Bar Marmont

8171 Sunset Blvd, Chateau Marmont Hotel, Hollywood, CA 90046 323-650-0575

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. This elaborately decorated bar features a tropical motif with a stuffed peacock holding court and faux monarch butterflies dotting the ceiling. The bar itself is bathed in red light while neighboring tables are illuminated by white lamps. It all creates a romantic, Eastern ambience, attracting famous folks like Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp, who relish Marmont's martinis. Gin and vodka varieties are both available, and many house drinks are served in glass jars with accents of pineapple, ginger, or vanilla.
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Bar Tosca at La Boheme

8400 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 323-848-2360

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. While La Boheme as a restaurant is known for its elaborate chandeliers, roaring fireplace, lengthy drapes, and touches of Gothic decor, it's also a terrific place to have drinks. Bar Tosca delivers a range of specialty cocktails, which patrons enjoy there or take to the outdoor patio. Romantic and quiet, the candlelit venue is perfect for a drink à deux or a peaceful cocktail in solitude. Plus, this alternative to the heavily-decorated interior offers privacy from passers-by thanks to an encircling stone wall. If you choose not to indulge in the dining room's Californian and French fare, know that the bar serves burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers.
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Bigfoot Lodge

3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-662-9227

Description: GRIFFITH PARK. Prepare for an evening in the north woods, but leave your flannels at home ­ Bigfoot Lodge caters to urban lumberjacks. Campy-chic is the rule at this fun bar, where an electronic raccoon cavorts beside a huge fireplace while patrons suck down "Toasted Marshmallows" and "Girl Scout Cookie" cocktails. (Any hangovers can be remedied at the weekly Bloody Mary Sunday.) DJs spin tunes according to the theme of the night; expect anything from Frank Sinatra to the New York Dolls.
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Mixville Bar at Edendale Grill

2838 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-666-2000

Description: SILVER LAKE. Situated in an old firehouse, Mixville Bar boasts one of the most comfortable and attractive lounges in the city. The building's original pressed tin ceiling and fire truck doors add priceless ambience while newer additions like the 38-foot mahogany bar and cushy sofas blend in well. Locals love the place, and Mixville's popularity is growing fast. A bar menu of gourmet appetizers, courtesy of Edendale Grill, is available, and items like pecan-crusted brie and hand-battered onion rings can be had for only $5 during the daily happy hour (5pm to 7pm).
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Miyagi's on Sunset

8225 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046-2413 323-650-3524

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. This rock-and-roll sushi house has three floors catering to every taste. On the first floor are big-screen televisions and pool tables where sports fans can eat and watch the big game. Floor two is a quieter, more traditional dining room. The third floor is decorated with waterfalls and televisions playing rock videos, and after midnight, tables are pushed away to make room for a dance floor. In all, Miyagi's boasts seven sushi bars and six beverage bars. Crowds come to see and be seen. Other regular events include comedy performances, acoustic shows, karaoke, and poetry readings.
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NineThirty

930 Hilgard Ave, W Los Angeles Westwood, Westwood, CA 90024 310-208-8765

Description: WESTWOOD. The focal point of this elegant New American restaurant is its 12-foot white sandstone bar, topped with teak wood; behind the bar, an ice-blue backlight illuminates a wood screen, producing a bamboo pattern. This statement of minimal, clean design is echoed throughout the restaurant's interior, as well as on the pleasant stone patio, which absorbs overflow from the relatively small bar. The singles scene is very much alive, so grab a flute of champagne or a minty mojito and get mingling. While there's no late night menu at the bar, nearby Whiskey Blue serves appetizers until last call at 1:30am.
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Peninsula Hotel Club Bar

9882 Santa Monica Blvd, Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310-551-2888

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. For a touch of class and the chance to feel like a true Beverly Hills local, visit The Peninsula, where you can sit among lovely art and sip port and cognac with the city's trendsetters. Wine lovers appreciate the vast selection of labels, which range from affordable varieties to vintages that are pricey but memorable. Amiable atmosphere and a menu of light dishes heightens the appeal.
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Pete's Cafe and Bar

400 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-617-1000

Description: DOWNTOWN. A beautiful Art Deco bar tucked into this neighborhood cafe is the place to be on late weekend nights. Subtle, warm lighting sets the scene and complements the space's dark wood accents. The wine list impresses with a lengthy list of domestic, European, and South American labels. A superb late-night menu can also be enjoyed at the bar ­ nosh on updated comfort food like wild mushroom ravioli and mac & cheese (a gourmet version featuring Vermont white cheddar and goat cheese).
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Pig 'N Whistle

6714 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 323-463-0000

Description: HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. This Hollywood Boulevard landmark has figured prominently in LA's movie life since it opened in 1927. Old Hollywood stars frequented the bustling place until it closed in the 1950s. Reopened and renovated in 2001, the reborn Pig 'N Whistle features Hollywood bistro cuisine and serves as both restaurant and bar. Go for a classic burger or a turkey club, or try pastas, pizzas, grilled fish, or shepherd's pie for dinner. Stay late and nurse a single malt scotch or a glass of wine while you enjoy live bands or DJs as they get the crowds moving.
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Polo Lounge

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310-276-2251

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. Try as you might, it's nearly impossible to name any place in Beverly Hills that packs in as many dealmakers and power brokers as the Polo Lounge. The bar is actually a piece of Hollywood history thanks to its roster of past and present patrons. Treat yourself to a martini or any other drink from the full list of cocktails, beers, and wines ­ you'll most likely leave with just as many memories of the atmosphere as of the drinks. Service is impeccable even if you're not a star.
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Tantra

3705 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 323-663-8268

Description: SILVER LAKE. Half Indian restaurant, half bar and dance floor, Tantra provides an evening's worth of activities under one roof. Once a theater, the large bar area now plays to patrons with concoctions like the exotically-named Tears of Ganesha and Pinilla Dream. Adding to the Eastern ambience are Bollywood movies broadcast on plasma TVs scattered throughout the space and an in-house DJ spinning soothing house music, encouraging you to lounge and dance, alternately. Tempting, savory Indian dishes are served in the restaurant until 11pm and midnight on the weekends.
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The Abbey Food & Bar

692 N Robertson Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90069 310-289-8410

Description: WEST HOLLYWOOD. Retaining its original touch of Gothic decor, this hotspot of gay and lesbian (and increasingly, straight) nightlife has evolved to include three distinct bars, a hip lounge, and several coveted outdoor cabanas. A relaxed coffeehouse and restaurant by day, The Abbey effortlessly transforms into a lively nightspot in the evenings. Elaborate and decadent martinis are the libation of choice, and the selection ranges from chocolate raspberry to caramel apple. Fortunately, there's plenty of great food to accompany your drink ­ grilled barbecue teriyaki salmon and penne with apple chicken sausage are favorite choices.
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The Bar

5851 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 323-468-9154

Description: HOLLYWOOD. Providing an antidote to LA's glut of overly swanky cocktail bars, The Bar is refreshingly low-key and, consequently, attracts a mixed clientele who come for rock tunes and strong mixed drinks. Most weeknights, DJs spin a mix, so grab a seat and enjoy the tunes. As the evening gets later, the crowd is increasingly well-dressed, so show up on the early side for a more casual vibe. A thoughtful perk for women: convenient purse hooks underneath the bar. Note: The bar is marked only with its address on an awning.
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The Chalet

1630 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041 323-258-8800

Description: EAGLE ROCK. Designed to evoke a cozy ski lodge, The Chalet attracts a mixed crowd of Oxy students and neighborhood hipsters who snuggle up in booths and sip cocktails at the candlelit stone bar. Appropriately, a fireplace warms the scene, and while you won't find live music, a superb, eclectic mix of indie and alternative rock spills from a much-tended jukebox. Cheesy artwork somehow ups the cool factor, and everyone can enjoy the lack of a cover charge.
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The Champagne Bar

701 Stone Canyon Rd, Hotel Bel-Air, Bel-Air, CA 90077 310-472-1211

Description: BEL AIR. With its inviting fireplace, cozy environs, and baby grand piano, the bar at the Hotel Bel-Air is definitely not for heavy partiers. Indeed, a more sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere would be hard to find in the city. Whether you're dining at the Bel-Air or not, the lounge is always a terrific place to frequent for aperitifs or for after-dinner drinks. Live piano music played nightly helps create just the right atmosphere, too.
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The Derby

4500 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 323-663-8979

Description: EAST HOLLYWOOD. For 20 years, this place was home to Hollywood's famous Brown Derby and was the place to be seen if you were anybody at all. Its distinctive domed ceiling was covered up during the '60s when the building was a restaurant. Today though, the lofty space has been exposed anew, and the 1930s-era decor hearkens back to what might be called Hollywood's heyday. Music ranges from swing (with dance lessons) to rare grooves, alternative, goth, reggae, and jazz. A fun, unpretentious hangout.
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The Golden Gopher

417 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014 213-614-8001

Description: DOWNTOWN. Somewhere between kitschy and cool, you'll find this former dive bar, now a downtown hipster hangout. Large chandeliers, gopher-shaped lamps, and vintage Atari games (think Centipede and Ms. Pac-Man) demonstrate that the bar doesn't take itself too seriously, and the mixed crowd of locals couldn't be happier. The tiny patio is an adequate place for a smoke break, but most patrons stay indoors, listening to an eclectic mix of tunes on the jukebox. Boasting one of the city's oldest liquor licenses, The Golden Gopher also has a small takeaway liquor store.
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Tiki Ti

4427 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 323-669-9381

Description: EAST HOLLYWOOD. Polynesian drinks and Hawaiian shirts abound at this tiny bar. Although small on space, it's big on fun. Enjoy a dynamic crowd and the large selection of fruit drinks. For something deliciously different, try "Ray's Mistake" ­ a mistake that went terribly right! Keep your eyes peeled as the rich and famous have been known to enjoy Tiki Ti right alongside commoners.
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Veranda Bar

939 S Figueroa St, Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles, CA 90015 213-627-8971

Description: DOWNTOWN. Located in a stylishly decorated 1920s-era hotel, the visually stunning Veranda Bar overlooks the pool and oozes atmosphere. Moroccan in design, the bar features hand-detailed woodwork, hanging lanterns, and Middle Eastern-style furnishings. Bougainvillea, cacti, and succulents occupy every nook and cranny, making the ambience even more compelling. Top it all off with a good selection of cocktails and other beverages, and you've an ideal spot for wrapping up after-hours business or even conducting a romantic rendezvous.
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Windows Lounge

300 S Doheny Dr, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA 90048 310-273-2222

Description: BEVERLY HILLS. Intimate Windows Lounge is great for impressing a date, thanks to patronage by a Hollywood crowd and graphic, stylish decor. Specialty martinis and a good selection of wines are available and are complemented by a menu of light international cuisine and nightly live music. The small patio outside is a favorite spot on lovely California evenings.
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