Among the literary cocktails at Bud’s is a light, refreshing bit of poetry.

The sound of vintage jazz playing from a large analog audio tape machine, and the dim lighting make for a relaxing lounge atmosphere at Bud’s, the bar at La Playa Hotel in Carmel. It’s an ambiance that might make some literary greats feel right at home. The bar is known for cocktails named after local figures, particularly writers. Sweet Thursday recognizes John Steinbeck’s sequel to Cannery Row. (Like The Mayor, a nod to former Carmel mayor Clint Eastwood, it starts with rye whiskey.)

Then there’s Letters to Nora, a tribute to poet Nora May French. Letters to Nora is a subtle and refreshing pink cocktail, served on the rocks, with a citrus undertone and hint of bitterness – after all, love, isn’t always sweet. It’s a perfect drink to enjoy during the day or in summer, as it is more delicate than other cocktails on the menu – a mix of campari, manzanilla, lime and prosecco. “It’s lighter, nicer – a lot of flavor in it,” says bartender Thora Gisladottir, who compares it to a spritzer.

The inspiration behind the cocktail names at Bud’s make them fun, a conversation starter. French lived in Carmel at the beginning of the 20th century. She was an active member of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club that attracted artists to the region. Before her tragic death at 26 in 1907, she wrote many poems about the coastal scenery, and also the tribulations of young women conforming with social norms or dedicating to her art. Maybe one should have been about a cocktail.

BUD’S AT LA PLAYA, Camino Real and 8th, Carmel. 293-6100, budscarmel.com