Fun and entertainment Los Angeles

Built in 1998, the Crypto.com Arena - formerly the Staples Center - is a huge complex that cost some $375 million to build. Originally, the arena was only dedicated to the famous Lakers and Clippers basketball teams and was also the home of the Kings field hockey rink. But its capacity of 20,000 people has also positioned it as an essential venue for hosting huge American-style concerts and shows; for example, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber have already performed here.

Founded in 1964 by Mario Maglieri, Elmer Valentine and Phil Tanzini, this is a legendary venue where legendary bands from the Doors to the Kings, The New York Dolls and Led Zeppelin have performed. Guitars here are usually used to play hard rock. Although Whiskey A Go Go - purposely spelled without an "e", as 1960s Los Angeles laws forbade clubs to be named after liquor - is clearly living off its heritage, the independent bands that still perform on stage are worth a visit.

Cult bar-club of the LGBTQI+ community of East L.A., it is a friendly place, uninhibited and without taboos, where respect and good atmosphere reign. On the dance floor, bodies come alive to disco and sweet pop. Unfortunately, as everywhere in Los Angeles, the party stops way too early: when the DJ turns on the neon lights at 2am, the crowd spills out onto the sidewalk, happy and drunk... And it's here that the most unexpected encounters take place. All in all, Akbar is an emblematic place, a promise of a good evening.

Located close to the famous Angels Flight Railway, La Cita - French for "the rendezvous" - takes its customers on a Latin American evening. Originally Mexican, this friendly bar plays a mix of cumbia - a type of music and dance from Colombia - 1990s hip-hop, salsa and reggaeton. There's a good-natured atmosphere: here, people dance without judgment, whatever their level. There's no shortage of people to meet on the patio, the beer is cold and the guinguette atmosphere is very pleasant.

This tiny, exotic bar, where tiki kitsch reigns - a fashion inspired by Hawaiian style in the 1950s - has been around since 1961. Nothing, or almost nothing, has changed: the cocktails - for which the recipes have always been the same - are fruity and devilishly measured, the glasses are carved from fake totem poles, and smoking was still the order of the fifties until recently. Around the counter, loaded with gurgling fountains and figurines of mermaids and wahines, are many aficionados of the tiki style, looking as if they'd stepped out of an old Hollywood film.

Two large brick walls and a high wooden ceiling, where a fan turns, identify this wide space. You'll love yourself in one of the leather chairs to enjoy the break and coffee, or even a pastry. The atmosphere is relaxed, with gentle jazzie music, which invites to a part of chess or a Zen reading.

This veritable Ali Baba tavern has a thousand treasures. We could spend hours contemplating unpleasant objects hanging on walls and ceiling. If you have a small creux, you'll have to dare to enter the belly of a big cardboard bear. In the evening, a few nostalgic nostalgic of the legendary Easy Rider in this pub used to be used as a backdrop to the first scenes of the film.

This veritable Ali Baba tavern has a thousand treasures. You can spend hours contemplating pianos, trolleys, horses and other inadequate objects attached to the walls and ceiling. If you have a small creux, you will have to dare to enter the belly of a big cardboard bear. In the evening, you often cross a few nostalgic nostalgic of the legendary Easy Rider in this pub, which served as a backdrop to the first scenes of the film.

Originally from Chicago, Intelligentsia is a concept store that combines organic coffee and fair trade in a very modern design, attracting a rather trendy - even elitist - clientele. Above all, it is one of the first establishments in the Third Wave of Coffee movement: you can drink some of the best coffee in Los Angeles. Moreover, don't forget the pastries and pastries, which you can enjoy on the terrace.

Located behind the Line Hotel, this trendy establishment has the look and feel of a speakeasy... But we won't give away any spoilers- you'll discover the entrance to Break Room 86 for yourself. All you need to know is that the conceptual decor - a wall of vintage TV screens and leather armchairs - gives the place an intimate, retro feel. It's also the temple of music: while bands perform on the small stage, karaoke rooms can be booked. A real favorite!

Born in 1989 from the meeting of the couple Jilla and Shallom Berkman with a Peruvian farmer passionate about coffee, this house now has establishments in all Los Angeles and its surroundings: Beverly Hills, Melrose, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Laguna Beach, Orange... The company owes its expansion to its delicious coffee, since it was the first in the United States to specialize in organic coffee. The place also lends itself very well to a fresh breakfast or a healthy brunch, between its waffles, its eggs and its appetizing paninis.

Built in 1939, this Sunset Boulevard institution evolved from a grocery store to a gay bar and laundromat in the 1960s. In addition to the beauty of the place, with its large wooden counter and comfortable benches, one comes here for its history: declared a Historical and Cultural Monument in 2008, The Black Cat played a considerable role in the advancement of LGBTQI+ rights. After a police raid in January 1967, beating up the patrons, it was here that one of the first peaceful protests of the community was organized, the following February 11.

Opened in 1927, this is probably one of the most historic establishments in the area. From the Beatles' first West Coast performance in 1964 to the filming of The Hollywood Palace between 1964 and 1970, the theater has witnessed some of the most important moments in the local industry. House, techno, progressive electro... In addition to its heritage, people also come to this club with a trendy program to dance until the end of the night, that is to say 3 am; an exception in Los Angeles, where most of the nightlife addresses close their doors at 2 am.

A Silver Lake institution since 1959, The Red Lion is the most German of Los Angeles taverns. It's the place to be for young hipsters and German expats alike, where you can feast on sausages and piano music, especially during Oktoberfest. The bar also boasts a Biergarten - a beer garden - ideal for enjoying a selection of Europe's finest beers in the open air. All in all, a great place to spend a lively evening.

Both classical and modern dance and music performances are held year-round at Royce Hall on UCLA's North Campus. The magnificent building is one of the first structures on the site. Built in 1929, it was modeled after the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, and its architecture is simply stunning. Beauty aside, attending a performance here is an excellent opportunity to experience a part of the Los Angeles student world while immersing yourself in a rich cultural heritage.

Opened in 1954, The Dresden has been the setting for numerous films, from Swingers (1996) and Anchorman (2004) to What Women Want (2000) and That Thing You Do! (1996). It's a legendary restaurant with an elegant sixties decor, featuring large white leather banquettes and retro chandeliers. However, it's not for the food that you come here, but for the fabulous lounge bar, where musicians are invited every week. They follow in the footsteps of the legendary couple Elayne and Marty Roberts, at the microphone for over 35 years.

This is a beautiful 19th century English manor house, named after a small village near the birthplace of William Shakespeare. As soon as you cross the threshold, you are immersed in an atmosphere of its own. Intimate lighting, a crackling fire in the fireplace, bookcases overflowing with old books, a large tropical wood counter: the atmosphere of the Wellesbourne is unique. This environment and the wide selection of beers contribute to make it a popular place to go out, in an area of Los Angeles that is considered to be an "early bird".

Located in the heart of the Fashion District, Pattern Bar celebrates textiles in a vintage setting of old sewing machines, fabric samples and fashion magazines. We love its very lounge-like atmosphere, embodied bya large open space with high ceilings and subdued lighting. From electro to RnB to hip-hop, be sure to check out Pattern Bar's Instagram page, where upcoming events are announced. On the agenda: the weekly Catch A Vibe Thursdays and the many DJ sets, organized throughout the week.

Opened in 1940, this venue built in the Art Deco style has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2016. While the Palladium today hosts fairly large concerts with an eclectic program, it also hosted radio shows in its early decades of operation. In addition, swing, jazz, mambo, and cha-cha-cha, which was very popular in the mid-1950s, were played there. Finally, several important political moments took place there, such as a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965.

Craft beer lovers won't want to miss a visit to this remarkable Santa Monica brewery. The decor is perfectly suited to the theme: you sit on large wooden barrels, surrounded by gleaming stainless steel tanks. A total of five beers are brewed on site, to be drunk here on draught, or taken away in cans. To accompany all this, food trucks are invited every evening of the week, according to a schedule posted on the establishment's website. On the menu: tacos, poutine and burgers.