(credit: Rooftop Lounge)
The mojito is a classic and refreshing cocktail that makes you feel distinguished. After all, Hemingway loved this cocktail. There is a lot to love about the mojito, especially on those summer days when you want a drink without feeling weighed down by it. From the classic to the fruity, here are some of the best places to get a mojito in Orange County.
(credit: Gary Schwind)
Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine and Cocktails
2607 Main St.
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 387-8887
www.andreisrestaurant.com
The mojito at Andrei’s is everything a mojito should be. The agave nectar provides a sweetness that is pleasant without being overpowering. The lime gives the drink just the right amount of tartness. Those two things combined with the mint leaves make not only for a nice combination of flavors across the palate but also for a very refreshing cocktail. Also, you’re doing some good when you go to Andrei’s. All of the profits go to the Andrei Foundation, benefiting people with Retinitis Pigmentosa.
(credit: Gary Schwind)
Chaparosa Grill
30271 Golden Lantern, Suite D
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 363-9888
www.chaparosa.com
When you order a mojito at Chaparosa, you won’t see the bartender do any muddling. The reason for that is that the drink is made with house-made simple syrup. The chef takes lime juice, sugar and mint and boils it into a simple syrup that adds a real refreshing quality to the drink and eliminates the possibility of getting any pieces of mint leaves in your mouth as you drink. The mojito here is also given a little tartness with the use of Bacardi Limon. This is kind of a neighborhood bar in Laguna Niguel, but if you’re down that way, stop in for a mojito.
(credit: Gary Schwind)
The Rooftop Lounge
1289 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-2446
www.rooftoplagunabeach.com
If variety truly is the spice of life, then you can add some spice to your life at The Rooftop Lounge. This place has seven different kinds of mojito, including strawberry, mango and ginger. The Rooftop also sets itself apart by serving every mojito with a stick of sugar cane. The experience is completed by the fact that you are enjoying some unbeatable views of the Pacific as you sip your mojito.
(credit: Gary Schwind)
Habana
The Lab
2930 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-0176
www.thelab.com
It’s no surprise that a Cuban restaurant serves a good mojito. This restaurant goes a step above the standard Bacardi and uses Cruzan as its well rum for this treat. The simple syrup is made in house and adds a perfect sweetness to the drink. What really sets this mojito apart is that three slices of lime are squeezed into each one. The tartness of the lime juice nicely counterbalances the sweetness of the other three ingredients.
(credit: Shelly W./Yelp)
Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen
31732 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 499-6311
www.evascaribbeankitchen.com
Some places alter their mojitos by offering fruit flavors. At Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen, you can alter the taste of your mojito by selecting from the impressive rum list. Quiz your server about what flavors to expect from each rum. The employees really know their stuff and can help you find the right rum for your mojito. Eva’s is a very intimate restaurant, so call for reservations if you want to enjoy a mojito here.
