24 Cool Things to Do in Los Angeles at Night

Glendale’s Museum of Neon Art hosts the Neon Cruise. Guests take a narrated tour on a convertible bus through Downtown LA, Hollywood and Chinatown, learning about the neon signs and their historical context along the way. Tours last over three hours, and start in either Downtown or Hollywood, depending on which tour you select.

Canter’s has been around since the 1930s and in its current location on Fairfax since the 1950s. It’s been a frequent haunt of musicians playing on the nearby Sunset Strip and serves Jewish fare, such as matzoh ball soup and lox, alongside American diner dishes. It’s open 24/7, except for certain holidays. Comedy and music go down in the adjacent cocktail lounge, the Kibitz Room.

BCD Tofu House has multiple locations, but its Koreatown spot on Wilshire is open 24/7. Find comforting, spicy Korean cuisine such as galbi, bibimbap and soups in hearty portions. Vegetarian menu items are available, as well as alcohol up to 2am.

If you need to unwind at night instead of amp up, then pay a visit to Koreatown’s 24-hour spa, Wi Spa. Steam rooms, saunas, showers and hot and cold tubs are available in one area, while all-gender spaces feature mineral saunas, a restaurant, fitness center and rooftop terrace. If you stay too late into the night, you can always take a nap here as well.

The Clubhouse is a comedy club tucked in a strip mall where you can catch late-night improv shows. The theater is completely independent and volunteer-run. Even though every show is free, donations are hugely welcomed to keep this gem alive. There are also plenty of opportunities here for newer performers to participate, including classes and improv jams.

One of Los Angeles’s most popular Instagram spots is in front of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Chris Burden’s Urban Light sculpture features 202 vintage street lamps, neatly positioned in several rows. At night, the glowing sculpture is a romantic destination for locals and tourists alike.

On select Saturdays throughout the summer, local radio station KCRW hosts a party in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, featuring DJs, dancing, shopping, cooking demonstrations, art installations, cultural activities, food trucks and beer. The Plaza is just a short walk from the Metro Gold Line’s Chinatown station. Chinatown Summer Nights are suitable for all ages, and admission is free.

Perhaps one of the strangest nighttime activities, the Almighty Opp is a mysterious puppet show that pops up on a Koreatown corner on the last Saturday of each month. Guests assemble at the corner of Western and Elmwood, a short walk from arcade bar Blipsy, at 9pm for a night of bizarre music and puppetry. It’s funny, weird, occasionally participatory and always a strange but fun adventure, drawing a dedicated group of regulars every month.

The Downtown Art Walk occurs every second Thursday of the month. Guests are advised to start at the visitor center, open from 6pm to 10pm, to get a map and the lay of the land. From there, visit nearby galleries for art openings and events. Plenty of restaurants, bars and venues are nearby for making a full night of it. Food trucks typically set up shop at 7th and Spring for a quick bite.

The Willows is an immersive theater event in a sprawling old house just south of Koreatown, the exact location of which will only be revealed once you’ve purchased your tickets. As the story goes, you’ve been invited to a dinner party at the home of the Willows family. They’re no ordinary family, harboring a host of dark secrets, including what really happened to a recently deceased relative. Throughout the evening, more will be divulged, occasionally in one-on-one scenes should a character decide to pull you away from the group. The show lasts about two hours and includes dinner and drinks. Tickets are $125 and are available to purchase online. They’re released in batches that sell out quickly due to small audience sizes and limited dates, so sign up for the mailing list to hear about new shows first.

California Donuts is a 24-hour donut shop in Koreatown where you can satisfy any late-night cravings for sweets. This family-run establishment started up in the 1980s, and it’s not uncommon to see a line of people waiting to make their doughnut selections. Colorful creations abound, including doughnuts topped with crunchy cereal, candies and fruit. You can also select among the classics, including fritters, croissants, jelly-filled pastries and cinnamon rolls.

Infinitely Dinner Society is certainly mysterious. Guests who follow them on social media will find sporadic invitations to participate in a midnight snack. Those selected will purchase a ticket online – typically $10 to $25 – before agreeing to meet at a specific location at a select time, usually after midnight. Performers will soon arrive to deliver on their promise of dinner and a short, immersive show. Previous snacks have included oysters, cheese plates and donuts. Shows typically focus on the concept of infinity, as the name might imply. Follow them on Instagram @infinitelydinnersociety.

Stepping into the Dresden, don’t be surprised if you feel a twinge of familiarity – it’s been featured in numerous movies and TV shows, from Swingers (1996) to What Women Want (2000). And it’s easy to see why. The wonderfully atmospheric cocktail lounge is a perfect slice of vintage Hollywood and a top spot to start or end a date. In between, you can shimmy into a white booth in their dining room and speculate about which of the hundreds of celebs who’ve visited might have sat right where you are. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

Artfully recreating the thrill of a 1920s speakeasy, access to La Descarga is up some stairs and through a hidden wardrobe. Once inside, you’re immediately transported to a Cuban Prohibition-era bar, complete with carved wood paneling, a wrought-iron balcony and a phenomenal choice of rums. Regular live music and burlesque shows turn up the heat, plus dancing with your date is always an option. There’s a dress code, so you’ve got a good excuse to pull out your best threads. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

As authentic a slice of Parisian gastronomy as you’ll find in LA, this Hollywood fixture has been delivering oh-la-la to romancing couples since the sixties. From coq au vin to escargots, this cozy French bistro serves all the classics, plus other dishes from around the Mediterranean. It’s all chunky wood tables and vintage posters inside, while sidewalk seating adds to the European cafe-culture feel. If you want to impress your date with your knowledge of French, La Poubelle means “the trash can.” Romantic, non? Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

Another iconic piece of Hollywood history, this single-screen movie theater has stood on the same spot for almost a century. From its neon-illuminated art deco frontage to sumptuous Egyptian film-set-style interiors, a date here is to be transformed back to the times of the Silver Screen. They show everything from art-house flicks to the latest blockbusters, with late-night screenings perfect for a post-dinner-date experience. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

Swanky without being snooty, Gigi’s quickly established itself as one of the hottest restaurants in town – with its instant star-quality attracting some “hey, isn’t that…” clientele. It’s loosely French, but the tightly produced menu meanders between seafood towers and shrimp cocktails to whole roasted bass and steak tartare. Velvet booths and banquettes provide comfort where it counts, while cocktails are just the right side of experimental. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

Set just south of Hollywood Boulevard, this uber-swish hotel is part of a complex that includes a range of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Its party-focused vibe feels like a microcosm of 21st-century LA nightlife and is a popular haunt with the see-and-be-seen crowd. From its lofty rooftop pool to its numerous nightspot options, you might struggle to find a reason to leave. Rooms, too, are neutral havens of calm, with floor-to-ceiling views over the city – and the iconic Hollywood sign, if you’re lucky. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.

If you’d rather stay in a genuine piece of Hollywood history, the Roosevelt is the place to come. It’s set right on the Walk of Fame, so its location could hardly feel more Hollywood. In its heyday, it was the place where movie legends and their entourages would party. Today, it still attracts a mix of movers, shakers and hopeful next-in-liners, though without losing its whiff of romantic old-school glamour. Recommended by Leon Beckenham.