This baroque spot trades on the legend of its past as (it says) the oldest bar and brothel in Downtown LA. The ladies of the night have long since departed but the vibe lives...

The first and still the most popular of several wine bars in the area, Bottle Rock performs double-duty as a sophisticated wine bar and an upscale wine store: trying before you...

A ripple in the tidal wave of new Hollywood venues, this indoor-outdoor expanse (in the space that once housed the Hollywood Athletic Club) arrives courtesy of the folks behind...

Located in the ground floor of a nondescript office building (park and enter at the back), this ski lodge-styled room has one of the most comprehensive karaoke songbooks in the...

Once a dive bar, the Brig underwent a successful facelift a few years ago. The pool table and the solid jukebox remain as reminders of its seedier past, and the stainless steel...

Moneyed, fashionable Downtowners gather nightly around the 50-foot circular bar at this lavish hangout, where the upscale atmosphere is a world away from the bleak stretch of...

Just a few junctions south of Dear John's, veteran piano man Peter Wagner holds court in the dining lounge of the resolutely retro Buggy Whip every Friday and Saturday. Dinner...

This agreeably worse-for-wear little taproom is tucked off to the side of Canter's Deli. The mood is matey and the drinking tends to be pretty focused. It's sometimes quiet,...

We can't claim that the English pub interior is especially authentic, but it was good enough for Morrissey, who was known to favour this place when in his former home town....

Lodge meets luxury in this ultralounge, which offers drinks, expensive appetisers and DJs, who spin from a glass booth on the mezzanine level. Central draws a starry and...

This Tiki-Mex beer bar has a party attitude, with colourful decorations to match. Budget-conscious drinkers opt for PBR, though the bartenders can also mix a decent drink. Cram...

This divey but loveable spot close to Santa Monica Pier was a regular haunt for Brian Wilson back in the day. The traces of sawdust on the floor and the coterie of leathery...

This tiny, rustic spot, the oldest bar in Culver City, draws a Bohemian crowd to its nightly shows. You'll find a high percentage of fine local acts, such as singer-songwriters...

Happily, the plans that called for the redevelopment of this legendary 3,300-capacity club into shops and condos have been shelved. One of the city's oldest clubs, Circus is a...