Every happy hour worth knowing in West Hollywood

West Hollywood doesn't do happy hour halfway. From the Sunset Strip's storied rock clubs to candlelit cocktail dens on Santa Monica Blvd, WeHo has one of the densest concentrations of great bars in LA, and a lot of them want to buy you a drink before the night really gets going. Here's every spot worth knowing, block by block.

The Sunset Strip Classics

Bar Marmont, 8221 Sunset Blvd. The bungalow bar attached to the Chateau Marmont is one of those places that somehow never loses its cool. Happy hour runs weekdays 5–7pm with discounted well drinks and a short list of bar snacks. The room is dark, the booths are deep, and the people-watching is unmatched. Come early, stay late.

Employees Only, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd. The WeHo outpost of the legendary NYC cocktail bar brings serious craft-cocktail energy to the neighborhood. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday 5–7pm with $2 off all cocktails and a tight selection of discounted bites. The bartenders here actually know what they're doing, order whatever they're making, not whatever you always order.

The Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd. The history alone is worth the stop, Johnny Depp's old joint still draws a crowd for live music several nights a week. Pre-show drink specials (check the calendar, deals vary by night) make it worth getting there early. Dark, a little gritty, 100% Strip energy.

The Roxy, 9009 W Sunset Blvd. One of the great LA music rooms. The bar deals are tied to show schedules, so the move is to arrive when doors open for reduced drink prices before the headliner hits. Check their calendar, weeknight shows often have the best deals and the most interesting lineups.

The Whisky a Go Go, 8901 Sunset Blvd. The Doors got their start here. Led Zeppelin played this stage. The Whisky is still booking live rock nightly and the bar is well-priced by Sunset Strip standards. Early-show drink specials run before doors fully open. This is not a cocktail-craft situation, it's cold beer, loud guitars, and an education in rock history.

Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd. James Taylor, Elton John, and Tom Waits all launched careers off this stage. The Troubadour's bar is unpretentious and affordable compared to everything around it. Arrive early on show nights for the best bar access and lowest prices. The vibe shifts from neighborhood bar to electric the moment the room fills, catch that transition if you can.

The Scene Spots

The Abbey, 692 N Robertson Blvd. WeHo's most famous bar isn't slowing down. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday 4–8pm with discounted drinks across a large menu of cocktails, beer, and wine. The outdoor space is sprawling, the energy is festive on any given Tuesday, and the food is better than you'd expect. If you're new to WeHo, start here.

Delilah, 7969 Santa Monica Blvd. The supper club that put WeHo on the national nightlife map. Delilah doesn't really do happy hour in the traditional sense, this is a reservations-first, dressed-up dinner-and-dancing room. But their early evening cocktail hour before the dinner rush (typically 6–8pm) is the move if you want the full Delilah experience without the Saturday-night chaos. Classic cocktails, live music, incredible room.

Formosa Cafe, 7156 Santa Monica Blvd. The restored Hollywood golden-age supper club is one of the most beautiful bars in LA. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday 4–7pm with $2 off well drinks, house wine, and draft beer. The dim sum-influenced bar snacks are excellent. Sit at the vintage bar, order a Gimlet, and soak it in.

Bar Marmont, Already on your radar above, but worth repeating: the outdoor patio here on a warm WeHo evening is a genuine best-in-LA situation.

Wine Bars Worth the Stop

Pura Vita Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 8274 Santa Monica Blvd. Plant-based Italian with a genuinely serious wine list, all natural, mostly European, very well-chosen. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday 5–7pm with $2 off wine by the glass and half-off select appetizers. The outdoor seating on Santa Monica is great for a low-key weeknight wind-down. Pairs naturally with a walk down the boulevard after.

Cocktail & Mezcal Bars

Las Perlas, 7511 Santa Monica Blvd. The mezcal and tequila bar from the Bodega crew is one of the best-stocked agave programs in the city. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday 4–7pm with $2 off all cocktails and some of the more approachable shots on the menu. Patio out front, live music on select nights, neighborhood crowd that knows their stuff.

Where to Drink Before Dinner

BOA Steakhouse, 9200 W Sunset Blvd. The bar at BOA has a happy hour (Monday through Friday, 5–7pm) with half-price select appetizers and discounted cocktails, and it comes with one of the best patio views on the Sunset Strip. The prime rib eventually calls, but stay at the bar longer than you plan to.

Gracias Madre, 8905 Melrose Ave. The plant-based Mexican kitchen runs a well-loved happy hour Monday through Friday 3–6pm, with $3 off all cocktails, margaritas, and the mezcal list. The patio off Melrose is genuinely beautiful and the food is excellent, this is one of the best happy hours in the neighborhood, full stop.

Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse, 7963 Melrose Ave. The Melrose institution runs weekday happy hour specials at the bar with discounted wine (heavy on the Malbec, as it should be) and a small selection of apps. The patio seats are the play in good weather. Old-school and unhurried, a good reset from the Strip energy.

Hollywood Improv, 8162 Melrose Ave. The comedy club has a full bar and kitchen, and the pre-show drink deals on weeknights (typically $2–$3 off cocktails from 6–8pm) make it worth arriving early. Reservations recommended if you're staying for a show.

Connie and Ted's, 8171 Santa Monica Blvd. The New England seafood spot runs a solid happy hour Sunday through Friday 4–6pm: $2 off draft beer, house wine, and well cocktails, plus discounted oysters and clams. It's one of the more civilized happy hours in WeHo. Oysters and a cold beer, full stop.

Low-Key & Local

Laugh Factory, 8001 W Sunset Blvd. Drinks at the bar before a show are an underrated move. The bar runs specials on select weeknights before early shows, check the calendar and arrive 45 minutes ahead. The cocktails are solid, the crowd is loose, and you'll feel very prepared to laugh.

Zooming out: every happy hour worth knowing in Los Angeles.

Citywide guides featuring this neighborhood: Every happy hour worth knowing in Los Angeles