Frolic Room

Step into the Frolic Room and you’re stepping into a genuine piece of Hollywood history. Operating since the 1930s and situated right next door to the iconic Pantages Theatre, this legendary dive bar has been pouring drinks for generations of Angelenos and visitors alike. The neon-lit exterior beckons you into a dimly lit sanctuary where the walls are adorned with vintage Hollywood memorabilia and the jukebox plays tunes that span decades.

What makes the Frolic Room truly special isn’t just its storied past—it’s the incredible mix of characters you’ll encounter on any given night. Aspiring musicians from Silver Lake might be chatting with entertainment industry executives while bewildered theatergoers stumble in from next door, all sharing space with colorful locals and eclectic performers. This is Hollywood in its rawest, most authentic form.

The drinks here are refreshingly straightforward and remarkably affordable, a rarity in modern Los Angeles. There’s no craft cocktail menu or artisanal ice—just cold beer, classic mixed drinks, and bartenders who’ve seen it all. The atmosphere encourages you to be whoever you want to be, whether that’s quietly nursing a whiskey in the corner or making friends with the stranger on the next barstool.

For anyone seeking a glimpse into old Hollywood’s underbelly or simply looking for an unpretentious watering hole with genuine character, the Frolic Room delivers in spades. It’s a living time capsule that reminds us why dive bars matter, and why some places are worth preserving exactly as they are.