14 Best Things to Do in LA at Night

There is no doubt that Los Angeles is the most stunning city in the State of California. It is also known as “LA” for short and “City of Angels” is its official nickname. Interestingly, there are a variety of things to do in LA at night, range from sightseeing tours, movies, museums, clubs, games, and dining options.

If you are a fan of sightseeing tours, museums or movies, you are in for a treat as I have mentioned the best of them in this post. So, while there are so many fun activities to do, let’s have a look at 14 best things to do in LA at night.

1. See the Stars at Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is a great place to enjoy the best views of Los Angeles at night. Apart from that, it allows you to look at the stars through the telescope. So, whether you want to see the LA skyline or the lights of Hollywood Boulevard or the stars in the sky, head to this magical place at night and you will be mesmerized. The tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and $3 for children between 5 to 12 years old. Heading to the Griffith Observatory is indeed one of the must-do things in LA at night.
Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA

2. Go for an LA Sightseeing Tour With Your Friends

The real beauty of Los Angeles comes out after dark, with its sparkling city lights and stunning avenues creating a wonderful atmosphere of glamour and romance. With this in mind, Los Angeles tour guides will take you through all the famous sights and attractions including the historic Hollywood Sign. You can get the opportunity to take pictures at many famous and historic places throughout your tour. An average sightseeing tour lasts more than 4.5 hours, which means there will be enough time for you to enjoy and see the city. So, one of the best things to do in LA at night is to book a sightseeing tour with your friends, and for that, you can choose one of the agencies I’ve mentioned below:

• StarLine Tours
• Viator Tours
• City Sightseeing
• Star Track Tours

3. Get Aboard the Queen Mary Ship

The Queen Mary Ship in Long Beach, Calfornia is popular among tourists for the Haunted Encounters. It has been voted one of the Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America by Time magazine. They offer a series of scary yet fascinating twilight tours inside the ship including Illusions of the Passed, Paranormal Ship Walk, Paranormal Investigations, and, Dining with the Spirits. Needless to say, the food is great and the staff is terrific. A complimentary glass of champagne is served to everyone on board. You’re free to roam anywhere you may wish as long as something doesn’t say, “Staff Members Only”. Get aboard this ship and your family will love every minute of it.
Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA

4. Go for a Stroll at Santa Monica Pier at Night

Santa Monica Pier is a wonderful place for everyone to visit in the evening. Especially, it is a great spot for couples to visit. Taking a walk down there with your partner can be one of the most romantic things to do in Los Angeles at night. In addition to strolling down the pier and listening to the relaxing sound of ocean waves, get on the world-famous Ferris wheel at the Pacific Park for extra fun.
Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA

5. Do Late-Night Fun Activities at Universal CityWalk LA

Heading for some fun stuff at Universal CityWalk is one of the many free things to do in LA at night. It is an amazing walkway which is located adjacent to the famous Universal Studios. You can find a lot of bars, restaurants, foods, shops, music, neon lights, street dancing, and many other fun things here. The best thing is that parking is totally free after 6 PM. Needless to say, this place has an amazing atmosphere day and night which automatically makes it a must-visit place in Los Angeles.
Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA

6.  Enjoy the Best Views of Los Angeles at OUE Skyspace

OUE Skyspace LA is located on the 70th floor of the 2nd tallest building in Los Angeles known as U.S Bank Tower. This magical place allows you to enjoy some of the best views of Los Angeles at night with a 360-degree view. You can go for the Skyslide, a 45-foot, fully enclosed glass slide which is positioned 1000 feet above Downtown Los Angeles or you can just have a glass of wine and enjoy the views of the city. I recommend going on the weekends because it will be less crowded and you will feel peaceful up there.
Address: 633 W 5th St. 840, Los Angeles, CA

7. Meet Your Favorite Celebrities at Madame Tussauds

As you already know, Madame Tussauds is a famous tourist attraction and a Wax Museum which was initially opened in London 200 years ago. Now due to its huge success, it has branches in more than 23 different cities worldwide. Madame Tussauds Hollywood has over 38 figures including, Captain America, Iron Man, Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé. This museum is much easier to navigate than the ones in New York and London. However, the actual price can be expensive, so here’s the tip; you will find some staff members on Hollywood Boulevard give out coupons and discounts, go talk to them and get yourself a deal. In my opinion, taking a trip to Madame Tussauds with your friends or family can be one of the most fun things to do in Hollywood, Los Angeles at night.
Address: 6933 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA

8. Enjoy Dancing at the Nightclubs of LA

Dance the night away at one of the many nightclubs in Los Angeles. You will find lots of people dancing and enjoying their drinks in these clubs and bars. They play music which is cool enough to have you dancing all night long. Here’s a list of the best nightclubs in LA:

• Avalon Hollywood
• Sound Nightclub
• Lure Nightclub
• Boardner’s
• Station1640
• Exchange LA
• Elevate Lounge

9. Savor some Late-Night Donuts

Whether you want to eat something sweet after having dinner at a restaurant or have a sudden craving at 2 AM, California Donuts in Koreatown is 24/7 at your service to give you a sugar-fix. These brightly colored wonderfully topped delicious donuts will help you satisfy your hunger anytime you may wish. Since California Donuts is famous for its late-night sugar-fix, it can definitely make it to your list of late-night activities in Los Angeles.
Locations: • 3540 W 3rd St, LA • 5753 Hollywood Blvd • 801 S Alvarado St, LA

10. Enter the Fascinating Museum of Illusions

One of the best things to do in LA at night with kids is to take them to the Museum of Illusions. This museum has more than 30 3D paintings that produce dazzling pictures, inspired by current events, movies, art, cartoons, and so much more. Additionally, there is an Upside Down House where everything is literally upside down, the ledge of a skyscraper to walk on, a dragon in the depths of a cavernous dungeon to steal treasure from, the red carpet to walk on with some of the famous Hollywood celebrities and much more. This place is neat and well organized. I highly recommend visiting this museum.
Address: 6751 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

11. Go for a Midnight Movie

Los Angeles is also known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World” all around the globe. This city has been blessed by the gods of cinema. So, in addition to all the fun activities in LA at night, going for a midnight movie would definitely be a wonderful idea. Some of the best movie theaters and cinemas in Los Angeles are mentioned below:

• New Beverly Cinema
• El Capitan Theatre
• TCL Chinese Theatre
• Nuart Theatre
• Los Angeles Theatre
• Street Food Cinema
• Dolby Theatre
• Universal Cinema Hollywood

12. Go for Late-Night Swimming at Mondrian’s Skybar

Offering some of the finest views of Los Angeles, Mondrian’s Skybar is a remarkable open-air bar that offers poolside cocktails on the rooftop of the Mondrian Hotel. It’s a perfect spot for a date, a party, hanging out with friends, and for any kind of celebration. The pool is awesome, bartenders are cool, and the atmosphere is just great.
Address: 8440 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA

13. Go for Ice Skating at Holiday Ice Rink

Holiday Ice Rink is a wonderful place in Downtown Los Angeles to take the family or your partner. The skating session lasts 60 minutes and it is open till 9:30 pm and sometimes 11:30 pm. This place opens in November and goes till January. Consider it one of the must-visit places in Los Angles in winter.
Address: 532 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA

14. Enjoy Bowling and Pizzas at Highland Park Bowl

One of the most fun and coolest late-night activities in Los Angeles is to head to the Highland Park Bowl for some bowling experience. The place is neat and clean, the staff is well organized and in case you’re starving, they offer and serve delicious foods and drinks as well, which includes pizzas, salads, desserts, cocktails, and, beer. They also play live music for extra fun. In my opinion, it is a nice spot for a date or hanging out with friends. Please note that only 21+ year-olds can enter this place after 8 pm. So, if you plan to visit this place with the kids you must do it before 8 pm.
Address: 5621 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA