West Hollywood’s best dive bar? WeHo’s best sushi restaurant? Our city’s best barbershop, pet boarding place, Pilates studio? These are among the many categories we included on WEHOville’s Best Of ballot in August. The online voting turnout was great (and monitored by us geeks to make sure we weren’t being trolled — i.e. Putin didn’t vote, only you did).
We published the results in West Hollywood Magazine, our quarterly print publication, which was out last week and which you can find in news racks, restaurants and shops around the city. Today we will publish the second of five overall ballot categories, which include Best Beauty & Grooming, Best Dining, Best Fitness, Best Nightlife and Best Pet Supplies & Services. Congratulations to all of the local businesses who won “Best Of” and to those immediate runner ups. We’ll be back next year with even more business categories. And if you want to find the Best Dining choices, click here. Best of WeHo’s fitness choices? Here you go.
Best of WeHo Night Life
Best Dive Bar
No. 1
Mother Lode
8944 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.facebook.com/MotherLodeWestHollywood
(310) 659-9700
The word “mother lode” means something of great value. In West Hollywood, where good ole fashioned dive bars are scarce, Mother Lode is that.
Tucked between the very precious P.U.M.P., owned by reality TV celeb Lisa Vanderpump, and the forever-under-construction space where the restaurant Bottega Louie is opening (some day), is this bar that offers cheap drinks, a chance to play pool and some outdoor areas for smoking. The interior is, uh, rough. And dark. And very charming for those of us into that sort of venue.
And if you’re looking for an early drink, or a late one, Mother Lode is the place, with operating hours from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
No. 2
Fubar
7994 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
(323) 654-0396
No. 2 (It’s a tie)
Gold Coast
8228 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
(323) 656-4879
No. 3
Trunks
8809 Santa Monica Boulevard.
West Hollywood
www.trunksbar.com
(310) 652-1015
Best Gay Bar
No. 1
Trunks
8809 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.trunksbar.com
(310) 652-1015
“Where the spirits are high and the prices are low!” That’s Trunk’s slogan, and it pretty much says it all. You’re not going to encounter much pretension or fabulousness at this gay bar, which proudly is open to all. “Gay, straight, curious – who gives a hell?” it proclaims.
This gayborhood bar “is here for the pool tables, sports on the multiple TVs and the all-day well-drink specials.”
Trunks also caters to the early drinking crowd. It’s open from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. every day but Sunday, when it opens at noon.
No. 2
Revolver
8851 California State Route 2,
West Hollywood
(310) 694-0430
No. 3
Flaming Saddles
8811 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
(310) 855-7501
Best Go Go Dancer Bar
No. 1
Micky’s
8857 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.mickys.com/
(310) 657-1176
If you’re not sure about the quality of the go go dancers at Micky’s, you can stand outside on the sidewalk most nights and see a bit of what you’re missing. You’ll see why Micky’s was voted No. 1.
And it’s not just what you see on the first floor. Micky’s has a second floor bar where there are occasional performances scheduled. And of course there’s that patio where you can cruise the street walkers while enjoying
a drink.
Micky’s also has a variety of regular events such as “Showgirls” drag night, the times for which are listed on
its website.
Micky’s is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and on Sunday. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s open until 4 a.m.
No. 2
Flaming Saddles
8811 Santa Monica Blvd,
West Hollywood
(310) 855-7501
No. 3
Fubar
7994 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
(323) 654-0396
Best Hotel Bar
No. 1
Skybar – Mondrian
8440 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.facebook.com/skybarla
(323) 848-6025
If you wonder why it’s called the Skybar, just look above you. Then look down in front of you at the glamorous pool, and finally look straight ahead at the amazing view of West Hollywood and Los Angeles beneath you.
The Skybar is reserved for hotel guests until 1 p.m. daily. After that it’s open until 2 a.m. to all who want to sip drinks, splash in the pool and listen to the variety of music spun by its D.J.s. It’s also host to lots of special events, so make sure to check in by telephone or online before you show up.
No. 2
Sunset Marquis
1200 Alta Roma Road
West Hollywood
www.sunsetmarquis.com
(310) 657-1333
No. 3
Mardi at Palihouse
8465 Holloway Drive
West Hollywood
www.mardirestaurant.com/
(323) 656-4020
Best Live Performance Venue
No. 1
The Troubadour
9081 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.troubadour.com
The Troubadour opened in 1957 and became a rock institution with performances in the early years by Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Elton John and the list goes on and on.
If you wonder whether it’s worth a visit, consider that in 2013 Billboard named it one of five “must play” venues for musicians. Rolling Stone in 2013 named it the second-best rock club in America. Its online list of performances, which cover most days of very month, show that quite a few future events already are sold out.
Hours of specific events can be found at Troubadour’s website.
No. 2
Micky’s
8857 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.mickys.com/
(310) 657-1176
No. 3
The Comedy Store
8433 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood
www.thecomedystore.com
(323) 650-6268
@DDD I was just about to write the same thing. They publicly state they are not a gay bar, so after that I stopped giving them patronage. However, they state they are a “gay bar” when it benefits them.
I was delighted and relieved to see that the Abbey was not listed as a best gay bar because they aren’t. And just FYI, Trunks now has only one pool table.