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Los Angeles is not the city that never sleeps—instead it parties until 2 am (save for the secret after-hours parties at private clubs or warehouses), and wakes up to imbibe green juices and breakfast burritos as hangover cures, or to sweat it out in a yoga class. Whether you plan to test your limit at historic establishments Downtown, or take advantage of a cheap happy hour at a Hollywood dive, this city's nightlife has something for you.
A night out in Los Angeles can simultaneously surprise and impress. That unscheduled set by an A-list comedian at the stand-up comedy club, being talked into singing karaoke at the diviest place you've ever seen, dancing at a bar with no dance floor because, well, the DJ is just too good at his job—going out isn't always what you expect, but it certainly is never boring.
The focus of nightlife once centered on the Sunset Strip, with its multitude of bars, rock clubs, and dance spots, but more neighborhoods are competing with each other and forcing the nightlife scene to evolve. Although the Strip can be a worthwhile trip, other areas of the city are catching people’s attention. Downtown Los Angeles, for instance, is becoming a destination in its own right, drawing cocktail connoisseurs at Seven Grand and rooftop revelers at the Standard.
Other areas foster more of a neighborhood vibe. Silver Lake and Los Feliz have both cultivated a relaxed environment where you can be drinking in a tiki bar so small you wind up talking with the person at the next stool over (Tiki-Ti) or bringing in a 45 to play on an old-fashioned record player (El Prado).
So if you find yourself disappointed with a rude bouncer, or drinks that are too watery, or a cover charge that just isn't worth it, try again. Eventually you'll find that perfect place where each time is the best time. If not, at least you'll walk away with a good story.
The Abbey in West Hollywood is one of the most famous and friendliest LGBTQIA+ bars in town. Seven days a week, a very good-looking crowd comes to eat, drink, dance, and flirt, with a bevy of theme nights and parties. Creative cocktails are whipped up by buff bartenders.
Reservations are definitely required for this swanky, New York–style space in West Hollywood. Waiters in white coats serve a mix of upscale American cuisine, but the true reason to come happens a little later when live jazz and burlesque dancers turn the night into a sultry singles scene that's visited by a see-and-be-seen crowd.
At this dark and sultry elegant supper club, you'll enjoy a fine dining French meal crafted with the finest ingredients, while watching an entertaining and sultry cabaret show. Sit in one of the semi-private booths for two while sipping refreshing cocktails and enjoying French cuisine paired with California and French wines. Watch how music, dance, and sultry burlesque collide into a titillating show. After dinner the space turns into a lively nightclub with a live DJ.
The Baked Potato might seem like a strange name for L.A.'s oldest continuously operating jazz club, which has been holding nightly performances of well-known acts under its roof since the '70s. But one look at the all-ages venue's cheeky menu makes it make sense. That's all they serve—24 varieties of souped-up spuds. The taters range from one-note cheese-only numbers to more creative compositions piled high with maple ham, corn, and pineapple or hot dog and sauerkraut. Each comes with sour cream, butter, and a simple salad to offset that carb intake.
Right at the start of the Sunset Strip, Bar Marmont at the Chateau Marmont is a partygoer's staple. Get fancy and come here with a group. The kitchen serves a changing menu of classic French-style dishes.
Three stages give seasoned and unseasoned comedians a place to perform and try out new material. Sometimes big-name performers drop by just for fun. The front bar along Sunset Boulevard is a popular hangout after or between shows, oftentimes comedians mingle with fans.
Walk into this neighborhood sports bar and grill for an elevated experience to foster connections, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. Each night is a festive theme such as Karaoke Monday, Taco Tuesday, Trivia Wednesday, Thursday $3 Hot Dogs and live DJ, Fish Friday, and Ru Paul's Drag Race Viewing Party. Weekend brunch is popular with food and shot specials. Order from a variety of snacks like breakfast sandwiches, salads, or build-your-own burgers (beef, chicken, turkey, or Beyond).
This comedy club is not technically in Hollywood, but it brings Hollywood stars such as Ali Wong and Dave Chappelle popping in to try out a set in development. The club features theme nights throughout the week, so check the schedule online.
All-star stand-up comics regularly appear at this Sunset Boulevard mainstay, often working out the kinks in new material in advance of national tours. Stars such as George Lopez and Tiffany Haddish sometimes drop in. This venue has theme nights like Chocolate Sundaes and Tehran Thursdays that are extremely popular, with comics performing more daring sets.
With swaths of fabric draped from the ceiling, this low-lit bar with a bohemian vibe is the perfect backdrop (and mood) for a date. Groups of locals also come through at all hours of the night, making for a good mix of people and energy. The bartenders pour drinks that are both tasty and potent. There's plenty of seating at the tables and stools along the central bar, and their outdoor patio has become the centerpiece for stylish twentysomethings to flock and socialize.
It may come across kitschy with its log cabin theme (further intensified by signature cocktails like Scout’s Honor and Roasted Marshmallow), but Bigfoot Lodge is a beloved mainstay among Eastside denizens. Despite its first impression, it is every bit a low-key, unpretentious neighborhood bar that specializes in shots and beer and welcomes the occasional tourist that happens to stumble inside.
Around since 1959, this dive bar and steak joint continues to be well-loved in Santa Monica. Everyone from the young to the old (including families) frequents this historical landmark, where Marilyn Monroe is said to have once canoodled with JFK. It's a charming place, from the well-worn booths with their red-checkered tablecloths to the ship's wheel near the door. Photographs are discouraged, but if you ask politely, you can learn how one of the restaurant's famous free peanuts ended up on a trip to the Moon. The backyard lounge is perfect for warm, low-key days; the grub's solid, with a more contemporary menu, and the happy hour is popular amongst locals and tourists alike.
Here’s a rooftop joint where you can cowboy (or cowgirl) up while eating tacos, learning to line dance, and belting out your favorite country western jams (Wednesday is karaoke night). Mirror-clad cowboy boots float above the dance floor, while cowhide covered chairs and mounted longhorns create a Wild West vibe. This glam honky-tonk prides itself on being a little bit country and a whole lotta Hollywood.
Tucked away in a basement on quiet Hudson Avenue, Dirty Laundry is a former speakeasy turned proper late night cocktail bar with live music and DJs spinning both fresh and throwback music. There’s beer on hand, but here, cocktails are king.
Echo Park is peppered with music venues, but if you want to be in the heart of the neighborhood's live music scene, you should head to the Echo. With a full bar and recurring theme nights, the spot hosts cutting-edge music from both up-and-coming local and touring acts as well as well-known bands.
Craft cocktails, beers on tap, an outdoor smoking patio, and retro video games—this bar in the heart of Downtown is not to be missed. With one of the oldest liquor licenses in Los Angeles (issued in 1905), the Golden Gopher is the only bar in Los Angeles with an on-site liquor store for to-go orders—just in case you want to buy another bottle before you head home.
It's a fridge; it's a door; it's the entrance to Davey Wayne's, a bar and lounge that pulls out all the stops to transport you back in time to the '70s. The interior is your living room; the outside is an ongoing backyard barbecue with all your friends. Come early to beat the crowds or be prepared to get up close and personal with your neighbors.
Once an ambitious restoration project, Highland Park Bowl now serves as a massive throwback to its Prohibition-era roots, formerly an alcohol-prescribing doctor’s office and drugstore with its own bowling alley. Although the hooch-pushing doctor and druggist are long gone, the bowling alley remains, complete with the original pin machine. Revel in the nostalgia, but expect a wait for a lane on weekend evenings.
This super-kitschy nautical-theme bar in the heart of Koreatown offers drink specials and food at prices that will make you swoon. Come for the wings, all-day breakfast specials, cheap drinks, and very eclectic crowds.
Catch a lineup of indie tastemakers inside this converted industrial space, or hang outdoors in the beer garden while trying bites from on-site food truck KTCHN (on cooler evenings you can congregate around the firepits). A wide variety of draft beers and a specially curated cocktail program are available inside at the bar or at the trailer bar outside.
The hunting lodge vibe makes you feel like you need a whiskey in hand—luckily, this Downtown establishment stocks more than 700 of them. Attracting whiskey novices and connoisseurs, the bartenders here are more than willing to help you make a selection. Live jazz, blues, folk, and other bands play almost every night, so even if you're not a big drinker, there's still some appeal (although you're definitely missing out). For a more intimate setting, try the on-site Bar Jackalope, a bar within a bar, which has a "whiskey tasting library" specializing in Japanese varieties and seats only 18.
Meet some of L.A.'s best drink makers at Thunderbolt. Inspired by the American South, the cocktail bar offers a broad Madeira selection and snacky Southern fare such as fried chicken biscuits and chicken drumettes with a tamari glaze. But Thunderbolt’s biggest standout is its robust cocktail program with interesting and complex combinations of flavors. Standouts include the savory Fu Gwaa Falsetto (shochu and Oaxacan rum with bittermelon, manzanilla, and li hing mui) and the tropical Koji Killer (rum, pineapple, coconut, orange, and shio koji for an umami punch).
L.A. has something for everyone. Case in point, this delightful pub touting a predominantly vegan menu tasty enough to satisfy the most steadfast meat lovers, more than 20 California-crafted beers at any given time, bar games including the titular pastime, billiards, and the occasional chili cook-off or adult spelling bee.
The intimate vibe of the Troubadour helps make this club a favorite with music fans. Around since 1957, this venue has a storied past where legends like Elton John and James Taylor have graced the stage. These days, the eclectic lineup is still attracting crowds, with the focus mostly on rock, indie, and folk music. Those looking for drinks can imbibe to their heart's content at the adjacent bar.
This local haunt is every inch a neighborhood bar, one that serves fast, cheap, and strong drinks; is inclusive of all people; and engages the local community through fun and unapologetically outrageous events like Craftaoke, Gaymer Night, and queer disco nights.
A cocktail lounge ideal for romantic evenings and much-needed gossip sessions with friends, this 2,200-square-foot-room maintains a moody brasserie vibe with its velvety arm chairs and foliage-draped ceilings. The Arroyo Club serves an interesting assortment of cocktails, such as the Midnight Kiss, which features rice-washed tequila, cinnamon, cold brew, and chocolate. Head to the back of the room for savory bar bites like beef or plant-based smash burgers and tater tots.
This multitasking art deco venue offers both live music and club nights. The killer sound system, cavernous space, and multiple bars make it a perfect venue for both. The club is best known for its DJs, who often spin well past the 2 am cutoff for drinks. The crowd can be a mixed bag, depending on the night, but if you're looking to dance, you likely won't be disappointed. Upstairs is Bardot, which hosts special events including a Monday night showcase of up-and-coming artists.
Don't let the '70s chill vibes fool you: Aviator Nation Dreamland is attempting to do a lot of things, and it does them very well. Part coffee house serving all day, part music venue, part surf and lifestyle shop, and part community hub, it's become an embodiment of the laid-back, sun-soaked spirit of Southern California. Opened in 2021 by Paige Mycoskie, founder of the retro-inspired clothing brand Aviator Nation, this multifaceted venue is just steps from the beach. The site's previous incarnations include its time as the Crazy Horse Saloon, which hosted everyone from the Beach Boys to the Doors to Fleetwood Mac. That aural history carries over into today's experience. The complex includes a large outdoor area with comfortable seating, perfect for enjoying a meal or watching live performances on the custom-built stage.
This laid-back spot is the embodiment of an unpretentious wine drinker's wine bar, complete with non-judgy staff. What else would you expect from a spot with repurposed furnishings and a vintage motorcycle mounted to the wall? There's a new menu of wine and locally sourced beer every week as well as delicious appetizers like the popular deviled eggs and charcuterie plate.
Latina-owned Bar Flores may look like any indoor--outdoor bar you'll find in sun-kissed Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, but the elevated cocktails served here are very Los Angeles. Margarita Wednesday is a must, and the back patio has a taco stand in case you get hungry.
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