In Los Angeles, there is no shortage of the kinds of people you will run into. If you’re gay in LA, there is also no shortage of the kinds of places where you can hang out and get your debauchery on – these are the best.
Top Gay Nightclub in LA: The Abbey
682 N. Robertson Blvd | West Hollywood, CA 90069
The Abbey is 16,000 square feet of coffee house, restaurant, martini bar, and lounge, all wrapped up in an exotic package of organized chaos. This eclectic atmosphere serves as the perfect place to mingle among hetero and homosexual, and everything in between. Although the The Abbey is primarily a gay venue, don’t be surprised to find many straight couples mingling with the crowd. Why, you ask, will they infiltrate your space? Well, the menu is just as diverse as the space – think up-scale Denny’s mixed with fast-food burger joints and a side order of Olive Garden. Great atmosphere, food, and drinks – who wouldn’t want to chill in The Abbey?
Top Gay Nightclub in LA: O Bar
8279 Santa Monica Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90046
The O Bar website describes their food as “familiar with a twist”, but we here at ClubPlanet think that the description goes beyond the food. The food though, is very familiar, with burgers and pastas peppering the menu, but also affordable – the filet mignon is the most expensive entrée, and at $22, that’s a steal. We should warn you though – don’t judge a venue by its prices. Despite being relatively cheap, this restaurant and lounge brings in high-end clientele, who is probably drawn to The O Bar by its impeccable underwater-paradise atmosphere.
Top Gay Nightclub in LA: Arena
6655 Santa Monica Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90038
Alright, so you’re sick of hanging out at low-key lounges and restaurants, and all you want to do is really let loose – time to head over to Arena. This warehouse-like club has the energy and the music to keep up with every taste, from hip-hop to salsa, to pop and even salsa. With two levels to strut your stuff on, and a sound system and superb DJs to keep the party going, Arena is sure to become your favorite late-night spot.
Top Gay Nightclub in LA: Rage
7994 Santa Monica Blvd | West Hollywood, CA 90069
You can think of Rage as the George Clooney of gay venues in LA – it’s been around for twenty years, but it’s still just as good as the day it first started. This restaurant and bar has two stories, and three bars for you to mingle the night away. If you meet that perfect someone that you want to spend your night with, just hang out in the outdoors terrace. If you, well, want to get away from that less-than-perfect mate, don’t fret – there are plenty of places to hide. With the mix of R&B, hip-hop, and house pumping through the rooms of this bar and the low-key atmosphere, feel free to let it all out at Rage.
Top Gay Nightclub in LA: Spotlight Room
1601 N. Cahuenga Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90028
No cover charge, exotic male dancers every Saturday night, karaoke on Tuesdays…is this heaven? No, it’s the Spotlight Room. This unassuming bar looks and feels more like a dive, but you are bound to have some fun here. If $4 drinks and a guaranteed good time can’t encourage you to head over to the Spotlight Room, then maybe the crowd will – it is as eccentric as LA can get, with barely-legals hitting up the bars and retirees, well, hitting up the near-minors. To top it all off, the bartenders are notoriously friendly, so if you can’t get lucky with any of the patrons in this always-packed venue, there is always luck in the staff.
