Los Angeles Nightlife Tips by Dundooni

Nightlife Spot: Santa Monica

217, an unassuming lounge/club in Santa Monica is one of the best dance spots I've been to in LA. If you love to shake it and don't care about high-profile celebs or being at the "in" place - 217 is the perfect place. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights are best - although it can get pretty crowded. The main room plays hip hip - from trendy to old school to underground. The back lounge area plays trance and techno music, so that you can nod your head to infectious tunes while chatting it up with friends. Drink prices are reasonable and the best part is that the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Get there before 10:30pm to avoid any lines.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Anything goes - dress stylishly, but you can certainly wear jeans and comfortable shoes. Ladies, I recommend close-toe shoes, because the dance floor gets crowded at times and your feet may get stepped on!
Phone: (310) 394-6336
Address: 217 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
Directions: Just west of the Promenade. There's no sign, just an address - it's close to the Interactive Cafe (great sandwiches there BTW).
Website: Couldn't find one!

Nightlife Spot: Zanzibar

My best friend Samantha and I checked out Zanzibar on a Sunday night by recommendation. The vibe is Middle Eastern, with plush cushions to flop on as you watch the crowd dance to the beats. The place is pretty crowded on Sunday nights, when the DJ spins underground hip hop and the best mix I have ever heard of Soul II Soul's "Back to Life". On Friday nights, it gets packed and the scene is more trendy. The music is a little more mainstream but with a funky twist.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Don't leave home without your Sean John warm up suit.
Phone: (310) 451-2221
Address: 1301 Fifth Street in Santa Monica, CA
Directions: Located on the corner of Fifth and Arizona. If you're lucky, you'll find metered parking on the street!
Website: http://www.zanzibarlive.com

Nightlife Spot: The Laugh Factory on Tuesday and Sunday Nights

For a change of pace and a chance to appreciate a different form of entertainment, ditch the dance clubs and check out a comedy club. On Tuesday nights, it's college night. If comedian Dane Cook is there, make sure you are too. He is so talented and fall-over hilarious. Also, I love the Laugh Factory on Sunday nights, which are politically incorrectly called Chocolate Sundays because the line-up is all African-American comedians. I've been three times, and each time I laughed so hard there were tears streaming down my face. The comedians were clever, and not overly raunchy or critical of audience members.

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: The dress code is casual, but stylish. You can wear jeans and definitely any hip hop gear or visors you have in your closet.
Phone: (323) 656-1336
Address: 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA
Directions: Caddy corner to the Sunset 5 plaza with the Wolfgang Puck and indie movie theatres.
Website: www.laughfactory.com

Nightlife Spot: Club AD

I have heard about Club AD for nearly a year now. Supposedly a trendy and fabulous nightspot, I finally had the displeasure of going to this club on Friday night. The DJ was good, playing mostly hip hop on the main floor and old school like "Baby Got Back" upstairs. However, the bouncers were particularly rude, the venue is very dirty, quite tacky and poorly designed. It has all these narrow walkways that make you feel claustrophobic. I would NOT recommend this place.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: People were dressed to impress, with men wearing designer sweat suits and women wearing hardly anything. I would wear comfortable shoes, because it gets very crowded and your feet will get tired from having to stand in line.
Address: 836 N Highland in Hollywood, CA
Directions: Just North of Melrose, on the east side of the street.

Nightlife Spot: Primitivo

Primitivo is as sultry and warming as the red wine you'll drink there. Nestled on Abbot Kinney, Primitivo is a classy but funky wine bar where I hear the food is pretty decent (I didn't sample). The crowd chats closely in the dim lighting of lovely mismatched chandeliers. Definitely great for a refreshing night out with your favorite chatting buddy. I also recommend having a nice dinner next door at Joe's Restaurant (see my tip about Joe's Restaurant) and then getting drinks at Primitivo.

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: The dress is not overly formal, but I would venture to say that this is not a place you would want to wear tennis shoes and a baseball cap to. The crowd is fairly sophisticated, so dress casual but presentable.
Phone: 310) 396-5353
Address: 1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA
Directions: Right next door to Joe's Restaurant!

Nightlife Spot: Highlands NightClub on Hollywood Blvd.

If you are in the mood to go out big, drop by Highlands, the over-the-top gorgeous and simply enormous new nightclub in the shopping center on Hollywood and Highlands. The club has hip hop and main stream pop on the main floor, with a trance and house room in the back and a patio upstairs that plays old school with a mix of 80's funk. The best part of this place is the huge patio, which on a clear night will enable you to see all the beautiful lights of LA.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Definitely dress up! Women can wear their flashiest and men do not forget your bling bling!
Phone: 323-461-9800
Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA

Nightlife Spot: The Lounge Nightclub

I was a bit skeptical about this hyped nightspot (Britney Spears is a huge fan). It seemed everytime I opened up US Weekly, another celebrity was spotted at the Lounge. But if the DJ is good, which on Saturday nights he is, this beautiful venue is the perfect place to have a fantastic night. The dance floor is small, but the upstairs area overlooking the floor more than makes up for it. Drinks are pricey, but strong.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: The key to getting dressed up for the Lounge is to look good but to look like you didn't spend that much time getting ready. I saw way too many trucker hats for my liking the last time I was there. I suggest wearing what makes you feel good and helps you get into the groove.
Phone: (310) 888-8811
Address: 9077 Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood
Directions: Right next to the Troubadour (a great place to see live music)

Nightlife Spot: Concorde

I've had two experiences at Concorde: the first was fantastic; the second was awful. This smallish modern lounge tries to straddle the coolness of a bar and the high energy of a night club. Its staff also throws ridiculous attitude, whether or not you are on the "list" or try to be friendly. At 20 bucks a head, I would say ditch Concorde and head down to Beauty Bar for drinks or hit up Deep just a few blocks over for some real dancing. Concorde has lots of potential, but no class when it comes to treatment of patrons.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: All men seem to wear these days are Ben Sherman collared shirts and jeans. Women revel quite a bit in the 80's nostalgia with lots of hot pink heels, leg warmers and not a lot on top. If you want to be taken seriously at the door, bring on the bling.
Phone: 323.464.5662
Address: 1835 North Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood
Directions: On the west side of Cahuenga, at the intersection of Cahuenga and Franklin