I visited an LA bar inspired by the south of France, and I get why it's a hot spot for celebrities like Drake and Robert Pattinson

International ticket prices have skyrocketed and airline travel is more chaotic than ever. Thankfully, a night at Bar Lis won't feature 16-hour delays or lost luggage.

The Los Angeles spot — which opened nearly a year ago on top of the Thompson Hotel — has fast become one of the hottest rooftop bars in a city overflowing with them. And it's my latest stop for Insider's Happy Hour series, where I'm taking you to bars with the coolest stories, wildest drinks, and plenty of celebrities.

It's no easy feat to win over celebrities in LA, where the competition is fierce to become the next star-studded party destination.

But Bar Lis is now a place to spot famous faces. Drake, Robert Pattinson, The Weeknd, Diplo, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Rita Ora are just some of the stars to come through its doors since Bar Lis first opened.

I was greeted with a blue-and-white pinstriped wall covered in vintage photographs as the elevator opened to the roof of the Thompson Hotel.

There were black-and-white pictures of 1960s starlets like Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot, the muses of Bar Lis' vibe and cocktails.

"Bar Lis is designed to be a French Riviera-inspired oasis in the middle of Hollywood," owner Sebastian Puga told me. "Our walls are adorned with photographs of the stars of the '60s and '70s that called the south of France their playground in the region's heyday."

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The fountain standing at the center of the room looked straight out of Europe, while the striped pink-and-white stools added a playful touch to the setting. Straight ahead was a perfect view of the iconic Hollywood sign.

Like all cocktails on Bar Lis' menu, Strawberry Fields is $18. The baby-pink drink features the French liqueur St-Germain, plus vodka, muddled fresh strawberries, lemon, rhubarb bitters, a splash of prosecco, and a sprig of mint.

It all makes for a beautiful summer drink. Strawberry Fields is fruity and fresh, while the prosecco helps to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries and St-Germain. Plus, who doesn't love some bubbles on a hot day?

The Summer Spritz features the French wine-based aperitif Lillet Blanc, plus tequila, grapefruit, prosecco, and orange blossom water.

While it's got a similar fun and bubbly vibe as Strawberry Fields, the Summer Spritz is more smooth and less fruity. The citrus notes add a distinct brightness to the flavor — a great choice for those who miss the summer of the Aperol Spritz.

The Dirty Shirley has become the drink of the summer, and Bar Lis manager Kariza Ratliff told me she wanted to put her own special spin on the Shirley Temple-inspired cocktail.

"I know this is blowing up right now," Ratliff told me. "For us, it's very important to keep it elevated, so we use hibiscus syrup, which we make in-house with fresh hibiscus flowers — which is really fantastic."

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In addition to hibiscus syrup — which replaces the usual grenadine — Bar Lis' Dirty Shirley features vodka, Sprite, mint, and Luxardo's Original Maraschino Cherries.

You know when a cocktail just looks kind of sexy? That's Bar Lis' Dirty Shirley.

I loved the deep-burgundy color from the hibiscus syrup, and the drink has just enough sweetness. It tastes fun, fresh, and different. I was a huge fan — and I usually don't even like vodka cocktails!

Bar Lis' chef Lincoln Carson set out to create shareable dishes that were quick and approachable, but still looked great on the plate.

While it's a smaller food menu compared to many of the popular rooftop bars in LA, Carson said he wanted to keep it tight and focus more on quality — using ingredients that have been sourced from the local farmers market.

The $24 salmon dip — served alongside potato chips — features smoked salmon, dill, and crème fraîche. It's topped with a trout roe that comes straight from the farm of legendary Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller.

I'd never think to order salmon dip at a bar, so I was surprised by how much I loved this dish. It's so different from the usual hummus or spinach artichoke you're used to seeing on bar menus — plus it tasted extremely delicious. The dip was creamy and savory, and the trout roe on top made it feel like a decadent treat.

The dip fit right in with Bar Lis' vibe — a little bit laid-back, a little luxury.

"Wow," one of my friends said as she dug into the dip. "I didn't know bar food could be this good."

These $15 croquettes are made with potatoes and leeks, and are served alongside a buttermilk dressing.

While many croquettes I've tried tend to be heavy on the cream and cheese, Bar Lis' spin on the dish was delightfully light and perfectly seasoned.

The $20 Bar Lis burger looked deceptively simple as it arrived at the table, served solo on its own small plate.

But the burger — which features comté cheese, pickles, and a secret sauce — blew me away. With a perfectly-cooked medium patty that was bursting with juiciness, it didn't matter that the ingredients were as simple as the presentation. The beef was the star, and it made the whole burger sing. The comté cheese on top was also a delicious twist, and I loved the bright tang of the pickled onions.

The $11 Piña Colada sundae was a great way to end my visit. The pineapple and coconut sorbets were bright and refreshing, while the toasted coconut on top added some texture and crunch.

It tasted like a resort in a cup. Fitting for a bar that had whisked me away on a European holiday — at least for a few hours.

This article is part of "Insider Happy Hour," a series about the best food, cocktail, and experiential offerings at buzzworthy bars and restuarants.