This loud and lively gay club in West Hollywood offers a quixotic mix of drag queen shows, karaoke and dancing. The clientele is mixed, and there are always plenty of women on the premises in search of a fun girls' night out. Don't expect glamour - it's a small dive but has a good atmosphere.

A charming little bar with a strong South American flavour, La Cuevita is busy all week long, including Sundays when its outdoor patio gets packed with locals. Excellent beer, a friendly vibe and great live music nights, including several dedicated to jazz and blues, make this a relaxed place to spend the evening.

At the top of the Philippe Starck-designed Mondrian Hotel, the Skybar may be trading on its reputation for attracting LA's beautiful people, but it also has a great view from its open air rooftop pavilion. Drinks are pricey so sip slowly. Be prepared to wait for entry or be turned away if you don't have the right 'vibe'.

One of LA's biggest clubs, Avalon has played host to some of the world's hottest DJs as well as a lengthy list of hip hop stars. Sprawled across several floors, it has different rooms featuring different types of music and a glamorous VIP lounge. Packed at weekends, it's also good on a Thursday night.

Despite one of LA's biggest, bounciest dancefloors, Create tends to be somewhere you either love or hate. Watch the action from the balcony or chill on the Asian-inspired patio with its cabanas and hookah pipes for hire. Drinks are cheaper before 2300.

Formerly a movie palace, the façade of this Downtown club includes pre-Columbian patterns and artwork in the style of a Mayan temple. The inside is no less vibrant with three levels of dance floors and seven bars seeing large crowds over the weekend.

Home to the LA Opera, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion boasts a continuously changing roster of operas, although old favourites such as Tosca usually dominate the billing. ARIA nights for young professionals are also popular – and great fun provided you're prepared to sing your heart out.

This classic summer venue is the best place to hear live music outdoors. There are regular concerts by the LA Philharmonic here alongside jazz, rock and pop gigs. Seating around 18,000, in an amphitheatre backed by hills, its idyllic setting has made it a favourite with locals. Look out for its special firework concerts.

Home of the LA Lakers basketball team, the vast Staples Center also doubles as a 20,000-seater music venue that hosts some of the biggest stars in contemporary pop. Recent acts to take to the stage include Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones, among many more.