Best Live Music American Restaurants in Los Angeles
11 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Queensview Steakhouse
Rotating panoramic harbor views paired with nightly live jazz in elegant supper club setting
Notable Picks
8.3
Located on the third floor of Parkers' Lighthouse since 2011, this supper club-style steakhouse offers unmatched 360-degree views of the Queen Mary, Long Beach Harbor, and downtown skyline. Live jazz performances Tuesday through Sunday nights complement prime steaks, chops, and fresh seafood, creating a scene reminiscent of classic mid-century dining.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Porterhouse for Two, Dry-Aged Ribeye, Bacon-Wrapped Dates
What Makes it Special: Rotating panoramic harbor views paired with nightly live jazz in elegant supper club setting
8.3
Beachfront beer garden with BOGO-style happy hour windows and tacos on the all-day menu. Sunset timing brings a lively crowd for shrimp or veggie tacos paired with easy-drinking drafts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp tacos, Veggie tacos, Chips and guacamole
What Makes it Special: Oceanfront HH energy with taco options and rotating drink deals.
#3
La Boheme
8.1
For over 30 years, this romantic institution has charmed West Hollywood with French-American cuisine served beside a roaring fireplace or under string lights on the enchanting patio. Weekly burlesque shows and live music add theatrical flair to the already dramatic dining experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck Confit, Steak Frites, French Onion Soup Gratinée
What Makes it Special: LA's most romantic restaurant with weekly cabaret performances
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Live Music Showtime
Sports Bar Central
Open since 1969, The Warehouse Restaurant is a kitschy, Polynesian-themed steak-and-seafood house overlooking the marina, known for big portions, strong drinks, and party-friendly energy. It’s a nostalgic choice for prime rib dinners, family gatherings, and waterfront celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Rib, Shrimp Scampi, Clam Chowder
What Makes it Special: Retro marina steak-and-seafood institution with tiki décor and big portions.
8
Tucked on an industrial side street east of Skid Row, The Escondite is a roadhouse-style bar known for over-the-top burgers, loaded tots, and one of downtown’s most relaxed happy hours. Since 2011 it has pulled locals to its patio for discounted drinks, bar-food specials, and live music under the skyline.
Must-Try Dishes:
Captain Kangaroo Breakfast Burger, Nashville Hot Breakfast Sando, Baja Fish Taco Ensenada Style
What Makes it Special: A hidden, live-music roadhouse with indulgent burgers, long happy hours, and a downtown skyline patio.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A 70-year family operation that runs an unusually wide lane—California comfort plates like waffle chicken sandwiches and funnel cake French toast share the menu with Mediterranean staples like soujouk calzone and foul modammas, all served from a strip-mall storefront on Reseda. It draws weekend brunch crowds for the creative egg-and-griddle combinations, but the all-day depth means weekday drop-ins rarely feel like an afterthought.
Must-Try Dishes:
Waffle Chicken Sandwich, The Stuffed Frenchie, Short Rib Benedict
What Makes it Special: Family-run since 1955, Emle's merges California comfort cooking with Mediterranean staples like soujouk calzone and foul modammas across an unusually deep all-day menu.
7.9
Relaxed American eatery balances comfort food classics with contemporary touches like triple smash burgers and garlic noodles with shrimp. Wednesday wine specials and live music create neighborhood gathering spot atmosphere. Craft cocktails and bourbon selection complement accessible menu that satisfies without pretension.
Must-Try Dishes:
Triple Smash Burger, Garlic Noodles with Shrimp, Steak Frites
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood newcomer earning quick loyalty with solid execution and Wednesday wine-music nights
#8
Tuning Fork
7.9
Cozy gastropub tucked on Ventura Place serving California craft beers and seasonal comfort food with Buddhist, Caribbean, and Moroccan influences. The intimate space features skylights, heavy wooden tables, and occasional live music creating a neighborhood gathering spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom Truffle Burger, Marrakech Meatballs, Jerk Chicken
What Makes it Special: Hidden gastropub blending global flavors with craft beer expertise
#9
Baltaire
7.8
A Brentwood power steakhouse with Flannery dry-aged beef, live jazz Thursday-Friday evenings, and a dining room that draws the designer-bag clientele. Steaks arrive properly hot and sizzling when the kitchen is on; some visits report inconsistency with temperature and cut quality. The lounge energy works for business dinners where atmosphere matters as much as the ribeye.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bone-in Ribeye, 48-Ounce Tomahawk Ribeye, Dry-Aged Flannery Kansas City Strip
What Makes it Special: Brentwood power steakhouse with Flannery dry-aged beef and live jazz
7.8
A pirate-ship-themed dive bar on 2nd Street in Downtown LA that doubles as a nightly live music venue covering folk, punk, and everything between—with a scratch-made pub kitchen that takes the food more seriously than most music bars bother to. The beer-battered fish and the burger hold up as actual meals, not afterthoughts to the drink menu. Best suited for nights when you want to eat real food, catch a band you haven't heard of, and not care what time it is.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Beer Battered Fish Taco, Redwood Burger
What Makes it Special: Pirate-ship dive bar in DTLA with scratch-made pub fare and nightly live bands across genres from folk to punk rock
#11
Next Door
7.5
A tequila-forward cantina built around 100+ agave spirits and seafood-heavy regional Mexican cooking from a native Mexican chef — Puerto Nuevo lobster, tablita, and chile relleno anchor the menu. The room runs loud with DJ sets on Thursdays and Saturdays, so early weekday seatings or the patio are the move if conversation matters. With only one Google review on record, the kitchen's track record is still unproven.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood Chile Relleno, Birria Tacos, Puerto Nuevo Lobster
What Makes it Special: Tequila-focused cantina with 100+ agave spirits and seafood-forward regional Mexican dishes from a native Mexican chef