Viper Room

Known as the Melody Room in the ’40s and frequented by Bugsy Siegel, the club became a biker bar before it became the Central, where bluesman Chuck E. Weiss held forth every Monday night. It was Weiss who suggested to Johnny Depp that the actor invest in the ailing club, and the Viper Room was born in 1993. Johnny Cash played here, and Hunter Thompson drank at the bar. While it no longer draws as many famous attendees or acts (perhaps because Depp is no longer affiliated with the club) it’s still a great intimate room to see a show. Recent bookings range from legendary drag performer Jayne County to Michael des Barres, a night of Elvis music and even a pole-dancing event with karaoke.