Brazil Heads West: Nossa Caipirinha Bar

Located in the heart of Loz Feliz, Nossa Caipirinha Bar has become a vibrant hub where the lively spirit of Brazil meets the art of mixology. Nestled among Hillhurst Avenue’s lively strip, this charming bar stands out as a unique and authentic experience for locals and visitors alike.

A Love Letter to Brazil: Nossa Caipirinha Bar

At the core of Nossa Caipirinha Bar’s identity lies the Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail. This refreshing and tantalizing drink combines cachaça, a sugarcane spirit, with muddled lime and sugar, resulting in a delightful concoction that captures the essence of Brazil in every sip. The bartenders at Nossa have perfected the art of crafting this classic cocktail, offering a diverse range of variations to suit every palate, from the traditional lime to exotic fruit infusions.

Upon stepping into Nossa Caipirinha Bar, guests are instantly transported to the lively streets of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. The vibrant colors, Brazilian art, and rhythmic beats of afrobeats music create an ambiance that exudes warmth and joy. The walls are adorned with vintage photos and memorabilia, telling the story of Brazil’s rich culture and history.

The bar’s design incorporates a blend of modern and rustic elements, with comfortable seating arrangements that encourage relaxation and conversation. Whether patrons choose to sit at the bar and interact with the skillful mixologists or settle into cozy corners with friends, the atmosphere fosters a sense of community and celebration.

Beyond the Caipirinha

While the Caipirinha is undoubtedly the star of the show, Nossa Caipirinha Bar also boasts an impressive selection of other cocktails and spirits. From innovative takes on classic drinks to unique creations inspired by Brazilian flavors, there’s something to suit everyone’s preferences. Of course, for those who prefer to savor a straight spirit, the bar offers a carefully curated collection of cachaça, showcasing various brands and aging styles.

To complement their stellar drink offerings, Nossa Caipirinha Bar also serves a delectable array of Brazilian-inspired bites. From mouthwatering coxinha (deep-fried chicken croquettes) to pão de queijo (cheese bread) and feijoada (a traditional bean stew), the food menu pays homage to Brazil’s diverse and flavorful cuisine. These culinary delights elevate the overall experience and provide the perfect accompaniment to the bar’s signature cocktails.

The Interview

After her brief transport to Brazil Enthusiast Report’s Digital Marketing Director, Miyuri Norris, conversed with Nossa Caipirinha Bar’s Bar Lead and Partner; Shannon Inouye, to discuss; the bar’s origins, signature cocktails, cuisine, and events.

What inspired the bar’s concept?

Caipirinha Bar was inspired by the personal story of our partner John, and his journey from Brazil to becoming a successful restaurateur in LA. We shared a common love for the simple good food from Brazil, and felt like the Caipirinha was the ultimate embodiment of something incredibly vibrant, delicious, sexy, and yet simple. We wanted to tie the food, drinks, vibe, and music into a place that felt like a neighborhood joint that transports our guests to Brazil.

For those unfamiliar with Brazilian cuisine, what are some of your most popular food and drink offerings?

Right out the gate you need to get to know our pão de queijo and our caipirinha. Both staples of Brazil, the pão de queijo is a traditional cheesy bread made with cassava flour, and the caipirinha is a bright cocktail consisting of muddled lime, sugar, and cachaça shaken vigorously with ice and dumped into a glass.

Most of our menu is great for sharing, and having an order of coxinha (crispy Brazilian chicken croquettes) on the table is always a safe bet. Also great for sharing are our xixo (little shish kebab). We do chicken hearts, house made linguiça, picanha steak, crispy chicken thigh, and japanese eggplant. At this point you will probably have had another caipirinha and will be ready to move on to a salad, steak and martini, or the branzino with annatto butter and the prawn moqueca with a bottle of wine.

What sets you apart from other cocktail bars in LA?

Every once in a while you might see a caipirinha on a bar menu in L.A., but here you will find at least 5 variations at any given time. Currently we have our Classica, Tropical, Picante, Mai Cai, and Hibiscus – each a unique variation with additions ranging from passion fruit and gentian, to orgeat and dry curaçao.

We love introducing people to cachaça, which is the national spirit of Brazil and the main ingredient in the caipirinha. We currently have over a dozen unique bottles on our back bar. The vibrant, funky profile of this distilled sugarcane spirit can change drastically when aged in a variety of different kinds of wood, and we like to showcase that. I also love the fact that you can just cozy up to the bar or a little corner booth with no reservations for an incredible steak and martini.

Does Nossa host any special events or themed nights?

Every Wednesday we do a vinyl night from 7pm to close. Friends and DJ’s from the community bring in their record collections, hang out, eat and drink, and share rare pressings of tropicalia, funk, soul, disco, jazz, afrobeat, and more. It’s more of a record club/listening party than a DJ set. It’s my favorite night of the week! Also, every Sunday we offer feijoada (traditional black bean stew). This is when you’ll often be able to spot at least a few nostalgic Brazilians eating stew and ordering cans of Guarana Antartica, the popular Brazilian soda.

Connect with Nossa Caipirinha Bar

Address: 1966-1968 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Hours:

Monday: 4PM-10PM
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wed-Thurs: 4PM-11PM
Friday: 4PM-12AM
Saturday: 12PM-12AM
Sunday: 12PM-9PM

Website: caipirnhala.com

Menu

Want more? Subscribe!

Subscribe to Enthusiast Report for the latest coverage on lifestyle, fine wines, cigars and spirits. Save 58% when you subscribe for 1 year, and 62% when you subscribe for 2 years!

Subscribe Now