Los Angeles is a fun party city with a great selection of bars, pubs, nightclubs, comedy clubs, live music venues, and drag and cabaret shows. West Hollywood is where you can embrace the city’s thriving LGBTQIA+ scene. Downtown LA is also popular, offering everything from salsa bars to live indie music venues. But, as one of the biggest cities in the United States, no matter where you go or what neighbourhood you visit, you’ll find somewhere open late for a good time. Here are some of our favourite places for the best nightlife in LA.
1. Downtown LA
Downtown LA is one of the hottest places in the city for great nightlife. Populated with fun and funky dive bars, swanky rooftop bars, and pulsating nightclubs, there is something for everyone, regardless of your partying style. Unlike many other areas of the city, Downtown LA has good public transport options, which makes getting from venue to venue cheap and easy.
2. West Hollywood
West Hollywood, or WeHo, is one of the most epic places for nightlife in Los Angeles. It’s the epicentre of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, with its energetic, quirky, and buzzing bars, clubs, and lounges. With its warm, welcoming, fun and friendly vibe, a great night out here is guaranteed whether you want to watch an up-and-coming band at a live music venue, splurge in a fancy club, or see a drag show or enjoy some cabaret.
3. Silver Lake and Echo Park
Silver Lake and Echo Park are two exciting, thriving residential neighbourhoods close to each other. Both areas teem with live music venues, hipster spots, late-night food trucks, and artsy breweries. Echo Park is not quite as cutting-edge as Silver Lake, but it is still a great place for nightlife, especially if you frequent wine bars. Head to Sunset Boulevard, and you’ll be met with many bars, pubs, restaurants, and some legendary live music venues. Craft beer is big in both neighbourhoods, so if you’re an ale connoisseur, this is the place to be.
4. Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach is a mecca for nightlife and a great place to mingle if you are single. The neighbourhood has a laid-back surfer vibe, and visitors have a penchant for dancing and listening to live music. You’ll find many styles of places here, from laid-back surfer bars to luxe lounges and cool clubs. One of the most popular spots for nightlife is in and around the pier. Baja Sharkeez – a laid-back surfer bar – is always hopping and a staple of the nightlife scene. Next door, you’ll find Patrick Malloy’s Irish pub, and for live music, check out The Lighthouse and Sainte Rock.
5. Koreatown
The nightlife in Koreatown is exciting, eclectic, and fun. Speakeasies are a big feature of the nightlife scene, but there are also some pulsating dance clubs where you can party till the small morning hours. After a few drinks, visiting one of the many karaoke bars is always a good idea. You can end your night with delicious food, as many restaurants and diners are open 24/7.
6. Venice Beach
Venice Beach is a very cool destination. The town bursts into a vibrant neon-lit hotspot from late-night partying when the sun sets. A popular way to get the night started in Venice Beach is to watch the fiery sunset from the pier. One of our favourite spots to hit up afterwards is The Brig. This Venice Beach institution opened in the 1950s, and today it is a live venue with mid-century modern aesthetics where you can enjoy live music, billiards, and food trucks.
7. Santa Monica
The nightlife in the beautiful beach town of Santa Monica makes the most of the great weather and views with lots of lovely outdoor spaces. From rooftop terraces to sidewalk patios, fairy lights and lush foliage, prettify these al fresco nighttime venues. Quite often, up-and-coming bands provide the soundtrack to a great night out. Santa Monica is a super cool, chilled-out place.
