Los Angeles is an uneven place for cabaret. Without the lure of Broadway or Beale Street, many of that fascinating, exotic breed of performer meant for bright lights, sad songs and big eyelashes bypass the sprawl of the movie gods. However, some do make their way westward and let their talent pour out in some of LA’s most hidden hot spots.
Gardenia: This restaurant/bar is the purest of all LA cabaret. Tiny and cliquish with a New York vibe and an older clientele, many Broadway and touring pros from way back can be heard here. The regulars flock to the Tuesday night open mic (with the lovely Ron Snider on piano), making it a terrifying testing ground for the less seasoned performer. Other nights feature a variety of acts from the nobility of LA’s cabaret scene, including the fabulous Peter Mac as Judy Garland AND Liza with a Z (if you’re lucky). You can’t get more cabaret than that!
7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Show at Barre at the Vermont: Another small, crowded restaurant/bar — although unlike Gardenia it does have an actual stage — the Vermont is the newly hip venue for every upscale musical theater geek with money to burn. Solo shows by young Broadway stars and the hugely popular “For the Record” series, celebrating music in famous directors’ films, make this the hottest ticket in Cabaret Town. Be warned: the service is slow, the menu expensive and sadly the wonderful Monday open mic is no more.
1714 N Vermont Ave.
Edison: A gargantuan downtown club that was once LA’s first private power plant, the Edison is a visual and stylistic tour de force. Silent films dance on the walls, bartenders pour absinthe the proper way and winged cocktail waitresses serve craft shots in beautiful vials. There is also cabaret, including the Big Willies Quartet featuring astonishingly sexy burlesque queen Carolina, of the late lamented Forty Deuce Club. Other acts include Lyndsay and the All-Nighters and the Adrian Hibbs Project. DJs spin on the weekends, and be warned: Edison isn’t just massively fun, it’s also massively expensive!
108 West 2nd St.
The Other Side: Old school and bare-boned, this legendary gay piano bar has been a Silver Lake mainstay for decades. It boasts a friendly, older crowd and live music every night from 8-12. Some not to miss shows include diva Lori Donato on Tuesdays, songwriter Greg Glienna on Thursdays and open mic with James Lent on Fridays. This is an eclectic bunch perfect for such an accepting, laid back and friendly (if a bit run-down) bar.
2538 Hyperion Ave.
Café Was: Nostalgia impresario Ivan Kane has done it again with Café Was, a Hollywood restaurant and showplace featuring what this singer likes to call cooperate swing. Disney-fied Belle Époque décor and nightly music by folks like movie star Jeff Goldblum and TV star(?) Alicia Witt. Shows always have burlesque beauties and sirens of jazz — the Café works hard to keep the spirit of cabaret alive and kicking (all the way to the bank).
1521 N. Vine St.
