West Hollywood has been the gay heart of Los Angeles for decades – a small city in its own right, where rainbow zebra crossings are part of the streetscape. Around Santa Monica Boulevard, bars, clubs and restaurants are so close together that you can spend the whole evening walking from door to door.
Santa Monica Boulevard
The centre of the scene is the stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Robertson and San Vicente, where Micky’s, Hi Tops, Roosterfish WeHo, Mother Lode and the Fiesta Cantina are practically neighbours. A few steps further on Robertson Boulevard stands The Abbey, the landmark of the scene. If you prefer something quieter and more elegant, you’ll find the cocktail lounge Or Bar at the eastern end of WeHo. The scene has lost a few long-established venues in recent years, but it is still the largest and most diverse on the US West Coast.
When to go?
- June – WeHo Pride: Three days of parade, concerts and street party around West Hollywood Park; in 2026 it took place from 5 to 7 June.
- October – Halloween Carnaval: On 31 October Santa Monica Boulevard turns into a huge costume party with hundreds of thousands of visitors (check dates with the organiser).
Our favourites
- The Abbey – you have to go at least once, ideally for brunch.
- Micky’s – for when the night shouldn’t be over after 2am.
Queer city tours
Want to get to know the scene during the day too? A tour with local guides is a great way to do it:
- West Hollywood Rainbow Road – walking tour through WeHo
- Introduction to queer Los Angeles – guided tour
Tours & activities in Los Angeles
See all tours and activities in Los Angeles on GetYourGuide
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Practical tips
- Almost all bars ask for ID, and the minimum drinking age is 21 – always bring your passport or driving licence.
- In WeHo itself everything is within walking distance; for getting to and from your hotel, rideshare services are more practical than public transport in Los Angeles.
- Start early at the weekend: queues form at The Abbey and Micky’s from around 10pm.
Editorially researched, as of October 2026. Please check event dates with the organiser each year.
Map
Places in Los Angeles / West Hollywood
Nightlife
BarAkbarQueer bar with dance room · Los Angeles Silver LakeSince New Year's Eve 1996 Akbar has been a queer neighbourhood bar in Silver Lake near Sunset Junction. A dark lounge at…BarBayou WeHoGay bar · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictSmall New Orleans-style gay bar on Santa Monica Boulevard, with Cajun food and drag bingo. Known for the cheapest happy hour on…BarBeaches WeHoBar & restaurant · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictTwo-storey Cuban restaurant with bar and dance floor on Santa Monica Boulevard, decorated in the style of a 1980s Miami disco. The…ClubClub CobraLatino gay club · Los Angeles North HollywoodClub Cobra is a gay Latino club in North Hollywood with three bars, a dance floor and a terrace. On Thursdays TransFix,…Fetish & Leather BarEagle LALeather bar · Los Angeles Silver LakeEagle LA is Silver Lake's leather and Levi's bar on Santa Monica Boulevard. There have been gay bars at this address since…BarFiesta CantinaGay bar & cantina · West HollywoodMargaritas, nachos and a roof terrace above the boulevard: Fiesta Cantina is WeHo's most popular spot for a generous happy hour and…BarGYM BarGay sports bar · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictGay sports bar on Santa Monica Boulevard with 15 big screens, a grill and a game-day crowd. On the strip for more…BarHi TopsGay sports bar · West HollywoodLots of screens, decent bar food and a lively terrace: Hi Tops is WeHo's gay sports bar, an offshoot of the original…BarHi Tops Los FelizGay sports bar · Los Angeles Los FelizHi Tops Los Feliz is the third branch of the gay sports bar from San Francisco, on Vermont Avenue since October 2023.…BarHoney’s at Star LoveLesbian bar · Los Angeles East HollywoodHoney's is a bar for lesbians and queer women that runs as a residency at the cocktail bar Star Love in East…ClubMicky’sGay club · West HollywoodGo-gos on the podiums, drag shows and partying until 4 am: Micky’s has been part of Santa Monica Boulevard since 1989 and…PubMother LodeGay pub · West HollywoodA pool table in the middle, strong drinks and regulars who've known each other for years: the Mother Lode is the down-to-earth…Cocktail BarOr BarCocktail bar · West HollywoodAn elegant queer lounge under a big chandelier: Or Bar is a café in the morning and a cocktail bar in the…ClubPrecinctGay bar & club · Los Angeles Downtown (Historic Core)Precinct is a big rock-and-roll gay bar on the first floor of an old building on South Broadway in downtown LA. A…BarRevolver Video BarVideo bar · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictClassic video bar on the corner of Larrabee Street, part of the West Hollywood scene since 1984. Music videos on lots of…BarRoosterfish WeHoGay bar & restaurant · West HollywoodA slice of Venice cult on the boulevard: the WeHo outpost of Roosterfish offers open indoor and outdoor areas, light Italian food…PubSchmitty’sGay bar · West Hollywood Santa Monica Blvd, eastern stripSmall neighbourhood bar at the quieter eastern end of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.BarThe AbbeyGay bar & restaurant · West HollywoodGothic touches, a Mediterranean courtyard, go-gos and drag: since 1991 The Abbey has been West Hollywood's best-known flagship, and anyone visiting WeHo…Fetish & Leather BarThe Bullet BarLeather bar · Los Angeles North HollywoodThe Bullet is a leather and Levi's bar on Burbank Boulevard in North Hollywood with the motto „no attitude“. At the back…Karaoke & Drag BarThe New Jalisco BarLatino drag bar · Los Angeles Downtown (Historic Core)Since the early 1990s The New Jalisco has been a gay Latino bar on Main Street in downtown LA. There are drag…BarThe Wild WeHoBar & event venue · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictTulum-style bar and event venue in the Rainbow District, with drag shows, DJ nights and theme parties. Opens mainly towards the weekend.PubTrunksGay pub · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictOne of the oldest dive bars in West Hollywood, on Santa Monica Boulevard for more than 35 years. Pool, sports on TV…
Wellness
Stay
HotelChamberlain West HollywoodWest HollywoodThe Chamberlain is an all-suite boutique hotel with a heated rooftop pool on a quiet residential street, a few minutes downhill from…HotelKimpton La Peer HotelWest Hollywood Design DistrictBoutique hotel in the Design District with a pool and Mediterranean cuisine. According to the hotel, GYM Bar is about an 8-minute…HotelMontrose West HollywoodWest HollywoodThe Montrose is an all-suite hotel on a residential street two blocks above the Sunset Strip, with a rooftop pool and rooftop…HotelRamada Plaza West HollywoodWest Hollywood Santa Monica BoulevardThe Ramada Plaza sits right on Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood's queer main street. Travel Gay calls it a perfect choice for…
Food & Café
RestaurantHamburger Mary’s WeHoDrag restaurant · West Hollywood Santa Monica Blvd, eastWest Hollywood outpost of the burger-and-drag chain that started in San Francisco in 1972. Burgers, comfort food and entertainment almost every night…RestaurantMattie’s WeHoRestaurant & club · West Hollywood Boystown / Rainbow DistrictRestaurant, bar and late-night club on the corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente, right at the rainbow crosswalk. Successor to Rocco's…
Community
Culture
FAQ: Los Angeles / West Hollywood
Which gay bars and clubs are there in Los Angeles / West Hollywood?
The Atlas currently lists 22 bars and clubs in Los Angeles / West Hollywood, including Micky’s, Mother Lode, Hi Tops and Roosterfish WeHo. Each listing has the address, opening hours and our take on the place.
Is there a gay sauna in Los Angeles / West Hollywood?
Yes, for example North Hollywood Spa.
Which gay-friendly hotels are there in Los Angeles / West Hollywood?
Recommended options include Montrose West Hollywood, Chamberlain West Hollywood, Kimpton La Peer Hotel and Ramada Plaza West Hollywood.