J. Fergus

As the city braces for El Niño and the holiday socializing crush, it’s important to know which bars are worth finding (see: buying) your umbrella and making the trek outside. Despite a rocky few years, L.A.’s finding its footing and this guide details a mix of veterans and, increasingly, newer blood. As the temps cool off enough to brave happy hours again, your favorite dive bars and fancy cocktail lounges are still waiting for you. We checked them all out while you were at the beach and found the absolute best bars across Los Angeles. Best Los Angeles bars at a glance: For impeccably made cocktails: Vandell – a buzzy cocktail lounge geared toward local walk-ins with destination-worthy bites and drinks (Los Feliz) For standout martinis with a sunset view: Dante Beverly Hills – the ritzy 90210 outpost of an award-winning NYC cocktail bar (Beverly Hills) For drinks on the Westside before midnight: Accomplice – a standout restaurant bar program with killer non-alcoholic options (Mar Vista) For a classic night out in Koreatown: Dan Sung Sa – a divey, always bustling classic known for its sprawling food menu and soju selection For when you can’t choose between a Negroni and a boilermaker: Shim Sham – a cocktail dive where everyone knows your name (Historic Filipinotown)   Update October 2026: Daisy Margarita Bar joins its sibling, Mírate, after an impressive and consistent first year on the block. We’ve also bumped Vandell to number one, with their daily hours making it easier t

While the experience of dating in L.A. can feel like navigating land mines, apparently Californians are the most primed for dating opportunities. With some of the best cocktail bars around and scores of fun date ideas within reach, the hardest part of dating is just finding that special person. We’ve scoured the city for the best places to lock eyes with someone from across the room (or across a few pinball machines), from the dark dens that create a natural filter to the dancefloors glittering under spinning disco balls. If you’re looking for your next partner in crime, here’s where to clink your way to success. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles Update July 2026: The Bungalow has undergone a bit of an identity crisis in recent years with even longer lines and a brief flirtation with pricey cover charges, and the reduced hours make it so that you can’t even escape to a chill weeknight. We’ve removed it from this list along with the shuttered Mama Shelter, Harlowe, and The Friend (The Little Friend is still up and running in Venice). How we curate and review at Time Out.

After a slow winter and spring, summer has proven to be a scorcher in more ways than one. The dog days seem to be winding down in Los Angeles as several new bars take shape in the husks of watering holes long gone.  These nascent bars and lounges have only been around for the past nine months—any longer and they're removed from the list. We always visit each bar to ensure they're worth the pricelessness of your time and energy as well as the rising cost of a stiff drink. We also prefer it when you can drink past 10pm on the weekends, but we make exceptions for the exceptional. From seaside martinis to inventive cocktails with a side of pizza, these are the best new bars in town. Updated fall 2026: The entire list aged out of our criteria, including Vandell, Bar 109, Sid’s Bar, Yi Cha, and Bar Franca. You can still find Vandell on our best bars list. The Arts District wins big with three new entrants, including two bars across the street from each other. How we curate and review at Time Out

With all the landmark movie theaters and iconic Los Angeles attractions, we can certainly understand why Hollywood tops tourists’ to-do lists. And sure, the Walk of Fame is too clogged with bootleg superheroes to exude much elegance, but you can still find a bit of that old glamour in the luxurious Hollywood hotels, or save your money for other Los Angeles indulgences by staying in a more budget-friendly option. Below are our favorite stays in this part of the City of Angels.  Hollywood’s best hotels at a glance: 🍸 Best for classic Hollywood glamour: The Hollywood Roosevelt 💸 Best budget-friendly stay: The Whisky Hotel 🪩 Best for vibrant rooftop nightlife: Dream Hollywood, By Hyatt 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in L.A. How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Los Angeles

Every year, it feels like the number of wine bars in L.A. multiply at a rate that seems unfathomable. With so many options and different approaches to wine, from mellow to just a touch of snobbery, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  We like to focus on wine bars that marry ambiance with a great list without getting so crowded that you can’t hear yourself think (sorry, El Prado and Voodoo Vin). Food is always another welcome addition, whether it’s a charcuterie board or a flatiron steak. So when you need to slow things down for a date night or you’d rather get a bottle for the table than go through rounds of cocktails during a dramatic debrief, look to these wine bars for a helping stem.  RECOMMENDED: Where to go wine tasting in Los Angeles  Updated July 2026: Visits to Lolo have been uneven of late, but it when it hits, it’s like an Otani homer. We still recommend it, but can no longer consider it among the best with its growing inconsistency. Melody, Esters Wine Shop & Bar, Holcomb, and The Ruby Fruit have all gone to the big wine crate in the sky. As much as we love La Pharmacie du Vin, it’s temporarily closed until September 2026 and may return to this list should it actually reopen.  How we curate and review at Time Out.

Even though L.A. is a younger American city, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a rich history. We can’t get enough of museums during the day or some of our oldest bars at night, including several dating back to pre-Prohibition times. Many of these institutions have survived by digging their heels into dive bar culture (and owning instead of renting the space) while others have adapted to the times with their cocktail and programming options. If you want a glass of history on the rocks, look no further than these L.A. drinking dens. Update July 2026: Sadly, a few of our oldest bars have shuttered in these trying times, including Alhambra Cocktail Lounge, The King Eddy Saloon, and Cole’s.

The days of smuggling bathtub gin in tunnels under City Hall or rum-runners playing 20th-century pirates off the coast of San Diego are long behind us, but Los Angeles still can’t resist a secret bar. In a city under siege in recent years, with many regular bars shuttering for good, it’s harder for speakeasies to resist the siren call of social media or the urge for a more practical entrance. Even in these trying times, L.A. continues to reward those willing to venture into dark basements or visit barber shops in the dead of night.  With spaces like K-town’s R bar ditching passwords and Melrose Station adding a neon sign to the hookah lounge it was once hidden inside, it’s more important than ever to define a true speakeasy. Every bar we’ve included has a hidden or unmarked entrance just for those in the know (or with a reservation). Inside these standout bars, you’ll find DJs spinning vinyls, dazzling burlesque dancers, live jazz, and even fiery cocktails. Step into another time or another world in Los Angeles’s best speakeasies.  June 2026: Adults Only has closed and been replaced by the vibrant nightclub Detour. Though Detour has a dramatic tunnel entrance, it’s decidedly not shy about what or where it is, making it ineligible for this list. We’ve added the laidback Pasadena speakeasy 10 1/4 and updated everyone’s hours for summer, for when you need a dimly lit break from rooftops and patios. How we review at Time Out.

The tiki craze took hold in America sometime in the late '40s and early '50s, but its origins lie in California. Nearly a century ago, on McFadden in Hollywood, Donn Beach opened the world’s first tiki bar in 1933. Though his last California location closed in 2018, his legacy lives on in the hearts and tiki mugs of Southern Californians. Tiki never truly dies in this town, with new bars and old brands rising from the grave like a well-balanced Zombie every few years. The best L.A. tiki bars cut through the fog with their kitschy interiors, dedication to tradition, and their ability to deftly break from it. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles If you’re looking to get three sheets to the wind with a Three Dots and a Dash, we’ve found the best L.A. County has to offer tiki sticklers, scorpion bowl guzzlers, and craft cocktail sippers alike. Whether you crave a bright red maraschino cherry garnish or housemade orgeats that cut through the high-proof vapors, there’s probably a bamboo-covered hut not too far away from you. We left out Orange County bars for this list, but we have a lot of love for the ship-like Strong Water in Anaheim and the group-friendly Stowaway in Tustin. Whatever floats your boat, pull up a wicker chair and an oar as we navigate the boozy, choosey, and even sober-friendly tiki spots.  May 2026: We’ve added Lucky Tiki’s new Highland Park location, which brings some theatrics to Northeast L.A. Sadly, Kahuna Tiki has closed, and Kahuna Tiki Tu doesn’t qui

With the massive sprawl of Los Angeles and its diverse culinary offerings at every price point, it can be tough to find the perfect place to slink into a martini and a Caesar, or a boilermaker and some nachos, after a long day. Some happy hours are for snagging a deal on an otherwise luxurious experience, while others are simply a way to meet up with friends after work without losing that day’s pay.  RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles We’ve taken the gas-work out of finding the best happy hour deals around L.A., so all you have to bring is the gossip and a good attitude.  Updated May 2026: The Morrison, The Misfit, and Esters Wine Shop have closed, replaced here by Highland Park’s Hippo and The High Low in Atwater Village. Redbird leaves this list as the Lounge moves to a permanently more budget-friendly menu all night long with $12–14 cocktails, most bar bites under $20, and a Waygyu burger for $22.

While many other cities tend to have a rooftop bar season, Angelenos crave cold drinks with a scenic view year-round. Why settle for a street-level patio when you can take in sea breezes, towering skyscrapers, or a squinting glimpse of the Hollywood sign? L.A. rooftop bars are so beloved that the best ones usually stay here for both a good long time, and their closures are felt for years (we're still mourning Mama Shelter and the DTLA Standard). But don't worry, there are still plenty of poolside cabanas for your day drinking and glittering vistas for your nightcaps. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles We narrowed down the best of the best, focusing on bar-forward establishments because the rooftop restaurants this town has to offer needed their own stage. So pull up a stool or a lounge chair to sip your way through Los Angeles’ best rooftop bars. Updated April 2026: For this seasonal update, we've removed Bar Bohemien and E.P. & L.P., which have closed permanently, and moved up relative newcomer Bar Florentín, in part to reward its consistency and frequently packed dance floor—which we love. To learn more about our process, check out How we review at Time Out.

When it comes to queer nightlife options in Los Angeles, there’s lots to choose from—and not just in rainbow-dipped West Hollywood, home to countless gay bars. To help you pick the best spots for dancing, boozing, flirting and cruising in Hollywood, Silver Lake and beyond, check out this list of our favorite queer bars and clubs in L.A.—there are even Pasadena, Venice and Valley options, for those sick of the party-hearty WeHo scene. Now get out there, tiger. May 2025: Just in time for WeHo Pride, I’ve updated our guide to the city’s best gay bars. This list removes St. Felix, Stache and Redline, all of which have unfortunately closed, as well as the Ruby Fruit (which has recently been revamped to a neighborhood grill) and Revolver Video Bar. The newest addition is Kiso, a welcome entrant to Downtown’s queer nightlife scene. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresponding to “amazing,” four to “great” and three to “good,” and we’ve also standardized how most listings are structured. For more on our new policies, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

Dive bars in Los Angeles are as varied as the city’s neighborhoods. Even the definition of a dive bar varies, from somewhere with low lighting and cheap beers to a place for locals to meet up, week after week, year after year. From tiki drinks in El Segundo to a storied biker bar in Hollywood, we’ve got your guide to the city’s diviest dives, where you can sing your heart out with karaoke, drown your sorrows with a couple stiff drinks and, quite possibly, kick off one of the best nights of your life.  RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles

This hotel bar and restaurant might not come up on your radar if you don’t know where to look. In the shadow of the Capitol Records building, Written Hand is especially suited to theater-goers and anyone seeking Hollywood cocktails in a less chaotic setting. The vibe: Written Hand is a sprawling space that manages to create intimate pockets. Massive windows let in sunlight during golden hour, then the bar takes on a sleeker look with its mix of leather, chrome, and glass. You'll find hotel guests and locals alike, but it’s especially vibrant during peak theatre times or the live music each Thursday. The food: The pizza offerings have their fans here, especially the hot honey-laden pepperoni pie, but the overall menu skews a bit more refined. Despite becoming an oversaturated dish on menus across the city, burrata at this unassuming hotel restaurant can renew your interest. The hangar steak also impresses despite its simplicity and both are available as part of the Pantages pre-theater menu. The prix-fixe is $75 per person and includes the option of a themed cocktail based on the current show.  The drink: The drinks program hits the common notes of Hollywood bars: sweet and crowd-pleasing, but it doesn't break the $20 ceiling that gives most wallets stage fright. The only real knock against the menu comes from patrons who remember the more complex stylings of its predecessor, Ever Bar.  Time Out tip: Their daily happy hour offers a few cocktails for $15 and $7 draft beers, alo

Lynx has had the benefit of a lengthy, sleepy soft opening that has smoothed out some edges while still leaving you feeling like something’s missing. From Michelin-star chef and serial restaurateur Josh Skenes and beverage director Brandyn Tepper, this Arts District hole-in-the-wall feels like a speakeasy bar in a destination-restaurant trench coat. The vibe: At first glance, it’s like you’re in a Japanese music video, with red lights raining down on the minimalist decor. Tables and bar seating aren’t smashed together, so you get considerably more privacy in your corner of the fairly small space than you think. Sitting by the false wall shared with Tatsu Ramen or needing to go to the bathroom shared with the brightly lit noodle spot will break the illusion, but with enough music, good conversation, and Amaro Kolas, you’ll find the fantasy takes hold. The food: Despite a swift Bib Gourmand designation from Michelin, the razor-thin pizzas with puffy crusts are second fiddle to the drinks here. Biting into the Napoletana is like taking in water after being thrown into the Mediterranean, complete with sea-fresh anchovies (better enjoyed on the crust than adding to the capers and sea salt). Though managing to hold enough cheese for a small banquet (not to be confused with the five-cheese Sweet Chesus), the Mushroom pizza shows restraint in palate, if not in presentation, making it a messy victor on the lean menu. The drink: Though there have already been a few seasonal rotations,

The long-awaited new tenant in the old ETA digs, Palomino, comes from the Gold Line crew across the street. More toned down than its sibling bar, Palomino’s stained-glass light fixtures and glittering disco ball strike a nostalgic chord without going full kitsch. A massive window provides an indoor-outdoor cooling spot for people-watching by the entrance. The small group/date-night-friendly bar gets an injection of energy with weekend DJs while still maintaining a laidback atmosphere. Service is touch-and-go, depending on how hard you lean into their elevated cocktails in a casual space schtick. The beverage program is worth the mild pretense, with a Limonada that lives in a herbal beach shack somewhere between a Saturn and a Brazilian lemonade, and a pear elderflower martini grounded in earthy Suze and Mexican rum (Pera). Along with a couple of non-alcoholic cocktails, wine, and surprisingly well-priced beer, the menu is rounded out with a “Quickies” section. These two-ingredient drinks cost a few dollars less than the signature cocktails if $18 makes you balk. The drinks are intelligently crafted to be both palatable and palate-expanding, but with so much tough competition in spitting distance, time will tell if Highland Park can swallow yet another bar.

This shipshape, ship-shaped bar has been a Santa Monica staple with nine lives going back to the 1930s, including a long run as a gay bar and its most recent clubby turn as Shore Bar. Now, with the same team behind Golden Bull down the street, the nautical-themed bar has returned as a neighborhood spot with a nod to the original name: S.S. Friendship Bar. The prominent bow peers out over the sidewalk and functional porthole windows make it impossible to miss—a feat for its unassuming size.  Inside, the theme continues with alcoved booth seating lit by nautical lanterns, a shiplap bar, a back deck, and even an upstairs lounge for private events. Early on in the evening, the energy is mellow and friendly over $15 classic cocktails like martinis and manhattans. As the night goes on, the bar gets dimmer and more lively, fueled by quicker pours and weekend DJs. Thanks to the new stage, you’re just as likely to find live music at Friendship Bar, from jazz to soulful piano. Don’t let the gorgeous glassware fool you; ultimately, this is a neighborhood spot that seems focused on being as accessible as possible to the community it serves.

After taking Brooklyn by storm, the Animal team set their sights West in an effort to bring Los Angeles another queer bar. The massive space, formerly home to the music venue and bar Resident in the Arts District, is already filling up with gender expansive queer people who can’t get enough of its pulsing beats and reliable drinks. The vibe: The sprawling, smoke-friendly patio shaded by a canopy of trees is the perfect place to escape the heat of the dance floor with your friends or somebody new. Inside, an additional bar sits in an industrial space, partially lit by a gloriously large banana disco ball. Thursdays through Sundays typically have DJs with no cover; otherwise, the inside bar is likely closed. The food: Though Animal doesn’t have a kitchen, food trucks often set up on weekends in the patio area. The drink: The agave-forward menu is known for its slate of margaritas, especially its slushie Watermelon Marg. Other refreshing sips include the frozen, rum-based espresso drink and their spritzes on tap. A fairly robust non-alcoholic menu largely costs $10 or less, including mocktails that aren’t just dressed-up sodas, like the botanical, martini-adjacent Temperate Lady. Time Out tip: You can make any signature cocktail into a spritz for a $5 discount.

Sleek without falling into sterility, The Kimpton Everly Hotel brings just enough warmth to its modern digs to feel both familiar and like a Hollywood escape. The decor strikes a balance between the consistency of a major hotel group like IHG and enough boutique flair to avoid feeling like an airport hotel, and while guests feel encouraged to explore, your creature comforts are never too far away (including actual creatures through the hotel’s inclusive pet policy).  A less than 10 minute walk from sights like the Pantages Theatre, the stay, which is in the shadow of the Capitol Records building, provides a new rooftop pool and revamped restaurant bar that are just as likely to be filled with people who share the hotel’s zip code as those who checked in with a passport. Here’s what we thought of the Kimpton Everly Hotel.  What are the rooms like at Kimpton Everly? Entering my King guest room, I was immediately drawn to a picture window view of the Hollywood Sign and sloping Hollywood Hills. With the common areas on the first few floors, every room features massive windows offering hillside or city views. The room itself reads a bit plain, but it’s okay—the view does all the heavy lifting.  The frosted, sliding bathroom door paired with the dimmable globe lights lends a moody, Tokyo vibe to an otherwise neutral room, and spa suites offer soaker or clawfoot tubs with a similar but larger layout. You have everything you need to stay clean and moisturized, but if you’ve forgotten

Just beyond Echo Park Lake, this storied wine bar radiates its history and community while serving a rotating list of wines and craft beers. You would walk right past it if you didn’t know what you were looking for, thanks to some subtle signage. The vibe: Dimly lit by a mix of kitschy fairy lights, tea candles, and vintage gas lamps, this chill hangout spot gets romantic after the sun sets, especially once the live music starts. The small bar with its Moroccan accents and weathered walls can get packed fairly quickly. The food: Outside food is allowed from local vendors or even through a food delivery app, but otherwise you’ll have to get by on chips or their spicy pickled eggs. The drinks: Their drinks menu lives on a chalkboard where regulars can watch beers and wines come and go. With rare exceptions, their beer tends to stay below $10 while glasses of wine average $13, along with a few similarly priced non-alcoholic options. The selection runs the gamut from simple comforts to surprising gems and you can always try the wine before going all in on a pour. Time Out tip: This is a neighborhood spot that does its best to keep things accessible for the regulars, so leave your pretenses at the door and enjoy the music.

Once the standout in a sleepy Chinatown, General Lee’s heartbeat has remained constant over the years as the neighborhood’s nightlife has grown to match the tempo of its weekend DJs. Fridays and Saturdays are the most club-like in this storied split-level building that was once a Frank Sinatra haunt. Downstairs has more room to groove while upstairs is more of a loungey vibe. Weekdays slow down a bit with social events like mahjong on Mondays and groovier DJs playing to a diverse crowd. Tropical signature cocktails like the Sloe & Easy pull rarities like sloe gin and tamarind together with breezy pineapple for a fun dancefloor concoction, while classics set the tone for a loungier evening. If you’re tired of traditional bottle service, reserving a section will allow you to order a dangerously delicious punch bowl (or two, if you dare) for your group. There’s not much in the way of non-alcoholic drinks, but their house ginger beer won’t leave you minding too much.

This neighborhood dive slings fairly cheap drinks all week long to the local Cypress Park crowd. The dimly lit interior gets a spot of sparkle from a disco ball while the risqué art and leather booths give the place a sultry vibe. Weeknights will likely be met with jukebox fare or the occasional vinyl, but the weekends are ripe for DJs spinning anything from italo disco to punk music. Wells, shots, and beers are your best bet for affordability, but you can likely get a dive version of any classic cocktail for much less than at a trendier spot. The back patio has its own buzzy energy, often primed for friendly interactions—with or without a cigarette.

Above Sunset Boulevard sits this popular bar from Karla Flores-Mercado that started as a pop-up. Occasionally skewing towards being a queer hub, Bar Flores offers fun drinks at solid prices. The vibe: Once you head up the tile-lined stairs, the space evokes the feeling of a hillside casita with its ceiling fans helping air flow through its open windows to the street and across the bar to a bougainvillea-draped patio—which feels like another world unto itself. The crowd skews towards millennial and Gen Z professionals and queer patrons can often be found outside of their sapphic-forward queer events.  The food: You can inhale $5 tacos and shareables like nachos from the taco cart off the patio when that third margarita starts hitting a little too hard. The cart offers its food menu Wednesday through Sunday, but drinks need to be ordered at the bar. The drink: Their menu typically includes fresh takes on margaritas or crushable concoctions like the prickly pear and peppercorn-forward Spritz No. 4. The cocktails skew lighter and longer, likely the most refreshing tack for the indoor-outdoor establishment. Time Out tip: On a packed night out with your friends, order a margarita or paloma pitcher to streamline the experience.

The earthy, mixed materials of Ramona Room combined with verdant plants in every nook and a roaring wood oven establish a level of coziness most new wine bars could only hope to aspire to. A duo of loaded tacos on freshly made tortillas pairs with amaro and wine cocktails during the weekday happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. From the Portside Sour (a port-based digestif for Trinidad Sour nerds) to their light and breezy Ramona Spritz, there’s no end to the low (or no) alcohol imbibing one can enjoy here. A slim but well-tailored wine menu shares the spotlight with amari, vermouths, sherry, port, and a few crowd-pleasing beers, bringing the fun of a full bar with a more moderate pace.

Heading down the stairs inside Pasadena dive The 35er, you’ll think you’re on your way to the bar’s storeroom only to find an old-timey phone booth at the bottom. Once you pick up the phone and give the bartender the size of your party, with luck, you’ll be buzzed into one of the smallest speakeasies in Los Angeles. Tiny slivers of tables line the walls with barely enough space for a couple of rounds of classic cocktails, while a few coveted four-tops sit beneath the glow of Edison bulbs with pewter monkeys hitching a ride on top of them. Here you can find drinks made the way they were intended to be enjoyed roughly a century ago, including less popular refreshments like the minty Queen’s Park Swizzle. With no dress code, only capacity can keep you out of this space that slowly turns into a rowdy watering hole as the night gets boozier. If you’re more into mid-century modern drinks that pack a punch and feel nostalgia for Xzibit’s “Pimp My Ride,” this bar in a bar also contains a tiki speakeasy pop-up on Friday and Saturday nights.

Many have argued that Los Angeles is a morning city, full of cafés and smoothie shops, rather than a thrumming hub of nightlife. But increasingly, new proprietors don’t think people should have to choose. Various coffee shops and tea houses around L.A. are mastering a day-to-night hat trick that keeps guests buzzing on caffeine and often something a little stronger.  Some of these shapeshifting locales get quite raucous at night, some encourage a bit of day drinking, while others still keep the vibes lifted and the drinks spirit-free. Determining which spots to include involved threading a needle, shying away from all-day restaurants or bars that open a little early. This trek unearthed third spaces that transform, inviting community from near and far to gather around great drinks, music, and each other. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Los Angeles The earliest example of this trend was Steep LA, which launched its Steep After Dark program as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, their bar program has expanded and become increasingly intertwined with their tea service. “Till this day, we are still one of the very few tea-focused cocktail bars in the United States,” says Samuel Wang, who co-owns the Chinatown tea house with Lydia Lin. Now with a wide range of intriguing tea-based craft cocktails, Steep has given itself a bit of a breather in between services to adjust to the pace: “The day is much more relaxing, like a cafe, with tea ceremonies happening throughout