bar fare. Wood booths and tables seat plenty in the lofty room that channels casita (think: tiled roof, fountain) with some grit (street art, lowrider bike, a disco ball). And the menu follows suit: The L.A.-by-way-of-Colombia bites include street corn ($4), braised pork belly tamales ($9 for two) and Latin-spiced fried chicken wings ($13).

⑧ Bludso's Bar-&-Que, Mid-City

The 'cue is courtesy of Kevin Bludso's low and slow school of brisket, pork ribs and pulled pork. Bond with your teammates family style: The Tray ($95) feeds six to eight with a half pound of brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, a half chicken, a full rack of ribs, hot links and all the fixings (mac and cheese, corn bread, etc.) Stake out a picnic table or, if you must, stools at the mile-long bar. And the "Bar" lives up to its name with wines by the glass and bottle, craft beers, cocktails (including Julep on tap) and even Fernet on tap ($7). You'll really get into the spirit(s).

⑨ The Famous, Glendale

Cocktails are mixed by skilled bartenders, beers rotate by the dozen on draft, and whiskeys cover a dizzying collection. Earn points on your next review with the fancy pub grub menu of buttermilk corn fritters ($4), 12-hour smoked brisket ($11) on ciabatta and pork belly-topped hand-cut Disco Fries ($8). There's also plenty of seating at the bar or leather banquettes for group drinks. Bonus: It's open late night (until 2 a.m.) and daily happy hour runs until 8 p.m.

⑩ EightyTwo, Downtown

Geek out with 90s arcade games at this DTLA barcade. One-up your office mates at pinball or Ms. Pac-Man inside the expansive room that has 40 retro games. Then, gain some liquid courage (who needs mistletoe?) with cocktails or a boozy, coffee-spiked Cold Brew. Make like The Dude ($12) with vodka, syrup, cold-brew coffee and cream, or Power Up ($12) with chocolate rum, vanilla black tea, coffee and cream. It'll beat your daily morning joe for sure.