Your Guide to Downtown L.A.’s Hidden Nightlife Scene

In the 1920s, when Prohibition became the law of the land, L.A.’s nightlife scene didn’t go dormant—it simply went underground. In dimly lit speakeasies and covert gin joints, the gilded glamor and excess of the era flourished in the shadows. More than 100 years later, in hidden back rooms and behind doorways in darkened alleys, bars and clubs across downtown L.A. are leaning into that speakeasy feel with a touch of Golden Era Hollywood glam that would make Greta Garbo feel right at home. At Hotel Indigo, you can take the elevator up to 18 Social and find yourself in the glow of that bygone era. Order the FDR Martini, settle into an armchair, and take in the dazzling lights below.

And when you set out into the city streets, there’s even more hidden nightlife to explore—you just have to know where to look. We asked Liz Ohanesian, a Los Angeles native, culture journalist, and DJ at spots like the Mermaid (428 E. 2nd St.) and Grand Star Jazz Club (943 Sun Mun Way), to be our guide to some of the city’s coolest nightlife destinations, from a whiskey bar that’s as cozy as a living room to a ‘70s-style dance club attached to a Sicilian pizzeria. These are the places where in-the-know locals go to drink and dance their cares away at the end of a long workweek. You can join them—just be sure to bring your sense of adventure.

1. Bar Jackalope

515 W 7th St #200, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Bottles full of amber liquid glisten in the gentle glow of oil lamps inside Bar Jackalope, a self-described “whiskey oasis” situated in a back room inside the popular whiskey bar Seven Grand. It’s a speakeasy in the truest sense of the word, and while stag-horned rabbits may not be real, the vibes inside this cozy spot are as real as it gets. Inspired by Japanese whiskey bars, Bar Jackalope specializes in both American and Japanese whiskeys served in a calm, cozy setting where you can really savor every sip of your selection. You can even purchase a cigar to puff as you enjoy your whiskey on the patio. Liz admits that she is “adamantly not a whiskey drinker,” but adds that if you are, “this is the place to go.”

2. Cicada Restaurant & Lounge

617 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Stepping through Cicada’s gilded doors is like stepping into a time warp. With its towering Art Deco chandeliers casting golden light on a tiered stage where a big band plays, the space itself is straight out of a high-production-value musical number from the 1930s (naturally, Cicada has served as a location in a number of Hollywood productions, from Mad Men to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). “Going for dinner and entertainment at Cicada is an opportunity for people who perhaps don’t normally do it to get dressed up and go all out,” Liz says. The dress code is evening attire, but vintage garb is encouraged. Put on a cloche and (faux) fur stole and sit down to a dinner of wild mushroom ravioli, veal piccata, or lobster spaghetti. Cicada isn’t the type of place where you can just drop in for a drink; check their website for upcoming events and be sure to make reservations in advance.

3. The Let’s Go! Disco & Cocktail Club

710 East 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013

A disco ball splashes light like handfuls of confetti across tufted leather booths, arched stucco walls, and retro brass accents inside Let’s Go! Disco & Cocktail Club, a ‘70s-style disco that’s channeling a whole different era of Hollywood glamor. “You go inside and you end up in this club that looks like it came straight out of a Brian De Palma movie,” Liz says. “It could be Scarface.” Let’s Go! Disco has carefully cultivated a vintage vibe, but the drinks are thoroughly modern, even if some of them have names like “Donna Summer Dress” (a Paloma, if you were wondering). The club is actually attached to its sister business, Sicilian-style pizza joint De la Nonna, which works out great if you dance up an appetite. De la Nonna slings slices from its late-night window on Friday and Saturday nights. Or you can stop in for dinner after happy hour, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

“You go inside and you end up in this club that looks like it came straight out of a Brian De Palma movie. It could be Scarface.”

4. The Study at Arts District Brewing Company

828 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Like many other spots in L.A.’s Arts District, Arts District Brewing is big and airy and industrial, but it has a secret: a cozy, dark nook of a bar called the Study. “It’s literally like a study speakeasy,” Liz says. “That’s the vibe.” Kick your feet up on a leather ottoman at a candle-lit table while you sip a carefully crafted Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Then head into the brewery for a few games of Skee Ball. The Study’s hours vary week to week, so be sure to check their Instagram before you go.

5. The Escondite

410 Boyd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Chicago meets L.A. on the fringes of Little Tokyo at the Escondite. This is the place to head when you want Midwestern comfort—and even a shot of the infamous Chicago digestif Jeppson’s Marlört—along with killer views of the L.A. skyline. With its taxidermied animal heads, antler chandeliers, and exposed brick walls, it’s the kind of place that exudes cozy cool, whether you’re there for a Monday night football game, one of their open mic nights, or dinner (try the Chicago-style Italian beef). Liz recommends hitting up happy hour: “It’s definitely one of the better happy hours that I’ve been to, with a good menu and everything.” This bar is a little off the beaten path, but just keep your eyes peeled for the blue neon sign marking the entrance