World’s End Photo Credit: Laurie Sparham / Focus Features
Actor/writer Simon Pegg and writer/director Edgar Wright have teamed up once again to save the world in The World’s End. This time it’s not from zombies (Shaun of the Dead) but aliens, in the midst of an epic pub crawl of course. Naturally I’m so excited about this movie and have been inspired to create a bar hop itinerary of my own where you watch the movie _first (_because let’s face it, after a crawl everyone will be passed out drunk in their auditorium seats). And then you spend the rest of the evening discussing the merits of the movie during your own crawl.
Since Arclight Cinemas will be promoting the film, which opens Friday, August 23, with various drink deals and new British beers on tap, the theater in Hollywood seemed like the best place to start. That way you can just whet your whistle with a pre-screening gin and tonic and then walk down Cahuenga Corridor to Hollywood Boulevard for more drinking.
Now how many of these you do is really up to your stamina. But for the sake of emulating the movie, here are 12 Hollywood bars for you to hit up. It’s a mix of beer pubs and cocktail bars since it is Hollywood after all. In total it’ll have you walking 1.8 miles with no more than a 0.4-mile schlep between each bar stop. But if you figure that you’ll spend at least half an hour in each stop, this total pub crawl could take roughly 8 to 10 hours so plan accordingly.
I’ve included the hours of each bar for your planning convenience. By the way, if you don’t have a designated driver at the ready, make sure to download these hire-a-driver apps before the crawl.
If I missed any of your favorites, please include them in the comments. This is a loose itinerary so you can replace any with your own. Cheers and happy drinking!
One Epic Hollywood Pub Crawl Itinerary
Bar Stop #1: Stout (Mon-Sun 11:30am-4am) has a decent selection of beers on tap which are rotated weekly. Depending on what time of day/night you go, it can get packed.
Bar Stop #2: Burgundy Room (Mon-Sun 8pm-2am) is a very dimly lit dive bar with provocative decor. If you’re starting your bar hop on the early side before 8pm, you can go to Blue Boar Pub, which opens at 5pm, up the street. I’ve never been but apparently they have Old Speckled Hen on tap.
Bar Stop #3: Piano Bar (Mon-Sun 3pm-2am) is a lounge with $10 Sazeracs and Old Fashioneds as well as $6 tap and import bottled beer, $5 domestic and a $3 beer of the day.
Bar Stop #4: Littlefork (Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri 5pm-1am; Sat 11am-1am; Sun 11am-10pm) features cocktails by new L.A. transplant Dino Balocchi who hails from Chicago. His cocktails ($12 each) are classic-inspired, straightforward and delicious. If you want beer, they’ve got some craft favorites like Stone Smoked Porter and Lagunitas IPA.
Bar Stop #5: The Sayers Club Front Room (Tue-Sun 6 pm – 2 am): The Papaya King out front has been transformed into a more neighborhoodie, accessible front bar so apparently you don’t have to worry about being on a list.
Bar Stop #6: No Vacancy (Daily 8pm-2am) doesn’t have a strict dress code per se, just don’t show up in shorts. Depending on what time of night you go, be warned that this new hot spot can get packed. That’s why I personally prefer going on Tuesday nights. If, however, you’re going on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, you might have better luck showing up before 9pm.
Bar Stop #7: Musso & Frank’s (Tue-Sat 11am-11pm) is a classic Hollywood watering hole. And you MUST order a Manhattan or a Gimlet. The martini glasses are tiny compared to today’s standards but not to worry as you get the excess in a sidecar.
Bar Stop #8: Sadie Kitchen and Lounge (Tue-Wed 6pm-11pm; Thu 6pm-12am; Fri-Sat 6pm-1am) is a great stop for not only enjoying well-crafted cocktails but ordering up some tasty nosh. For drinks, you really can’t go wrong with anything from bartender Giovanni Martinez’s menu. Shaken, stirred, aperitif or seasonal. It’s all good. But for beer lovers, there are also four craft beers on tap and a nice bottled selection.
Bar Stop #9: Boardner’s (Mon-Thu, Sun 5pm-2am; Fri 4pm-2am; Sat 3pm-2am) is listed as a dive bar but it looks more like a club/lounge. They have frou-y cocktails that are pricey so I’d probably stick to something neat here.
Bar Stop #10: Loaded (Daily 11am-2am, with happy hour every day 12pm-7pm) is a laid-back rock-n-roll bar with cheap drinks and food items named after music icons like a Sid Vicious Rockin’ Cheeseburger and Whitney Houston potato skins.
Bar Stop #11: Wood & Vine (Mon-Wed 5:30pm-12am; Thu-Sat 5:30pm-2am; Sun 3pm-10pm) is a gorgeous bar with equally gorgeous drinks. But if you’ve made it THIS far in the crawl you might want to stick to simple straight whiskey. A $12 whiskey flight with Larceny, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden mayhaps?
Bar Stop #12: The Well (Mon-Sun 5pm-2am) is located on Argyle Avenue across from the Palladium. I was torn between this and Blue Palms Brewhouse as the final stop but this is closer to the Arclight and they have decently priced drinks. However, if you don’t mind a longer walk for beer paradise then hit up Blue Palms. The bar is larger and more able to handle a bigger bar hop group. Plus? Mac and cheese!