The Best Things to Do in LA on a Rainy Day: Nightclubs

Considering the involvement of Insomniac, the company behind Electric Daisy Carnival, it’s no surprise that Academy is at the pinnacle of on-point EDM (electronic dance music). Occupying a nondescript building on Hollywood Boulevard, the space is a longtime nightlife staple - previously as Qtopia, Vanguard, and Create - before being reimagined by Insomniac and Exchange LA in 2017 as Academy. Expansive yet intimate, it boasts a Funktion-One sound system, an indoor patio apt for inclement weather (as well as an outside terrace), and 145 customizable curved LED ceiling panels that can instantaneously transform the room.

Even if Avalon’s walls could talk, they’d probably stay quiet about the dance-‘til-daylight debaucheries of the countless concerts, after-parties, and club nights hosted inside this historic 1,500-capacity theatre across from the iconic Capitol Records Building. Despite focusing on EDM even before it became a global phenomenon, Avalon has always prided itself on visual productions that far transcend a silhouetted DJ and turntables. After 4am-ish, the party usually moves upstairs to the more intimate and utterly beautiful Bardot, where the carousing continues through sunrise (note that Avalon stops serving alcohol between 2-6am).

The vaudeville-inspired vision of actor David Arquette and The h.wood Group, Bootsy Bellows is a celebrity-studded hang that requires either an insider hook-up or a fat wallet (bottle service runs $1,500 - $4,000). Named after Arquette’s former burlesque dancer mom, the space shuns stereotypical dark hues and blinding lights in favor of a gentle peach palette accented by greenery – more Palm Springs than Palm Beach. Predictably, Bootsy Bellows offers unrivaled celeb-spotting. Much less predictably, it includes puppeteers and showgirl-style dancers alongside its DJ and live music performances, making this ultra-exclusive spot among LA’s most memorable late night offerings.

Founded by Jewel Thais-Williams in 1973 as Jewel’s Catch One, this Arlington Heights space was America’s first club to cater specifically to gay African Americans. Having survived systemic racism, the AIDS epidemic, and a suspected arson attack, the country’s oldest Black-owned nightclub became Union seven years ago before rebranding as Catch One in 2018. Today, this multi-level bastion of inclusivity boasts three dance floors and multiple bars, with prominent EDM events in the main upstairs Disco; numerous themed spaces, and a huge outdoor patio. Featuring intelligent lighting and Funktion-One/EAW sound systems, Catch One has hosted the likes of Rick James and Madonna, who celebrated the release of her Music album with a lavish party at the legendary nightclub.

In keeping with its history as the Los Angeles Stock Exchange, the four-story Exchange LA envelops up to 1,500 partiers in its retro Art Deco opulence. Besides being an ultra-popular nightclub, the state-of-the-art venue hosts award shows, premiere parties, film shoots, fashion shows and more. A must-do for EDM fans, Exchange LA has hosted the likes of Don Diablo, Gareth Emery and Tritonal. DJs usually hit the decks around midnight - expect to wait in line for up to an hour for big names. If all that dancing leaves you drained, LA Café across the street offers sustenance until 3am.

Longtime LA clubbers will recall Hyde Sunset’s prominent location at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights as the former Coconut Teaszer, where Guns N' Roses, Green Day, Rage Against the Machine and Stone Temple Pilots played some of their earliest shows. Hyde Sunset could not be more different from its predecessor - conceived and operated by SBE Group, it’s an ultra-stylish hybrid restaurant/nightclub offering seasonal California cuisine and elevated Italian dishes until 10pm, when it morphs into a chic club frequented by influential artists, athletes, and other celebrities. The 400-capacity Hyde features tableside mixology and decanted bottle service, an expansive outdoor patio, and cutting-edge lighting designed by Steve Lieberman.

Located just down the street from Exchange LA and similarly old school in its opulence, The LA Reserve is a converted 1920s bank (hence the name). Sophisticated and steeped in history, the club includes an atmospherically lit former vault replete with a massive circular security door typically seen in classic Hollywood heist movies. Drinks are reasonably priced by LA club standards, there are two separate dance floors, and the staff are cheerful and accommodating. Parking nearby can be challenging, so allow time to search or better yet use a rideshare service.

Opened in 2022, the sumptuous MainRó “clubstaurant” is the brainchild of hospitality magnate Romain Zago, owner of Miami’s renowned Mynt Lounge and Myn-tu. The epitome of nightlife sensory overload, this $10-million, 7,500 square-foot monument to ambition deftly integrates old and new, with touch-sensitive tables and moving 4K digital screens amidst velvet booths and Vegas-style showgirls. While undoubtedly futuristic and over-the-top, MainRó maintains an air of timeless exclusivity enhanced with appearances by celebs like Brielle Biermann and Nikita Dragun. Imagine Moulin Rouge staged by Cirque du Soleil on New Year’s Eve in Miami Beach and you’re getting close.

Another super-exclusive, no-expense-spared creation of The h.wood Group, Poppy is a refreshingly imaginative concept far removed from formulaic big-city nightspots. Whimsical and mischievous, this upscale lounge transports guests to a surreal storybook setting. Beneath its curved, upholstered ceiling frolics a bohemian cast of modern mermaids, human animals, and swinging storytellers, who wander dream-like through its opulent library and vibrant garden. A favorite of the A-list jet set, Poppy is infamously discerning about who is admitted into this WeHo wonderland. So dress to impress, abandon any thoughts of budget, and be sure to have a Plan B for your night.

The DJ-driven Sound has thrived for a decade in the famously fickle Hollywood nightlife scene through constant, ears-to-the-ground evolution. With a more underground DJ lineup than many nightclubs, the focus here is firmly on music and partying rather than the see-and-be-seen scene often associated with LA hotspots. Featuring custom video content and modern décor flecked with industrial flourishes, the 8,000 square-foot venue includes an expansive sunken dance floor, elevated DJ booth, and spacious private tables with excellent sightlines to the stage. Sound also regularly co-presents major events at the Shrine Expo Hall in Downtown LA.