Los Angeles is one of the most bustling cities in the US, and the availability of different nightlife attractions makes it one of the top entertainment destinations for tourists all over the world. Regardless of how you want to spend your evenings in the city, you’re going to be able to find a section of LA that offers everything you could want in a night out. Whether you want to dance and enjoy a few cocktails at one of the many local nightclubs or have a more casual time at a lounge or bar, Los Angeles has options.
If you’re planning an upcoming trip or you’ll be moving to LA in the near future, you’ll want to make the most of your time in the city. Check out the live music venues, restaurants, beaches, and anything else your heart desires when you’re planning for a night out in Los Angeles.
To make it easier to create an itinerary, keep reading to learn about the various sections of LA so that you can gravitate towards one that can provide you with attractions you’ll enjoy.
Let’s explore Venice, Hollywood, Downtown, and Long Beach.
Venice
The Venice area grants visitors easy access to the beach during the day and plenty of fun things to do when the sun goes down. There are several nearby hotels to choose from as well if you want to keep your visit concentrated in one area.
Venice has several restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to check out, as well. This LA area is also quite budget-friendly if you visit the right places. It’s the best of both worlds when you want to enjoy relaxing days and energetic evenings.
Venice Beach
Like Venice in general, Venice Beach offers a more relaxed atmosphere, both during the day and at night. If you’re looking for a quiet, yet memorable night in the city, walking on the beach or taking in the view of the waves at night, you’ll have fun here. Venice Beach also has a popular boardwalk destination, where visitors can check out the local vendors, pick up a souvenir or two, and watch the street performers.
Hollywood
Hollywood is one of the most well-known areas in Los Angeles and the abundance of nightlife options proves that it’s more than just a tourist destination. There’s a little something for everyone in the Hollywood area, from themed nightclubs to more casual areas to gather. In addition, there are some high-end hotels and nightclubs in Hollywood, which makes this section of the city pretty flexible for most budgets.
West Hollywood
West Hollywood hosts a fair few events during specific times of the year, but this area also presents visitors with plenty to do at night during any given weekend. This part of the city is ideal for music enthusiasts and it’s one of the most LGBTQ-friendly parts of LA (though most of LA is relatively LGBTQ-friendly).
Downtown LA
Downtown LA is ideal if you want to take care of everything on your list of things you’re looking to do on a night out. There are several hotels in the area if you’re just visiting, as well as a decent restaurant variety. Downtown has more casual nightlife options like bars and cocktail lounges, but they also have a selection of nightclubs.
Plus, Downtown makes getting around without a car quite easy due to its metro accessibility.
Long Beach
Long Beach is an area to consider if you want to be outside of the crowded city center but you still want to go out for the evening. Long Beach has a vibrant nightlife scene, so you won’t be bored checking out the offerings. It’s just as fun as other LA locations but Long Beach offers visitors a little less noise and a bit more open space. Going to one of the many beach locations is worth trying, but Long Beach also has a selection of beachside bars, restaurants, and events to attend after dark.
Best Nightclubs In LA
Part of what makes the nightlife in Los Angeles so desirable is the fact that there is no shortage of nightclubs to visit. If you want to dance, drink, and enjoy some music, you’ll certainly find an establishment that fits your style.
Here are a few of the most popular nightclubs in LA, and the list contains an array of different themes and focuses so that the options are diverse.
- Dragonfly Hollywood
- Whiskey A Go Go
- The Virgil
- Catch One
- Exchange Club
- The LA Reserve
- Conga Room
- La Cita Bar
- The Echo
- Bootsy Bellows
- Hyde Sunset
Best Bars & Pubs In LA
Some people want to take it easy during the evening hours and have a beer when they’re visiting a new place. If you’d rather visit one of LA’s favorite bars or pubs, one of these will likely work for you.
- Apotheke Mixology
- Del Monte Speakeasy
- Accomplice Bar
- Checkers
Best Restaurants In LA
Let’s not forget that you need food to keep your energy reserves up, so if you want to get something to eat either before or during your night out, Los Angeles has a massive selection of restaurants to choose from.
The list below includes some of LA’s most romantic, high-quality eating establishments. The cuisine focus differs from one restaurant to the next so it should be pretty easy to find a place you’re going to like.
- Sant’olina
- Firefly
- Merois
- Soulmate
- 71Above
- Castaway
- The Little Door
The lists mentioned above are by no means exhaustive and they only cover a small number of the establishments and city sectors you can visit for a fun evening. Explore your options a little further to become aware of all the extra places you might want to go for the most unique nightlife in Los Angeles.
On top of being centered around entertainment and providing both locals and tourists with constant new experiences, LA aims to make it easy for everyone to get around in the city by ensuring that the metro system provides access to practically every corner you could possibly want to visit. You don’t even need a car to have a good time here.