As I head up North to Fresno (California), Melanie Waldman, my favorite LA guru, continues to astound us with her awesome recommendations on where best to hang out in Los Angeles. Having met her personally in LA, I could feel her warmth and passion for life and travel, and her long-term love affair with the City of Lights. Check out her blog on couple travel at Travels with Two where she charms us with whimsical travel tales.
L.A. has some of the coolest hotels on the West Coast, and many of them have very cool bars. These are all well worth a visit…even if your lifestyle is alcohol-free.
SANTA MONICA
The Veranda – Casa Del Mar : 1910 Ocean Way
Melanie and I met up here, where a live band and vivacious atmosphere was set right next to the beach of Santa Monica. Truly stunning place!
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel and Indoor
The Penthouse – The Huntley : 111 Second Street
- Indoor lounge and Rooftop
Papillon – Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel : 1700 Ocean Avenue
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel, Indoor & Outdoors seating
The Lobby - Shutters by the Beach: One Pico Boulevard
Melanie’s hubby Adam proposed to her right here on this romantically charming hotel bar, right on the sandy shores of Santa Monica. What better way to say yes?
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel, Indoor & Outdoors seating
Cameo Bar – Viceroy Santa Monica: 1819 Ocean Avenue
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel, Indoor & Outdoors seating
- Poolside lounge
BEVERLY HILLS
Bar Noir – Maison 140: 140 South Lasky Drive
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel, Indoor
The Roof Garden – The Peninsula Beverly Hills: 9882 Santa Monica Boulevard
- Rooftop Bar and Outdoors
ABH – Thompson Beverly Hills: 9360 Wilshire Boulevard
- Hotel Guests only, Poolside and Outdoors bar
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Rooftop – The Chamberlain: 1000 Westmount Drive
- Hotel Guests only, Rooftop and Poolside bar, Outdoors only
Skybar – The Mondrian: 8440 Sunset Boulevard
- Poolside bar, Indoors and Outdoors seating
Lobby Lounge – Palihouse Holloway: 8465 Holloway Drive
- Situated at the Lobby of the Hotel, Indoor & Outdoors seating
DOWNTOWN
Rick’s Place – The Figueroa Hotel: 939 South Figueroa Street
The Rooftop Bar – The Standard Downtown LA: 550 South Flower Street
- Rooftop bar, Outdoors and poolside bar
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Melanie Waldman lives in Los Angeles and writes the couples’ travel blog, Travels With Two. Her blog has been nominated in the Lonely Planet Travel Blog Awards.
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Related Posts:
- Best of Los Angeles – Dining in the City of Lights
- Travelling Solo – Bumming at Venice Beach
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse
OK, now I know why people like to party in L.A. I want to go to all of those bars. Lucky we don't have many places like them in Toronto, I would be spending all of my money every weekend at the bar! But if I ever make it to L.A, I will definitely check a couple out.
hey Dave & Deb! I'm in Toronto right now, as we speak! Unfortunately I had to fly all the way here to transit, for my flight to Argentina. It's a pity I don't have much time here, or I would be knocking on your doors.
Toronto, Argentina…hey, I'd gladly exchange a little L.A. now and again for some of that!
Nellie, I'm only sorry we didn't have a chance to do a more proper hotel-bar hop while you were here. I hope you're loving Argentina and finding some swanky spots down there!
And Dave & Deb, you'd be amazed at the number of people from Toronto who just came here for a short visit, saw our nightlife, and never went back to Canada. It really is the Hotel California here!
Great photos of the cream of LA nightlife. Shows the best aspect of a big city – diversity.
Ugh. I've been to the Huntley and I have to say I would not recommend it to anyone. The atmosphere is just about as stuffy as the clientele. You can see from the picture how small the dining room is, it's impossible to have a conversation with so many people sitting on top of each other. After an hour the combination of bright white everything and tacky LA bling gave me eyestrain and a headache.