| Bars in Los Angeles | Restaurants in Los Angeles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Viper Room 8852 Sunset Boulevard, at Larrabee Street, West Hollywood (1-310 358 1880/ http://www.viperroom.com).Bus 2, 3, 105, 302, 429, DASH B/I-10, exit La Cienega Boulevard north Open 9pm-2am daily.Admission $10-$15. Credit AmEx, MC,V. Formerly dubbed Bugsy's after its previous owner, mobster Bugsy Siegel, and then owned by Johnny Depp (who sold the club but allows his name to be attached to it), the Viper Room will always be most famous for being the site of River Phoenix's death. It's an uninviting, low-ceilinged sweatbox that specialises in funk and disco favourites, while packing in Valley Girls and the guys who love them. Tuesday night is DJ Carbo's Atmosphere, a drum 'n' bass club that regularly grants guest slots to some great DJs. If you can deal with the collagen-enhanced crowd, this can be a wonderfully intimate spot to witness jam sessions by big-name artists. Sugar 814 Broadway, between Ninth Street & Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica (1-310 899 1989/ http://www.clubsugar.com).Bus 20, 21, 22, Santa Monica 3/I-10, exit Lincoln Boulevard north Open Club 10pm-2am Thur-Sat. Admission $10. Credit Bar only AmEx, MC, V. Sugar is like a grown-up's Disneyland, with an industrial-cum-whimsical feel. The restrooms are glass-encased (though there are stalls for privacy) and there is a cutout between the men's and the ladies', just in case you can't bear to be parted from your other half. Elsewhere, a huge shark tank stretches across part of the club. The music is mixed; call for information. The Derby 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard, at Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (1-323 663 8979) Bus 180, 181/US 101, exit Sunset Boulevard east. Open 4pm-2am daily. Admission $5 Mon, Tue, Thur, Sun; $7 Wed, Fri, Sat. Credit Bar only AmEx, MC, V. In a city smitten with swing dancing, sharp-dressed youth in the know can count on the Derby for floor-filling live music most nights of the week. Novices are welcome, and can join in a free swing lesson (8-9pm every night). Modern swing acts such as Royal Crown Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have played here. The Derby's circular bar in the middle of the ballroom with its 30ft (9m) high-domed ceiling is the spot to be if you just want to watch. Dress nice or be sent packing. Conga Room 5364 Wilshire Boulevard, between Cloverdale Avenue & Detroit Street, Miracle Mile (1-323 938 1696/box office 1-323 549 9765/ http://www.congaroom.com).Bus 20, 21, 22, 212/I-10, exit La Brea Avenue north Open Box office 10am-6pm Tue-Sat. Club 6.30pm-1.30am Tue-Thur; 6pm-2am Fri, Sat. Shows usually 10pm; days vary. Closed Mon, Sun. Admission $12-$40. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V. Owned by Jimmy Smits and Jennifer Lopez, among others, this upscale club (and adjoining restaurants La Boca and El Comedor) has a high profile and is regularly visited by Latino celebrities. The crowd is always dressed up, even by Los Angeles standards, and there's plenty of salsa dancing to be had, with salsa classes held at 8pm on Thursdays. The Conga Room is also a popular and successful live music venue, often featuring top Latin and Afro-Cuban acts - The West End 1301 Fifth Street, at Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica (1-310 394 4647/club information 1-310 313 3293 http://www.westendclubs.com).Bus 4, 304, Santa Monica 1, 2, 3, 8/I-10, exit Fifth Street north Open 9pm-2am Tue-Fri, Sun; 4pm-2am Sat; closed Mon. Admission $10; $7 before 11pm Wed. No credit cards. If you've spent the day on the Westside at the beach, and brought a change of clothes, this nearby club is a worthwhile bet. Rotating themed nights include reggae (Wed), R&B (Thur) and disco (Fri). Saturdays start at 4pm, when you can relive the 1980s all the way till 2am. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||