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The mention of Tinseltown may not exactly conjure images of little gritty bars serving up cold, cheap beer to non-celebrity folks, but let it never be said that Los Angeles is a land without plenty of beloved dive bars. Typically defined by a ramshackle appearance, a dated sign with letters missing and a lack of windows, dive bars are among of the most cherished places to find laid-back vibes and a crowd that asks little to nothing of their fellow patrons. The greatest myth about dive bars is that they are patronized only by members of the working class; really, every dive bar contains a thriving mix of people, from college students seeking cheap beer to artists seeking inspiration, from blue-collars seeking happy-hour respite to white-collars seeking a Cheers-like atmosphere. In the glamorous chaos of Los Angeles, these little hideouts are the perfect places to find everything from stiff drinks to good friends to dart boards.
Alibi Room
12236 w. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 310.398.5516
Los Angeles can be a trendy nightclub mecca full of see and be seen club sheep which makes the existence of a local bar like the Alibi Room a blessing. And, seriously, this Los Angeles dive bar is really just one room with some vintage basement carpet, a line of neighborly sots bellied up to the bar, a single pool table with iffy geometrics and dead rails, a decent juke and the best dive bar attraction of all time: cheap booze. |
Backstage
10400 Culver Blvd., Culver City, California; Tel. 310.839.3892
The Backstage is the Los Angeles areas premier dive bar—if dive bars can even be premier—that's like an old-school rowdy party every night. Happy hour in this awesome Culver City bar hits every hour on the hour with a nosedive of the Backstage's already low prices and a bum rush to the bar. The crowd here ranges from studio execs (the Sony lot is right across the street) to the younger college set because a good LA dive bar, booming loud rock and roll backed up by one of the best karaoke nights, never goes out of style. |
Barney's Beanery
8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.654.2287
With classic Los Angeles neighborhood dive bar charm, none of the usual LA scene pretensions, hundreds of brews on tap and in the bottle, sports, and comfort food, that in a nutshell describes Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood. Oh yeah, this kicking LA bar also sports some pool tables and video games in case you need some more drinking distractions other than the huge semi-rowdy crowds, UCLA games, any way you can imagine chili and burgers and old school scruffy factor that has made Barney's Beanery a Los Angeles bar staple since 1920. Heck, you can even get the good old Hollywood celeb factor in this venerable LA local bar. |
Boardner's
1652 N. Cherokee Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.462.9621
For those looking to stray away from the Hollywood night club scene, Boardner's provides a low-lit dive bar atmosphere. Off of Hollywood Boulevard, this Los Angeles bar not only provides free WiFi but a dance floor where you can still get a dose of club dancing. Comfortable red leather booths are unpretentious as is the home-style cooking on Boardner's bar menu. The scene is accepting of newcomers and home to regulars as well making it a home to a friendly nightlife. LA may not be known for its dive bars, but Boardner's stands up against the hipster bars that litter the rest of the Hollywood nightclub scene. |
Bob's Frolic Room
6245 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.462.5890
A piece of Hollywood's past, Bob's Frolic Room has managed to stay off most hipster's trendy bar scene list while maintaining attraction to local Pantages Theater goers and those looking for a Los Angeles bar that they can simply sit down, drink and enjoy. The cozy bar offers popcorn as a salty treat to go along with beer and cheap drinks. Bob's Frolic Room has been around forever and has a mellow atmosphere that anyone will enjoy. For a taste of what Hollywood used to be, you can head over to the Frolic Room before being overcome by the nightlife in downtown LA. |
Brass Monkey
659 S. Mariposa Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.381.7047
Good thing the Brass Monkey bar in Los Angeles is known for its karaoke and A-list celebrity regulars because this bar embodies the typical neon-lit loud karaoke bar stereotype. The karaoke library selection is one of the best in LA, the songs eclectic, and the languages diverse. Regulars recommend you treat the waitress and karaoke host well in order to get to your song selection faster, but in the meantime, a visit to the Brass Monkey bar is just as much fun as singing your favorite rock songs on the stage. A very enjoyable karaoke bar in Los Angeles, the Brass Monkey is an experience in itself. |
Burgundy Room
1621 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.465.7530
The Burgundy Room exudes punk rock to anyone who hasn't lived under a rock their whole life. Don't expect glamour from this classic Hollywood bar because instead of ball gowns and ties you'll get tattoos and torn jeans. A worn-in LA dive bar like this one shows what it takes to survive the changing Los Angeles nightlife scene proudly displaying its shaky ceiling fans, scratched mirrors, and red Chinese lanterns. The narrow room of this Cahuenga strip dive bar cranks the amps and ups the energy making it easier for those who are liquored up to stand by leaning on customers next to them. The jukebox at the Burgundy Room plays punk rock classics nonstop and makes this dive bar feel like the CBGB of Los Angeles. |
Chez Jay's
1657 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.395.1741
The celebrities that Chez Jay's has had in their over 40 years of being open have included the likes of Frank Sinatra, Henry Kissinger, Marlon Brando, and in more recent years George Clooney has been added to that prestigious list. Located in Santa Monica, the low-key bar is only a stone's throw away from Los Angeles and draws the beach into its nautical theme. A jukebox plays oldies, sawdust covers the floors, and fish are mounted on the walls above the vinyl booths. Everything about this Santa Monica local bar will make you want to set sail. The bar staff is friendly at Chez Jay's and they offer a full menu. Take a break from the Los Angeles nightlife and enjoy the fresh ocean air at Chez Jay's. |
Coach and Horses
7617 West Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.876.6900
The Coach and Horses bar and restaurant is a real classy Hollywood dive bar. Its hot young waitresses and barmaids, as well as Tudor-style walls and iron fixtures, seem to work in keeping a loyal crowd that consists mainly of locals who walk here instead of driving all over, which is the standard for most LA party people. This English drinking hole has been around a long time. First-timers on the Sunset Strip will find the Coach and Horses pub to be a very cool joint to check out and start to get their Hollywood groove on.
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Footsie's
2640 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.221.6900
Taking all the snobbish fakery out of Los Angeles bars and you might be left with Footsie's—that is, until the hipsters discover this Highland Park dive. New customers are always welcome, but regulars seem to be the primary clientele at the bar. A few pool tables give those with a competitive edge an activity while a jukebox plays classic rock and metal. Drinks are cheap at Footsie's and Pabst Blue Ribbon is the beer special during happy hour Monday through Friday. Half-circle leather booths and a comfortable lounge provide seating to relax in while enjoying conversation with those in LA who appreciate being able to hear in a bar. |
Jumbo's Clown Room
5153 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.666.1187
Scantily clad women, strong drinks, and occasional live rock show draw laidback folks from all parts of Los Angeles to Jumbo's Clown Room. A classic Hollywood dive bar, Jumbo's Clown Room invites men and women to sit in front of the pole and give the dollars they save on not paying a cover charge to the sexy women dancing for them. Rock n' roll provides the backdrop to the girl's who striptease—they don't go completely topless—and every now and then this Los Angeles bar hosts a live music event. Two private dance booths are available for those who like to get up close and personal with the girls, but the full bar is the big draw for most. Or maybe it is the barely clothed Hollywood women. |
Little Joy Cocktail Lounge
1477 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.250.3417
Comfortably grungy and worn-in décor are what draw Echo Park locals to the Little Joy Cocktail Lounge when the LA club scene gets to be too much. Hipsters, artsy folk, and indie kids come to the bar for inexpensive drinks and prefer Pabst Blue Ribbon to all beers. An awesome jukebox provides the ideal soundtrack to this dive bar when a DJ isn't spinning new wave, indie rock, or noise pop. Keep in mind there's no dancing allowed so you're better off playing a few games of pool or making friends with the attractive girls serving drinks from behind the bar. |
Poop Deck
1272 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, California; Tel. 310.376.3223
The Poop Deck is a classic Hermosa Beach bar for sunburnt and sandy bodies to take a load off at the end of the day. People come from all over Los Angeles County to people watch just a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean. Red vinyl-topped bar stools and a peanut vending machine reminds customers that the pub hasn't changed much over the years. Cheap domestic beer is always flowing from the bar taps at the Poop Deck and LA beach beauties are often around to play foosball and pool with friends. The bartenders know who their regulars are, so if you're a newcomer, make sure to tip them well to get on their good side. |
The Red Room
1229 4th St., Long Beach, California; Tel. 562.432.4241
Hipsters galore in a tiny room, it's the ideal place to go and end up making new friends in Long Beach. The cozy Red Room bar might be in Los Angeles County, but leave your ideas about Los Angeles bars behind. The Red Room is a dive bar in every detail. There is a pool table, but it's nearly impossible to play with so many people around. Drinks are cheap and strong. Locals are almost always at the bar. The best part, jukebox screams with the Pixies, Sex Pistols, and Johnny Cash all night long. |
The Room
1626 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.462.7196
The Room is a hard-to-find, very cool, dark dive that's down a back alley and behind a nondescript building. It's one of those "if ya don't know, then don't go" kind of trendy places. The thing is if you do know about The Room, it's surprisingly friendly with spacious booths and a seemingly endless bar. The Room is that perfect spot to have a drink and a secret rendezvous—and the place to catch some Hollywood celebrities hiding out in their own backyard. |
The Spotlight
1601 N. Cahuenga, Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.467.2425
An ominous unspoken wisdom of the streets is in the air of this Hollywood dive bar. The Los Angeles transgendered lovelies have found their home at The Spotlight, apparently the second oldest gay bar in Los Angeles County, having been open since 1963. That's quite the title to hold for such an intimidating bar. There is a pool table in the back for those brave enough to venture so far. The plus is, as a Los Angeles gay dive bar, the drinks are cheap, but make sure not to go alone. Work the buddy system in this LA dive. |
Tiny's KO
6377 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.3026
Too young to be a dive, too worn in to be a typical Los Angeles bar, Tiny's KO is in a league of their own in terms of Hollywood joints. As an all-ages venue and diner during the day, at night the bar shifts to 21 and over. Plenty of naked lady pictures adorn the walls of the somewhat grungy—in a good way—bar and grill. The owners are punks-of-the-past guys from Ten Foot Pole, Bad Religion and Circle Jerks, with producer Steven Kravac being the third in the equation. Inked up rockers travel to the Los Angeles location to sit at the bar and listen to a live set or the jukebox screaming. Although Tiny's KO is surrounded by swanky LA nightclubs with lines outside, you won't find anything like that at this bar favoring naked women and rock. |
—Los Angeles bar and club reviews by Alanna Lee, Ryan Osterbeck and Buddy Seigel
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