The hottest places to meet and mingle. Here is your guide to the best gay bars (and where you’ll find the best guys) in Los Angeles. –Alan Carter

MJ's Bar (credit: http://www.facebook.com)

MJ’s

2810 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
323-660-1503
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If great live music shows weren’t enough, the drinks are well priced, the crowd is typically adorable and even on those rare occasions that the place isn’t packed with adorable men of all ages, you can feast your eyes on L.A.’s cutest (and hardest working) go-go boys. We’d name our absolute favorite but that could get us into trouble. (OK, Peter, Franco, Beauden and Derek). Karaoke Monday’s are also too much fun. (OK, and Chad and Erick.) (And Mike.) (Oh, and Chris. Definitely Chris.)

Fubar (credit: http://www.fubarla.com)

Fubar

7994 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA
323-654-0396
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Two for one drinks every weekend night could be habit forming. Fubar gets a decidely 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.

The Abbey (credit: http://www.abbeyfoodandbar.com)

The Abbey

692 N. Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-289-8410
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Hard to believe the Abbey started out as a coffee/breakfast place. Logo calls the Abbey the “best” gay bar in the world…and that’s not just hype. The place is as gorgeous (almost) as the clientele. The prices are reasonable and the drinks are as exotic as the male model bartenders. Curiously, most of the bartenders in this place are straight. Too straight. Well, another reason to get drunk! You’re not taking one of the hottie bartenders home. Bummer.

Rage

8911 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-652-7055
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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.

Micky's (credit: http://www.mickys.com)

Micky’s

8857 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA
310-657-1176
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With a $5 menu and $5 happy hour it’s no wonder the place is always packed! Uh, actually it might be that the bartenders (aspiring male models or porn stars) don’t seem to own a shirt. Between them. Ever. A fire put this hotspot out of commission for a while but it’s back and better than ever. And it’s loud. Very loud. Oh look…the dance floor is filled with young, shirtless, single hotties. Who cares if the shrimp cocktail is $10. No one is coming here for the shrimps.

Roosterfish (credit: http://www.roosterfishbar.com)

Roosterfish

1302 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90921
310-392-2123
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Unlike some of the boy bars of West Hollywood, you’re likely here to see things you’d never see there — namely chest hair, facial hair, and guys who aren’t obsessed with, uh, their hair. Roosterfish is worth the trek if you’re a Valley or WeHo resident if only for the change of scenery, super-friendly crowd and diversity. Yes, and that means men of color and men over 30!

Gold Coast (credit: http://www.goldcoastweho.com)

Gold Coast

8228 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046
323-656-4879
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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.

Oil Can Harry's (credit: http://www.oilcanharrysla.com)

Oil Can Harry’s

11502 Ventura Boulevard
Studio City, CA 91604
818-760-9749
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Forty years and going strong, this Valley establishment caters to men, leather fans and cowboys. You know who you are. This bar is pretty macho without being obnoxious about it. And, yes, they have their drag shows too. In fact, Oil Can Harry’s prides itself on being a place where everyone can be comfortable. Gay guys — and their admirers from miles around — come for the country and western dancing. While some of the boys are rodeo ready, all levels of dancers hit the floor. And on Tuesday nights (where margaritas are $2 all night) they literally DO hit the floor. Yee haw!

Faultline (credit: http://www.faultlinebar.com)

Faultline

4216 Melrose Avenue
Silverlake, CA 90029
323-660-0889
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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.

Here Lounge (credit: http://www.herelounge.com)

Here Lounge

696 N. Robertson Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-360-8455
herelounge.com

Where is here? Next door to the Abbey…so when staring at ridiculously hot boys becomes passe, the crowd shifts here to dance and drink…and look at more ridiculously hot boys. Yes, they call it a lounge, but frankly we’ve seen more schmoozing, preening, drinking and flirting going on. Lounging? Not so much. But who would go to a Schmooze Bar or Preen Bar? Saturdays, perhaps the busiest night, offers up “Hip House” or as they call it “real music for real boys.” Size Sundays also packs them in…and Size stands for drinks. Get your minds outta the gutter people!

Mother Lode

8944 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
310-659-9700
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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.