Angelinos don't have to take their nightlife seriously, for the simple reason that clubs, bars and hangouts are merely an alternative to inviting a few friends over to have a BBQ on the deck and watch the sun dropping behind the Santa Monicas. The velvet-rope snobbery that fuels hype in other places doesn't really work here—once a nightspot starts to show attitude, that's when the true night crawlers know it's time to move on to the next undiscovered dive. The Swingers phenomena could only have happened here, where there are scores of fading, weathered piano bars and lounges. The regulars don't mind newcomers—it's just more company in the quicksand.
You're So Money, Baby: Lounging and Clubbing
The recently opened Latin Lounge (9077 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; 310-888-8811) is targeted at celebs who like to salsa. The food is vegetarian and seafood, and the dance floor so tiny it doesn't take much to make a crowd. On weekends some of L.A.'s best Latin bands come in to heat things up. The Martini Lounge (5657 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; 323-467-4068) is one of those places that will never really go out of style, not as long as L.A. continues to grind out aspiring musicians and bands. The stage in the main room is minimal, so you're guaranteed an intimate musical experience if that's your desire; the bar has quieter acoustics and a display of martini glasses (people swear by the martinis here). Goldfinger's (6423 Yucca St., Hollywood; 323-962-2913) is a statement of ironic pop sensibility, complete with go-go dancers and gold lamé wallpaper.
If you're out on an expense account or trying to impress that special date, come to The Derby (4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz; 323-663-8979) for dinner, grab one of the curtained booths and order a couple of martinis. The doormen are boors, the drinks are way too expensive and the cover charge is insane; the room is outstanding, though, particularly the oval bar with its mountain of bottles. Don't even think about dancing unless you've really got your moves down—the dancers who take to the small dance floor in front of the low stage are like something out of a '40s musical.
The Dresden Room (1760 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles; 323-665-4294) was spoiled by its Swingers association, and the sense of scene is now vanished. However, the prices haven't gone up, the people who run the place are the same, and it still has that heavy Bavarian feel of brick, dark wood and leather (with booths around the piano). Right around the corner, there's the Good Luck Club (1514 Hillhurst Ave., Hollywood; 323-666-3524). The place is beautiful and cozy inside, with red lanterns hanging over the red roll-and-tuck booths. This bar feels more like a movie set than a place to drown your sorrows, and the people who do drink here spend way too much time checking themselves out in the mirror. Good drinks, though.
Swing This: Bars with Attitude
Bars may come and bars may go, but the Tiki Ti (4427 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood/Los Feliz; 323-669-9381) will outlive us all. Small as a closet, with only a handful of tables and stools, this is one of L.A.'s best-known oddities. The bar serves nothing but tropical drinks. You can choose from among more than 40 recipes, all formulated with one purpose in mind: to knock you on your butt while concealing the taste of the alcohol. It's one of the few well-known nighttime icons where the tourists and locals blend easily, and makes for a great first date spot, as evidenced by the high ratio of couples here. The Lava Lounge (1533 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood; 323-876-6612) was one of the first establishments to take a page out of the Tiki Ti's book, re-creating a so-with-it, post—Pulp Fiction hang for people who want a little peace and quiet but also a little style, and maybe an umbrella in their drink. They have a stage of sorts for the occasional lonely troubadour wailing tunes of urban angst.
The Roost (3100 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz/Atwater; 323-664-7272) still believes you should have your cocktails with cancer if that's your choice, so nobody complains here about cigarette smoke. This is a bar from the old school: there's a terrible jukebox, two TVs running with the sound off, free popcorn and red leather tuck-and-roll booths. It has a kitchen, but most people come for the bar. You'll find a similar good vibe at the Club Tee Gee (3210 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village; 323-669-9631), a '40s-era neighborhood bar. There's lots of country music on the jukebox, and on a Tuesday night everyone looks up when you walk in... which is okay: they chill out again after a few minutes. The drinks are cheapo-deluxe: Beers are still just $2, and the decor is, well, real.
Akbar (4356 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood/Los Feliz; 323-665-6810) is a bar for locals, located in a bunkerlike box on Sunset right next to a McDonald's, with no windows and little indication of what goes on inside. It's full of little Moorish touches, with a nice long bar, comfortable seats, healthy-sized drinks, and a smoke-if-you-want-to flexibility. It's got a great vibe and a wonderful jukebox. The same could be said about the Smog Cutter (864 N. Virgil Ave., Hollywood; 323-667-9832). It's one small room, funky and Spartan, with the seedy ambience of an East Hollywood local's hangout. No windows and a bathroom for the desperate only.
Not Just for Breakfast Anymore: Hotel Bars
The queen of all hotel bars has to be the Polo Lounge (9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310-276-2251). The decor is classic pink and green, and the landscaping is fabulous. There's always a piano player tinkling standards, and even on weekends the place is jammed. This is one of the entertainment industry's major deal-making venues, and the possibility of seeing a famous face is always good. A similar industry odor emanates from the bar at The Peninsula Hotel (9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310-551-2888). CAA is headquartered just across the street, so a lot of agents come here to sharpen their knives. The interior is dark wood and marble, including leather seats around a fireplace—perfect for hatching Machiavellian schemes. At the Beverly Wilshire Hotel Bar (9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310-275-5200) you'll also encounter the feel of a private club, all wood paneling and leather chairs, but it's the place's proximity to ICM and William Morris that brings in the packs of agents for after-work drinks.
If you can't get into the butterfly-encrusted Bar Marmont, amble next door to the Chateau Marmont (8221 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 323-656-1010) itself and sit outside on the patio. The feeling here is far more relaxed and pleasant than at most hotel bars. If you see any celebs, leave them alone—that's why they come here.
The most happening hotel bar of the moment is the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel (8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 323-650-8999). Its faux-Balinese decor aside, the reason people come here is for the hipster factor, plus one of the most glorious views of the city out by the pool. If you're staying at the hotel, you can get in easily. Due to its recent popularity, however, only locals with juice can usually make it in the door during peak hours. Go early in the evening, or dress in a sarong and pretend you're one of the waiters.
Pub Crawl, Hollywood-style: The Cahuenga Corridor
If your idea of a good time is stumbling bar to bar a la New Orleans, then the Cahuenga Corridor is made to order. Start out with the L.A. version of New York's Beauty Bar (1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; 323-464-7676), a combination beauty parlor/nightclub featuring stiff perms and stiffer drinks. The tattooed glitterati come here to apply a fresh layer of paint to the carapace prior to a night on the town. Leaving here you face four Rooms in as many blocks, starting with The Sunset Room (1430 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; 323-463-0004), a former warehouse reborn as celebrity playground. The ceilings are 35 feet high, just barely tall enough for the major egos that gather here. It's velvet-rope hell, so your odds of entering on a busy night are dicey. Make reservations for dinner to make sure you'll get in. Next comes The Burgundy Room (1621 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; 323-465-7530), an old-style Hollywood bar that was the first to be awoken from the dead by fresh young blood. It's dark and completely forgiving, a place to get really drunk and bang your head on the bar. A much cozier and tonier scene can be found across the street at The Room (1626 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood; 323-462-7196). Thanks to the hidey-hole alley entrance, The Room has a certain illicit speakeasy vibe. It's got good DJs, comfy booths and decent drinks. The last room with a view is the hoary Frolic Room (6245 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 213-462-5890), a Hollywood legend that has been around longer than most of the studios and has fueled many an aspiring alcoholic. Need a little hair of the dog? Doors open at 6 a.m. and there are two happy hour periods, 6—9 a.m. and 4—7 p.m.
"Pogo, Anyone?": Live Rock, Punk, Alternative and More
It has to begin with Al's Bar (305 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles; 213-626-7213), the grandfather to all good things born of the gutter. Al's has been here for 20-plus years, playing host to punks, poets and performance geeks who take the foot-high stage to shake the audience up while working out their private demons. Mr. T's Bowl (5621 1/2 Figueroa Ave., Highland Park; 323-256-7561) is a hybrid mutation, a bowling alley that also hosts live music and DJs. The Smell (247 S. Main St., Downtown; 213-625-4325) features art-damaged bands, touring acts from the Northwest, industrial, ambient, punk, whatever. A typical night here is half crazy art opening and half party of regulars, mingling to scratchy loud disturbances emanating from within. The Garage (4519 Santa Monica Blvd., East Hollywood; 323-662-6166), a tiny hole in the wall, has turned into one of the most happening places imaginable, thanks largely to Dr. Vaginal Crème Davis, the tall drag queen who books groups for Sucker on Sunday afternoons. The cover is only $5, and for that you get four to five bands.
The Sunset Strip keeps on ticking somehow. An endless supply of air-guitar heroes and their girlfriends is its blood supply. The Roxy Theater (9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 310-278-9467) retains a cachet for touring name acts, thanks partly to its history, its A&R-friendly atmosphere and the fact that it has one of the best sound systems in the city. It's also a gathering place for all ages, which has an appeal. This is the Strip's class act. Right down the block is the Whiskey A Go Go (8901 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 310-652-4202), which, like the Roxy, has instant name value for touring acts. It's a big, boxy room with decent sound and a bar. Every young band that came out of L.A. played here... and so should you. Coconut Teaszer (8121 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 818-353-6241) and its downstairs acoustic room, the Crooked Bar, are where the band Hollywood Trash was nurtured and first flourished. The basement bar still pushes local acts and remains a faithful home for the side projects of name musicians. The Key Club (9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 310-786-1712) has a heavy-metal memory that's only rekindled in the Thursday-night "metal meltdown" shows. The rest of the week the live music is anything from jazz to loungecore.
Not on the Strip but of it nonetheless is the Troubadour (9081 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; 310-276-6168), which for 40 years pushed everything that L.A. produced, from folk-rock to punk to metal. The place has a lot of room, good sound, no age limit and three bars.
On a particularly inner-city slice of Sunset you'll find the Silverlake Lounge (2906 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; 323-666-2407). There's a nice wooden bar with lava lamps, and when the talent is out on the sidewalk having a smoke, the vibe is completely soothing. All Star Lanes (4459 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock) is the place to come when you can't tell if you want to go bowling, get a tattoo or just dance swing to a line up of rockabilly-psychobilly bands. During Bowl-A-Rama nights, the shoes and bowling are free.
Spaceland (1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake; 213-833-2843) is probably the most influential alt club in L.A., a place to see whatever is new, uncensored and probably unsigned. This is a low-maintenance place, with zero attitude, moderately priced drinks, and a glassed-in smoking section with a bar and view of the stage. Over on the West Side, you'll find Fais Do-Do (5257 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles; 323-954-8080), a boxy hall with decent Cajun food, a reliably quirky booking policy and a real stage, which is rare these days.
The Joint (8771 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles; 310-275-2619) frequently has four bands a night throughout the week, so no matter when you drop in you're sure to hear a variety of acts. The interior itself is worth the trip—gilded elephant tusks, mirrors and mirror balls everywhere, plus a thick carpet that feels as if you're walking through the harem of some dissolute sultan who has built himself his own little disco. Come to Gabah (4658 Melrose Ave., East Hollywood; 323-664-8913) for a look at what's bubbling up from the playing-for-beers-and-not-much-more circuit.
Feels So Good to Feel So Bad: Blues and Jazz
The Mint (6010 W. Pico Blvd., Culver City; 310-764-0763) has what some say is the best sound for any club of its size in the city. Its 24-track soundboard for live recordings brings out the best in the visiting musicians. It also has one of the most solid booking policies around—an always reliable selection of name blues and jazz bands. Babe's and Ricky's Inn (4339 Leimert Blvd., Leimert Park; 323-295-9112) is one of the oldest blues clubs in the city, and though it's no longer on Central Ave, it's kept the feel of the original venue. Every young blues musician in L.A. has played here at one time or another. This is the roadhouse of your dreams—come any night and you'll hear great music, guaranteed.
Toujours Gay: Gay and Lesbian Nightlife
The view at 360 Beige House (6290 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 323-871-2995), atop the Hollywood office building, is stunning, and the lights are bright enough to let you see just how pretty your date really is (or isn't). It's for the Chatty Cathy set, and the clientele tends to be very moneyed. Catch One (4067 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles; 323-734-8849) pulls in an ethnically diverse gay, lesbian and straight crowd, with Thursdays drawing a female crowd. An outgoing and mostly older set converges on Micky's (8857 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; 310-657-1176) with more women drawn to its front-room bar and back-room dance floor than to the other WeHo spots. The Study (1723 N. Western Ave., Hollywood; 323-464-9551) is popular with slightly older Latin and black cruisers. It's very casual, but there's a three-drink minimum if the bartender doesn't like you. The Spike (7746 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; 323-656-9343) is dark, butch and strictly for after-hours tweakers. The Spotlight (1601 N. Cahuenga Ave., Hollywood; 323-467-2425) is where you bring your young man (or where he brings you) to be instructed in the ways of the world. At Rage (8911 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood; 310-652-7055), the nearly 20-year-old mainstay of WeHo's dance club circuit, shirtless muscle boys strut their plumage like peacocks, looking to exchange vital statistics. Axis (652 N. La Peer, West Hollywood; 310-659-0471) has the largest dance floor of any gay club, with great sound and lights. The big night here for the ladies is Friday, when Girl Bar takes over (supposedly the largest dance club for women in the country). Rudolpho's (2500 Riverside Dr., Silver Lake; 818-576-0720) is where Dragstrip 66 takes place on the second Saturday of each month. For a drag show you can take your parents to, there's the Queen Mary (12449 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 818-506-5619) where female impersonators strut their stuff in a very safe mom 'n' pop environment.
