Guidebook for Los Angeles
Drinks & Nightlife
Bands come to see other bands play here, so you’ll get a lot of musicians in the crowd. Everyone is always interested in the next wave of talent, and this is a 350-person capacity venue that is a milestone for bands on the way to becoming a household name. Artists come to be seen—and get signed.
There’s a patio that is a nice and relaxing place where both bands and fans hang out after a show. It’s open to everyone, so you never know who you’ll be sitting next to.
305 locals recommend
The Echo
1822 Sunset BlvdBands come to see other bands play here, so you’ll get a lot of musicians in the crowd. Everyone is always interested in the next wave of talent, and this is a 350-person capacity venue that is a milestone for bands on the way to becoming a household name. Artists come to be seen—and get signed.
There’s a patio that is a nice and relaxing place where both bands and fans hang out after a show. It’s open to everyone, so you never know who you’ll be sitting next to.
Tenants is a gorgeous indoor/outdoor cocktail bar that attracts a cool, fashionable crowd. In addition to great drinks, a rowdy dance floor, and celebrity sightings, the bar also hosts film screenings and is home to its very own food truck.
I book bands here on Wednesday nights and it’s always great to see other musicians turn out to support on the rise talent. Tuesdays draw an artistic-leaning crowd and can get pretty crazy. The weekends are always jam-packed. The line for the door can be pretty long as the night goes on, so best to arrive early.
89 locals recommend
TENANTS OF THE TREES
2810 Hyperion AveTenants is a gorgeous indoor/outdoor cocktail bar that attracts a cool, fashionable crowd. In addition to great drinks, a rowdy dance floor, and celebrity sightings, the bar also hosts film screenings and is home to its very own food truck.
I book bands here on Wednesday nights and it’s always great to see other musicians turn out to support on the rise talent. Tuesdays draw an artistic-leaning crowd and can get pretty crazy. The weekends are always jam-packed. The line for the door can be pretty long as the night goes on, so best to arrive early.
This is a non-descript neighborhood spot in Silver Lake that always draws musicians—whether they are performing on the tiny stage or there to have a drink. Even though it’s been around for a while, it still feels like a secret. You’d never know it was there, save for the barbershop pole which marks the entrance.
It’s beer and wine only, but don’t let that stop you.
20 locals recommend
Hyperion Avenue Tavern
1941 Hyperion AveThis is a non-descript neighborhood spot in Silver Lake that always draws musicians—whether they are performing on the tiny stage or there to have a drink. Even though it’s been around for a while, it still feels like a secret. You’d never know it was there, save for the barbershop pole which marks the entrance.
It’s beer and wine only, but don’t let that stop you.
There’s always something cool happening here. They have stellar local and famous DJs, lots of fun parties, a small pool, and seating areas to lounge with friends.
They host a lot of after-parties for shows that happen at the Theater at the Ace Hotel downstairs, which always has amazing concerts, screenings, performances, etc. If you go with a large group, get one of their punch bowls which are sure to make your night exciting.
64 locals recommend
Upstairs at Ace Hotel
929 S BroadwayThere’s always something cool happening here. They have stellar local and famous DJs, lots of fun parties, a small pool, and seating areas to lounge with friends.
They host a lot of after-parties for shows that happen at the Theater at the Ace Hotel downstairs, which always has amazing concerts, screenings, performances, etc. If you go with a large group, get one of their punch bowls which are sure to make your night exciting.
This is a beautifully designed and dimly lit bar in Chinatown, which is fast becoming the most vibrant part of LA. The neighborhood is home to artists of every stripe and has some of the best restaurants, while the industrial edges are home to DIY music performance spaces, artist studios, and fantastic galleries.
Their speciality cocktails are a must. It tends to be consistently crowded, but not overwhelming, no matter the night. Go have dinner at Andy Richter’s Pok Pok or Roy Choi’s Chego beforehand.
15 locals recommend
General Lee's
475 Gin Ling WayThis is a beautifully designed and dimly lit bar in Chinatown, which is fast becoming the most vibrant part of LA. The neighborhood is home to artists of every stripe and has some of the best restaurants, while the industrial edges are home to DIY music performance spaces, artist studios, and fantastic galleries.
Their speciality cocktails are a must. It tends to be consistently crowded, but not overwhelming, no matter the night. Go have dinner at Andy Richter’s Pok Pok or Roy Choi’s Chego beforehand.
This is a great happy hour to hit before a show downtown. The drinks are cheap, the bartenders don’t give a damn, and they have some of the most eclectic DJ nights. I am always discovering new music while I am there.
If you’re just in it for the music, they do a punk rock “angry” hour out on the patio on Fridays from 4pm to 9pm. Cheap drinks, loud music, and a great mix of young kids and old regulars.
44 locals recommend
La Cita
336 S Hill StThis is a great happy hour to hit before a show downtown. The drinks are cheap, the bartenders don’t give a damn, and they have some of the most eclectic DJ nights. I am always discovering new music while I am there.
If you’re just in it for the music, they do a punk rock “angry” hour out on the patio on Fridays from 4pm to 9pm. Cheap drinks, loud music, and a great mix of young kids and old regulars.
This a great spot to post up and do some serious drinking in the heart of Los Feliz—which is home to lots of musicians and actors. In Los Angeles, so many places are so fancy and chi-chi, that artists tend to seek out these more divey spots.
Any night is good. Sundays are mellow. Karaoke Tuesdays are a total riot.
67 locals recommend
Ye Rustic Inn
1831 Hillhurst AveThis a great spot to post up and do some serious drinking in the heart of Los Feliz—which is home to lots of musicians and actors. In Los Angeles, so many places are so fancy and chi-chi, that artists tend to seek out these more divey spots.
Any night is good. Sundays are mellow. Karaoke Tuesdays are a total riot.
The Fonda is my favorite venue in LA. It’s a classic, elegant theater that hosts some of the best bands coming through LA—everyone from Nicolas Jaar to Carly Rae Jepsen to even The Rolling Stones have played here.
There’s an outdoor rooftop bar which has a nice view of Hollywood Boulevard. You can beat the lines downstairs and enjoy the view. You never know who else might be doing the same thing.
48 locals recommend
The Fonda Theatre
6126 Hollywood BlvdThe Fonda is my favorite venue in LA. It’s a classic, elegant theater that hosts some of the best bands coming through LA—everyone from Nicolas Jaar to Carly Rae Jepsen to even The Rolling Stones have played here.
There’s an outdoor rooftop bar which has a nice view of Hollywood Boulevard. You can beat the lines downstairs and enjoy the view. You never know who else might be doing the same thing.
It’s a Hollywood bar with an eclectic crowd. It’s a dynamic space so you can start a dance party in the front or hang out with friends in the large outdoor patio out back.
Check their Instagram before going to see what is happening that night. It gets really crowded on the weekends, but I've gone on weekdays and it can be just as fun.
13 locals recommend
BLACK
6202 CA-2It’s a Hollywood bar with an eclectic crowd. It’s a dynamic space so you can start a dance party in the front or hang out with friends in the large outdoor patio out back.
Check their Instagram before going to see what is happening that night. It gets really crowded on the weekends, but I've gone on weekdays and it can be just as fun.
If you want headline-worthy rock stars, this place is a storied and legendary hangout. It is known for having celebrity-packed parties that spill over from the bar into the bungalows.
Getting into the bar can go from being relatively easy to impossible. It’s not even worth trying on nights after an event like the Grammys. It helps to have dinner reservations, which you may need to make a couple weeks in advance.
83 locals recommend
Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset BoulevardIf you want headline-worthy rock stars, this place is a storied and legendary hangout. It is known for having celebrity-packed parties that spill over from the bar into the bungalows.
Getting into the bar can go from being relatively easy to impossible. It’s not even worth trying on nights after an event like the Grammys. It helps to have dinner reservations, which you may need to make a couple weeks in advance.