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If you’re a Bangkok first-timer, this is your invitation to explore a city teeming with life, flavour and history.
If you thought Los Angeles was a hive of activity in the daytime, wait until you see the City of Angels after dark.
From big city nightscapes to Ferris wheels overlooking the ocean, seize the night with this guide to Los Angeles.
1. Choose a room with a view
One of the best ways to drive your budget further in LA is by booking a room with a view. Save on viewing deck fees, because your bedroom is soon to have the best seats in the house to watch the city twinkle after dark. If you’re looking for a hotel in the thick of it, pull up a pillow at Mondrian Los Angeles, located right on Sunset Strip, close to Fox Studios, Paramount Pictures, Crypto.com Arena, Dodger Stadium, Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica, Rodeo Drive and Getty Museum. What you spend on location, you’ll save on getting to and from the main attractions. Their onsite restaurant and bar give you very little reason to leave at all – so keep on drinking in those panoramic city views and cocktails – you’ve not got far to go.
2. Visit Santa Monica Pier after dark
A visit to the iconic Santa Monica Pier is one you can save til after dark. Open around the clock, this famous landmark of Los Angeles is a top spot for sunset, before lighting up in a sea of neon once the sun slips beyond the horizon. For vibrant night views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean, take the famous Ferris Wheel and see LA by night. Although the precinct never technically closes, rides close at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Enjoy a high ball at the legendary Whisky a Go Go
When a venue has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, in its heyday, was the launch pad for 'go-go dancing' and host to a long list of bands including The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Blondie, you know the nightlife is going to be good. Just like the whisky drop itself, this venue only gets better with age and on the program you’ll find regular jam nights with emerging and established artists. Grab yourself a drink and settle in for a night of entertainment, LA style.
4. Enjoy a dinner at a West Hollywood institution
After a day on foot exploring these sites, drop into the original Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood. The diner serves up everything from breakfast burritos and burgers to chilli and foot-long hot dogs and has been the drop in spot for over a century. With over 40 beers on tap, you’re guaranteed a good time. Reservations, like at all good institutions, are recommended.
5. Take a guided club crawl
You’ve heard of a pub crawl, but naturally, they do things differently in Los Angeles and a club crawl is a perfectly good way to see the city after dark. Hosted by a guide, the club crawl will be the perfect way to explore new bars and clubs in downtown LA, with skip the queue privileges at some of the most popular venues. On the list are hot spots like Exchange LA, The Reserve and Clifton’s; but with a start time of about 9pm – you might want to squeeze in a quick afternoon power nap before ticking them off.
6. Catch a show at The Historic Theatre at Ace Hotel
Go back to the golden age of Hollywood catching a theatrical production at The Historic Theatre inside Ace Hotel. This restored 1600-seat movie palace from the 1920’s stands like a cathedral to the arts, with a three storey-high grand lobby, an ornate open balcony and a vaulted ceiling dotted with thousands of mirrors that glimmer like tiny stars. Take in a performance or just enjoy cocktails and an unforgettable sunset at the adjoining Ace Hotel's rooftop bar before dinner.
7. Take your taste buds to Little Tokyo
Did you know that tucked within Los Angeles there’s a tiny Tokyo? This Japanese-American cultural district is one of only three Japan-towns in the United States and bundles into five blocks some seriously tasty foodie finds. Pack your appetite for some of the best bites of your trip as you explore this cultural quarter after the sun goes down.
8. Catch a live basketball game at Crypto.com Arena
Scratch your live sport itch with a visit to Crypto.com Arena to watch the home team the Los Angeles Lakers play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the promise that The Lakers are the most successful team in the history of the NBA, having won 17 NBA championships since their inception, you’re guaranteed a good match. Tickets can be bought online or at the Arena box office – just watch for fake tickets not sold from the authorised selling agent – ticket hawkers are a trap for young players.
9. Get your goosebumps going with a ghost tour through Los Angeles
After dark, delve into Los Angeles's dark side with a ghost tour through the city. Set aside 60-90 minutes to experience a walking tour that unearths the city’s hidden secrets. For a ghost tour with a difference, take the haunted pub crawl and realise what it truly means to walk the boulevard of glamour and broken dreams. The spirits are strong … oh, and so are the drinks!
10. See the stars … in the sky
It makes sense to visit the Griffith Observatory after dark to experience one of the most famous observatories in the world. Open until 10pm every night, the planetarium is a popular spot to take a look at the night sky with the 12-inch Zeiss refractor telescope with guided tours that take place every night until 8.45pm. Head to the hills for sunset to catch the city under a golden glow with unobstructed views to Downtown LA, the ocean and the Hollywood Sign, before touring the cosmos.
11. Catch a stand-up comedy show
Get your nightly laughs at arguably the greatest stand-up comedy club in the world, The Comedy Store. Sitting on the Sunset Strip, this was the very first stand-up comedy nightclub in the world and is known to be one of the first stages for stars including Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Garry Shandling, Paul Mooney, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, Andy Kaufman, and Michael Keaton. Open until 2am, it’s the perfect spot to chase a giggle all night long.
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