A favorite with Angelenos from far and wide who come for its unpretentious vibe, strong cocktails and, of course, the live music. The restaurant's lounge opens at 4 p.m. on Sunday, just in time for you to start gawking at the pre-show action. A word of warning to those dining in the lounge: Practically everything on the menu is deep fried. If you're tempted by the deep-fried mozzarella sticks, go ahead and indulge but you may feel really bad about yourself later. I know from experience.

A raucous Los Feliz dive that draws equal parts crooked-haircut, skinny-jean clad artists, white-hat-wearing beefy super jocks and lecherous old men who drink VO whiskey straight up and call women “doll.” Hooray for diversity! Hooray for dives! Hooray for the amazing hot wings you can order here. Come a bit early on Sunday to score a booth in the back room where the TVs will most likely be tuned to the Academy Awards. The front room is generally populated by sports fans who would sooner swallow toilet water than watch Sean Penn do (almost) anything.

As with everything at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, the Gallery Bar and Cognac Room is the epitome of old-school class. There is no food service at the Gallery bar, but the selection of liqueurs, wines and cocktails is superb. This is my pick for a classy evening, and it’s a great place to soak up Old Hollywood history. The Biltmore hosted eight Academy Award ceremonies in the 1930s and ‘40s; and there are wonderful old black and white photos in the hallway of those truly glamorous occasions.

If you can't watch as the envelopes are opened live at the Kodak Theatre, head a few blocks south to Busby's East. The SoCal Movie Fanatics will gather for their second annual Oscar viewing party, and $26 will get you admission, a self-serve appetizer buffet, soft-drinks, and a chance to win prizes in the Oscar Ballot contest. The only thing not included is the booze, but luckily Busby's has a bar.

Its likeness to South Beach and New York hotspots makes Here Lounge one of WeHo’s more popular nightlife destinations. On Sunday, the Trevor Project, Tom Whitman and Instinct Magazine host an Oscar viewing party with all the perks, including pre-show drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and an after-party hosted by Ugly Betty's Alec Mapa. Price: $50.

The W Hotel's classy but comfortable bar is hosting an Oscar bash featuring a happy hour drink menu ($9); hmmm, maybe that's not so happy; a happy hour appetizer menu ($7); getting happier; and free popcorn; happy! 5 to 11 p.m.

From the cosmopolitan bar crowd to the bearded gentleman singing at the piano to the attractive couples dining by candlelight to the brusque European waiters, La Poubelle provides a festive dining experience. It will also provide a fun-filled viewing party featuring its Sunday Supper special as well as happy hour cocktails and appetizers. Bonus: The resident TV is a large plasma-screen deal.

Gus's Barbecue was an institution for more than 60 years. Then in 2007 two brothers, Chris and John Bicos (whose father founded Pasadena’s Original Tops restaurant), purchased it and gave it an extreme makeover. Today they hope to pay homage to the once divey old diner while re-energizing it. The restaurant has no special plans for the Oscars but promises to turn on the TV if you ask. Juicy ribs sound like the perfect red carpet food.