Top 10 Nightlife Spots in Los Angeles

Direct Answer

The Best Overall nightlife spot in Los Angeles is The Edison, the cavernous Art Deco speakeasy in a former Downtown power plant where craft cocktails, live cabaret, and burlesque meet under industrial turbines — it wins for atmosphere nothing else in the city can touch. The Best Value pick is Good Times at Davey Wayne's, the '70s-themed Hollywood bar with a refrigerator-door entrance, no cover most nights, and reasonable drinks for a wildly fun, immersive party.

This list is built for partygoers, date-night couples, cocktail nerds, and visitors who want the real LA after dark across Downtown, Hollywood, the Arts District, and the Sunset Strip area. Every spot below is a real, currently-operating Los Angeles venue.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighed each venue against what makes an LA night memorable, drawing on Yelp, Eater LA, Thrillist, Time Out Los Angeles, The Infatuation, Google Reviews, and Los Angeles Magazine. The weighting:

• Atmosphere and vibe — 25%
• Drinks and menu — 20%
• Music and entertainment — 20%
• Crowd and service — 15%
• Value (cover, drink prices, overall bang for the buck) — 10%
• Location and access — 10%

A bar with a great theme but flat drinks drops fast; so does a famous room with a brutal door and no soul. The winners balance all six.

1. The Edison 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Cocktail bar / Cabaret | Price: $$$ | Best for: Atmosphere-seekers and date nights with a show

The Edison, hidden in the basement of the historic Higgins Building in Downtown LA, is set inside a former private power plant, with original turbines, generators, and soaring industrial ceilings lit like a film noir set. The craft cocktail menu is deep and classic-leaning (drinks around $16–$20), and the entertainment rotates through live jazz, burlesque, aerialists, and cabaret.

A dress code is enforced — no shorts, athletic wear, or flip-flops — and there can be a cover on weekends, with reservations smart for tables. The crowd dresses up and comes for the spectacle. Nowhere else in LA fuses cocktails, history, and live performance like this.

Pros:

• Jaw-dropping Art Deco power-plant interior
• Live burlesque, aerial, and cabaret entertainment
• Deep, classic-leaning craft cocktail program
• Genuinely immersive, dress-up date-night vibe

Cons:

• Enforced dress code and possible weekend cover
• Premium drink pricing at $16–$20

Verdict: The most atmospheric night in LA — unbeatable for a date or a special night out with a show.

2. Bar Marmont

Type: Cocktail bar / Lounge | Price: $$$$ | Best for: Old-Hollywood glamour on the Sunset Strip

Bar Marmont, attached to the legendary Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip, is the city's enduring symbol of Old-Hollywood cool. The intimate, candlelit room with its butterfly-covered ceiling has drawn celebrities and night owls for decades. The cocktails are polished and pricey (around $20–$26), the service is attentive, and the vibe is hushed, glamorous, and a little secretive.

Dress sharp, expect a selective door on busy nights, and reservations help. It's not a dance party — it's the place to feel like you slipped into a piece of LA legend over a perfect Martini.

Pros:

• Iconic Old-Hollywood glamour beside the Chateau Marmont
• Intimate, candlelit room with a famous ceiling
• Polished cocktails and attentive service
• Prime Sunset Strip location

Cons:

• Pricey drinks and a selective weekend door
• Quiet vibe won't satisfy partiers

Verdict: The Old-Hollywood pick — go for glamour and a legendary Sunset Strip Martini.

3. Apt 503

Type: Speakeasy / Cocktail bar | Price: $$$ | Best for: A hidden cocktail night in Koreatown

Apt 503 is a tucked-away speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked door inside the Line Hotel area of Koreatown, designed to feel like a stylish private apartment. The vibe is intimate and design-forward, with inventive, Asian-inflected cocktails around $16–$19 and a low-lit, lounge-y room that rewards conversation.

There's no big sign and limited capacity, so reservations or an early arrival help. The crowd is K-town cool and cocktail-savvy. It's a refined, slightly secret spot for couples or small groups who want craft drinks without a club's noise and crowds.

Pros:

• Genuine hidden-entrance speakeasy feel
• Inventive, Asian-inflected cocktail menu
• Intimate, design-forward Koreatown room
• Conversation-friendly and date-ready

Cons:

• Small capacity means it fills quickly
• Low-key vibe isn't for partiers

Verdict: The hidden-cocktail pick — a stylish, secretive K-town speakeasy for craft drinks.

4. Death & Co LA

Type: Cocktail bar | Price: $$$$ | Best for: Serious cocktail drinkers in the Arts District

Death & Co, the acclaimed NYC cocktail institution, brought its Arts District outpost to LA inside the Arts District Hotel, and it's a destination for anyone who takes drinks seriously. The expansive, handsome space spans multiple bars and a patio, with a deep, award-pedigree cocktail menu (drinks around $18–$22) executed by some of the best bartenders in the city.

The vibe is sophisticated but not stuffy, the crowd is cocktail-literate, and there's no cover, with reservations recommended for prime hours. For pure liquid craftsmanship, it's among the best in Los Angeles.

Pros:

• Award-pedigree cocktail program from a famed NYC name
• Large, handsome multi-bar space with a patio
• Top-tier bartending and execution
• No cover, sophisticated Arts District setting

Cons:

• Premium pricing on cocktails
• Books up fast on weekend nights

Verdict: The cocktail-nerd pick — among LA's best for serious, expertly made drinks.

5. No Vacancy

Type: Speakeasy / Lounge | Price: $$$$ | Best for: A theatrical entrance and a party in a Victorian house

No Vacancy occupies a restored Victorian house in Hollywood and is famous for its theatrical entrance — you check in at a faux hotel front desk, then a hidden passage opens to a sprawling multi-room bar with a courtyard, balconies, and live performers, including a tightrope-walking burlesque act over the patio.

Cocktails run $18–$24, there's often a cover or guest list on weekends, and the dress code is enforced. The crowd is dressed-up and out to party. It's one of the most fun and photogenic nights in the city, blending speakeasy theater with a real scene.

Pros:

• Unforgettable hidden-passage Victorian entrance
• Live burlesque and tightrope performers
• Sprawling multi-room space with courtyard and balconies
• High-energy, dressed-up party scene

Cons:

• Cover, guest list, and dress code on busy nights
• Pricey cocktails and weekend lines

Verdict: The theatrical-party pick — go for the entrance, the performers, and the scene.

6. Good Times at Davey Wayne's 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Themed bar / Dive | Price: $$ | Best for: A fun, immersive '70s party without a steep tab

Good Times at Davey Wayne's in Hollywood is the value champion — a wildly fun 1970s-themed bar you enter through a refrigerator door in a faux garage-sale front room. Inside it's wood paneling, shag-carpet energy, a backyard with a converted camper serving frozen drinks, and live music or DJs spinning classic rock and funk.

No cover most nights, drinks are reasonable for Hollywood (around $13–$16), and the immersive theme delivers a great night without bottle-service prices. The crowd is social and up for it. $30–$40 buys a genuinely memorable night.

Pros:

• Immersive '70s theme with a refrigerator-door entrance
• No cover most nights and fair $13–$16 drinks
• Backyard camper bar and live music or DJs
• High fun-per-dollar for Hollywood

Cons:

• Long lines and packed rooms on weekends
• Theme-bar novelty isn't for everyone

Verdict: The best bang-for-the-buck night in LA — an immersive party without the Hollywood markup.

7. The Roger Room

Type: Cocktail bar / Speakeasy | Price: $$$ | Best for: An intimate craft-cocktail nightcap

The Roger Room, hidden behind a fortune-teller sign near West Hollywood / Beverly Grove, is one of LA's original modern speakeasies and still one of its best for an intimate drink. The small, dimly lit room with vintage circus-poster decor focuses on a strong classic-cocktail menu (around $15–$18) made with care.

There's no cover, no DJ, and the tight capacity keeps it conversation-friendly — arrive early or expect a short wait. The crowd is laid-back and drinks-focused. It's the move for couples or small groups who want a quiet, well-made nightcap away from the crowds.

Pros:

• Original LA speakeasy with a hidden entrance
• Strong, well-made classic cocktail menu
• Intimate, conversation-friendly room
• No cover and fair $15–$18 pricing

Cons:

• Very small, so it fills and you may wait
• Quiet vibe won't satisfy a big group looking to dance

Verdict: The intimate-nightcap pick — a quiet, expertly made cocktail away from the scene.

8. Break Room 86

Type: Karaoke bar / Lounge | Price: $$$ | Best for: '80s-themed karaoke and a hidden-bar party

Break Room 86, hidden behind a vending-machine door at the Line Hotel in Koreatown, is an '80s-themed bar and karaoke lounge that's pure good time. The neon-soaked space packs private karaoke rooms, arcade games, DJs spinning '80s and hip-hop, and a back-alley patio.

Cocktails run $15–$18, there's often a cover on weekends, and the energy is high and unpretentious. The crowd is young and party-ready. With karaoke rooms, dancing, and a themed-bar gimmick that actually delivers, it's one of K-town's most entertaining nights out.

Pros:

• Fun '80s theme with a hidden vending-machine entrance
• Private karaoke rooms and arcade games
• DJs spinning '80s and hip-hop with a patio
• High-energy, unpretentious K-town crowd

Cons:

• Cover on weekends and quick-filling karaoke rooms
• Gets loud and crowded fast

Verdict: The karaoke-party pick — '80s theme, private rooms, and a great group night in K-town.

9. Academy LA

Type: Nightclub | Price: $$$$ | Best for: A big-room dance club night in Hollywood

Academy LA in Hollywood is the list's true nightclub — a large, multi-level venue with a serious sound and lighting system and bookings of house, EDM, and hip-hop DJs, including big-name guests. Expect a proper club night: bottle-service tables, a packed dance floor, and a cover or guest list plus a dressy dress code at the door.

Drinks are club-priced and tables run high, with reservations essential for bottle service. The crowd comes to dance and be seen. If you want a high-production, big-room party rather than a craft cocktail, this is the LA pick.

Pros:

• Large multi-level club with top-tier sound and lighting
• Strong house, EDM, and hip-hop DJ bookings
• High-production, big-room party energy
• Central Hollywood location

Cons:

• Cover, guest list, dressy door, and pricey bottle service
• Long weekend lines and a see-and-be-seen scene

Verdict: The dance-club pick — the move when you want a high-production big-room party.

10. Tramp Stamp Granny's

Type: Piano bar / Dive | Price: $$ | Best for: Sing-along piano nights and a rowdy good time

Tramp Stamp Granny's in Hollywood is a beloved piano sing-along bar where the whole room belts show tunes, pop hits, and rock anthems led by live pianists deep into the night. The kitschy, vintage-grandma decor and the participatory energy make it a uniquely joyful, unpretentious night out.

Cocktails run $13–$16, there's usually no cover, and the crowd is a mix of theater kids, locals, and visitors who don't mind belting in public. It gets loud and packed, in the best way. For a fun, low-cost, high-energy group night, few spots match it.

Pros:

• Live piano sing-along with the whole room participating
• Kitschy, joyful, unpretentious atmosphere
• Fair $13–$16 drinks and usually no cover
• Great for groups and a rowdy good time

Cons:

• Loud and packed, with limited seating
• Sing-along format isn't for everyone

Verdict: The sing-along pick — a joyful, low-cost piano-bar night that's all about participation.

Where Should You Go Out?

What to Look For in a Night Out in Los Angeles

• Pick your neighborhood — Downtown and the Arts District (The Edison, Death & Co), Hollywood (No Vacancy, Davey Wayne's), Koreatown (Apt 503, Break Room 86), and the Sunset Strip (Bar Marmont) each have a distinct feel.
• Dress code and door — Scene-y spots (The Edison, No Vacancy, Bar Marmont, Academy LA) enforce a dress code and may have a cover or guest list; themed and piano bars are far more relaxed.
• Cover vs. No cover — Value picks like Davey Wayne's, the Roger Room, and Tramp Stamp Granny's often have none, which stretches your budget.
• Rideshare it — LA traffic, parking costs, and drinking don't mix; budget for a rideshare instead of driving and circling for spots.
• Reserve for tables — Cocktail destinations and clubs (Death & Co, The Edison, Academy LA) fill fast, so book ahead for prime hours.
• Theme bars deliver — LA's immersive themed bars (Davey Wayne's, No Vacancy, Break Room 86) are a genuine highlight, not a gimmick.

What matters less than the hype: celebrity sightings and bottle-service status. The best LA nights come from atmosphere, a great drink, and the right crowd — not a velvet rope.

FAQ

What is the best nightlife spot in Los Angeles overall? The Edison in Downtown LA is our top pick — a former power plant turned Art Deco cocktail bar with live burlesque and cabaret, offering atmosphere nothing else in the city matches.

Where is the best cheap night out in LA? Good Times at Davey Wayne's in Hollywood is the value winner: a '70s-themed bar with a refrigerator-door entrance, no cover most nights, and fair $13–$16 drinks for a wildly fun night.

What are the best speakeasies in Los Angeles? Apt 503 in Koreatown, The Roger Room near West Hollywood, and No Vacancy in Hollywood lead for hidden-entrance speakeasy nights, each with a distinct theme and crowd.

Where should I go for serious craft cocktails in LA? Death & Co LA in the Arts District is the top destination for award-pedigree cocktails, with The Edison and The Roger Room as excellent alternatives.

Where can I find themed or karaoke bars in LA? Good Times at Davey Wayne's ('70s), Break Room 86 ('80s karaoke), and Tramp Stamp Granny's (piano sing-along) are the most fun immersive and participatory nights in the city.

Do LA nightlife spots charge a cover? Speakeasy-style cocktail bars and piano bars often don't, while clubs and scene-y rooms (Academy LA, No Vacancy, The Edison) may charge a cover or require a guest list on weekends.

Bottom Line

For a night out in Los Angeles, The Edison is our Best Overall — a one-of-a-kind power-plant cocktail bar with live cabaret and unmatched atmosphere. Good Times at Davey Wayne's is our Best Value, delivering an immersive '70s party with no cover and fair drink prices for a memorable sub-$40 night.

If you'd rather chase serious cocktails, hidden speakeasies, karaoke, or a big-room dance floor, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Death & Co, Apt 503, Break Room 86, or Academy LA instead. Lead with atmosphere and the right crowd, and LA delivers after dark.

Sources

• Yelp — Best Nightlife in Los Angeles
• Eater LA — bar and nightlife guides
• Thrillist — Best Bars in Los Angeles
• Time Out Los Angeles — Best Bars and Nightlife
• The Infatuation — LA bar guides
• Los Angeles Magazine — nightlife coverage
• The Edison — official site
• Houston Hospitality — No Vacancy, Davey Wayne's, Break Room 86
• Death & Co — Los Angeles location
• Bar Marmont / Chateau Marmont — official site

*best nightlife in Los Angeles review — best bars and clubs, where to go out, ratings, and a review of the top nightlife spots.*