The oldest bars in Los Angeles

What is it? A sports bar steps from the beach, complete with greasy fare.

Why we love it: Predating the Santa Monica Pier itself, this now-kitschy sports bar has been a beachfront institution for over a century—in fact, it’s so old-school that they didn’t even get their first icebox until 1913. After many configurations, including a turn as a biker bar, this currently family-friendly establishment is often packed with locals despite its proximity to the county’s biggest tourist trap. It’s not necessarily a spot you’ll seek out for the mixology, but enjoy the sunshine, ocean breeze and sense that you’re hanging out in a spot that's hosted 100-plus years of Angelenos who came before you.

Time Out tip: It’s hard to go wrong with any of their burgers for the price and it includes vegan options.

Address: 1615 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Opening hours: Mon noon–7pm; Tue–Thu 11am–8pm; Fri 11am–9pm; Sat, Sun 10am–8pm

What is it? A classic dive turned cocktail dive in Downtown L.A.

Why we love it: Slinging drinks since 1905—and in a building rumored to have once been owned by Teddy Roosevelt—this bar is so old that the liquor license it holds is of a type that no longer really exists in the city anymore, allowing for both normal bar sales and retail sales of full bottles to take away. It was that very license, along with the decades of history, that caught the eye of Cedd Moses, founder of Pouring with Heart (formerly 213 Hospitality); he took over the bar and reopened it in 2004, taking a chance on bringing some of the first craft cocktails to the still-transitioning neighborhood.

Time Out tip: Service is a bit uneven with no clear rhyme or reason for the occasional long wait.

Address: 417 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Opening hours: Daily 3pm–2am

What is it? A speakeasy with live music underneath Venice’s Townhouse.

Why we love it: Originally known as Menotti’s Bar, this drinking den predates Prohibition. When the 18th Amendment went into effect, the boozing went underground, literally, into the space now known as the Del Monte Speakeasy. These days you can still head down there to get a vintage feel with cocktails, stand-up comedy and live jazz, but they’ve thankfully upgraded from the rope-operated elevator used back in the day.  

Time Out tip: Find out which shows are playing when through the Townhouse’s Instagram.

Address: 52 Windward Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 6pm–2am; Sun noon–2am

What is it? A longstanding Scottish steakhouse and pub.

Why we love it: Tam’s history dates back to 1922, when the population of all of L.A. was only 580,000 and the asymmetrical, Tudor-style building was a restaurant called Montgomery’s Country Inn. But it only took three years for the space to transition into the Tam O’ Shanter Inn, which is when the party really got started: Scottish bric-a-brac perched on the walls and shelves, and silver-screen celebs like Mary Pickford and Fatty Arbuckle hung around the bar—it even became the meeting and drinking place of Walt Disney. Today, that magic’s still there with scotch galore, a dark wood bar and plenty of stately-meets-kitchsy decor to keep your eyes busy.

Time Out tip: Stop by for their happy hour on weekdays from 2pm–5pm for $10 classic cocktails and even cheaper wine and beer.

Address: 2980 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm

What is it? An unassuming Long Beach institution with unbelievable prices. 

Why we love it: This tavern has been serving guests since 1924, but it may not be the drinks that keep patrons coming back over the generations. They’re particularly well known for the apothecary jars of neon yellow pickled eggs that still bob around, reminding us of the bar snacks of yesteryear. They’ve apparently gotten the trick to making them down after nearly a century, because they now even market a mix so you can make your own at home when you can’t pay a visit to the wood booth and oil painting-bedecked bar.

Time Out tip: Pay no mind to any grumpy regulars; they soften up with time. 

Address: 2803 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Opening hours: Daily 10am–10pm

What is it? A Manhattan Beach dive bar serving locals since 1927.

Why we love it: Nondescript and proudly showing its age with initials etched into its wooden booths, Ercole’s keeps regulars happy with its legendary burgers, which some like to swear are the best in L.A. A dubious claim, but you can hardly argue with thick, juicy beef (fresh from next-door gourmet deli Manhattan Meats) and toppings piled high. With a crowded pool table in the back, classic tunes from a jukebox and a diverse crowd evenly split between salty old-timers and bro-y surfers, there’s definitely no lack of character.

Time Out tip: Cash is still preferred, but they do accept credit cards now.

Address: 1101 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Opening hours: Daily 10am–2am

What is it? The city’s oldest Mexican bar and restaurant.

Why we love it: Back in 1930, when the original pueblo of Los Angeles was restored into the Olvera Street district we know today, El Paseo Inn was a happening spot. And when the first post-Prohibition liquor licenses were issued in L.A. in 1933, El Paseo secured permit number four. A city-designated landmark, El Paseo has served margaritas and classic Mexican dishes to Cesar Chavez, two U.S. presidents, and countless tourists. 

Time Out tip: While the food can be hit or miss, you’re really there for the margaritas.

Address: 11 East Olvera St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10:30am–6pm; Sat, Sun 9:30am–6pm

What is it? A jazz and blues dive with immersive burlesque shows.

Why we love it: This old-school jazz-club-turned-dive-bar lays claim to the title of the oldest live music venue in California, and continues to host music to this day. Open from 8pm to 2am nightly, it's one of the most laidback ways in Santa Monica to drink and soak in some tunes. They also have a sister bar in Long Beach tucked beneath the Promenade.

Time Out tip: Try to get tickets for a burlesque show, especially the weekly Toledo Show.

Address: 1432 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Opening hours: Daily 8pm–2am

What is it? A Hollywood dive for locals and tourists alike.

Why we love it: We can’t tell you for sure when Frolic Room first started serving the Hollywood set, but the rumor is it was sometime during Prohibition, when it was carved out as a speakeasy accessible only through a secret door. What we do know is that it opened to the general public as a fully legit business in 1934 (more specifically as a cocktail bar in 1941), and it’s been a favorite of celebrities and dive-bar enthusiasts ever since.

Time Out tip: This is a great spot to kill time before a Hollywood show.

Address: 6245 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opening hours: Daily 11am–2am

What is it? A cozy music venue steeped in history and spilled bourbon.

Why we love it: A staple for more than 80 years, the Mint continues to host an array of live music in an intimate setting. The club boasts that artists from Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder to LMFAO have played its tiny stage at critical moments in their careers, and we’ll have to look the other way on that last one on account of history. Even if you’re not stopping by for a show, the bar and lounge space lets you whet your whistle while you soak up the recording industry lore. 

Time Out tip: If possible, reserve a table for your show; the club hits standing-room-only pretty quickly.

Address: 6010 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 7pm–1am; Fri, Sat 7pm–2am; Sun 7pm–1am  

What is it? A Chinese-themed haunt that includes a streetcar and a patio.

Why we love it: Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, John Wayne and even Marilyn Monroe: the Formosa Café in West Hollywood has seen them all. Though its origins aren’t entirely settled, this Golden Age watering hole’s roots definitely go back at least to 1939. Today, you’ll find both a more than century-old trolley car embedded inside the Formosa, painstakingly restored by the preservation-minded 1933 Group, plus new, snazzy interiors, plenty of on-theme tiki cocktails, and mediocre Chinese American cuisine. 

Time Out tip: There’s a daily happy hour from 3pm–6pm with $10 cocktails and dumplings.

Address: 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Opening hours: Mon–Wed noon–11pm; Thu–Sat noon–midnight; Sun noon–11pm