Los Angeles Bars, Clubs, Restaurants, Nightlife, and Events

Includes: Little Tokyo and Chinatown.

Although the media has been prematurely heralding the resurgence of downtown Los Angeles for over a decade, it’s not until recently that the area truly started delivering on its promised potential.

For a long time, there wasn’t much to downtown LA other than financial office buildings and skid row, and a daytime scene of bustling lawyers and business lunches that gave way to a ghost town at night.

Today, the still

Hollywood is without a doubt the beating heart of LA’s nightlife scene, where a diverse crowd from all over the city – whether chic or grungy, urbane or alternative – comes out to dance and party hard every night of the week.

Though a steady influx of posh condos and retail chains keeps the neighborhood in a constant state of gentrification, it still retains a fairly prominent seedy element. Along the gritty, bustling sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard,

Where historic Route 66 hits the bluffs overlooking the glistening Pacific Ocean sits the scenic city of Santa Monica that, along with much of LA’s Westside, has a relaxed and affluent vibe that starkly contrasts to the more hectic areas to the east.

By day there’s no shortage of outdoor activities, as the area’s wide, sandy beaches and adjacent bike paths are full of fitness-minded locals swimming, jogging, and playing volleyball. Tourists and families

Perhaps the more refined version of its neighbor to the east, West Hollywood and its famous Sunset Strip are home to a variety of nightlife options, including renowned music clubs that have helped launch the careers of many a famous rock band.

Among the many other venues are the country’s most recognizable comedy clubs like the Laugh Factory (West Hollywood) and The Comedy Store, kitschy theme bars that cater to out-of-towners, and swanky hotel bars.

Go to Central LA for a full neighborhood description.

Although home to a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, Silver Lake (sometimes written as Silverlake) is best known as the epicenter of the Los Angeles hipster culture – independent thinking, progressive politics, creativity, and trendsetting in fashion and music. Consequently, this increasingly gentrified neighborhood attracts a crowd of stylish urban tastemakers, bohemian types, and a substantial LGBT community.

The winding Sunset Boulevard