The Abbey is a vibrant West Hollywood gay lounge where cocktails and shared plates shine on spacious terraces, plus lively drag shows keep the fun going.
"If you instinctively write off going to The Abbey for brunch, it’s your own loss. The most famous gay bar in LA serves good food, and the patio situation is surprisingly laid-back with a crowd mostly of locals. Just about every bar in Weho does a weekend drag brunch on the weekends, but The Abbey’s continue to be the most fun and well put together in the neighborhood." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"The Abbey needs little introduction. It’s one of the most recognizable bars in Los Angeles and no matter where you fall on the Kinsey Scale, you can’t really leave this town without stopping in for at least one $15 vodka soda. The place turns into a total madhouse on the weekends, largely dominated by horny Real Housewives looking for gay validation and Inland Empire kids whose parents think they’re at a bonfire. But on weekdays, it’s just as busy and full of people who actually live in and around West Hollywood. Come here then instead." - brant cox
"Located directly next door to The Abbey, the crowd at this aggressively by-the-books club is comprised mostly of circuit gays and the overflow crowd from its more famous neighbor. The music can be fun sometimes, but the space is so easily overcrowded, that most people end up standing around talking about how fun the music is instead of being able to dance." - brant cox
"Greetings from one of the most iconic gay bars in the entire country, and probably the world. The Abbey is big and chaotic and full of people who don’t live in Los Angeles, but if you’re looking for the epicenter of gay LA nightlife, The Abbey is still where you go. The crowd is flirty, the music is good, and it’s guaranteed to be a party. That said, The Abbey is at its best midweek, when the carpooling teenagers and Brentwood moms have all gone home, leaving a crowd that’s more local, but just as fun. Sunday brunch is equally as wonderful. " - brant cox
"We frankly could put any bar in Boystown on this list (Rocco’s, Beaches, Hi, Tops, and Trunks, we see you), but for now, we’re going with The Abbey. This sprawling drinking metropolis is one of the most popular bars in all of LA, and that fact hasn’t changed as things have reopened. Expect lines down Robertson all weekend, and though the dance floor is still closed, that doesn’t mean there’s any lack of revelry. Come on Sundays for a surprisingly delicious drag brunch with everything from chorizo-filled breakfast burritos to potstickers." - brant cox
