West Hollywood has another rooftop for people who want a drink with a view without signing up for a full celebrity circus. Blondie, a new Melrose hideaway, is built around string lights, relaxed seating, and a vaguely Australian-inspired bar menu — and its early reviews suggest the cocktails are doing more heavy lifting than the kitchen.
As reported by WeHo Times, Blondie opened in late May as a rooftop restaurant and bar pitching affordable cocktails and a laid-back atmosphere. That puts it in a neighborhood already crowded with rooftop contenders, but Blondie’s appeal is less spectacle than a tucked-away place for sunset drinks and a casual date.
Eater LA describes the spot as reached by stairs near a fitness studio and salon, with a cocktail list topping out at $17. The menu leans bar-snack casual, with Australian-inspired touches rather than a long formal dinner format, and the review says the back booths and hill-facing bar are the seats worth requesting.
The food verdict is more mixed. The Infatuation praised the prawn toast as the standout and found the rooftop worthwhile for cocktails, but called the overall food a letdown; that is a pretty clear signal to treat Blondie as a drinks-first destination with something to nibble on.
There are still a few dishes that sound capable of carrying a night: Eater LA singles out the $24 hamachi-and-mango ceviche, along with spicy mezcal pasta made with beef chorizo, pesto, and stracciatella. On the drink side, the $15 Electric Feel brings tequila, Sichuan pepper, and buzz buttons, while the $17 Love a Martini uses tomato water for a savory spin on a gin classic.
Blondie is also arriving during a busy rooftop summer: the Los Angeles Times included it among seven new rooftop bars and restaurants competing for sunny-season attention. That competition may actually help the newcomer; it does not need to out-party the giant rooftops if it can become the place locals use when they want a low-key table and a decent drink.
Per Blondie’s official website, the restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight and takes reservations. The practical move is to go for the atmosphere, order one of the more unusual cocktails, and keep expectations for dinner firmly in the “bar snacks with ambition” lane.
