40 Best Bars in Los Angeles, California

Right at the start of the Sunset Strip, Bar Marmont at the Chateau Marmont is a partygoer's staple. Get fancy and come here with a group. The kitchen serves a changing menu of classic French-style dishes.

With swaths of fabric draped from the ceiling, this low-lit bar with a bohemian vibe is the perfect backdrop (and mood) for a date. Groups of locals also come through at all hours of the night, making for a good mix of people and energy. The bartenders pour drinks that are both tasty and potent. There's plenty of seating at the tables and stools along the central bar, and their outdoor patio has become the centerpiece for stylish twentysomethings to flock and socialize. 

It may come across kitschy with its log cabin theme (further intensified by signature cocktails like Scout’s Honor and Roasted Marshmallow), but Bigfoot Lodge is a beloved mainstay among Eastside denizens. Despite its first impression, it is every bit a low-key, unpretentious neighborhood bar that specializes in shots and beer and welcomes the occasional tourist that happens to stumble inside.

Around since 1959, this dive bar and steak joint continues to be well-loved in Santa Monica. Everyone from the young to the old (including families) frequents this historical landmark, where Marilyn Monroe is said to have once canoodled with JFK. It's a charming place, from the well-worn booths with their red-checkered tablecloths to the ship's wheel near the door. Photographs are discouraged, but if you ask politely, you can learn how one of the restaurant's famous free peanuts ended up on a trip to the Moon. The backyard lounge is perfect for warm, low-key days; the grub's solid, with a more contemporary menu, and the happy hour is popular amongst locals and tourists alike.

Craft cocktails, beers on tap, an outdoor smoking patio, and retro video games—this bar in the heart of Downtown is not to be missed. With one of the oldest liquor licenses in Los Angeles (issued in 1905), the Golden Gopher is the only bar in Los Angeles with an on-site liquor store for to-go orders—just in case you want to buy another bottle before you head home.

It's a fridge; it's a door; it's the entrance to Davey Wayne's, a bar and lounge that pulls out all the stops to transport you back in time to the '70s. The interior is your living room; the outside is an ongoing backyard barbecue with all your friends. Come early to beat the crowds or be prepared to get up close and personal with your neighbors.

This super-kitschy nautical-theme bar in the heart of Koreatown offers drink specials and food at prices that will make you swoon. Come for the wings, all-day breakfast specials, cheap drinks, and very eclectic crowds.

The hunting lodge vibe makes you feel like you need a whiskey in hand—luckily, this Downtown establishment stocks more than 700 of them. Attracting whiskey novices and connoisseurs, the bartenders here are more than willing to help you make a selection. Live jazz, blues, folk, and other bands play almost every night, so even if you're not a big drinker, there's still some appeal (although you're definitely missing out). For a more intimate setting, try the on-site Bar Jackalope, a bar within a bar, which has a "whiskey tasting library" specializing in Japanese varieties and seats only 18.

This local haunt is every inch a neighborhood bar, one that serves fast, cheap, and strong drinks; is inclusive of all people; and engages the local community through fun and unapologetically outrageous events like Craftaoke, Gaymer Night, and queer disco nights.

Latina-owned Bar Flores may look like any indoor--outdoor bar you'll find in sun-kissed Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, but the elevated cocktails served here are very Los Angeles. Margarita Wednesday is a must, and the back patio has a taco stand in case you get hungry.

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.

Around since 1919 in various incarnations, Burgundy Room attracts a fiercely loyal crowd of locals, as well as the occasional wandering tourist. The bar is supposedly haunted (check out the Ouija boards toward the back) with famously dark interiors, but those details just add to its charm. Its rock-and-roll vibe, strong drinks, and people-watching opportunities make this a worthy detour on any night out on the town.

Karaoke every night, yes you heard that right, every night. Cafe Brass Monkey is K-town dive bar royalty, a perfect place to belt out your ballads without fear of the judgment you might find in snootier spots. The ambience is relaxed and the food is bar style. If you’re looking to sing, be prepared to wait your turn as the line to perform can get lengthy. Sprinkled in with tried-and-true regulars, celebrities looking to have a good ol’ fashioned sing-along filter through Cafe Brass Monkey from time to time. The wall features photos of famous friends of the Monkey like Adam Levine, Seth Macfarlane, and Chelsea Handler. Parking is free after 5 pm with a validation, but the glory of knowing you hit the high note is priceless.

Make this import from Seattle your last stop on a revelrous Saturday night. Grab a cheap cocktail then meander through the Mexican fiesta--themed bar that basks in a red glow. Foosball tables, a photo booth, and a vending machine full of kooky objects will give you plenty of ways to occupy your time.

This is hip local hangout spot offers a glimpse of the young professionals who have brought new life into Atwater Village. Aside from the occasional DJ and live music nights, Club Tee Gee also offers tons of dog-friendly outdoor seating options for summer day drinking and lazing about after a wander through the neighborhood’s farmers’ market. 

Step through the curtained entrance and back in time to 1970s Korea at Dan Sung Sa, which gained wider popularity after Anthony Bourdain paid a visit. At this quirky time-capsule bar, wood-block menus feature roughly 100 small eats. You’ll see much that looks familiar, but fortune favors the bold. Take a chance on corn cheese, or try the makgeolli: a boozy Korean rice drink you sip from a bowl. It pairs perfectly with good conversation and snacking all night long.

This tiny hip hop space has cozy red walls and an all-around good vibe. The music usually gets going by 10 in the evening, and can span the decades. Come on Sunday night if you're looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. The small food menu is priced well.

Drawing Room is the dive bar of the locals. Located in a dimly lit nondescript strip mall a few blocks away from the major bustle of Los Feliz, it's easy to miss. Inside, Drawing Room is bathed in a red glow with Chinese accents such as a large gold-painted dragon and a list of Chinese zodiac signs tacked to the wall. In a neighborhood of increasingly trendy bars, the prices for cocktails cannot be beat here.

A small selection of constantly rotating wine and beer ensures that you'll get to try something new and interesting each time you visit. While the record player that sits by the bar serves as the main source of music, El Prado teems with young twentysomethings and locals with an endless stream of conversations that flow out to the front of the bar. 

Once frequented by one of L.A.’s most famous literary sons, Charles Bukowski, the Frolic Room was also owned at one point by Howard Hughes and has served as a filming location for period flicks like L.A. Confidential and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Despite its impressive history, its down-to-earth atmosphere and proximity to the Pantages Theatre makes it the perfect place to start off your night. The bar's brilliant neon sign is hard to miss.

Nostalgia reigns at this true neighborhood fixture, which opened in 1934 and has had the same owner (Captain Ron) for more than 30 years. As Santa Monica's oldest restaurant and bar, the Galley has a consistent nautical theme inside and out: the boatlike exterior features wavy blue neon lights and porthole windows. Inside, fishing nets and anchors adorn the walls, and the whole place is aglow with colorful string lights. Most patrons tend to crowd the center bar, with the more dinner-oriented folks frequenting the booths. The back patio is also a solid choice in good weather, especially for weekend brunch. And, strangely enough, the secret-recipe salad dressing is justifiably famous.

Drinking an old fashioned inside a whisky barrel-shaped bar might seem gimmicky, but Idle Hour, which opened back in 1941 on the outskirts of NoHo, is actually a history lesson in SoCal architecture. As the car became king and people stopped walking in L.A. as the song says, businesses turned to programmatic architecture, where structures take the form of their product or service, to grab attentions as they whiz by. Most of these are long gone but 1933 Group, known for their era-themed establishments and preservation projects, restored the cask, installed another programmatic example—a pipe-smoking bulldog—on a great patio, added a kitchen to pump out stick-to-the-ribs food (like burgers, tenders, and sloppy tots), and stocked up on quality craft beers.

Italian food and serious cocktails are the mainstays at Jones. Whiskey is a popular choice for the classic cocktails, but the bartenders also do up martinis properly (read: strong). The Beggar's Banquet is their version of happy hour (10:30 pm to 2 am, Sunday through Thursday), with specials on drinks and pizza.

This dive bar may not look like much, but it more than makes up for it with an interesting mix of barflies, urban hipsters, and reasonable drink prices. Friday and Saturday night, DJs mix Top 40 hits and a tiny dance floor packs in the crowd. For those more interested in drinking and socializing, head to the back patio where a TV plays local sports. Every day has a differently themed happy hour—Tropico Tuesday or Cumbia Fever on Thursday. Specials vary from inexpensive beers to free pizza.

Everyone could use a little more mezcal and tequila in their lives. La Cuevita has a lot of it, often in its collection of savory and sweet cocktails. This long-standing establishment—complete with free Taco Tuesday, a moody red interior, and papel picado that brightens the ceiling—has one of the most generous happy hours in L.A., making it the perfect place to start your evening.

Lovers of T. S. Eliot and vinyl will find themselves instantly at home inside this cozy establishment named after Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” When not pouring drinks, bartenders often act as DJs, playing records (the best of the ’60s through the ’80s) in their entirety. As it’s housed inside the Regent Theater, the cozy nature of the place can be disrupted when there’s a concert scheduled. For those with an appetite, fantastic food can be ordered from the pizza parlor next door—naturally, it’s called Prufrock’s.

At first glance, No Vacancy might convey an air of exclusivity and pretentiousness, but its relaxed interiors and welcoming staff will almost instantly make you feel like you’re at a house party. You know, the kind with burlesque shows, tightrope performances, a speakeasy secret entrance, and mixologists who can pretty much whip up any drink your heart desires.

Mad Men and New Girl both had multiple scenes filmed in this Old Hollywood relic, which dates back to the early 1900s. The Prince is trimmed with vintage fabric wallpaper and bedecked with a stately mahogany bar; the grand piano waits in the wings. Squire lamps punctuate red-leather booths where you can enjoy Korean fare and standard cocktails, wine, and beer. Whatever you do, get the deep-fried chicken.

This is a dive bar. If you don’t like dive bars, you won’t like this place. But if you do happen to like them, you won’t feel mere affection for the Purple Orchid; you'll feel something closer to love. It's also a tropical tiki bar, though the tiki drinks are often sipped by those who are new to the joint—if you want to drink like the regulars, go for a beer or a gin and tonic. Cheap pool and tiki-themed jukebox selections add to the kitsch. Happy hour is a great value by L.A. standards.

Being located next door to a long-running music venue, the Roxy, helped cement this bar and restaurant's status as a legendary watering hole for musicians of The Who, Guns N' Roses, Poison, and KISS. Many others have passed through the doors, including their entourages and groupies.