Where to see live DJ music in LA

When EDM superpower Insomniac and glossy club creator SBE converge, you get Vegas-style clubbing, right here at home. Bottle service, confetti drops and some of the biggest EDM DJs (like MAKJ) make this spot a favorite among both music lovers and those looking for a sleek Hollywood party experience. Take in the next-level Funktion One Sound System, watch pretty young things dance from the long banquettes or retreat to the smoking lounge for your own Hugh Hefner moment.

Imagined as a rock 'n' roll impresario’s tasteful man cave, Sayers offers the sort of insider’s music experience that the super-connected (like Hollywood agent Shep Gordon) might have on the regular. Capital Cities and The Black Keys have played surprise sets here, as have actors who make music on the side such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeremy Piven. But no matter what guest appearances you may see, you can always count on the DJs here, like Anthony Valadez, or whoever else might show up behind the turntables. Pop in the front room for a neat drink or bar bite, then graduate to the back to take in the exposed brick bar, cognac leather sofas, Afghan rugs and a stage that descends from the ceiling—you never know who might jump up and plug in.

Housed in a 1930s historical building that once was home to the Los Angeles Stock Exchange, this space has operated as a club since 2008. The four-story, 25,000-square-foot space also cameoed as the massive nightlife space in The Social Network. But new lifeblood in the forms of an upgraded sound system and fresh residencies keep the space from going stale—also thanks, in part, to funk house legend Dirtybird, whose parties regularly bring Justin Martin and Claude von Stroke (and the fun-loving crowd who loves them) to DTLA.

Officially, Akbar is a gay bar, but this kitschy lounge-meets-dance spot boasts an easy, come-as-you-are vibe that makes for delightfully weird crowds and solid nights for dancing. Past the main bar, an eclectic jukebox and a wall of autographed headshots is a second room where DJs play everything from alt ’80s to disco and electro tracks. In the summer, the monthly disco party Bears in Space turns the venue’s gated parking lot into day-drinking HQ.

Golden Box was built for those who want to bypass the mainstays of many Hollywood clubs, such as dress codes, bottle service, long lines, a meat market feel and cover charges. Instead, a down-to-earth vibe rules. DJs at rotating parties (our favorite? Tropixx, featuring Dim Mak talent) play in a floor-level cage rather than an elevated booth away from the crowd. Decor is kept simple (Interview covers plaster the floors) and extras, like social media-ready photo booths, are eschewed for random pizza kickdowns.