Overview
In a city that has made its mark as the world capital of entertainment, fun is serious business. But unlike the unfulfilling pablum “The Industry” churns out for the megaplex, the nightspots scattered across the LA sprawl really know their niche Angeline audience, and cater to them to a T. There are nightspots for those that struggle to land parts, and those who part the red ropes; those who favor the orchestral, and those who favor Norwegian death metal; those that club, and those that lounge; the bastard spiritual children of Bukowski, and the Sideways-quoting oenophiles; the loyal neighborhood stool-polishers, and the hipsters drawn to the nearest flame. For some (hey there, Midwesterners!), this is the supreme aesthetic mosh-pit that they’ve craved since they got sick of home, which happened early. For others, it’s a cold, shallow Battle Royale of egos that leaves them ladling the sauce on their simmering reverse-snobbery. More than any other city, LA is where people can (and often do) reinvent themselves nightly, all in the name of a good time. At least here you have a lot of choices.
Los Angeles is less a single entity than the sum of fifty or so distinct mid-sized cities that can seem neigh impossible to unravel. Neighborhoods and “scenes” rarely twain, unless you’re say, looking for a skinny jean, PBR-and-Modelo hipster haven (Echo Park) or an ear-splitting club to grab a highball and a spot of blow (Hollywood). But despite the geographic disparity Angelenos cut through the Gordian Knot bar culture and excitedly dig out, share, and champion their faves, eventually identifying with their boozeholes of choice with the same seriousness as their political or religious convictions.
Keeping track of it all can be like preparing for April 15th, but everyone has unique short cuts. There’s still LA Weekly, LA’s premier free paper, and the LA Times has its Calendar Live section. (Each has an online counterpart, in case you think Craigslist is a fad.) There’s also a honking traffic jam of sites like www.la.com. One namecheck on Daily Candy means your corner bar just got drafted—that’s how hungry everyone is for the next big, pre-approved thing. Is this sounding like finding a needle in a haystack? Well, it is and it isn’t. Consider all of this a childproof toolbox. Rummage, experiment, and find your favorites. Remember: in LA, word of mouth is king, and whatever advice you bought from your guerrilla marketing guru, there’s no faking that funk. But here are some of our suggestions to get things rolling . . .
Best Dive Bars
In a city filled with superficial swank and plastic, Los Angeles dive bars are the last bastion of low-key drunks who don’t mind lukewarm suds and a “cash only” policy. Don’t you dare order a schmancy Negroni or any rainbow-hued, blacklight-sensitive drink here, unless you want to gain the nickname Captain Fancypants or, more likely, just get a hair curling rejection. A warning to oenophiles: these places stock the worst of the worst in wine, so, really, don’t even bother, unless you love vomiting. Best stick to what dives do best (and most enthusiastically): beer, shots, pool, and darts. One of our favorite dive bars in LA is Whitehorse (Map 4) on the ground floor of Super 8 Motel on Western Avenue, just north of Sunset Boulevard; its red walls and black leatherette bar stools lend a sense of unpretentiousness, and the Romanian owner will feed you free hot dogs and popcorn if you’re nice . . . or tell you to “get lost” if you’re not. If you like your dive bars filthy, Power House (Map 3) on Highland specializes in dingy booths, stiff drinks and Hollywood losers. While the Westside typically avoids cracked seats and beer nuts, the Eastside dives hard: a few great ones to visit are Hop Louie (Map 9) in Chinatown, The Roost (Map 5) in Atwater Village, or the slightly less seedy Short Stop (Map 5) (part-owned by local rock legend Greg Dulli), conveniently just a block’s stumble from Gold Room (Map 5) in Echo Park. And nothing says “dive bar” like PBR, the drink of choice for many a patron at Highland Park’s popular quasi-dive Footsie’s (Map 36), which has the distinction of hosting a few NFT parties over the years. (We’ll have the Chimay, thanks.) The morning after, head to Ye Rustic Inn (Map 4) for their weekend Bloody Mary Brunch—an interesting mix of locals and twenty-something scenesters who love this amazing seven-buck breakfast-and-drink affair.
Best Outdoor Spaces
Constant sun and an average outdoor temperature of 72 degrees mean that many LA bars drag their tables outside. For those of you who enjoy a smoke with your drink, outdoor seating is the only option. The très rive gauche Figaro Bistrot (Map 4) on Vermont in Los Feliz lines up ‘round marble tables to squeeze in thirsty hipsters. Malo (Map 4) on Sunset has an industrial-looking, surprisingly intimate outdoor seating area with heating lamps. Oliverio (Map 1) at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills serves chilled martinis poolside (plan ahead and reserve a cabana). For stargazing through your beer goggles, the rooftop bar at The Standard (Map 9) needs to be experienced once. Brit expats especially enjoy a pint in The Cat & Fiddle’s (Map 3) leafy beer garden, ringing their mates in rainy ol’ England to gloat about the balmy summer nights in The States.
Best Lounges
In a city where image is reality, the larger-than-life style of LA’s clubs tends to squash the urban reign of the almighty bar. Dives often seem a bit lost amid the velvet rope-gawking, and the current Cahuenga fascination distracts from simpler watering holes. What emerges is LA’s answer to compromise: the lounge. What passes for a stylish alternative in other cities is the modest choice in LA. But, anywhere, a solid lounge is a beautiful thing, and LA has some truly solid ones. Many lounge-prone Angelenos migrate from the velvet ropes of Hollywood Boulevard to Sunset, where they stumble into The Well (Map 3). Modish warmth is key to this lounge’s hip brown-and-black design and tall leather banquettes; with a killer juke mix and a smooth transition from low-key hangout to loud and lively late night spot, it’s a big draw. The Brig (Map 21) on Abbot Kinney in Venice is a chic, sleekly illuminated mod dream. As swanky as it is (down to the bathrooms), it’s still a laid-back lounge where the cocktails and pool, not the celebrities, pull rank. If you’re looking for something dressed up with a touch of seedy, Jones (Map 2) in WeHo is a good bet. The elegant wraparound bar gives way to bathrooms plastered in inelegant Polaroids of naughty-bit flashing patrons. Probably the most well known local lounge, The Dresden Room (Map 4) solidified its fame with a cameo in 1996’s prerequisite LA film Swingers, and comes with its very own lounge act. Say hi to Marty and Elayne when you go. They’re sweethearts.
Best Beer Selection
If you scoff at light lager swill, there are plenty of options. If you’re a beer cynic, places such as Father’s Office (Map 18), with 30 microbrews on tap, and The Library Alehouse (Map 18), coming in right behind with 29 on tap, are all the conversion you’ll need. Burbank has made a worthy addition to the beer snob scene with Tony’s Darts Away (Map 49), serving a wide array (and only) beers brewed in California, with a heavy IPA bias. Los Angeles’ own brew, Angel City Brewing, is on draft in a number of locations, notably the swanky Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (Map 18). For a little adventure, try the Wednesday-night mystery brew at Good Microbrew & Grill (Map 4). For three bucks, you get a mystery beer from their eclectic collection of 150 bottled beers or their rotating selection of five draft beers (after you finish, they’ll let you know what you had). For a night in with your favorite rare ale, stock up at Cost Plus World Market (Map 20), where “Beers of the World” are sold by the twelver. Beer aficionados feel right at home at Backstage (Map 24), Culver City’s reigning dive bar and karaoke headquarters. And last, but not at all least, there is the granddaddy of beer: The Yard House (Map 34), with literally hundreds of beers on tap; for some East Coast flavor, they offer the option of a half-yard glass. For those who like beer and love it on tap, welcome home. Wipe your feet.
Best Milieu
Décor varies greatly among LA’s proud gin joints. Drop by the Bigfoot Lodge (Map 5) in Atwater to swig down a few beers (or a Toasted Marshmallow, if it’s your birthday and you’re extremely girly) while you cozy up to Smokey the Bear. The owner of Tiki-Ti (Map 4) in Los Feliz is so dedicated to keeping up his mini-Polynesian paradise that patrons will find the bar closed when he’s in the islands “doing research.” Try Oldfields (Map 24) for a retro-speakeasy vibe and killer scotchy-scotch-scotch. For upscale chic, Casa del Mar (Map 18) in Santa Monica delivers with a grand lobby/bar serving drinks with grand price tags; or try The Windows Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel (Map 2). If you’re looking for a great view, you’re looking for Yamashiro (Map 3). It’s a famous Japanese restaurant in the Hollywood Hills, but skip the pricey meal and get a drink at the bar—and pick a table that takes advantage of one of the best views of Los Angeles. The Edison (Map 9) downtown takes boiler-room chic to a new, drunken level with its historically-accurate industrial vibe—just beware of the gate-keeping bouncers who hold a staunch no-tennis-shoes policy. Or, just get with the program, you slob.
Best Dancing
So you think you can dance? Whether you shake your moneymaker to salsa, hip-hop, techno, or reggae, there is someplace for everyone to get down in Los Angeles. For hot and sweaty Havana nights, it doesn’t get more authentic than Hollywood’s El Floridita (Map 3) salsa club, located in a shady strip mall on Fountain and Vine. Downtown’s legendary Mayan (Map 9) doubles as a concert venue and an exclusive salsa club with a strict dress code—call ahead for details. Over in the 90069, Boys Town boasts a plethora of gay dance clubs known for, um, stiff drinks, um, throbbing music, and Schwarzenegger-esque bartenders. Some of the most popular include Factory (Map 2), The Abbey (Map 2), Micky’s (Map 2), and Rage (Map 2). For less hype, head to Los Feliz’s Akbar (Map 4) to find a LGBT-friendly crowd and a chill Eastside vibe. Central Hollywood has replaced the Strip as the hotspot for club-hopping millennials, short-run celebrities, and indie fauxhemians. Cinespace (Map 3), Avalon (Map 3), and Bardot (Map 3) are all popular dance spots within one two-block radius. If electro and dub are your style, The Echo’s (Map 5) hipster-attracting Dub Club on Wednesdays in Silver Lake is a plaid-flaunting good time. For a wild night out on the cheap, check out La Plaza (Map 2) on La Brea, with DJs spinning ranchero music and fabulous Latino drag-queen performances at 10 pm and midnight on the weekends.
Best Music
Out-of-work musicians are almost as plentiful in Los Angeles as out-of-work actors. Lucky for them, LA draws more than enough stadium-filling performances to help them keep the dream alive while offering plenty of smallish venues where they can showcase their talent. If you want your music grand, orchestral, and outdoors, then head to The Hollywood Bowl (Map 3). Pack a picnic, a blanket, and your significant other and head on up for a stunning view and some outstanding acoustics. The Bowl plays host to rock shows, classic bands, an impressive Independence Day fireworks show, and the occasional Garrison Keillor radio performance. Another panoramic outdoor attraction is the Greek Theatre (Map 4), a gorgeous venue in Griffith Park showcasing a lot of nostalgia acts and a recent current of freshness. On the Sunset Strip, the dependable House of Blues (Map 2) draws in big names. Local institutions like the Whisky A Go-Go (Map 2) and the Viper Room (Map 2) draw crowds for their reputations alone, while offering a mix of both established and undiscovered bands. Some adventurous performers and voyeurs take their chances at Mr. T’s Bowl (Map 33), a seedy former bowling alley in Highland Park. For the freshest indie bands and underground rock, try the Troubadour (Map 2). The Wiltern (Map 7) and the El Rey Theatre (Map 6) in mid-Wilshire are local favorites for catching bigger bands at a smaller venue, while The Satellite (Map 5) in Silver Lake and The Echo (Map 5) in Echo Park bring in locals and music insiders with more alternative live music. The Hotel Café (Map 3) is undoubtedly LA’s best loved acoustic venue, with a cozy New York vibe and some impressive names performing nightly. For live music that doesn’t overpower the pub atmosphere, Molly Malone’s (Map 2) is a deservedly popular spot. It’s a great place to see a wide range of great bands (from alt rock to reggae) and then shoot some darts. Those with more, ahem, evolved tastes can often be caught taking in a Friday night performance at the Getty (Map 16), or a live music-silent film combo at The Cinefamily (Map 2). The famous, cavernous Amoeba Music (Map 3) packs in locals with (free!) live in-store performances—check their marquee for upcoming shows from surprisingly big names. DJs are people, too. Some people even consider them musicians. The most eclectic slate of DJs spins at Verdugo (Map 36), and the crowd is wildly different from night to night.