El Floridita (meaning "little Florida") is a Cuban restaurant and Latin night club in the heart of Hollywood. It offers live Latin music (including salsa, merengue and mambo) on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings after 10 p.m. and salsa lessons on Mondays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free to diners, but if you wish to dance without dining, there is a $15 cover charge, as of 2010. Valet parking and street parking are available. The club is a favorite among Latin-American locals, including celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Jimmy Smits. Based on the original, world-famous Havana restaurant that icons such as Ernest Hemingway, John Wayne and Ava Gardner frequented, the Hollywood El Floridita aims to carry on the legacy. Try the classic $5 mojitos (2010 prices) for an extra kick.
El Floridita
1253 North Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90038
323-871-8612
elfloridita.com
Located in downtown Los Angeles, this building was originally designed in 1927 by Mexican artist Francisco Cornejo as a Mayan revival theater. The Mayan opened its doors as a nightclub in February 1990. It is one of the few clubs in Los Angeles to survive the ever-changing night club scene and packs its floors each weekend. If you wish to learn how to salsa dance, the Mayan offers professional dance lessons before the night club opens every Saturday evening.
During the week, live salsa orchestras from Los Angeles, Latin America and the Caribbean perform. There are three levels that hold three different types of music, and on the weekends DJs play everything from salsa and bachata to Latin pop and the Top 40. There is no guest list, but you can pay to be a member of the club for their Friday and Saturday evenings. People dressed in formal attire are guaranteed entry. Valet parking is available in the front.
The Mayan
1038 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-746-4674
clubmayan.com
Originally housed on Miracle Mile, the Conga Room re-opened its doors in 2008 in the downtown Los Angeles entertainment district called L.A. Live. It is a multilevel dance club and Pan-Latin restaurant near the Staples Center. According to its website, it aims to "reflect the vibrant energies of Barcelona and Mexico City." The club plays salsa music and sometimes bolero orchestras and well-known mariachi groups from Mexican City appear.
The Conga Room opens on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. If you get hungry, a "hangover menu" is available from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Parking is available in either the east or west garage outside the complex. Admission varies depending on the event, and the dress is casual chic.
The Conga Room
800 W. Olympic Boulevard
Suite A-160 and A-260
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-745-0162
congaroom.com
Located on the Universal City Walk just outside Hollywood, this Latin night club is more touristy than authentic. However, the DJs play music guaranteed to make you move. The club is open from Thursday to Sunday, and upscale attire is required. The music scales from anything from reggaeton, merengue, bachata, Latin hits to hip hop and salsa. There are two levels, two dance floors and four V.I.P. Areas. There are admission fees on certain evenings. Parking is in Universal City Walk. Salsa dancing lessons are offered on Sundays.
Rumba Room
1000 Universal Studios Drive, Suite 208
Universal City, CA 91608
818-622-1222
rumbaroom.com