This candlelit tequila bar in the heart of Hollywood's nightlife revival isn't the type of place to lick it, pound it and bite it. But the skin-baring patrons, sexy decor and potent libations could entice such behavior later.

L'Scorpion is a stunner, with iron and glass candle holders, a backlit red bar, copper shelves, an entire wall lined with black cowhide, and mirrors covered in black lace. In the back lounge, appetites are sated with short-rib tamales or shrimp and halibut ceviche; at the bar, black-clad bartenders dote on the customers, especially when it's early. During our visit, they showed us their favorite handcrafted ceramic tequila bottles and set the record straight on the scorpion myth. (Scorpions were once put into bottles received as gifts to ensure the drink wasn't poison: If the scorpion disintegrated, so the myth goes, it was poisonous, and the giver was an enemy.) Tequila, they're quick to tell customers, is meant to be sipped and, if it's good, there will be no hangover the next morning: Try a white option in a fresh-squeezed pear, papaya, lychee or tangerine margarita. L'Scorpion serves more than 120 labels, all of which are 100-percent blue agave. There's also a full bar, but beware of mixing other booze with tequila, known as the most jealous liquor. —Alexandra Le Tellier