Los Angeles is known worldwide as a city filled with sunshine, beaches, attractions, celebrities, and of course—a glamorous nightlife scene. However, not all communities in the city are created equal when it comes to thriving nighttime entertainment. Some neighborhoods are popular for a night of bar hopping, while other communities are go-to destinations for live entertainment and theaters. The main neighborhoods to party at are East Hollywood, Hollywood, Echo Park, Downtown LA and Koreatown.
A few years ago, the nightlife in East Hollywood was relatively quiet compared to the adjacent neighborhoods of Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Koreatown. However, perhaps experiencing a bit of spillage from the surrounding communities, East Hollywood is now filled with attractive dive bars, laid-back lounges, vintage bars, and even disco spots. While this neighborhood isn’t exactly where the heavy-duty clubgoers flock to when Friday hits, it’s appealing to those who want a relaxing night out sipping a cold beer or craft cocktail. A few great spots for a fun night out in this neighborhood include Girl at The White Horse on Western Avenue, The Know Where Cocktail Bar on Hollywood Boulevard, or The Virgil on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Although Hollywood isn’t the quietest neighborhood to live in, it’s known for being home to some of the city’s most popular and glamorous night clubs. The Holy Grail of nightlife, Hollywood has a bit of everything, from theaters and live music venues to intimate lounges and velvet rope nightclubs. There are dozens of bars and clubs in the neighborhood, some even within walking distance, which makes it ideal for bar hopping or even club hopping. Whether you’re just looking for a low-key night out, or you’re searching for your next ragger, the nightlife scene in Hollywood is what you make of it. For those who are new to the area and open to meeting new people, check out Hollywood Club Crawl to visit some of the area’s best bars and clubs.
Artists, musicians, and locals looking for a fun night tend to make a beeline towards the trendy Echo Park. Just like the neighborhood’s eclectic home styles, the nightlife in Echo Park is also diverse, ranging from vintage bars to contemporary lounges and clubs. This hip community features many hidden gems, such as dive bars, speakeasies, impromptu comedy shows, and even boisterous dance clubs—most of which are located along the bustling Sunset Boulevard. In addition to this small neighborhood’s vibrant nightlife, Echo Park isn’t too shabby during the day either. It has some of LA’s best restaurants, thrift shops, and local hangouts.
Downtown Los Angeles has a treasure trove of both daytime and nighttime activities for locals and visitors to partake in. Although much of the community is experiencing an influx of luxury development, this doesn’t stop many bar hoppers from exploring the neighborhood. Downtown LA is known as a neighborhood that has it all: transportation, shopping centers, food outlets, residential developments, museums, and yes—some of the best nightlife the city has to offer. Whether you’re in the neighborhood’s Business District or Arts District, there are plenty of bars to choose from such as trendy themed bars, arcade bars, and even art gallery lounges. Staples in the neighborhood include the popular Seven Grand, Clifton’s, and Cole’s Saloon.
Not many people realize this, but Koreatown is known for having one of the largest concentration of nightclubs and 24-hour restaurants and businesses in the nation. You’ll find a majority of late night hotspots, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues along Western Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. Even after a weekend of going out in this neighborhood, residents and visitors will find that they’re not even close to truly knowing K-Town. A neighborhood that’s filled with longtime residents as well as new homeowners, Koreatown is surprisingly close-knit. There are countless secret spots in this community, including after-hour speakeasies, lounges, and karaoke bars, if you know where to look. Like many of the neighborhoods surrounding communities, such as Westlake, Downtown, and Silverlake, Koreatown is also experiencing a wave of new residential development, which may make it even more popular with newcomers.