3 Best Bars in Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles

With Los Angeles being Los Angeles, a disproportionate number 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 David Spade, 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).

Featured in La La Land, the 2016 musical set in Los Angeles, this onetime jazz bistro now also 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.

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, but the in-house pub menu is surprisingly extensive.