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Best Gay Bars In Los Angeles

Gay Pride Flag
(credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

Los Angeles is home to some of the best gay bars anywhere in the world. Specifically, West Hollywood is home to the largest concentration of gay bars and clubs with many lining the main drag of Santa Monica Blvd. From the hottest places to meet and mingle to clubs offering dancing, here is your guide to the best gay bars (and where you'll find the best guys) in Los Angeles.

pump bar west hollywood
(credit: Sandra M./Yelp)

PUMP
8948 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-7867
www.pumprestaurant.com

The brainchild of restauranteur Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Ken Todd, PUMP Restaurant is technically a restaurant/bar, but nontheless the local crowds come out to play at this beautiful eatery and hangout. As Vanderpump's second West Hollywood restaurant and bar behind the popular Sur Restaurant & Lounge, PUMP offers a beautiful outdoor garden on which patrons throw back everything from the PUMP specialty cocktails and drinks from a full bar. And, while the camera's from the Bravo show Vanderpump Rules mostly shine their light on the next door neighbor Sur, you might even find yourself on one of the episodes if you visit. Lisa Vanderpump herself is known to frequent the bar often too.

fubar
(credit: Fubar/YELP)

Fubar
7994 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 654-0396
www.fubarla.com

Two for one drinks every weekend night could be habit forming. Fubar gets a decidedly young crowd...do these boys have jobs? Don't they have to get up in the morning? Monday night the young crowd dances to 80s music...like any of them remember these songs?! The older crowd can take advantage of the free shot specials -- and try to remember when they were "that" young.

theabbey
The Abbey (credit: www.abbeyfoodandbar.com)

The Abbey
692 N. Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 289-8410
www.abbeyfoodandbar.com

Shingled in 1991 as a coffee shop, this popular social venue has since been hailed "the best gay bar in the world" by Logo TV. The now 16,000-square-foot food and drinking establishment has been featured prominently in a number of television projects that serve the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The Abbey Food and Bar also attracts an impressive number of heterosexual guests due to its festive, gothic-like atmosphere and muscular food and beverage offerings. Its cocktail menu includes just about every fruit and berry flavor under the rainbow. Be sure to sample its mouth-watering Ahi burger and signature omelets. Bring your camera because you just might run into a few celebrities and infamous figures or witness an entertainer attempt a daring feat.

"Day Without A Gay" Economic Calls Attention To Gay Rights
(credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

Rage
8911 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 652-7055
www.theragenightclub.com

There's always a line to get in. With good reason. Sure, many of the patrons have attitude (for days) but even while many of the young ones are flipping their hair around one of West Hollywood's hottest places to see (and be seen) does not disappoint. Be warned: if you're over 30, you will get looked at like you're ready for your AARP card.

mickysla
Micky's (credit: www.mickys.com)

Micky's
8857 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-1176
www.mickys.com

For more than two decades, this oft-raucous nightspot has been one of L.A.'s hottest neighborhood bars. Guests are entertained by male go-go dancers, drag queens and provocative live shows on select evenings. Micky's revved-up attitude toward adult entertainment is audacious. It is here where die-hard party people get a chance to socialize alongside some of their favorite celebrities that visit the establishment on occasion, like Lady Gaga. Its cocktail menu is as potent as its slate of performing artists. It features robust mojitos and fruity martinis that can be relished on the dance floor, in the upstairs lounge or on the balcony that overlooks the boulevard. While chomping down on a serving of short-rib tacos, this is the place to be to observe Halloween Carnaval and the LA Pride parade.

Related: Best Lounge Bars In Los Angeles

Gold coast bar
(credit: Marqus R./Yelp)

Gold Coast
8228 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 656-4879
www.goldcoastweho.com

Established in 1981, the joke around WeHo is that some of the original patrons haven't left since they opened. And, yes, some affectionately call the place "Mold Coast" because the patrons tend to be older and not the twink types that frequent so many WeHo bars. Yup, this place caters to real men who like to drink ...beer and hard liquor. Do not come here looking for a foofy boy or a foofoo drink. OK, they do have a Red Dress party where the macho men don drag once a year ... just cause.

REVOLVER
(credit: Revolver)

Revolver
8851 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 694-0430
www.revolverweho.com

A neighborhood favorite, this venue is a cross between a traditional gay lounge and go-go club. It's become quite a hit among those looking for 80s and 90s dance music, popular videos and a delightful environment within an unpretentious setting. At select times during the week, the bar offers inexpensive well drinks, beer specials and one of the lowest price tags for a strong margarita consumers will likely find in this trendy section of town. In addition to the bar's resident DJs, some of the nation's best VJs are brought in as celebrity guest hosts. Those who like karaoke will want to visit the bar on Monday when a fun-loving, gender-bending emcee encourages amateur singers to take the stage. Revolver Video Bar is a party place that delivers 365 days of the year.

faultline
(credit: Gary I./Yelp)

Faultline
4216 Melrose Avenue
Silverlake, CA 90029
(323) 660-0889
www.faultlinebar.com

Having a mustache and looking fierce in a pair of Levi's is not a prerequisite to get in...but it helps. Big pecs are also a plus. And no one will admit this, but if you have your nipples pierced, you probably get a discount at the bar...because everyone but you has pierced nipples. This bar's Facebook page boasts 1,121 friends and just about all of them are big, tattooed, hulking servings of macho. Wearing a trendy t-shirt? Or anything remotely with a designer label? You've stumbled into the wrong place. No worries. The guys might be bear-like, but they are quite friendly.

Trunks
Trunks
8809 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 652-1015
www.trunksbar.com

A landmark in West Hollywood for more than 25 years, this genial venue remains a traditional gay sports bar that offers a bank of television monitors and strong cocktails at low costs. A toy train adds nostalgia to the pub's decor as do a few well-used billiard tables. There are even mirrors on the ceiling to add an exciting visual perspective. The adults that frequent this spirited place do so for its wide selection of well drinks and specialty beverages. Dancers provide supplementary entertainment on Thursday night. Since there is no food menu available, the bar provides a vending machine for its patrons to purchase an assortment of snacks. Trunks Bar is an engaging place to warm up for the evening while meeting new acquaintances that may share your common values.

Mother Lode West Hollywood
(credit: CBS)

Mother Lode
8944 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 659-9700
www.facebook.com/motherlodewesthollywood/

None of your friends will say they're regulars...and that's the point. It's not trendy or pretty or even fancy. But the neighborhood bar (it's "Cheers" without Carla or Cliff) is where men go to play pool or avoid the hair-flippers at some of the trendier joints. As long as we've gone past, into or near the Mother Lode...we can't recall seeing anyone flip their hair even once. Come to think of it, most of the patrons don't have hair to flip. If everyone here doesn't know your name when you walk in, they probably will by the time you walk out.

Sharon Raiford Bush is an award-winning journalist who covers topics of social interest in greater Los Angeles. Some news articles she has authored have been archived by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Sharon also contributes to Examiner.com.
Alan R. Carter is a web producer for CBS.
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