West Hollywood is like an autonomous gay city, with Santa Monica Boulevard concentrating a large number of gay bars and clubs. You'll find other gay venues around Los Angeles, especially in Silver Lake and the San Fernando Valley, but you can stay in West Hollywood for weeks and still not experience all of the area's gay hotspots and parties. After checking out that gayborhood, many gay travelers leave the city and head to Palm Springs. It's a popular year-round destination, with the sun shining almost every day, and home to major gay events such as the Pride weekend in November and the famous White Party. To stay in the urban environment of L.A., head to the places below, and look out for the city's Outfest film festival and other cultural events when you're in town.
Gay Bars
The Abbey
This is the gay café-restaurant-lounge. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, where you can have a good mix of drinks, snacks, or a prolonged meal. Sometimes it seems like most of West Hollywood's gay community gathers here on a weekend night.
Website: www.theabbeyweho.com
Akbar
Located in one of LA's gayest neighborhoods, this eclectic bar mostly draws gay men, but you’ll also find a smaller number of lesbians and a few straight people. It's a hip place with a décor showing Arabic influences, and a jukebox filled with new and classic tunes. It's a good spot for a late afternoon cocktail mixed by friendly bartenders.
Website: www.akbarsilverlake.com
Fubar
The location on Santa Monica Boulevard helps attract a diverse group of gay men to this popular bar. It offers different drink specials and hosts events often accompanied by a guest DJ.
Website: fubarla.com
Gym Sportsbar
Yes, there is such a thing as a gay sports bar. If you want to watch the major games as you watch the guys, head to this West Hollywood bar that offers happy hours and karaoke nights when the games are not on.
Website: www.gymsportsbar.com
Redline
Located in downtown LA, outside the gayer parts of town, this large bar and lounge has something for every day of the week, from drag nights to Sunday brunch.
Website: www.redlinedtla.com
Revolver
A West Hollywood favorite for over 30 years, this bar presents drag shows, karaoke and happy hours on weekdays, and live DJs, laser light shows and gogo dancers on weekends.
Facebook Page: RevolverWeho
Trunks
Now over a quarter-century old, this West Hollywood sports bar often has shirtless barmen mixing cocktails as games play on the screens. It features an outdoor patio where you can enjoy the daily drinks specials in the open air.
Website: west.hollywood.trunksbar.com
Dance Clubs
Club Cobra
Open from Thursday to Saturday, this latino club offers three bars and a dance floor, where tanned gogo dancers move to a variety of sounds -- from the latest club mixes to Latin and 90s hits. Theme nights include parties focusing on the trans community.
Website: www.clubcobrala.com
Micky’s
Now three decades old, it has become an institution of gay L.A. and one of the places to be in West Hollywood. It has two separate floors with a variety of musical styles, one of them with a terrace with views of Santa Monica Boulevard.
Website: www.mickys.com
Robertson
A club that doesn’t overlook the L in LGBT, with special parties each Friday night, for the boys and the ladies.
Facebook Page: FantasyFridaysLA
Cruising Clubs
Slammer
Bad boys end up at the Slammer, sharing showers (the golden kind), dark rooms and video rooms. It’s a place for men to get dirty, so make sure that’s what you want when you step inside.
Website: www.slammerclub.com
The Zone
Said to be the most popular cruising club in southern California, it’s made up of two large floors of mazes, private booths and a patio for relaxation. It occasionally offers free HIV/STD tests.
Website: thezone-la.net
Saunas
North Hollywood Spa
There's a large Jacuzzi and a truly steamy steam room, but the best feature of this sauna is its garden sundeck with seating for 30.
Website: www.northhollywoodspa.com
Gay Hotels
Sunset Tower
This luxurious hotel is a short walk from West Hollywood's gay bars, and stands out for its gym, spa and rooftop swimming pool.
Beverly Hills Plaza
This European-style boutique hotel has an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Although officially four stars, it offers a superior service and is just a 15-minute drive from the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica.
The London West Hollywood
As the name suggests, this is a British-inspired hotel, but only in the décor, as everything else is very much L.A. There’s a gym, a rooftop pool with cabanas, and the biggest penthouse in the city, if you’re feeling like a celebrity. As it’s located in West Hollywood, most of the city’s gay bars are nearby.
Montrose West Hollywood
This all-suites hotel is located in a quiet, tree-lined section of West Hollywood, but close to the gay nightlife. Each suite has a balcony and a fireplace, making it a romantic option, no matter the weather. There’s also a rooftop pool terrace with cabanas, a fitness center and a tennis court.
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