Many single folks complain of difficulty sleeping, often feeling lonely, longing for a close companion to converse with. Rather than staying home and letting the four walls cave in, they covet communing with friendly souls, but haven’t a clue where to go after dark.
Unlike back East, renowned for night owls reigning free, a majority of local single men and women maintain that establishments to convene in the midnight hour are nonexistent. Instead of searching for a needle in a haystack, they give up, and resort to sitting in front of the boob tube.
Fret no more. There are numerous venues for dining, wining, dancing, schmoozing, listening to great music, keeping cool, and finding a stimulating rapport while the moon passes by overhead.
You don’t have to go far for class and sass; don your glass slippers; or wait for a pumpkin carriage (filled with your prince/princess charming) to sweep you off your feet. Even if you arrive solo, you’ll inevitably meet affable, welcoming, and pleasant cohorts with similar mindsets.
Seedy bars are not obligatory. There are ample fashionable, sophisticated, tasteful, and refined spots right in your own backyard.
Here are some of my favorites (in Studio City unless otherwise noted). Please feel free to add to the list by commenting at the end of this article and divulging any secret hideaways you’ve discovered in and around the ‘hood.
offers live music ranging from jazz to rock with no cover charge, from 10pm-1am on most evenings. The kitchen is open M-Th until 10p, Fri/Sat until 11p. If you’ve religiously read this column, you’ll have previously heard a multitude of kudos for this clandestine treasure.
not only serves the best baked potatoes this side of Idaho all night long, but they have awesome jazz Monday through Sunday with shows starting at 9:30p and 11:30p. Cover charge varies.
The new at Sportsmen’s Lodge has a happy hour Monday through Thursday from 10p-12M; and an extended bar menu from 10p-12M on Fridays and Saturdays with dancing to top DJ’s spinning until 2am.
is a hip, happening scene with dinner served until 11p Monday through Saturday and a special late night menu Monday through Thursday from 11-12M, Fridays and Saturdays from 11pm-1am.
, a lively, late hang, serves their full south of the border fare until 1am nightly. Jerry’s Deli is open until 1am weekdays/3am weekends, while Crave, Dupars, and Twains are 24 hour haunts.
Try for rockin’ gourmet sushi, open M-Th til 11p, Fri/Sat til 12M, and Sun til 10p. Opt for their Hollywood site with even later hours: M-Sat til 2am and Sun til 11p!
For great gourmet cuisine plus fantastic jazz and blues with no cover, consider Café Cordiale in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Blvd., just east of Hazeltine. Dine until 10:30p on Wednesdays, 11p on Thursdays, and 12M on Fridays and Saturdays.
Lucy’s 51 in Toluca Lake has a late night menu of calamari fritti, dips, hummus, chicken fingers burgers, and more, served until 1am. Starting at 9p, there’s a blues jam on Monday nights; guitar jam on Tuesdays; and jazz on Wednesdays. No cover. The chic crowd is a mix of professionals, locals, and celebrities.
If country or swing is your cup of tea, Joe’s American Bar and Grill in Burbank features dancing to live music, nightly at 9pm, plus guest DJ’s playing tunes until 1am or later. Dance lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:30p ($5.00). Full menu served until 10p. No cover. Two drink or $6 bar minimum.
Take a hop, skip, and a jump on the 101 to Highland and head west on Sunset where you’ll find Bossa Nova serving Brazilian “comfort” classics til 4am Monday through Sunday; awesome Chinese fixings at trendy Toi, open until 4am; and a huge eclectic menu at Aroma Bakery & Café open daily until 1am(the Encino location has the same hours).
For an adventure and ambience comparable to a NYC stomping ground, exit the 101 at Vermont, and head towards Franklin where Fred 62 in Los Feliz, is hopping 24/7. Infamous for their mac & cheese, waffles, thai cobb, and cheese balls, it’s the perfect rendezvous to continue carousing after a night on the town.
Last but not least, you can always remain chill, calm, and collected watching fine flicks at the Arclight, Sherman Oaks or Hollywood, where films play nightly after 10p. On Thursdays, there are usually midnight shows of movies opening the following day.
If all else fails, you can pick up some groceries at the 24 hour Ralphs at Vineland and Ventura or Vons at Laurel Canyon and Ventura. You never know who you might pick up or who might pick you up in the process.
Next time the sandman passes over your abode, take a leap of faith and visit one of these prime selections. What have you got to lose?!
