LA's bars and pubs are rarely the scruffy boozing places found elsewhere in the US, due in part to the generally high degree of health consciousness - not to mention the very early (daybreak) starting time of the movie business working day. As elsewhere along the west coast, coffee houses are established all over the city as popular meeting places.

Barney's Beanery 8447 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood phone 213/654-2287. Well-worn pool-hall bar popular with graying rebels and sullen youth, stocking over 200 beers. It also serves food of marginal quality.

Boardner's 1652 N Cherokee Ave, Hollywood phone 323/462-9621. A likeably unkempt neighborhood bar with a mix of salty old-timers and hip newbies.

Cat 'n' Fiddle 6530 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood phone 323/468-3800. Boisterous British expat pub with good beers and lie music.

The Dresden Room 1760 N ermont Ae, Hollywood phone 323/665-42984. Wed night is open mike, otherwise the resident husband-and-wife lounge act takes requests from the crowd.

El Adobe 5536 Melrose Ave, Mid-Wilshire phone 323/462-9421. An old favorite for potent margaritas, B-list celebs and a laid-back So-Cal vibe, though the Mexican food is rather insipid.

Gotham Hall 1431 Third St Promenade, Santa Monica phone 310/394-8865. Purple-felt pool tables and mind-numbing cocktails are the main draw for the youthful clientele here. Also draws its share of inquisitive tourists from the Promenade.

Insomnia 7286 Beverly Blvd, West LA phone 323/931-4943. One of the more chic and trendy coffee joints in the area, with amateur art on the walls and not too many poseurs.

King's Road Espresso House 8361 Beverly Blvd, Hollywood phone 323/655-9044. Sidewalk café popular day and night with West Hollywood's neo-beatnik crowd.

Lava Lounge 1533 N La Brea, Hollywood phone 323/876-6612. Cheesy, retro decor, glowing cocktails and plenty of rock and surf music, along with Brubeck jazz and lounge favorites.

Little Frida's 8730 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood phone 310/854-5421. Art, coffee, and pastries served to a mixed straight and gay crowd; also with comedy and music acts.

The Noel Café 212 Pier Ave, Santa Monica phone 310/396-8566. Stacks of used books and high-backed wooden chairs at this fairly unpretentious café, with good coffees, teas and pastries, and funky old sofas on the mezzanine to curl up in.

The Red Setter Irish Pub 2615 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica phone 310/828-9839. Plenty of darts and beer, and a mixed crowd of locals and expats.

Tiki-Ti 4427 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood phone 323/669-9381. Tiny grass-skirted cocktail bar straight out of Hawaii Fie-0 . The Filipino owners mix deadly concoctions at about $6 a hit.

Ye Olde Kings Head 116 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica phone 310/451-1402. Prime LA spot for English expats playing darts, swigging British brews and munching on steak-and-kidney pie.

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