Bars & Music · Our pick in Los Angeles
The Sunset Strip: the back story
The back story
About The Sunset Strip: the back story
The Sunset Strip is the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that runs through West Hollywood between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. In the 1960s and after, its clubs launched bands that became world famous, and its billboards, bars and hotels still pull a crowd every night.
The clubs
Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy and The Viper Room are still live-music venues on the Strip, and the Troubadour is a few blocks south on Santa Monica Boulevard.
The bars
The Rainbow Bar & Grill is a rock-and-roll institution. For something smarter, the Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel is one of the city’s most elegant rooms.
The Whisky a Go Go, the Roxy and the Rainbow are a short walk from each other on the Strip.
The hotels
Chateau Marmont, Sunset Tower, The West Hollywood EDITION and 1 Hotel West Hollywood all stand on or just off the Strip.
Getting there
Parking is limited and the clubs are busy late into the night: take a rideshare, and check each venue’s age policy and listings before you go.
Our advice: see a band at the Whisky or the Troubadour, then end the night with a drink at the Tower Bar.
Why it's on our list
- The clubs
- The bars
- The hotels
- Getting there
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Sunset Strip: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The Sunset Strip: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- The Grove1.5 miWalk 30 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- TCL Chinese Theatre1.8 miWalk 35 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
- LACMA2.0 miWalk 40 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Hollywood Bowl2.3 miCycle 15 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Rodeo Drive2.5 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Griffith Observatory4.3 miCycle 28 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Getty Center6.2 miCycle 40 minCar or taxi 25 min
- Walt Disney Concert Hall7.3 miCar or taxi 28 min
- Santa Monica Pier9.2 miCar or taxi 35 min
- Venice Beach Boardwalk9.4 miCar or taxi 35 min