Los Angeles: Clubs and discos

LA's clubs are among the wildest in the country, ranging from absurdly faddish hangouts to industrial noise cellars. The trendier side of the club scene is, as always, hard to pin down; check the LA Weekly before setting out.

Dragonfly 6510 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/466-6111. Disco and house music, with the odd bit of rock at this established hipster hangout featuring two large dance floors and a so-called "eye-contact" bar.

Florentine Gardens 5951 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/464-0706. A fun, unpretentious dance club catering to the under-21 set. Stuck between the Salvation Army and a porno theater in a seedier section of Hollywood.

Mayan 1038 S Hill St, downtown tel 213/746-4287. Get past the doorman and you're in with LA's coolest, eager to shake a leg to Latin, fusion and salsa in gorgeous and historic surrounds done up in pre-Columbian style.

Playroom 836 N Highland Ave, Hollywood tel 323/461-8301. Where LA goth-rockers and industrial noise-makers come out to play, with plenty of aggressive, ear-popping sounds.

Sugar 814 Broadway, Santa Monica tel 310/899-1989. The entire range of electronic beats, from house to hip hop, can be found at this sleek glass-and-steel-styled club.

Union 8210 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood tel 323/654-1001. Relaxed supper club with funk, soul and R&B groove room. Centrally located on the Sunset Strip and frequented by the young actor crowd on Tuesday nights.

The Viper Room 8852 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood tel 310/358-1881. Stellar live acts playing house to swing to disco to jazz, and a famous owner to boot. Best known as the spot where River Phoenix met his end. Cover varies.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Arrival
Information
City transport
Eating
Nightlife and entertainment
Bars, pubs and coffeehouses
• Clubs and discos
Live music
Classical music, opera and dance
Comedy clubs
Theater
Film
Sports in LA
Lesbian and gay LA
Best Of Los Angeles
Guided tours
Shopping

Explore Los Angeles

Anaheim
Around downtown
Downtown LA
Hollywood
San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys
Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu
South Bay
West LA

California cities


All U.S. city guides