bars · Los Angeles
The best nights in Los Angeles start at these addresses — award-winning cocktail rooms, beloved locals' haunts and views worth ordering a second round for. All rated 4.5 stars or higher.
Arts District · $$
The LA outpost of the East Village cocktail institution occupies a moody Arts District corner with a deep original-drinks list and a table-service back parlor. Its menus have shaped American drinking for nearly two decades.
Insider tip: Put your name in early and browse the Arts District galleries while you wait — the front bar seats walk-ins fastest.
West Hollywood · $$
LP, the sprawling rooftop above this Southeast Asian restaurant, looks across the Hollywood Hills and down Melrose Avenue. Frozen cocktails and DJ sets have made it WeHo's default sunset spot.
Insider tip: Rooftop entry is first-come most nights — arrive before 6 p.m. on weekends or reserve a daybed online.
Los Feliz · $
A 12-stool tiki shrine opened in 1961 by Ray Buhen, one of the original Don the Beachcomber bartenders, and still run by his family. The 90-plus tropical drinks include the cult favorite Ray's Mistake.
Insider tip: It's tiny with quirky hours — confirm it's open before heading over, and order Ray's Mistake first.
Hollywood · $$
A Prohibition-styled gaming parlor inside the Hollywood Roosevelt with two vintage bowling lanes, leather club chairs, and serious cocktails. Groups book the lanes by the hour and split punch bowls.
Insider tip: Reserve a bowling lane ahead for weekend nights; walk-ins can usually still find cocktail seats at the bar.
Hollywood · $
A 1930s dive beside the Pantages Theatre with one of LA's most photographed neon signs and an Al Hirschfeld celebrity mural inside. It poured drinks for Sinatra and, legend insists, the Black Dahlia.
Insider tip: Cash is king, pours are stiff, and there's no food — drop in after a Pantages show when the bar hums.
Downtown · $$
A 15th-floor French-inspired rooftop overlooking Pershing Square, with firepits, live jazz on many nights, and skyline views in every direction from the upper deck. It's Downtown LA's most popular golden-hour table.
Insider tip: Climb one more flight to the open 16th-floor rooftop for the best views — and expect a dress code and a line after 8 p.m.
March–May & September–November
US Dollar (USD)
English
How this list is made: we only feature places rated 4.5 stars or higher with 1,000+ reviews from real travelers. Ratings and review counts are approximate and move over time — always check current numbers before booking. Photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses (credits in each gallery).
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Good to know
Mostly yes — the sights spread across 40-plus miles, so a rental car or heavy rideshare use is the practical default. The Metro rail does reach Downtown, Hollywood, Universal Studios, and Santa Monica (E Line), so a car-free trip works if you base yourself near a line and cluster your days by area.