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Liquid Kitty (Map; 310-473-3707; 11780 Pico Blvd, West LA; 6pm-2am Mon-Fri, 8pm-2am Sat & Sun; ) If you’re in the mood for a purrrr-fect martini, hit this laid-back lounge bathed in bat-cave darkness, perhaps after fuelling up on cheap tacos at Don Antonio’s across the street. Don’t look for a name out front, just for the twinkling martini glass. Live music sometimes, cover never.

If you like bars with booze history, pop into Chez Jay (Map; 310-395-1741; 1657 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica) or the Galley (Map; 310-452-1934; 2442 Main St, Santa Monica), both low-key, classic watering holes with campy nautical themes.

Culver City

Saints & Sinners (Map; 310-842-8066; 10899 Venice Blvd; 5pm-2am) No, although the name suggest it this is not an S&M bar, although the velvet walls, fireplace and naughtily named cocktails have a certain ’70s porn feel – but in a good way. DJs usually play a wicked mix of indie, ’80s and punk but on Tuesdays you get to bring in your own iPod for 20-minute guest-DJ stints.

Mandrake (Map; 310-837-3297; 2692 S La Cienega Blvd; 4pm-midnight Tue-Thu, 4pm-1am Fri, noon-1am Sat, 6pm-midnight Sun) Opened by an art-minded trio and the anchor of Culver City’s new gallery row, this little bar is paneled like a sauna and just as hot. Belly up to the shiny blue bar or join tousled art-school grads for a smoke on the patio by way of a backroom where a DJ helms the decks.

South Bay

Ercole’s (Map; 310-372-1997; 1101 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach; 10am-2am) Check your attitude at the door when you come to scruffy but lovable Ercole’s – the South Bay’s favorite dive since 1927. Old salts, pub crawlers, volleyball stars, wobbly coeds – expect all to wander in. What’s best? The $8 beer pitchers and Taco Tuesdays.

Zinc Lounge (Map; 310-546-4995; 1221 N Valley Dr, Manhattan Beach; 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri & Sat; ) USC grads with money to burn bring their A-game – and long-legged dates – to this sleek lounge at the hip Shade Hotel. On weekends, the deep-blue space is often wall-to-wall by 9pm with more punters riding the velvet rope. By 11pm, though, the party’s over to keep the hotel guests happy.

Naja’s Place (Map; 310-376-9951; 154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach; 2pm-midnight Mon-Thu, noon-2am Fri & Sat, noon-10pm Sun) Hofbräuhaus move over – Naja’s is a beer drinker’s true nirvana. With a dizzying 77 brews on tap and hundreds more in bottles, you’ll never run out of choices at this salty harborfront joint in King’s Harbor. Best on Sunday afternoons.

Baja Sharkeez (Map; 310-545-6563; 3801 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach) This ‘Animal House by the sea’ is a fine place to get into trouble. Buckets of beer and birdbath-sized margaritas plus an abundance of bare skin help fan the party. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Hermosa’s pedestrian promenade, Pier Ave, is one big, loud pumping party on weeknights and all day on weekends. It’s a rowdy, early-20s crowd releasing their hormones at such watering holes as Patrick Malloy’s (Map; 310-798-9762; 50 Pier Ave) and Fat Face Fenner’s Fishack (Map; 310-379-5550; 53 Pier Ave), which has a handy 2nd-floor balcony for babe- and dude-watching. If you’re past college age, check out the legendary Mermaid (Map; 310-374-9344; 11 Pier Ave), a charmingly divey ’50s flashback that serves some surprisingly good food to boot.

Long Beach

Alex’s Bar (Map; 562-434-8292; 2913 E Anaheim St; 3pm-2am Mon-Thu, noon-2am Fri-Sun; wi-fi) Local cool kids hang out at this punk hole where the drinks are cheap and strong, the bartenders are not aspiring actors and the music – both live and canned – kicks ass. Enter from the back. Scenes from the 2006 Jack Black comedy Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny were filmed here.

Belmont Brewing Company (Map; 562-433-3891; 25 39th Pl, Belmont Shore) This bustling gastropub has a great outdoor deck overlooking the Belmont Pier (perfect for watching sunsets), fresh and handcrafted brews (try the Long Beach Crude stout or Top Sail ale), and a well-priced