The Rainbow District in West Hollywood is a bustling center for nightlife and features numerous bars, restaurants, and boutiques that reflect its large LGPBTQ population. L.A. residents call it WEHO for short or sometimes Boystown.
West Hollywood became its own city within Los Angeles on November 29, 1984. It has its own mayor and city officials and is the site of the famous LA Pride Parade and Festival.
Watch my video walking tour of the Rainbow District in West Hollywood
The Rainbow District runs between Doheny and La Cienega on Santa Monica Blvd.
An iconic landmark includes Doug Weston’s Troubadour at the corner of Doheny and Santa Monica, adjacent to Beverly Hills. It has hosted live bands since 1957 including folk singers, rock bands, punk, heavy metal, and modern-day entertainment.
Some bands that played the Troubadour during its heyday were Jackson Browne, the Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, the Eagles, Elton John, Tom Waits, and numerous others.
Next to the Troubadour is Dan Tana’s restaurant which began serving customers delicious Italian food in 1964. It has been a celebrity hangout ever since. Dan Tana is a Yugoslavian expat who served as maître d’ at La Scala and Villa Capri. He took over the old Dominick’s in West Hollywood and opened Dan Tanas. I’ve eaten there and it’s terrific.
Mother Lode is the oldest gay bar in West Hollywood dating back to 1979. Nearby is Bodega Louie (great macaroons) and Rocco’s owned by Lance Bass of Insync.
Tale of the Pup is at the corner of La Cienega and Santa Monica. It is a hot dog stand that opened in 1946 and is shaped like a hot dog. Architect Milton Black designed it in the style of “programmatic” or Mimetic” novelty architecture.
Another point of interest in The Rainbow District of WEHO is Circus of Books. Do not expect to find many books there. It opened in 1960 and was originally called Chi Chi LaRue’s Circus. It sells erotica but was also a safe place for the LGBTQ community to find work during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
Several colorful sculptures can be seen on Santa Monica Blvd. Two are Rockin’ Angel and Murano which are located on the street median.
Revolver, is a gay video bar in the Fife Building constructed in 1929. It is Spanish Gothic Revival in design.
Another Gothic-style structure is The Abbey, a nightclub and restaurant that is a popular hangout complete with gargoyles. The “faithful” also come in droves to celebrate Sunday Brunch.
West Hollywood Park is a lovely new green space behind The Abbey. It’s a popular place to picnic and play chess.
Further east on Santa Monica Blvd is Hamburger Mary’s a drag-themed Hamburger joint. There is often a line to get in because it’s so popular.
If you are looking for a great restaurant in the West Hollywood area, I recommend, La Boheme Brasserie & Bar. It is east of the Rainbow District and filled with atmosphere.
On a quirky note, the shuttered Alta Cienega Motel is at the corner of Santa Monica and La Cienega. It is said that Jim Morrison used to stay in room 32 from 1968 – 1970. Across the street is the former Doors Workshop. It was a pretty decrepit hotel not to be confused with the equally decrepit 1914-era Morrison Hotel downtown where renowned photographer Henry Diltz photographed Morrison there for an album cover. The Morrison burned down in December 2024.
The Rainbow District is just one portion of West Hollywood. It also includes the Melrose Triangle and the Sunset Strip.
This article is now featured on https://www.gpsmycity.com To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours in West Hollywood https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/west-hollywood-6664.html
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