In a city that is as big, and is as busy, as LA…sometimes we need to escape the hustle and bustle of life. Whether you’re working a 9-5 job, hitting the books at school, or raising a family, we’ve been hustling ALOT these days, and our hard work should be celebrated! And one of the best ways to unwind is to visit the best places in LA, like an epic bar. So we’ve put some of our best boots on the ground and walked our way over to WEHO…aka West Hollywood…and found some of the hottest bars in town! We’ve uncovered spots that offer consistent high quality service, ambiance, and high spirits. And to make sure you’re on right path, we also have our list of not-so-hot places that we’ve heard (from our sources, of course) that have offered unpredictable and unsavory guest experiences. Because regardless of how famous or well-known the place is, if the bar has inconsistent results for its patrons, it really isn’t worth ruining your big night out. Enough said, let’s get to our list of the hot and not so hot bars in West Hollywood.
1. Employees Only
Location: 7953 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Employee’s Only, or EO as the locals would say, is a world famous ( in LA!) cocktail bar, lounge and speakeasy. Plus they have attentive service, inventive cocktails and and new american bar eats. They’re open 7 days a week from 6pm-4am with the kitchen open until 3am. In 2004, EO opened for business in Manhattan, New York City, and the brand is known as one of the best bars in the world. They opened a sister location in West Hollywood in 2018, and have filled the very large designer shoes that is Employee’s Only NYC. Eater LA says they have the best craft cocktails in the city, and we couldn’t agree more. Whether you’re sipping on their signature “EOSPRESSO” Espresso Martini, or a citrus-forward vodka cocktail like their “Westside”, EO is definitely worth the $20-per-drink price tag. Not only do we LOVE the cocktails here, but the ambiance is immaculate. It has speakeasy vibes, but is lofty and has plenty of seating options available other than the bar, perfect for getting different bar experiences with your boo or your bae.
Pro-Tip: This isn’t a spot for large groups, and it’s not a place to get rowdy on a dance floor. Come here for a casual drink and to catch up with a bestie.
2. E.P. & L.P.
Address: 603 N. La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood
Just above the vibrant scene of LA, you’ll find E.P. & L.P., an absolute rooftop gem. This place is a one-stop shop for a great night of dinner and drinks. E.P. & L.P is short for ‘Extended Play & Long Play’ named after the 12 inch and 7 inch vinyl records. At E.P. & L.P. their philosophy is to come for a meal and stay for the night. Open 7 days a week and until 2 am nightly, enjoy your evening overlooking the views of the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Strip. On the 2nd level, the bar is always rotating into a seasonal theme with signature drinks and food, which include deliciously captivating dishes such as their vodka pasta or asada tacos. But what we love about this place is their service! The owners/managers are always on site and willing to ask any questions you may have about the bar, drinks or food. They’re Monday through Friday from 4 pm-6 pm is a routine happy hour that you won’t want to miss.
3. Bar Lubitsch
Location: 7702 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood
Every day is different at Bar Lubitsch because of their great events and diverse crowd. This is the place if you need some neighborhood vodka bar vibes or dance club vibes. They feature LIVE music on Tuesdays and have comedy shows on Wednesdays and Fridays. Known for their chilled vodka shots and moscow mules, this neighborhood bar is the place to kick back and relax. They have over 700 Yelp reviews, and any problems addressed in the early years at the bar have been smoothed out and resolved with grace. So we’ve concluded that this neighborhood hangout is here to stay. They’re open from 7pm-2am Mon-Fri. and 8pm-2am on Saturday and Sunday.
Pro-Tip: The dance floor has great energy, but does not have a DJ except on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Bar Next Door
Location: 9159 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
The Bar Next Door, also known as BND, is a mid-century modern neighborhood spot that is inspired by 1950’s Americana. Yellow sconces, black and white tile, and plush brown leather booths complete the comfy ambiance. Their decadent cocktail menu features a newspaper-esque menu with Hollywood-inspired and classic cocktails. This is a great place to catch up with friends, or to have a drink by yourself. They’re open Sunday-Thursday at 6pm and Friday and Saturday at 5pm. Maybe take up a cozy booth to yourself, listen to NFR by Lana Del Rey, and reminisce about the American Dream. Now, they did just open, so we are uncertain of what direction this bar will go in over time, but we hope its long lasting.
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5. Delilah
Location: 7969 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Delilah has been an iconic WeHo hangout spot for A-Lister’s like Drake, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Kendall Jenner, and Justin and Hailey Bieber and more. The ambiance is gorgeous with plush booth and upholstered seating options and their live performances are fabulous with live jazz. They also have a refined American menu and a lengthy signature cocktail list, but, you’ll have to wait a while to be seated, even with a reservation. Also, the lighting is also a little dim to enjoy the glamorous, roaring 20’s decor.
6. Harlowe
Location: 7321 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
When they opened in 2014, Harlowe was slaying. Dominating the WeHo bar scene and captured so much attention. They were praised for their restaurant/bar meets nightclub ambiance, tasty dinner menu, and inventive cocktails (some crafted by Dushan Zaric of Employee’s Only). This French cocktail bar has some great food, like a Charcuterie Board and Steak Frites. But if you really want to break out the dance moves, this might not be the place. The dance floor is just a tad small much like our down-home dive bars like The Abbey and Hi Tops. Also its best to make a reservation to ensure seating, so walk-ins aren’t really the vibe here. Plus they close early on the week days. Sundays and Tues-Thurs they close at 11pm but on Friday and Saturday they’re open from 5pm-2am.
7. Formosa Cafe
Location: 7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Formosa Cafe has a long-withstanding reputation. They are a Chinese bar and restaurant which was once a frequent late-night stop for major Hollywood stars like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. We love coming here for their menu which is an Asian Fusion spot. But sad to say, this place has lost some if its savviness and service prowess that was once the backbone of their fame and reputation. We love that this is a historic landmark of Old Hollywood, we just can’t wait to see service get a tad better.
Most of these bars are definitely some great places to spend a casual birthday too. But if you really want to celebrate check out these ideas.
