If you’re a sucker for pole tricks and tattoos then Cheetahs is your mecca, and well worth the pilgrimage from anywhere in the city. Sporting one skinny stage, a well-stocked bar and plenty of seating, this bikini bar has become a neighborhood favorite. You’re just as likely to be sitting next to a middle-aged, aspiring writer talking about how meth really helped him get over his writer’s block as you are a young hipster couple drenched in irony. The music is a great mix and always fun—hip hop and classic rock come up often, with the occasional dubstep beat or even an indie rock jam by the Strokes. Ultimately, the real stars of Cheetahs are dancers like Breezy and Malice, who completely own the stage with their powerful presence (a foot-high mohawk doesn’t hurt) and skillful performances. Watching Malice on the pole is its own form of visual poetry. Sexy, sexy poetry.
Bikini bars are the strange cousin of strip clubs—though some aficionados will insist they can’t be called strip clubs at all—and in LA they host some of the best pole dancing shows in the city. They also usually don’t have a cover. Bikini bars tend to stand out as fantastic dives with fun atmospheres, creative dancers and a solid mix of customers (we'll take our hipsters with a side of dirty old men—and there will always be dirty old men). Turns out, all the best bikini bars are in Hollywood—central location, only marginally seedy, easily Uber-able. These bars are great for a fun night out with a group of friends or the occasional adventurous Tinder date, or when you're just in the mood for some sexy dance moves. Note: Not all bikini bars offer private dances, but those that do start at $20 a pop, which seems to be industry standard in LA.
Lookin' for more? Check out the rest of our best strip clubs in LA.
If you'd rather bikini tops on the floor than on the dancers, maybe topless bars are more your speed. And if that's still yawn-inducing? Try full nude clubs.
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