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This romantically lit hole-in-the-wall is easy to miss, but you should aim to check it out if you're a discerning wine connoisseur or looking to experience the best of California's microbreweries. Perfect for first dates, come here to experiment with craft beers or to warm up with wine while listening to some live old-time fiddle tunes.
1642 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
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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 for 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, which gets crowded on the weekends.
1087 Manzanita St., Los Angeles, California, 90029, USA
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Don’t be turned off by the glaring log cabin theme (which is intensified by signature cocktails called Scout’s Honor and Roasted Marshmallow). Bigfoot Lodge is beloved by Eastside denizens, and despite appearances, it’s every bit a low-key, unpretentious neighborhood bar that specializes in shots and beer and welcomes the occasional tourist that happens to stumble inside.
3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90039, USA
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Around since 1959, this dive bar and steak joint continues to be a well-loved place 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.
1657 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, California, 90401, USA
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Hollywood
Tucked away in a basement on quiet Hudson Avenue, Dirty Laundry is a former speakeasy turned proper cocktail bar with live music and DJs spinning both fresh and throwback music. There’s beer on hand, but here, cocktails are king.
1725 Hudson Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Mid-Wilshire
This former art deco movie house from the 1930s has been given a second life as a live music venue. Legends and rising stars grace the stage of El Rey. Everyone from the Pixies and Ringo Starr to the Jonas Brothers and Lana Del Rey have performed here.
5515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90036, USA
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Downtown
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.
417 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, California, 90014, USA
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Hollywood
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.
1611 N. El Centro Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA
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Once an ambitious restoration project, Highland Park Bowl now serves as a massive throwback to its Prohibition-era roots as an alcohol-prescribing doctor’s office and drugstore with its own bowling alley. That bowling alley remains, complete with the original pin machine. The hooch-pushing doctor and druggist, however, are long gone. But now there's an Italian restaurant that serves excellent pizza made from scratch using a mother dough brought all the way from Italy.
5621 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90042, USA
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Koreatown
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.
3357 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90010, USA
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There are plenty of reasons to stop by Mohawk Bend: 72 craft beers on tap, a wide range of California-only liquor, a vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu that includes tailored-to-your-wants pizza, and a buffalo cauliflower that—rumor has it—started the whole trend. There might be a long line to get into this 100-year-old former theater in the evenings, but it’s worth it.
2141 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
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Hollywood
The prim and proper vibe of this old-school steak house won't appeal to those looking for a raucous night out; instead, its appeal lies in its history and sturdy drinks. Established over a century ago, its dark wood decor, red tuxedo–clad waiters, and highly skilled bartenders can easily shuttle you back to its Hollywood heyday when Marilyn Monroe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Greta Garbo once hung around and sipped martinis.
6667 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA
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Downtown
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.
428 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, California, 90013, USA
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Downtown
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.
515 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, California, 90014, USA
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West Hollywood
The Abbey in West Hollywood is one of the most famous LGBTQ+ bars in the world. And rightfully so. Seven days a week, a mixed and very good-looking crowd comes to eat, drink, dance, and flirt. Creative cocktails are whipped up by buff bartenders with a bevy of theme nights and parties each day.
692 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90069, USA
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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.
1822 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
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West Hollywood
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.
9081 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90069, USA
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Recently updated Akbar is not your fancy L.A. cocktail bar filled with sipping model types and beautiful celebrity-adjacent people. 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, unapologetically outrageous events like Craftaoke, Gaymer Night, and queer disco nights.
4356 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90029, USA
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Atwater Village | Bars/Pubs
There’s no denying that part of the reason why this charming rectangular joint on Glendale Boulevard has effortlessly established itself as a regular fixture in the neighborhood is its incredible pub food. After all, the fried shrimp tacos, Baja-style, are to die for. But when you toss in the happy hour deals like all-day Mondays, $5 margarita Tuesdays, and $5 shot Fridays, you'll realize this place ain't too shabby as a bar, either.
3218 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90039, USA
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Hollywood
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 free Monday night showcase of up-and-coming artists.
1735 Vine St., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA