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Io West
Toss out the phrase 'giant mushroom' and watch the cast spin a 45-minute skit. Long form is the specialty at this cozy corner theater - the LA branch of Olympic Improv Chicago - where you might catch familiar faces from The Office or SNL honing their comedy chops. Cocktails served.
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Library Bar
You won't be checking out books at this dark, elbow-to-elbow drinking pad where you may have to yell to be heard above the din. The book-lined bar with an East Coast vibe may be new to the scene but it's filling a void for the post-work thirsty looking for a low-attitude beer. Note, the entrance is on Hope St.
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Little Temple
Afro-Cuban, deep house, hip-hop and a side of salsa keep this groovin' Little Temple swelling with happy hipsters. A sexy spin-off from its Santa Monica sister, this Asian-themed club with a red lantern glow keeps things loose with beat-driven DJs.
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Mandrake
Remember those parties in high school, chillin' in somebody's parent's garage - concrete floor, a little cold, a work-in-progress kinda place - where you were ready to drop your cup and run at the first sign of trouble? Mandrake's got that garage-cool feel plus a couple of art chicks. Opened by an art-minded trio in the heart of Culver City's gallery district, this little bar's got a big buzz. And it's fun.
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Mountain Bar
Poets and hipsters gather at this artsy Chinatown bar for a nightcap after gallery-hopping on nearby Chung King Rd. The Kool Aid-orange decor makes you feel like you're sitting inside a volcano.
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Music Center Of La County
At this linchpin of the downtown performing arts scene, splashy musicals play to capacity at the Ahmanson Theatre while the more intimate Mark Taper Forum premieres high-caliber plays. With Placido Domingo at the helm, the LA Opera has fine-tuned its repertory of classics by master composers, with performances at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion.
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Musso & Frank Grill
History and martinis are the draw nowadays at this mahogany and red-boothed landmark that's been serving up drinks to writers, actors and rockers for the better part of a century. For a noirish night out, order a no-frills martini at the dark wooden bar and soak up the boozy spirits of Chandler, Fitzgerald and Hammett.
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Nic's Beverly Hills
Martinis for every palate lure the cocktail crowd to upscale but fun-loving Nic's, where the libations range from the colorful and sassy to the no-frills and classy. Reserve the chilled VodBox for flights of international vodka. Lounge bands Friday and Saturday night.
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Novel Café
With numerous nooks, walls of books, and a loiterer-friendly feel, Novel Café is a low-key indie coffeeshop (and used bookstore) favored by writers, beach bums and tired Main St shoppers looking for an attitude-free caffeine infusion.
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On The Waterfront Cafe
For a little German-style conviviality, oom-pah-pah your way over to the lively patios at On the Waterfront Café, where a boisterous international crew guzzles pitchers of Bitburger and Erdinger. Lots of pub grub and a few Germanic specialties - potato pancakes, bratwurst, Swiss-dried beef - keep the boardwalk-adjacent revelers going all day long.
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Polo Lounge At The Beverly Hills Hotel
With its mix of tennis whites, business suits and chi-chi dresses, this swanky, wood-paneled watering hole has the feel of a Hollywood country club. From smiling Isaac Mizrahi to still-tan George Hamilton to scruffy David Arquette, you never know who you'll see murmuring in the perpetually reserved, dark booths. This is the place to sip a martini in Old Hollywood style.
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Rage
Buff bods and the boys who love them groove to the music on DJ-driven dance floors at this high-energy club, while scenesters check each other out on the sizzling sidewalk patio. Check the website for theme nights and drink specials.
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Senor Fred
Fantastic happy-hour specials - around US$5 margaritas and sangrias - draw Hollywood's up-and-comers to this studio-central hangout. Sleek but comfy lounges and Laker-friendly televisions keep 'em loose, and chatty, for hours.
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Skybar
Like a fading diva still demanding her close-up, Sky Bar keeps the lines long on the Sunset sidewalk outside the Mondrian Hotel. But the wait's worth it - if just for the preening scene on the patio and gorgeous views of the twinkling city below. Gobs of impudent faux-hawks and barely-there dresses if you're looking.
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Standard Rooftop Bar
Lawyers, scenesters and marketing execs mark their territory beside space-pod cabanas and lounges at this open-air, rooftop oasis complete with pool. Once you find your way to the top - try escalator, elevator, stairs - the panoramic payoff is immense with stunning views of twinkling skyscrapers backdropped by glowing mountains. Weekends, arrive before to beat the cover and the velvet rope.
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The Abbey
Under the watchful eyes of gargoyles, this sprawling gothic monastery draws a sexually diverse West Hollywood crowd from sunrise to way past sunset. Since its opening 15 years ago as a tiny local coffee shop, the Abbey has expanded five times to its present incarnation as restaurant, bar and nightclub, complete with patios, cabanas and lounges.
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The Bowery
It may be new, but this nocturnal New York-style pub is the bar of choice for bartenders and waitstaff looking for a late-night toddy. It's small, so arrive early for a table. Some swear the burger, cooked just as requested, is a life-changing experience. The cast of Heroes occasionally drops by for lunch.
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The Velvet Margarita
Elvis lives at the Velvet Margarita. And so do hordes of party hounds, all swilling around US$10 margaritas in a dark palace of King-inspired kitsch. Sombreros, velvet Elvises, dancing skeletons and cheesy B-movies on the wall - it's Day-of-the-Dead meets Graceland.
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Tom Bergin's Tavern
Every neighborhood needs a Tom Bergin's. Fish and chips, chatty barflies, and plenty of Guinness and Irish coffee. Rumor has it that the wooden, u-shaped bar was the inspiration for the one seen on Cheers . And of course the St Paddy's Day celebration isn't to be missed.
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Troubadour
A mix of rock legends, cult faves and MySpace up-and-comers keep the rafters rising at this legendary rock hall - open since 1957 - where a beer-drinking crowd serious about its music keeps attitude to a minimum. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Guns N' Roses played early gigs here.
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Union Cattle Company
Sometimes you wanna go to the beach, grab a cold brew, dance with your honey and…ride a mechanical bull. That's right, rowdy rustlers test their skills right in the center of the restaurant. Great for bachelorette parties, liquid birthdays, packs of singles and wannabe coastal cowboys.
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Urth Caffé
The stylish and smart swoon over organic teas, coffees and pastries that are just possibly more posh than they are. Look sharp, the people-watching is intense and the vibe not always relaxing. Also in Santa Monica (310-314-7040; 2327 Main St).
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Ye Olde King's Head
A mixed-age crew frequents this 30-year expat fave that's fun for the colonists too. Expect dartboards, football (the other kind) and lots of ales on tap. A slim bar menu includes hefty fish'n'chips.
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Zen Zoo Tea
A frothy alternative to coffee, Zen Zoo's tonic-infused teas inspire alertness, confidence and optimism - and that's just from reading the menu. No matter which flavorful Zenfusion you select - green tea, black tea, yerba mate - make sure to include the pearl tapioca 'boba' balls.
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Zinc Lounge
Locals bring their A game to Shade Hotel's Zinc Lounge, the alluring new kid in town. Despite the club's sleek, deep-blue sheen - typically found in Hollywood hipster lounges - Zinc's well-dressed crowd is refreshingly relaxed and the bartenders friendly, albeit busy. The carefully considered small plate selections are popular - try the mini burgers - and serious imbibers should savor the Shade Lemonade. Closes at owing to hotel guests.
