20 West Hollywood Bars

Los Angeles is notorious worldwide for its lively and over-the-top nightlife scene. You’re probably picturing celebrities and socialites partying until the early hours of the morning. Nowhere in LA is the bar and club scene as vibrant, as diverse or as colourful as in West Hollywood, a neighbourhood renowned for its exclusive rooftop clubs, LGBT-friendly bars and dive bars where many famous bands got their start playing live gigs.

West Hollywood bars range from sports bars packed with cheering fans to bars hosting drag shows and everything in between. Partying in West Hollywood’s bars means rubbing shoulders with A-list actors in one venue and students on a tight budget in the next, making every bar-hopping excursion searching for a happy hour special a fun affair in West Hollywood’s hallowed streets.

West Hollywood Bars

20 Bars In West Hollywood

1- The Rainbow

Pumping heavy metal music from bands such as Megadeath and Slayer on a nightly basis, the Rainbow has been a stalwart West Hollywood bar haven for rockers and actors since the 1970s.

Serving up deliciously cheesy pizzas, live music and the odd chance of spotting a Hollywood celebrity now and then, the Rainbow is the place to be in West Hollywood.

If you’re drawn to edgy leather clothing, thumping music and hard liquor, the Rainbow is right up your alley.

The Rainbow is at 9015 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

2- Soho House West Hollywood

Soho House West Hollywood is as exclusive as it gets in terms of LA bars and clubs, with a strict members-only invitation policy.

Part of a global chain of social houses in many of the world’s most desirable locales, Soho House is where money, fame, or even both won’t guarantee you entry.

Located on the top floor of Sunset Boulevard’s Luckman Building, Soho House West Hollywood’s rooftop bar offers spectacular views, world-class drinks and Hollywood elite all in one convenient location right in the heart of WeHo.

Soho House West Hollywood is at 9200 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

3- The Roger Room

Compact and dimly lit, the Roger Room on West Hollywood’s La Cienega Boulevard is a small bar lively on weekends yet mellow on weeknights.

Very popular among patrons coming from the Largo club, situated just down the road, the Roger Room is no longer a hidden gem only in-the-know bar crawlers know about.

These days, it’s popular for its extensive absinthe menu and central location.

The brainchild of Sean MacPherson and Jared Meisler, two well-known names in the West Hollywood bar scene, the Roger Room serves up amazing cocktails in a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.

The must-try drinks at the Roger Room include the Thug, made with honey liqueur, lemon juice, Maker’s Mark and habanero bitters, and the Penicillin, made with scotch, honey, lemon and ginger.

The Roger Room is at 370 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

4- Jones Hollywood

Jones Hollywood proclaims itself to be a restaurant and not a bar, however, it’s a fantastic spot to grab a couple of drinks.

Sure, its bar area is not as large as a regular West Hollywood bar, but with great company and a world-class drinks menu, who cares how big the crowd is?

Right across the street from the Formosa Café on Santa Monica Boulevard, Jones Hollywood is the epicentre of all the West Hollywood action.

Perfect for spending breakfast, lunch, dinner and after, Jones Hollywood is the ideal place to grab a drink if you’re not in the mood to visit a regular bar or club.

Jones Hollywood is at 7205 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

5- Whisky A Go Go

Since Whisky A Go Go opened its doors in 1964, it’s been one of the top bars and clubs in LA, always overflowing with patrons looking for great drinks, world-class live music and an unbeatable atmosphere.

Many famous singers and bands strolled through the doors of Whisky A Go Go to entertain the crowds throughout the years, most notably Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and the Foo Fighters.

It’s simply a must-visit LA bar with everything you could ever want from a top-notch bar worthy of return visits time and time again.

Whiskey A Go Go is at 8901 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

6- Las Perlas

Las Perlas is a unique Oaxacan bar that stands out among the many fantastic LA bars and clubs with its 400+ agave spirit varieties patrons can order all day long.

The recently opened West Hollywood Las Perlas franchise brings the same atmosphere and impressive drinks list that made the LA Las Perlas so popular.

Las Perlas is complete with a patio out back and a large bar area to accommodate even the largest of crowds.

With daily happy hour offerings between 5 pm and 8 pm, Las Perlas is the perfect bar to hang out with friends whilst enjoying a fantastic Cocina Libre cocktail or a delicious taco.

Las Perlas West Hollywood is at 7511 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

7- Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub

Irish sports bars are a dime a dozen in the United States, however, finding a good one worth returning to time and time again is no easy task.

That’s exactly what you’ll find in West Hollywood, in the authentic Irish-themed Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub, where sports fans and friendly locals come together to have a fun time out.

Complete with a hidden patio in the back that only in-the-know Rock & Reilly’s patrons know about, the Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub is perfect for grabbing a quick beer or two without waiting in endless lines.

Low-key and lively during major sporting events, the Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub is a fantastic WeHo bar to pay a visit.

Rock & Reilly’s Irish Pub is at 8911 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

8- Tower Bar

LA is littered with exclusive bars and clubs playing host to the who’s who of Hollywood A-listers on a nightly basis, but few bars are as popular with the rich and famous and as exclusive as WeHo’s Tower Bar.

Tower Bar is not your regular pub where patrons chug beer after beer while cheering on their favourite sports team.

Visitors are smartly dressed and ready to rub elbows with power brokers, famous actors and influencers while sipping martinis by the pool.

The Tower Bar is at 8358 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

9- Barney’s Beanery

First opened in 1920 as a men’s only saloon and eatery, Barney’s Beanery has since allowed all sexes to sit down and order a drink or two, however, as it’s mainly a traditional sports bar, most patrons are male.

With a collection of pool tables, big screen TVs, comfortable seating and a beer and whisky menu that’ll put most bars to shame, Barney’s Beanery is where you come for a quick beer and stay for hours.

A hotspot every weekend, Barney’s Beanery is the top place to be after dark in West Hollywood.

Barney’s Beanery West Hollywood is at 8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

10- Harlowe

Operated by the group that also runs the Formosa Café, the Harlowe bar’s classic charm yearning back to Hollywood’s golden age perfectly blends with the old-time feel of the Formosa Café.

Incorporating custom-made bar taps, beautiful French Moroccan tiles and various light fixtures and décor pieces made from repurposed materials, the Harlowe will transport you back to the roaring 30s.

If your ideal bar experience involves sipping timeless Old-Fashions, stylish mixologists and a unique low-key ambience that allows you to relax from the get-go, then Harlowe is the perfect West Hollywood bar for you.

The Harlowe is at 7321 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

For more California ideas, see:

11- Hi Tops

The large and open-plan high school-themed Hi Tops bar on Santa Monica Boulevard is always filled with people hungry to have a good time out and about West Hollywood.

Combining Thursday night trivia with maniacal sports fans who cheer on their teams playing on the TV screens, Hi Tops creates a fun and entertaining atmosphere you cannot get enough of.

Hi Tops bartenders also serve killer cocktails such as the popular Magic Hour and The Claw, which you can opt for instead of the same old gin and tonic.

Hi Tops is at 8933 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

12- The Abbey

West Hollywood and its energetic nightlife are synonymous with free spirits, the quirky and the unconventional and have been ever since the area became a popular after-dark locale.

LGBT+ friendly bars where bar hoppers are encouraged to be themselves line the streets of West Hollywood.

One of the best, The Abbye, is consistently ranked as one of the top gay bars globally.

Welcoming people of all sexual orientations, Abbey’s upscale Gothic-Mediterranean interior fusion screams good times and drinks all night long.

If you’re looking for a party to be at during the weekend, you’re bound to find it at the Abbey.

The Abbey is at 692 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

13- The Bayou

Fully decked out in Mardi Gras décor that’ll make you think you’re in New Orleans, the Bayou serves up cheap drinks and great times all year round, right in West Hollywood.

The Bayou’s weeknight happy hour from 10.30 pm until 12.30 am allows patrons to order IPA beer for $3 and Budweiser beer pitchers for as little as $8, some of the most affordable drink prices in WeHo.

If you’re looking for a great LA bar that won’t break the bank, look no further than the Bayou.

The Bayou is at 8939 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

14- The Surly Goat

Combining a craft brewery with a sports bar, the Surly Goat is the best place to sit back and enjoy an ice-cold beer in West Hollywood.

Co-owned by Adolfo Suaya and Ryan Sweeney, two respected names in the West Hollywood nightlife scene, the Surly Goat’s inviting and laid-back atmosphere, complete with an outdoor patio and shuffleboard, makes any visit to the bar a lively affair.

With a decent selection of beer on tap, both locally crafted and international brands, the Surly Goat regularly rotates its beer offerings to keep the bar’s menu interesting and fresh.

If you’re looking for a beer from an obscure microbrewery or just want to sample the local beer scene, the Surly Goat has to be a destination in West Hollywood.

The Surly Goat is at 7929 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

15- Saddle Ranch

The massive, always lively and Western-themed Saddle Ranch on West Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard is a tourist attraction as a bar.

Saddle Ranch’s mechanical bull is one of the biggest draws to the venue, prompting visitors with enough liquid courage to try to tame the mechanical beast in front of a large crowd of equally buzzed spectators.

This West Hollywood bar has starred in multiple TV shows such as Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City, The Bachelor and many more, making it a location deeply ingrained into LA pop culture.

Stop here for a drink and stay on for the rodeo bull; the Saddle Ranch in WeHo is a one-of-a-kind bar experience that’s truly legendary.

The Saddle Ranch is at 8371 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

16- Employees Only

A Los Angeles expansion of the trendy New York bar with the same name, West Hollywood’s Employees Only bar is perhaps the most stylish bar in town.

Serving up superb cocktails, full dinners and various finger foods late at night, Employees Only pushes the boundaries of what a West Hollywood bar should look and feel like.

With a deco-inspired dining room, a sumptuously curved bar, its speakeasy and even a psychic on site, Employees Only is the perfect West Hollywood bar for any occasion.

Employees Only is at 7953 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

17- Formosa Cafe

No West Hollywood bar can match the Formosa Café’s historic charm and old-school vibe, after all, Formosa Café first opened in 1939.

Once the go-to bar for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart, the Formosa Café is West Hollywood.

The Formosa Café recently received a $2.5 million renovation, including a brand-new Taiwanese and American-Chinese menu created by chef David Kuo, making it once again a great bar to visit in West Hollywood.

The Formosa Café is at 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.

18- Pearl’s Rooftop

Straddling West Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard and located just down the road from the Rainbow, Pearl’s Rooftop pairs an upscale look and feel with fantastic rooftop views stretching over West Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard.

Pearl’s Rooftop, featuring an open-air lounge complete with brick walls, decorative vines and even a cosy fireplace, creates an inviting atmosphere where you can order fantastic cocktails or a delicious three-course meal.

Enjoy a Saturday brunch under the LA sun or order mimosas during sunset, whatever you prefer, Pearl’s Rooftop has you covered.

Pearl’s Rooftop is at 8909 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

19- Snake Pit Ale House

The Snake Pit Ale House offers visitors what few bars on this list have: a plain old bar where drinks are cheap, bartenders strike up conversations, and the entire neighbourhood comes to hang out and have fun.

Located on Melrose Avenue, the Snake Pit Ale House features a cool retro jukebox with all your bar classics to choose from, plus a truly laidback vibe found few and far between in West Hollywood.

Popular for being low-key, the Snake Pit Ale House is as normal as a bar you’d ever hope to find in WeHo and the best place to just drink, chat and have a great time with friends and acquaintances.

Snake Pit Ale House is at 7529 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

20- Stache

Another of West Hollywood’s top gay bars, Stache is an all-encompassing bar, restaurant and entertainment venue with a jam-packed list of daily shows and events.

DJs, drag parties and cabaret shows, every night at Stache is a wild and lively affair.

Stache can get quite crowded, especially on weekend nights, which is why one of the best times to visit Stache is on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when there are fewer people and $25 bottomless mimosas till 4 pm.

Stache is at 8941 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.