Los Angeles is a city of hidden bars behind unmarked doors, rooftop pools with skyline views, and legendary dives that have served every kind of Angeleno from struggling actors to actual movie stars. The sprawl means there’s no single “going out” neighborhood — instead, each pocket of LA has its own distinct drinking identity. You’ll need a car (or a very understanding Uber driver), but the payoff is one of the most diverse bar scenes in the world.
The Varnish
Downtown (behind Cole’s) — Hidden behind a curtain in the back of Cole’s (LA’s oldest bar), The Varnish helped launch the city’s cocktail renaissance. The space is small, dark, and old-school. The cocktails are precise and classic-leaning. Order: a Penicillin or a proper old fashioned — the fundamentals are flawless here.
Jumbo’s Clown Room
Hollywood/Thai Town — A legendary dive bar with go-go dancers performing to punk, rock, and hip-hop on a tiny stage. It’s cash only, it’s weird, and it’s been a Hollywood institution since the ’70s. There’s nothing else like it. Order: a Tecate or a well drink. You’re here for the atmosphere.
Bar Stella
Silver Lake — A neighborhood cocktail bar and late-night kitchen in the heart of Silver Lake. The Italian-leaning cocktails, amaro selection, and truffle fries have made it a local favorite for years. Order: a Negroni or anything from their amaro-forward menu.
The Rooftop at The Standard
Downtown — The hotel rooftop bar that defined downtown LA’s revival. The views of the skyline are stunning, the scene is buzzy, and the pool deck gives it a distinctly LA energy. Order: something cold and photogenic — this is a scene-and-be-seen spot, own it.
The Short Stop
Echo Park — A former cop bar turned neighborhood DJ bar that bridges Echo Park’s old guard and its creative-class newcomers. The dance floor gets going late, and the DJ selections are consistently solid. Order: a beer — keep it simple and get on the dance floor.
Tiki-Ti
Silver Lake — A family-run tiki bar open since 1961, with maybe 12 seats and 90 cocktails on the menu. Mike Buhen’s creation is the real deal — no corporate tiki here, just a family pouring tropical drinks for three generations. Cash only. Order: a Ray’s Mistake (the house signature) or a Blood & Sand.
Angel City Brewery
Arts District — A craft brewery in a massive converted warehouse in the Arts District. The indoor-outdoor space hosts events, food trucks, and a rotating tap list. Good starting point for an Arts District bar crawl. Order: whatever seasonal is on tap — they experiment more than most LA breweries.
The Dresden
Los Feliz — Made famous by the movie Swingers, The Dresden still features Marty & Elayne performing jazz and lounge covers at the piano bar most nights. The mid-century interior is pristine, and the Blood & Sand cocktail is iconic. Order: a Blood & Sand while Marty & Elayne play. Non-negotiable.
Highland Park Brewery
Chinatown — One of LA’s most acclaimed small breweries, now in a Chinatown location. The hazy IPAs and lagers are exceptional, and the taproom is chill and unpretentious. Order: Lazy Susan hazy IPA or whatever one-off is available.
Musso & Frank Grill
Hollywood — Hollywood’s oldest restaurant (since 1919) with a bar that still operates like it’s the Golden Age. The bartenders in red jackets make martinis the old way — stirred, cold, enormous. Order: a gin martini. Watch the bartender pour the extra into a sidecar on ice. Drink slowly.
LA’s bar geography spans the city: Silver Lake/Los Feliz/Echo Park for the eastside creative scene, Downtown/Arts District for the cocktail bars and breweries, Hollywood for the classic spots and nightlife, Santa Monica/Venice for beach-adjacent drinking. Traffic is real — pick a neighborhood and commit to it for the night. Our Los Angeles venue directory and Los Angeles city page can help you plan.