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8 of the best Lesbian Bars in Los Angeles

The history of lesbian bars stretches back to a time when queerness of all stripes was criminalized and forced underground; these bars were the only place to exist in semi-public.

However, in recent years the Lesbian bars scene in Los Angeles is becoming endangered with the last lesbian bar in Los Angeles, The Palms, which was located in West Hollywood, closed down in 2013. The last remaining lesbian bar in all of Los Angeles County, the Oxwood Inn in the San Fernando Valley, closed down in 2017.

Logically, this can be attributed to the fact that lesbian bars are less needed today because you can now hold your girlfriend鈥檚 hand in your local dive or that hip new natural wine bar.

With that in mind, below we discuss the best mixed LGBTQ+ bars that offer a great “night for ladies and their friends鈥� in 10 of the best Lesbian Bars in Los Angeles;

1. Catch One

Jewel’s Catch One nightclub building on Pico Boulevard at Norton, Los Angeles, 2020 – Wikipedia

Catch One started in 1972 as the nation’s first black gay and lesbian club, but now the diversity of this nightspot is what sets it apart from most clubs. Gay, straight, lesbian, black, white, young, old…everyone shakes their groove at Catch One.

It is located on West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. The original owner of the club was Jewel Thais-Williams, who named the bar Jewel鈥檚 Catch One. She opened the club after she experienced discrimination in different clubs around West Hollywood, because she was black and female.

When Jewel was about to shut the club down, it was bought by Steve Edelson and his son Mitch Edelson in November 2015.

2. Akbar

Nightclub entrance – Unsplash

Silverlake is the home of the more 鈥渘eighborhood watering hole鈥� than fog-filled nightclub, Akbar, that has been a refuge for the city鈥檚 queer community since the 90s.

Akbar has a packed bar with friendly bartenders, affordable drinks, and a great dance floor. The service is fast, quick and to the point.  

Although predominately a gay bar, Akbar has a wide range of characters who come to be “Mary.”

Parking can be an enigma, but several metro busses and ole reliable (the metro red line train) can be quite handy, as well as easy pickup or drop off via Uber. Lots of fun spots to dine at if you’re peckish before or after the club.

3. Here

Lady dancing in a nightclub – Unsplash

Here lounge is a venue for hire and all of their nights are produced by various promoters. The establishment was founded in 2001 by the owners of G lounge in New York City.

The lounge host nights that are for both the female and male patrons of the gay community

It’s lady’s night on Thursdays or, as the normally hot gay club calls it, “a night for ladies and their friends.”

Resident dj’s LEZlee and Asha spin some of the hottest hip hop and house anthems around. Enjoy a good stiff cheap drink and the chance to dance like a maniac after a hard day鈥檚 work. $5 gets you entry and all you can drink until 10pm.

4. The fingerjoint

Celebrating love – Unsplash

In 2019 two women, Danielle Gavaldon and Lauren Amador, launched The Fingerjoint, which they defined as a lesbian cocktail bar, to create a space dedicated to queer women in LA they realized LA does not have a bar for queer people that isn鈥檛 centered on gay men.

Amador hosted the first Fingerjoint pop up at a design symposium. From there, they continued to host them exclusively in spaces that were not bars, relishing the opportunity to carve out their own aesthetic.

The parties were popular, and by early 2020, Amador was ready to find a permanent location. However, the Covid-19 pandemic hit just as they were set to begin a major fundraising campaign for The Fingerjoint鈥檚 physical space.

They are currently looking for the right spot on the east side to open the Fingerjoint as soon as possible.

5. The Abbey

Bar counter – Unsplash

The Abbey is the most famous gay bar/club in Los Angeles. Over the years, this place has grown into something more than just a bar or club for the locals.

Nowadays, the place is a club, a bar, a restaurant, and it even has a pastry shop! With two dance doors, indoor and outdoor bars and a huge indoor- and outdoor seating area, it is a place for everyone.

On Wednesday鈥檚 many lesbians flock to The Chapel at The Abbey for AltarGirl, also called Girlbar. This weekly party has been around for a while and is probably the most well-known among the lesbian events.

6. Girl Bar

Packed dancefloor – Pixabay

Girl Bar, founded by Robin Gans and Sandy Sachs in November 1990, is the largest dance and entertainment group for lesbians in the United States.

The bar aims to provide the most exciting events, in the most elegant of settings with the hottest women in town. Today Girl Bar has built a worldwide reputation for featuring incredible special events, hot music and the sexiest clientele

Fans of Girl Bar love the friendly staff and the nightly drink specials. The go-go girls also get high marks for being hotties. On occasion, they even have girls wrestling in oil.

In addition to Girl Bar, Gans and Sachs are producers of the 鈥淕irl Bar Dinah Shore Week.鈥� This yearly event takes place in Palm Springs, California in late March/early April and is now heralded as the largest lesbian event in the world.

7. Moonshadow Night Club

People crowded at a bar counter – Unsplash

Moonshadow Night Club is considered one of the hottest lesbian clubs in Los Angeles, and certainly the Valley’s hottest locale. The club has dancing, pool tables, outdoor seating and exhibitions of local artwork.

Owners Sharon Pfeiffer and Cindy Heberling acquired this dreamily atmospheric lounge about seven years ago and since have turned into a choice lesbian hangout of North Hollywood.

Moonshadow Night Club events Sunday brunches, weekly karaoke and Thursday night meet and greets keep the patrons rolling in.

8. Queer Field Day

Celebrating LGBT+ community – Unsplash

Queer Field Day is an event for LGBTQ+ people, led by queer women and nonbinary individuals. We might be stretching the definition of gay bar with Queer Field Day, but we resonate with the mission of this ongoing series that endeavors to create safe spaces that help queer people find local community.

Queer content creator Lilly Brown is behind the series, and was inspired to create an inclusive space geared towards queer people that didn鈥檛 require being in a bar, which are only inclusive for people who drink or are over 21.

The event starts off with Icebreaker Bingo because it鈥檚 a great way to meet people and quickly find out how you connect with the other attendees. Then different social and physical games take place.