Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [153]
Tangier (Map; 323-666-8666; 2138 Hillhurst Ave, Los Feliz; 5:30-8pm; ) Fill your belly on the cheap with spinach salad to nachos with homemade tortillas, then wash it down with $3 beers or cosmos at this eclectic venue that presents bands, comedy, belly dancing and other performances later at night.
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Hollywood, Los Feliz & Silver Lake
Bigfoot Lodge (off Map; 323-662-9227; 3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Feliz; 5pm-2am) Smokey the Bear presides over this log-cabin alt-lounge perfect for camping out with a minty Girl Scout Cookie martini or two. After 10pm DJs hit the decks with Brit faves, rockabilly and surf punk. By then, the line usually snakes down the block.
Good Luck Bar (Map; 323-666-3524; 1514 Hillhurst Ave, Los Feliz; 7pm-2am Mon-Fri, 8pm-2am Sat & Sun; ) The clientele is sexy, the music loud and the drinks strong at this red-velvet watering hole with all the lascivious seductiveness of a Chinese opium den. Order a baby-blue Yee Mee Loo, then make friends at the bar or while lolling on the oversized couches.
4100 Bar (Map; 323-666-4460; 4100 W Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake; 7pm-2am; ) Past the bouncer and the thick velvet curtain awaits this good-looking bar with an unpretentious and omnisexual crowd, a jukebox heavy on alt-rock, and bartenders who’ve been around the block once or twice.
Tiki Ti (Map; 323-669-9381; 4427 W Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake; 6pm-1am Wed & Thu, 6pm-2am Fri & Sat) This garage-sized tropical tavern packs in showbiz folks from neighboring KCET TV station, grizzled old-timers and local scenesters for sweet and wickedly strong drinks (try a Rae’s Mistake, named for the bar’s founder). The under-the-sea decor is surreal. Cash only.
Cat & Fiddle (Map; 323-468-3800; 6530 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood; 11:30am-2am; ) Morrissey to Frodo, you never know who might be popping by for Boddington or Sunday night jazz. Fortunately, this Brit pub staple with its leafy beer garden is more about friends and conversation than faux-hawks and working the deal.
Blu Monkey Lounge (Map; 323-957-9000; 5521 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood; 8pm-2am; ) Hollywood bars without attitude are about as rare as blue monkeys, so this is a refreshing find. DJs spin a head-bobbing mix of electronica, rock and world music as the crowd gets comfortable in plush sofas, at the shiny walnut bar or in the smoking patio amid feel-good Moroccan-themed decor. Drinks could be stronger, though.
Formosa Cafe (Map; 323-850-9050; 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood; 4pm-2am Mon-Fri, 6pm-2am Sat & Sun; ) Bogart and Gable used to knock ’em back at this bat cave of a watering hole so authentically noir that scenes from LA Confidential were filmed here. Skip the Chinese food and check out the Elvis collection.
Velvet Margarita (Map; 323-469-2000; 1612 N Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood; 11:30am-2am Mon-Thu, 11:30am-4am Fri; 6pm-4am Sat; 6pm-2am Sun; ) Sombreros, velvet Elvises, cheesy Mexican cult-movie projections and margarita-swilling scenesters – it’s Cabo San Lucas meets Graceland at this dark palace of kitsch tailor-made for dedicated drink-a-thons. The margarita inside a pineapple is pricey ($15) but cool. Ay caramba!
Boardner’s (Map; 323-462-9621; 1652 N Cherokee Ave, Hollywood; 1pm-2am; ) Keeping barflies boozy since 1942, this dimly lit dive is hot again with young guns and the occasional celeb – Kiefer Sutherland, Heath Ledger and Vince Vaughn included. If the booze doesn’t get you, maybe the nightclub in the back will where – depending on the night – you’ll be kicking it with indie rockers, pop zombies or fetish fiends.
Beauty Bar (Map; 323-468-3800; 1638 N Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood; 9pm-2am Sun-Wed, 6pm-2am Thu-Sat) Still beautilicious after all these years, this pint-sized retro cocktail bar is the ‘it’ place for having your nails painted in lurid pink while catching up on gossip and getting liquefied on martinis, pinkie raised and all ($10, 6pm to 11pm Thursday to Saturday).
Woods (Map; 323-876-6612; 1533 La Brea Ave, Hollywood; 8pm-2am; ) In the mood for a Hansel and Gretel moment? Then join the other ‘lost kids’ at this lounge