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The Best Dive Bars in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is famous for the (tired) glitz and glamour of the Sunset Strip, but those of us who’ve lived here for at least a few years know that the best drinking in the Southland can be done at the grittiest, most down and dirty watering holes, scattered throughout the city like so many rat dens in concrete walls. Our dive bars have provided inspiration to any number of writers (Charles Bukowski) and musicians (Tom Waits), and here, we’d like to sing their praises.
Photo by nicadlr via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
WHITEHORSE INN: Do you like free popcorn? How about free hot dogs? Oh, you do? In that case, do not bypass the strange and lonesome stretch of Western Avenue north of Sunset that's home to the Whitehorse Inn when you're looking for your next favorite watering hole. Stop in and indulge in some food giveaways and divey delightfulness.
The Whitehorse Inn is located at 1532 North Western Avenue, East Hollywood/Thai Town (323) 462-8088
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THE DRAWING ROOM: If you're lucky enough to find a parking spot in Los Feliz on a Friday or Saturday night (you won't be, but whatever) the Drawing Room is a great alternative to the neighborhood's more swanky bars. It comes with a dartboard and a jukebox, yes, but more importantly, it comes with huge pours of whiskey and dark, cracked leather booths within which to consume your poison.
The Drawing Room is located at 1800 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (323) 665-0135
CHEZ JAY: This restaurant and bar has been a Westside favorite for decades. It's a little small and cramped, but where else can you go in Santa Monica and enjoy a steak as well as a jukebox? No place, that's where.
Chez Jay is located at 1657 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (310) 395-1741
The Frolic Room (Photo by -Clearlight- via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
THE FROLIC ROOM: If it's good enough for Bukowski, it's good enough for us. The Frolic Room is squished into the armpit of Hollywood Boulevard that is the area between the Pantages Theater and the corner of Vine, and was reportedly one of the famous drunkard's scribe's favorite places to drink.
The Frolic Room is located at 6245 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood; (323) 462-5890
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PINEAPPLE HILL: This place gets its street cred from the fact that it's located in a strip mall in the Valley and there's nothing more genuine in the world than that. But this little Sherman Oaks gem also has some of the strongest pours around, and last we checked they were handing out free popcorn (please see WHITE HORSE). Stay strong, 818.
Pineapple Hill is located at 4454 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks; (818) 789-0679
THE ROOST: A warning to those considering spending their evening at The Roost: The overhead lighting will reveal truths. So if you're the type of person who likes to hide under the cover of darkness, this pace is not your jam. On the other hand, if you're the type of person who likes to drink at a place that is reminiscent of your elementary school cafeteria, sally forth and land at The Roost.
The Roost is located at 3100 Los Feliz Boulevard, Atwater Village; (323) 664-7272
THE DAILY PINT: This place is beloved by scotch aficionados the city over, but it's also well-liked for its many extra curricular activities. Want to drink a Macallan whilst playing a round of pool? How about a game of shuffleboard with a Laphroaig in hand? You can do that at the Daily Pint. It's also great for Sunday game days, although it does get crowded.
The Daily Pint is located at 2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica; (310) 450-7631
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Photo by TooMuchFire via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
CLUB TEE GEE: Atwater Village is the new place for hipsters to go to raise their children (and mate, singletons!) so it fits that there should be a fantastic dive bar in the neighborhood. Club Tee Gee is known for its impressive pours as well as its friendly locals, and like most other places on this list, its jukebox. Club Tee Gee is located at 3210 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater Village; (323) 669-9631
THE BUCCANEER: We didn't forget you, friends to the north! Also because you have one of the best dive bars around. The Buccanner is, of course, pirate-themed, and really, there's little more that we could want from a dive bar than the chance to say "arr." Thank you, Sierra Madre.
The Buccaneer is located at 70 W Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre; (626) 355-9045
HANK'S BAR: Downtown LA has been getting overrun with slick new bars owned by big corporations and catering to fancy businesspeople, but Hank's serves to remind us that we're still in a neighborhood that's up and coming, dammit, and that there's still plenty of grit to our city's financial district. Hank's is good for cheap beer and people who are trying to avoid Silver Lake.
Hank's Bar is located at 840 S Grand Avenue, Downtown; (213) 623-7718
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
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