I'm a big fan of outdoor dining & drinks when it's beautiful outside.
A lovely space in Santa Monica I can recommend is called Michael's, tucked away on 3rd street. I stumbled upon it when I was absolutely parched after an outcall in SM one afternoon.
You can't tell from the street, but they have a lovely back patio space, with umbrellas for shade. Their food is soooo delicious, and their drink options are great, too. The establishment is clean, classy, and actually quite discreet.
In Beverly Hills, I love the vibe of Villa Blanca, although I admit their wine list isn't my favorite. I do like most of their food, and I live extremely close, so I often find myself there having lunch and some drinks with my girl friends.
Another Beverly Hills location I love is The Roof on Wilshire, which is located on the roof of the Hotel Wilshire. There's a pool, it's pretty discreet, the seats are super cozy, and I've enjoyed dates with clients there, as well as girls' days.
I'm pretty sure it's open all day, starting quite early.
In downtown LA, I often visit Perch. It's pretty popular and gets quite crowded, so I recommend reservations (I use OpenTable app). Also they have amaaaazing live music daytime on certain days, although I'm not certain of their exact schedule.
If you hadn't been to these places already, I do hope you have a chance to check them out!
Cheers,
xo..Mia
The Whaler second floor patio is a fun spot. Overlooks the beach and is close by to the Hotel Erwin that Carla posted about.
One of the best places to hang out during weekend days is On The Waterfront aka Bitburger on the Venice boardwalk. So much great people watching. As it gets busier/warmer they will set up the beer garden.