Recording studios, rock clubs and comedy stages from the Capitol tower to the Sunset Strip. 13 places, each with a map.
1750 N. Vine St. · Hollywood
Designed by Welton Becket and finished in 1956, the tower looks like a stack of records on a turntable. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin recorded in its studios, whose underground echo chambers were designed with guitarist Les Paul. The light on the rooftop spire blinks the word ‘Hollywood’ in Morse code.
8901 Sunset Blvd. · West Hollywood
Opened in 1964, the Whisky gave the Sunset Strip its first discotheque, complete with go-go dancers in a suspended cage. The Doors were the house band in 1966 until a notorious performance got them fired. Later it launched punk and heavy metal acts, and it still books bands most nights.
9009 Sunset Blvd. · West Hollywood
Lou Adler, Elmer Valentine and partners opened the Roxy in 1973 with a run of shows by Neil Young. The Rocky Horror Show made its American debut on this stage in 1974, a year before the film. The intimate club remains a rite of passage for bands playing the Strip.
9015 Sunset Blvd. · West Hollywood
Before it became a rock hangout in 1972, this was the Villa Nova restaurant, where Vincente Minnelli is said to have proposed to Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe reportedly met Joe DiMaggio on a blind date. Its dark booths later belonged to Led Zeppelin, Motörhead’s Lemmy and the hair-metal bands of the 1980s.
8852 Sunset Blvd. · West Hollywood
In the 1940s this building housed the Melody Room, a jazz club said to be frequented by gangster Bugsy Siegel. It reopened as the Viper Room in 1993, partly owned by Johnny Depp, and became the Strip’s hottest small stage. Its black facade is also remembered for the death of actor River Phoenix outside in 1993.
9081 Santa Monica Blvd. · West Hollywood
Doug Weston’s folk club opened in 1957 and moved to this building in 1961. Elton John’s American debut here in August 1970 made him a star almost overnight, and Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and the future Eagles all came through its doors. The small room still books up-and-coming bands most nights.
8433 Sunset Blvd. · West Hollywood
From 1940 this was Ciro’s, the glamorous nightclub where photographers waited for stars each night and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis played. Mitzi Shore turned it into the Comedy Store in the 1970s, launching Robin Williams, David Letterman and generations of stand-ups. Shows run nightly in several rooms.
8001 Sunset Blvd. · Hollywood
Jamie Masada opened this Sunset Boulevard comedy club in 1979 in a building once associated with the Marx Brothers’ offices. Richard Pryor, Robin Williams and Chris Rock all took its stage, and it is known for serving free Thanksgiving meals to anyone in need. Shows run every night.
7425 Sunset Blvd. · Hollywood
Since 1985, the entrance to Guitar Center’s Hollywood store has collected handprints and signatures of rock, blues and jazz greats, a guitar-world answer to the Chinese Theatre forecourt. Look for names from Les Paul to Eddie Van Halen. Inside, a vintage room shows off rare instruments.
6200 Hollywood Blvd. · Hollywood
One of the world’s largest independent record stores, Amoeba opened on Sunset in 2001 and moved to this Hollywood Boulevard building in 2021. Its huge floor of vinyl, CDs and films on disc keeps the area’s music-shopping tradition alive, and in-store performances have featured major artists. Plan on spending an hour.
6650 Sunset Blvd. · Hollywood
Opened in 1962 in a converted auto repair shop, Sunset Sound became one of the great rock studios. The Doors recorded their first album here, and Van Halen, Prince and the Rolling Stones followed. It remains a working studio and is closed to visitors, but fans still pause at its low-key facade.
6000 Sunset Blvd. · Hollywood
Built as Western Recorders, part of the United Western studio complex, this building produced a remarkable run of 1960s hits. The Beach Boys recorded much of Pet Sounds here, and Frank Sinatra and the Wrecking Crew session players were regulars. Still in use as EastWest Studios, it is not open for tours.
366 N. La Cienega Blvd. · West Hollywood
The Coronet Theatre opened in 1947 with the world premiere of Bertolt Brecht’s Galileo, starring Charles Laughton. Since 2008 it has been home to Largo, a beloved venue for singer-songwriters, comedians and surprise guest appearances. Its small rooms make every show feel like a private performance.