Los Angeles Bars

Born as the Hollywood Palace theater in 1927, the Avalon now entertains with DJs and live bands at Hollywood and Vine. The Beatles played their first West Coast gig here in 1964; more recent performers have included the Beastie Boys. The Dan Band and Nickel Creek. On Friday nights, the resident DJ spins dance music from hip-hop to rock.

1735 Vine St. at Hollywood Blvd.

Akbar is a dark, cozy watering hole that's hip but also has that friendly neighborhood feel and is largely gay but not "officially" so. It has one of the best jukeboxes in town (all kinds of music) and a Monday-night happy hour.

4356 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

The Beauty Bar offers manicures and makeovers with their perfect martinis, but the hotties who flock to this retro salon-bar (the little sister of the Beauty Bars in NYC and San Fran) don't really need the cosmetic care - this is where the edgier "beautiful people" hang.

1638 Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

You never know who'll be sitting with the band at this Memphis-influenced blues club at Universal Studios Hollywood. B.B. King's presents live music seven nights a week along with an authentic Creole menu. It's quiet for dinner early in the evening and livens up after 9pm, when the local dating crowd replaces the theme-park tourists.

100 Universal City Plaza, at Universal Studios CityWalk.

A relative newcomer in the up-and-coming Atwater Village neighborhood just east of Los Feliz, the Big Foot Lodge has a cheeky outdoors theme, with a life-size, moving Smokey the Bear and wood paneling, but the twentysomething clientele tends toward the rock and rockabilly set. Different DJs each night offer sounds from '80s metal to '60s French pop. The last Thursday of the month is a '60s and '70s bubblegum/punk/psychedelic/power pop dance night. Try the "Toasted Marshmallow," a creamy drink topped with a flaming marshmallow.

3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Dimly-lit west Hollywood classic with red leather booths and a long bar where the martini’s are as potent as a private eye’s put-down and as honestly priced. They shot the Lana Turner LA Confidential scene in here and the exciting scent of Fifties film noir is overpowering. Autographed shots of the stars line the walls and you may even spot Bono or Beck in a booth. Avoid the Chinese food but drink away.

7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA

This speakeasy-style hotspot on Melrose is a burlesque boite where dancer Carolina works her way across the horseshoe-shaped bar to the rhythm of a jazz trio. Justin Timberlake liked her enough to ask her to appear in his video. You're sure to recognize some of the regulars here.

5574 Melrose Ave, Hollywood.

Thick with nautical mementos, Galley is tiny but recommended for nostalgics who want to recapture Santa Monica circa 1940.

2442 Main St., Santa Monica, CA

Top performers, from Natalie Cole and Eric Clapton to Liz Phair and Dave Matthews - have all played at House of Blues, where the live-music schedule boasts big names as well as local talent. The Sunday Gospel Brunch (10am & 1pm) may set your toes a-tapping, but this place really gets to rocking late at night.

8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

Tiki Ti is one of the most charming drinking huts in the city. You can spend hours just looking at all Polynesian artifacts strewn about the place, but be careful - time flies in this tiny tropical bar and the colorful drinks can be so potent that you may have to stay marrooned for a while.

4427 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

After feasting on Provencal cuisine, the dining-room doors swing open and it's time for jazz (bluegrass on Tuesday). Frank Sinatra Jr. has performed here and George Segal once played his banjo with the onstage bluegrass group. Recent acts have included Conrad Janis and acclaimed blues artist, Peach.

70351 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City.

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