View List On Map cancel
More Top 10s
- Bars and Clubs near Dodger Stadium
- Bars and Clubs near Downtown
- Bars and Clubs near Griffith Park
- Bars and Clubs near LAX Airport
- Bars and Clubs near Long Beach Airport
- Bars and Clubs near Manhattan Beach
- Bars and Clubs near Pasadena
- Bars and Clubs near Rodeo Drive - Beverly Hills
- Bars and Clubs near Santa Monica Pier
- Ask a Local
- Locals have answered 53 questions about Los Angeles.
- Ask Los Angeles Locals
-
-
-
1. Musso & Frank Grill
- Old Hollywood Still Shines
-
- Bars
- Hollywood/West Hollywood
- Nile Expert Tip: A trip back in time to Hollywood's golden years
user ratingexpert pick -
-
-
2. HMS Bounty
- Old fashioned feel-good bar
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
3. La Cita
- Low-key hipster hotspot
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user ratingexpert pick -
-
-
4. The Prince Café
- Plush Hideout in Koreatown
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
5. Footsie's
- Rock n roll
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
6. Redwood
- Pirate-themed bar
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
7. Golden Gopher
- Go for it
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
8. Moonshadows
- See And Be Seen
-
- Bars
- Malibu
user rating -
-
-
9. Big Foot Lodge
- Trendy Los Feliz area lounge
-
- Bars
- Hollywood/West Hollywood
user rating -
-
-
10. Hank's Bar
- The oldest bar in downtown L.A.
-
- Bars
- Downtown/Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown
user rating -
-
-
The Best of NileGuide
-
Los Angeles offers a very wide range of bars, from dives where Charles Bukowski used to hang-out to totally fabulous spots full of beautiful and wealthy people.
On this list I have tried to select relatively low-key bars that also have something that makes them notable destinations. This "something" could be a certain hipness to the place, a storied past, or just a cool building or location.
The Musso & Frank Grill is firmly in the historically important category. This restaurant and bar first opened in 1919 and has been in the same location since 1934, with very little remodeling. During the golden age of Hollywood, Musso and Frank's was one a happening places to hang out at. Back in the day, luminaries such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Raymond Chandler, Ernest Hemingway, and Orson Welles (to name just a few) were regulars.
Located on the ground floor of the 1924 Gaylord Building, the HMS Bounty is another venerable restaurant and bar. This place opened in 1948 as the "Gay Room;" in the 50s it took on its nautical trappings and then was named the HMS Bounty in 1962 (when the movie of the same name was a hit). In those days, the neighborhood was sublimely happening, with the Ambassador and the Coconut across the street and the Brown Derby just next door. Having now outlived many of these nearby spots, the HMS Bounty is a pretty low-key neighborhood spot with a lot great woodwork and plenty of character. The Prince is a cavernous and distinguished Korean bar just a couple blocks away from the Bounty that makes a great hide-out.
The list continues with a couple downtown bars ( La Cita, the Redwood and the Golden Gopher), a hip but laid-back Hollywood spot ( The Woods) and a hipster haven in Highland Park (Footsie's). The real wild-card here is Moonshadows, located right above the ocean in Malibu. My advice regarding Moonshadows is to enjoy the awesome location and the drinks here but note that the food gets mixed reviews.
For more mellow bar options check out this L.A. Bar Guide.
- Best Of Los Angeles
-
-
Hotels
- Brand Name Hotels
- Business Hotels
- Five Star Hotels
- Trendy Hotels
- Motels
- Bed and Breakfasts
- Cheap Accommodations
- Family Friendly Accommodations
-
Things to Do
- Active Things to Do
- Adventure Activities
- Historic Buildings
- Art Museums
- Attractions
- Beaches
- Cool Activities
- Cultural Activities
-
Restaurants
- Cheap Restaurants
- Chinese Cuisine
- Fast Food
- Hamburgers
- Japanese Restaurants
- Mexican Restaurants
- Seafood
- Thai Cuisine
-
