Culver City

Backstage

Proudly advertising itself as "the best dive bar in the world" Backstage offers a high-energy atmosphere with a really fun crowd. Expect a packed house on weekends and call ahead to reserve a table if you don't want to be standing. Drinks are reasonably priced ($4 for a draft beer), the staff is extraordinarily friendly, and there is karaoke (Thursday - Saturday), pool, darts, and decent bar food to help keep the evening entertaining.

Blind Barber

If you didn't know it was here, you'd never find this great hangout. The front is a working barbershop with a nondescript door in the middle of the back wall. Walk through that door and you're in a bar with a roaring-twenties theme. The cigarette dispenser by the bathroom sells hair product, the fans are operated on pulley systems, and a free drink is offered with every barber service. Cocktails are fancy and made by bar tenders who double as waitstaff. Snacks include numerous varieties of grilled cheese and upscale bar munchies like sloppy joe sliders or imported olives.

Bar: Mon-Sat 6PM-2AM, Sun closed; Barbershop: Mon-Sat noon-9PM, Sun noon-6PM·Cocktails $10+, Beers $5+

Conservatory for Coffee, Tea and Cocoa

Family-run coffee shop that roasts their own beans daily and makes one of the best macchiato's this side of the Big Pond. They are known for their "latte art" - you have to order one in a china cup to appreciate it. A local favorite, they also have a huge variety of teas from around the world and make a wonderful Mexican hot chocolate.

Corner Door

When it first opened in 2012 Corner Door made fried brussel sprouts famous, but their other food items are equally well done if a bit on the pricey side. What they are best known for, however, are the upscale cocktails - Beau du Bois, the bartender who has been at Corner Door since its opening, was named "2014 LA Bartender of the Year" by Eater LA and can fashion a drink for any taste. Be warned that the interior gets loud when it fills up, so arrive early or sit on the patio if you want to be able to hear the person next to you. Daily happy hour from 5PM-7PM features $7 cocktails, $3-$5 beers, and $5 wine, as well as $5-$9 snacks. Sunday night is "Burger R&D" night, featuring the weekly burger, fries and beer for $15, and $5 old fashioned cocktails.

Sun-Thu 5PM-midnight, Fri Sat 5PM-2AM

Father's Office 2.0

This upscale pub is famous for its burger, just don't try to make any substitutions - they don't allow them, and they really mean it. There are also over 70 beers on tap.

The Alibi Room

This lounge is most famous for chef Roy Choi's Kogi Korean barbecue tacos ($7 for three), but also offers a unique selection of cocktails including the Cuban Mistress (rum, hibiscus, strawberry, rhubarb bitters, lemon, ginger beer) or the Breaking Bad (tequila, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, pear, fresh lemon, serrano chile infused agave). All food is ordered directly from the bar and brought to you based on the oversized playing card you'll receive after paying. The vibe is upscale hipster, with a younger, affluent crowd. It gets extremely full and very noisy as the evening goes on, so consider an early arrival if you want a cushy lounge seat and the chance to talk to your dining companions without yelling.

Open nightly 5:30PM-2AM. Food served Mon-Sat 5:30PM-midnight, food truck Sundays 5:30PM-midnight. Happy hour Sat-Wed 11PM-2AM

Velvet Lounge

While the hotel's downstairs lobby has a bar and live music most nights, up the stairs on the second floor is a speakeasy that is slightly less crowded and offers views of downtown. Opened in 2014 after a hotel remodel, the bar's ambiance is a cross between 1920s Paris and Hollywood, making for a sophisticated yet comfortable environment. While the cocktail selection and furniture evoke the Prohibition era, sadly prices are on the high side and most definitely reflect 21st century Los Angeles.

Thu 7PM-1AM, Fri-Sat 7PM-2AM