Los Angeles Pride, June 7 - 9, is all fun in the sun. But the heat can take it out of you! What happens when you get hungry? Or really just need a drink? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Take a look at some of the best restaurants and bars along the parade route (or near by) courtesy of Zagat and Here TV (owned by the same parent company as Out Traveler). Get inspired and try something new! Or hit up an old favorite. You can't go wrong. To get more great suggestions, sign up for the Zagat newsletter.
Eleven
https://plus.google.com/107786351564081748887/about
Catering to the moneyed and manicured set, this “fancy” WeHo gay restaurant/nightclub set in a 1922 Italian Revival–style building “can be mobbed or a ghost town” depending on the night and hour; the drinks are “awesome” if pricey, but at least the good-looking staff serves them “with a smile”; P.S. the musical theater Monday promotions, in which show tunes like “Defying Gravity” from Wicked are performed by patrons, have a cult following. 8811 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-855-0800
Micky’s
https://plus.google.com/108146113486379325963/about
Atmosphere: 24
Decor: 22
Service: 23
“You’re going to lose all your money on the go-go boys” at this WeHo staple for the “young, young, young” filled with a “hot” multiethnic crowd and “lots of dancing eye candy”; the indoor/outdoor first floor and upstairs lounge area are “always hopping” (indeed, “it gets super-crowded”), and the drinks are both “strong” and “cheap.” 8857 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-657-1176
Rage
https://plus.google.com/109434998591939893549/about
Atmosphere: 21
Decor: 19
Service: 19
Go-go boys gyrate up at the front of this “high-energy” club, a “legend” (though its “heyday has probably passed”) where there’s “no hype and no judgments” among the “mixed” but “young crowd” there for “decently priced” drinks and to grind to “cheesy pop” mixes; P.S. the sidewalk patio is “perfect” for a “chat” or just for watching the WeHo “hunks passing by.” 8911 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-652-7055
Fubar
https://plus.google.com/108012862849288709694/about
Atmosphere: 20
Decor: 17
Service: 20
“Tons of dirty fun”, this “edgy”, “crazy-hyper” “East Village gay bar transplanted to LA” features a “diverse (for West Hollywood)” clientele of “boys, boys, boys”, “high sexual energy” and some of the “best eye candy in the city”; the “rowdy, raunchy”, “dark-lit” room gets “wall-to-wall packed” and is the “perfect place to cruise” or wig out to “pounding alternative” tunes on the “tiny” dance floor. 7994 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-654-0396
St. Felix
https://plus.google.com/114093459091858190174/about
A popular destination for mixology and hunky mixologists in Boys Town has spun off this larger lounge and restaurant in the heart of Hollywood, with a quirky design ranging from bare brick walls to films of exotic dancers projected on hanging glass globes to outdoor seating in an alleyway transformed by the Green Alley Initiative; the moderately priced Eclectic menu rambles as much as the decor, covering everything from Kobe sliders to Cuban tacos to Moroccan chicken cups. 1602 N. Cahuenga Blvd.; 323-469-5001
Here
https://plus.google.com/117270156924613041373/about
Atmosphere: 22
Decor: 19
Service: 18
“The pretense is pretty intense” at this “bit-too-trendy-for-its-own-good” gay lounge in the heart of WeHo that attracts a “stylish crowd” of guys who “all look alike” (except on Fridays, when the Truck Stop Girlz promotion brings in the ladies who like ladies); the indoor/outdoor space has a “modern feel” and “cool little courtyard”, and, despite the pricey drinks, it “always” draws a “line on weekends.” 696 N. Robertson Blvd.; 310-360-8455
Revolver https://plus.google.com/109596300092737848189/about
A great place to start the evening and always packed with cute 20-something boys and their friends, the club manages to maintain its cool buzz despite not having a dance floor. The tunes still pump on various nights of the week, but equally entertaining are their notoriously brilliant karaoke night, sports night, comedy night and video cabaret. 8851 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-694-0430
Hamburger Marys https://plus.google.com/100044630225173574505/about
Food: 18
Decor: 17
Service: 18
Cost: $23
"If you're in a campy mood", these diner-style "hangouts" in WeHo and Long Beach can be a "blast", with bingo nights, karaoke and drag shows complementing "delicious" cocktails in "casual" digs; as for the American menu, most find it just "ok" ("food – what food?") and service is "hit-or-miss", but for "kitsch"-seekers, "it's the spot for you." 8288 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-654-3800
Sur https://plus.google.com/110315372176709272330/about
Food: 21
Decor: 25
Service: 22
Cost: $54
“Yes sur”, it’s a “visual dream” at this WeHo nightspot where “gorgeous” staffers seemingly straight “off the covers of GQ and Vogue” glide through a “beautiful”, “hip” space of “white and silver” illumined by votive candles and chandeliers; “oh, right, the food”: fans say the Cal-Med offerings are “surprisingly delightful”, but for most it’s really about the “sexy”, “romantic” scene – just “don’t take a jealous date.” 606 N. Robertson Blvd.; 310-289-2824
Mother Lode https://plus.google.com/105781184635250981489/about
Atmosphere: 20
Decor: 18
Service: 22
“An anti-WeHo WeHo bar”, this “divey, sleazy but ultimately fun” “depot for a drunken hookup” is a “change of pace” from the typical Boystown scene (in other words, “boys who don’t care about the gay beauty thing”); it serves up a “little bit of Silver Lake” scruff and “lots of kink”, so “be sure to put the beer goggles on” because sometimes it’s “not a pretty sight.” 8944 Santa Monica Blvd.; 310-659-9700
Friends and Family Plan: Where to Bring Straight SupportersThe Abbey Food & Bar Atmosphere: 25
Decor: 24
Service: 22
This “high-energy” Boystown cafe/bar with a “fabulous” patio boasts a “sexy” “gay, straight or undecided” crowd, “drop-dead people-watching,” bartenders “too hot for words” and “drink prices too high for words”; though it’s long been favored by hetero women looking to “dance with their girlfriends” in peace, old-timers complain it’s “straightened up its act” to the point where the “entire place should be picked up and moved to Sunset Boulevard.” 692 N. Robertson Blvd.; 310-289-8410
Don't Tell Mama https://plus.sandbox.google.com/116600368066215845226/about
This upscale WeHo branch of the NYC cabaret bar combines live performances with traditional American steaks and chops, served in a setting in whichSinatra would feel right at home, courtesy of a lively bar, brick walls and lots of wood - you could be forgiven, in other words, for thinking that you've fallen through the rabbit hole into a long-lost era. 8279 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-380-7209
Border Grill https://plus.sandbox.google.com/106887044331882810376/about
https://plus.google.com/105817085762218587944/about
Food: 22
Decor: 19
Service: 20
Cost: $36
Celeb chef–owners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are “still the queens” of “smart”, “upper-end” “modern Mexican” cuisine made “with flair” as evidenced by these “high-energy” cantinas that’s “worth checking out for the happy hour” alone; service is “well informed” and the vibe is “lively”, so even if your “taste buds might tremble” from the noise”, after a few “spicy margaritas”, how can you not “love it”? – “mas tamales por favor.” Union Bank Tower, 445 S. Figueroa St.; 213-486-51711
445 Fourth St., Santa Monica; 310-451-1655
Susan Feniger's Street https://plus.google.com/100689244756457678610/about
Food: 25
Decor: 20
Service: 24
Cost: $44
"It really does feel like you're walking the streets of a foreign city" at this "delightful" global Eclectic in Hollywood from Susan Feniger (Border Grill) delivering "lots of little bites from all over" that are "fun to share" in the "cool" space with a "great patio"; servers are "knowledgeable" and "guide you to the perfect dishes" too, so just "go with an open mind and an open wallet"; P.S. "the Kaya toast is the must-have" and the cocktails "rock" too. 742 N. Highland Ave.; 323-203-0500
Rockwell Table & Stage https://plus.sandbox.google.com/100009058566693086143/about
This Los Feliz restaurant and bar offers and open-air party spot in the back and a live performance venue in the front (the stage was recently expanded, allowing more space for the 'For the Record' shows, which feature stage and screen actors performing soundtracks from popular movies; the patio is a total scene, especially on DJ nights (Thursdays through Saturdays) and Sunday brunch. 1714 N. Vermont Ave.; 323-661-6163
The Churchill https://plus.google.com/114658578542690490023/about
Food: 17
Decor: 20
Service: 15
Cost: $35
It "looks like a pub" but "feels like a club" at this "sceney" two-story WeHo gastropub newcomer that's "ridiculously packed at night" with "young professionals chitchatting and networking" who ignore the "unapologetically slow" service and slightly high tabs; some say the food's "tasty" enough, but the consensus is it's more about the "swell" cocktails and "excellent" beer selection than the "mediocre" eats. 8384 West 3rd St.; 323-655-8384
Marix https://plus.google.com/116786565641572160808/about
Food: 17
Decor: 24
Service: 19
Cost: $26
"Killer margaritas" fuel the "lively" scene at these perpetually "packed" Tex-Mex twins where solid servers deliver "plentiful" portions of "passable" Mexican fare ("but who comes here for the food?"); the Santa Monica location is a post-"beach hang" with "kids on the loose", while WeHo's happy hour hosts "hot men" and "pretty people" on the patio. 1108 N. Flores St.; 323-656-8800
Laurel Hardware https://plus.google.com/102897170606902397772/about
The nuts and bolts are gone (though the old-school signage remains) at this former WeHo hardware store, which now hosts a midpriced farm-to-table New American with a mixology-heavy drink list; a trendy crowd packs into the modern-rustic front room with floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed-beam ceilings, while the sexier, smaller back room features secluded booths and damask wallpapering, and a quiet backyard glows with illuminated olive trees. 7984 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-656-6070
High RollersCecconi's https://plus.google.com/107941878983059879954/about
Food: 23
Decor: 25
Service: 23
Cost: $59
A "gorgeous crowd" convenes at this "posh" WeHo Italian – a "London transplant" in the former Morton's space – decked out in blue leather with patterned floors and chandeliers lending a "Rome-in-the-mid-'60s feel"; the "expensive" Venetian cuisine and "endearing" staff are equally "fabulous", and if you "go for brunch on the patio, you'll feel like a movie star." 8764 Melrose Ave.; 310-432-2000
Hipster HangsAkbar https://plus.google.com/106356112263597805987/about
Atmosphere: 23
Decor: 20
Service: 21
Is it “a straight-friendly gay bar or a gay-friendly straight bar?”: either way, this “relaxed, playful” Silver Lake “hipster beehive” “rocks” with “one of the best jukeboxes in the city” and an all-embracing ethos where “no one is made to feel unwelcome”; though the “funky” decor may be “faded”, the drinks are “cheap”, “tunes are slamming” and the “tiny dance floor” is “packed” on weekends. 4356 W. Sunset Blvd.; 323-665-6810
Wine BarV Wine Room https://plus.google.com/111576890370925072448/about
The menu is limited at this WeHo tasting room featuring mostly charcuterie and cheese buttressed by an encyclopedic wine list with well-priced flights; the space is dominated by dark-wood cabinets, hundreds of bottles of fine vintages and an olive tree growing in the middle of the main room. 903 Westbourne Dr; 310-339-9202
Dive BarRoosterfish https://plus.google.com/102222185452519551314/about
Atmosphere: 19
Decor: 15
Service: 19
“Delightfully tacky” and with “zero WeHo attitude”, this “long-lived” Venice gay bar attracts a “couldn’t-be-friendlier”, “arty” crowd (including “str8s”) sporting “flip-flops instead of designer duds”; the “rustic” interior (including a “cistern chapel” – i.e. the “porn-lined” men’s room ceiling) may be “no-frills”, but there’s always “cheap booze,” “room enough to play pool” and “great tunes” on the jukebox – plus a $3 burger grill Sundays on the patio. 1302 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; 310-392-2123
Gold Coast https://plus.google.com/112448757795435433857/about
Atmosphere: 20
Decor: 17
Service: 20
Snidesters may label this “cheap” gay dive in Eastern WeHo “Mold Coast” for its mostly “older” clientele (though you’ll find “younger” bucks there too), but regulars call it the “perfect neighborhood watering hole” that’s, plain and simple, about “drinks for the boys”; it’s a “friendly” sort of place that’s “always packed to the brim” with “cheery locals” hanging with their “buddies” or “meeting new ones.” 8228 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-656-4879
Hamburger Mary’s
https://plus.google.com/100044630225173574505/about
Food: 18
Decor: 17
Service: 18
Cost: $23
"If you're in a campy mood", these diner-style "hangouts" in WeHo and Long Beach can be a "blast", with bingo nights, karaoke and drag shows complementing "delicious" cocktails in "casual" digs; as for the American menu, most find it just "ok" ("food – what food?") and service is "hit-or-miss", but for "kitsch"-seekers, "it's the spot for you." 8288 Santa Monica Blvd.; 323-654-3800
Bars With Dancing
MJs
https://plus.google.com/100858326397822312975/about
Atmosphere: 23
Decor: 20
Service: 19
Even if the dance floor “isn’t huge”, it’s “a blast” to see a “mainstream” gay crowd “doing it on the Eastside” – instead of typical WeHo – at this “fun-for-the-boyz” Silver Lake watering hole; besides the attraction of an outdoor bar, there are “various events and theme nights” that all seem to have one thing in common: the “eye candy” of go-go boys “rubbing oil on their chests in nothing but underwear.” 2810 Hyperion Ave.; 323-660-1503
