You would think going to college in Los Angeles would mean an endless amount of bars to head to for an ice cold beer after a way-too-long midterm. Nay, we say. It is hard to find the perfect college bar in this town! With only a few schools in a large area, most USC kids head to the 9-0 to throw back cheap shots before partying downtown and UCLA students mostly drink way too much in Westwood or Hollywood. Look below for the top college bars where the drink specials keep going all night long, the girls are young and school spirit is served over ice.
The Best College Bar in LA: Capitol City
1615 N Cahuenga Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
What do all college kids love? Well, besides snow days (which college students in LA will never get), I think all college students can agree that beer, burgers and sports are at the top of the list. Capitol City in Hollywood combines all three perfectly in a typical sports bar setting perfect for college kids who are hungry, looking to watch a football game, or just ready to down some drinks after a long week buried in the books. This place has over 7,000 square feet of seating and six separate dining and sports viewing areas. Plus, they've got 30 different draught beers and 30 different types of bottled beers, so there's enough space and booze for you to invite all your friends.
The Best College Bar in LA: South
3001 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
If you're looking for a place to drink and stuff your face with southern food on gameday, South in Santa Monica is just the place. We stumbled into this place one Saturday afternoon and the bar was PACKED with college kids, all drunk and cheering on their team... enticing, eh? Come to South, one of our picks for the best college bars in Los Angeles, and enjoy some southern hospitality and some southern comfort (yes, we are talking about booze).
The Best College Bar in LA: 901 Bar & Grill
2902 S Figueroa Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Hate to love it, but mostly love to hate it, the 901 Bar or the “9-0” as the USC kids call it is THE place to go if you want to drink. And by “THE” place to go we mean the ONLY place to go! Drinking at the 901 Bar is tradition, and you will surely find more kids here than at the campus library. The sticky floors are worth it when you have an amazing 2-for-1 daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and can start boozing at 11:30 a.m. when the doors open (which is about when college kids wake up anyway). Offering food until 10 p.m. and good times all four years of college, the 901 Bar & Grill is about as top as a college bar can get.
The Best College Bar in LA: The Lab
3500 S Figueroa Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Located right across the street from USC, The Lab gastropub is the top college bar for sophisticated kids who still like to get a little wild. You don’t have to worry about feeling guilty drinking at The Lab instead of sitting in Chem class because the gastropub is science lab themed with chalkboards, chemistry books and drinks served in beakers. And the Lab recently debuted a brand new drink menu of $10 or less martinis and lab themed cocktails under $8, perfect for a college budget! Try the Algae (Stoli Blueberri, Blue Curacoa, lemonade and sprite) and in no time your vision will get blurry, your girlfriend will yell at you, and you'll feel like your right back in college.
The Best College Bar in LA: Busby’s
5364 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Busby’s may not be the typical dirty college bar you're looking for, but this is the Westside and we try to keep it classy here. With locations on Wilshire right near UCLA and down the road in Santa Monica, the crowd is a good mix of college kids, recent grads and young professionals. There are pool tables, arcade games and not-very-cheap drinks, but for an always-packed night of relaxed fun right near school, the buzz about Busby’s is true.
The Best College Bar in LA: Traditions
4920 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Your parents are paying for tuition so why not have them buy you a beer? At Traditions, located in the USC food court, you can order a beer with your breakfast of lucky charms and pizza and with a quick swipe of your parent-funded student ID, everything is paid for. There are Beirut tables, drink specials and only Trojan fans so if you need a beer between classes this is the perfect college bar located right on campus.
