5 Best Nightlife in Westside, Los Angeles

Focusing on the literary arts, this performance space—located in the former Venice city hall—serves as a center for the community to hear readings from authors, poets, and locals. Along with readings and performances, workshops are available to the public (both in person and on Zoom; many are free) and the gallery hosts rotating art shows. The bookstore features a wide selection of poetry books.

Featured in La La Land, the 2016 musical set in Los Angeles, this onetime jazz bistro now offers a wide range of live entertainment, adding salsa, country, reggae, and pop to the repertoire. A jazz brunch and live music all day on weekends draw locals and tourists alike. Check out the weekday happy hour specials.

This 70-plus-year-old, charming bar continually reinvents itself. The Brig has its pluses (interesting drinks, talented DJs, and some live music) and minuses (ugh, parking), but is worth a look if you're in the area. There's always a food truck around, and the bar's fine with you bringing in outside food.

With Los Angeles being Los Angeles, a disproportionate amount of comedians call the city home, from the would-be to the been-there-done-that. The decades-old Comedy and Magic Club attracts them all. One popular engagement is when 10 up-and-coming comedians perform, one right after the other, in a sort of comic brinksmanship. Other nights might see the occasional magician or an icon of the field like Jay Leno or Bob Saget, there to keep their timing fresh and try out new material for adoring crowds. Stiff drinks and decent entrées and appetizers reward those who arrive early for the best seats, but try grabbing a meal nearby before arriving 30 to 60 minutes prior to the show (budget a little more time for someone like Leno, who's a regular on Sunday nights but still draws crowds).

Throw darts, shoot pool, or play shuffleboard at this British pub (its name refers to London's subway system), or watch a game on one of the many monitors. The adjacent Fox and Farrow gastropub is run by one of the co-owners.