The Ultimate Guide to the Best Los Angeles Nightlife

 

The City of Angels has a reputation for being home to some of the best nightlife destinations in the world. From sultry lounges to exclusive nightclubs to rooftop bars with sprawling views of the city, Los Angeles has a spectrum of night spots for guests to enjoy the time of their lives. Sip drinks, dance, and mingle with trendsetting crowds at some of the best Los Angeles nightlife locations in the city.

Los Angeles nightclubs are world-renowned for being exclusive, extravagant, and filled with stylish crowds. One of the best nightclubs in Los Angeles, Warwick brings a lavish experience to Hollywood with a spacious, eye-catching interior built for mixing and mingling. Nightingale offers a sleek experience in West Hollywood, with vibrant lighting and elegant furnishings for bottle service and dancing. Visit Bootsy Bellows to have their vintage, art deco interior as a backdrop to live artist performances, quirky puppet shows, and trendy crowds in West Hollywood. Take in the night air at rooftop club The Highlight Room atop Dream Hollywood, which boasts cabana bottle service, live DJs and panoramic views of the city. The exclusive West Hollywood nightclub Poppy is known for its high profile clientele and A-list music performances from world renowned singers and rappers.

There are a bevy of cocktail bars in Los Angeles, with some standing out for their critically acclaimed elixirs. Thunderbolt in Downtown LA is an award-winning neighborhood bar with thoughtfully crafted cocktails in a welcoming, Southern-inspired atmosphere. Head to Genever in Filipinotown for classic and modern gin-based cocktails made with fresh ingredients and house made syrups. Echo Park’s Bar Flores offers indoor and terrace seating in a floral-inspired space where you can sip from their curated menu of delicious concoctions. One of Hollywood’s favorite cocktail bars, The Spare Room at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, is known for its bowling alley lanes and specialty drinks made by talented bartenders. You’ll also find the knowledgeable staff at industry favorite Big Bar serving up flavorful libations in Silver Lake.

Nightclubs aren’t the only Los Angeles nightlife destinations fit for dancing. You can enjoy the DJ’s sounds at No Vacancy in Hollywood, which offers both indoor and outdoor space for dancing in the vintage, speakeasy-style bar. Silver Lake’s Short Stop is a neighborhood favorite due to its spacious room for dancing, complete with a sparkling disco ball above. You’ll also have an exciting time at Dirty Laundry, where you’ll head down the stairs to a multi-room underground watering hole in Hollywood. Visit Lock & Key in Koreatown to celebrate in a cozy, glam atmosphere with plenty of room for dancing on their patio. On the Westside, The Brig in Venice is known to draw in guests ready to hit the dancefloor after a classic shot and beer combo.

For those seeking less energetic places to gather, you’ll find a selection of noteworthy locales perfect for lounging. The Bungalow Santa Monica is one of the most popular bars in Santa Monica thanks to its welcoming, beachy atmosphere and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. The top floor of Thompson Hollywood is home to Bar Lis, a sophisticated lounge inspired by the French Riviera that boasts live jazz music and weekend DJs. You’ll also find an ideal rooftop setting at EP & LP, with LP being a rooftop bar perfect for relaxing under the stars. The cocktails at Employees Only are known for being delicious, and you’ll have no problem enjoying the sleek, modern space in West Hollywood. At the top of 1 Hotel Hollywood you can visit Harriet’s Rooftop, a trendy spot for mixing and mingling with bites, cocktails and bottle service.

While traditional supper clubs may be hard to come by, there are modern versions of lively dinner and entertainment destinations that bring a dash of excitement to Los Angeles nightlife. Book your reservation at Delilah to enjoy not only an appetizing dinner menu, but live music and DJs that dazzle in the lavish, West Hollywood space. You’ll find a similar atmosphere at Toca Madera, where they serve elevated Mexican dishes and craft cocktails in a buzzworthy setting. If you’d like to follow up dinner with dancing, book a reservation at Doheny Room, where the downstairs dining experience and upstairs dancefloor go hand in hand for the perfect night on the town. Head to Beauty & Essex in Hollywood for a glamorous nightlife experience that includes a menu of decadent dishes and elegant dining rooms fit for revelry. You’ll be swept away by TAO’s expansive, multi-level dining room that gives a buzzworthy, lounge feel during your night. You’ll also enjoy Hyde Sunset’s transition from trendy dinner hot spot to energetic nightclub in the heart of West Hollywood

No visit to Los Angeles would be complete without ducking into one of the city’s many speakeasy locales. One of the most popular Los Angeles speakeasies is Hollywood’s Good Times at Davey Wayne’s, where guests enter through an incognito doorway into a spirited bar modeled after a 1970s living room. Nearby, you can also find Sunset & Vinyl spinning vintage records tucked above an unassuming pizza place, making for a unique Los Angeles nightlife destination. Book a reservation at La Descarga in East Hollywood for salsa dancing, rum cocktails, and a cigar lounge inspired by the vintage culture of Havana, Cuba. Break Room 86 in Koreatown will also whisk you away to another time and place with its 1980s theme complete with break dancers and arcade games. Tucked away behind Seven Grand in Downtown LA is speakeasy Bar Jackalope, where whiskey fans can taste a variety of curated selections in an intimate space. Downtown’s hideaway The Varnish offers handcrafted cocktails behind a storage closet door in the storied Cole’s French Dip restaurant.