Liam-Gowing
Lists
Top 5 dive bars on the Westside
Far from the glitzy lights of Hollywood and the hip enclaves of Silver Lake and Los Feliz, the Westside used to be a regular Mecca for dive bars. Yet one by one, year by year, these cherished, low-key watering holes have fallen by the wayside or, worse yet, been transformed into something trendy: The Brig on Abbot Kinney? It's a sheet-metal paradise now. The Circle Bar on Santa Monica's Main Street? Decked out in gaudy red and constantly packed. The wonderfully stinky Town House in Venice where Jim Morrison's whiskey-polluted urine once stained the walls? Horror of horrors, it's been rennovated. But take heart, ye fan of cheap drinks, immediate service and a social scene like a funeral. Endangered species that it is, the Westside dive bar endures.
This is it, folks, the Westside's top dive bar: A bar where you can get an economical drink without waiting in line, a bar down the street from a 99-Cents-Only Store and right next to a shady-looking Japanese massage parlor--a bar whose proprietor is named "Marv."
A classic dive bar, Del's Saloon gained some recent notoriety when it was featured in the Judd Apatow movie "Knocked Up," but it's been a beloved West L.A. spot for years.
Considering its dingy decor and a clientele that can look a little rough at first blush, most people are shocked when they take their first bite of an Hinano burger. It is, simply, one of the better burgers in town--unfussy and classic. Coupled with a bag of chips and beer that is unusually cold, Hinano's is one of the best stops you can make when you’re checking out the bar scene on the west end of Washington Blvd. It's the ideal sort of dive: two pool tables sit in the back room; there's sawdust all over the floor; and you can even serve yourself a free basket of fresh popcorn from the popper in the corner. On most nights, it's fairly crowded with friendly locals looking for a relaxed time. Get there before nine o'clock if you want to sit in one of the prized stools at the bar. You won't leave once you've got one.
Tucked into an upscale strip mall across from a Whole Foods, Lost & Found shows you can't judge a book by its cover. Step past the Western-style saloon door hidden from the parking lot, and you'll find a classic, cash-only dive bar.
A 60's-era bowling alley with 28 lanes, Mar Vista Lanes also boasts a surprisingly good in-house diner, Peppy's, arcade games and a full-service bar bedecked with the standard red Naugahyde bar stools, a classic-rock-oriented juke box and a pool table.
Search Local Listings
Find restaurants, clubs, shows and events every day.