Goth Los Angeles: Clubs, Nights and Spots to Know

Goth Los Angeles is huge, sunny and a little bit ridiculous in the best way. Where else do people wear full black velvet in 85-degree heat and then go watch a horror movie in a cemetery? LA has one of the biggest and most diverse goth scenes in the world, from Hollywood dance floors to tiny Eastside bars spinning darkwave on a Thursday.

A little LA goth history

LA didn't just import goth from the UK. In the early 1980s the city grew its own version, deathrock, a punkier and spookier sound from bands like Christian Death, 45 Grave and Kommunity FK. That deathrock sound still shows up in DJ sets all over town, and Kommunity FK are still playing shows today.

LA is also home to one of the biggest Latino goth communities anywhere. Morrissey and The Smiths, Depeche Mode and post-punk in general have deep roots in Mexican-American and Central American families here, and a lot of the city's best dark nights mix goth with new wave, rock en español and cumbia-flavored darkwave.

One quick note before you go: club nights move venues and change dates all the time, so check each night's socials before heading out.

Clubs and club nights

Bar Sinister (Hollywood)

The big one. Bar Sinister has been a Hollywood institution for over 20 years, and it's still open on Saturday nights, playing goth, industrial, darkwave and new wave across its rooms. The dress code matters here, so dress the part: black, leather, lace, latex, corsets and big boots all fit right in. It's 21+.

Bar Sinister is the place to see LA goth in full costume. Some regulars will tell you it's touristy now. Go anyway at least once, because the people-watching alone is worth it.

Das Bunker

If you lean industrial, Das Bunker is your night. It started in 1996, which makes 2026 its 30th anniversary year, and it's a haven for EBM, industrial and harder dark electronic music. It doesn't run every week. Instead it throws bigger events with live headliners, often at the historic Catch One on Pico Boulevard. Watch their socials for the next date.

Eastside nights

Some of the best nights in town are smaller and more local.

Goth Beat at The Offbeat (Highland Park). A weekly Thursday night with no cover, playing goth, post-punk and new wave in a friendly neighborhood bar. A great low-pressure way to meet people.
Silverlake Goth Night at El Cid (Silver Lake). A darkwave, post-punk, industrial and EBM party at a classic Sunset Boulevard venue.
Obscene at The Slipper Clutch (Downtown). A monthly DJ night celebrating all kinds of dark music, with vendors.

Live music

LA gets almost every touring goth, post-punk and darkwave band, often more than once a year. Keep an eye on mid-size Hollywood and downtown rooms for touring acts.

The biggest dark-music event of the year is Cruel World, a one-day festival held in spring at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It's built around legends of goth, post-punk and new wave alongside newer dark bands, and it draws people from all over Southern California dressed in their best black. It's a great day to make friends, since everyone is there for the same music.

If you're new to the sound, our list of the best goth bands is a good warm-up.

Cemeteries and spooky days out

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood Forever is a working cemetery and one of LA's most beautiful spots, with old palms, a lake and graves of film legends. It's also home to Cinespia, the outdoor movie series that has screened classics on the lawn every summer since 2002. The season usually runs into October with a run of horror and cult films, so pack a blanket and some snacks.

The cemetery also hosts one of the city's best-known Día de los Muertos celebrations around November 1 each year, with altars, art and music.

Burbank's horror strip

Head over to Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank for the Mystic Museum, a small museum and shop devoted to the occult, horror and the paranormal, with rotating exhibits and photo-op sets. It's a fun daytime hang before a night out.

Shopping

Amoeba Music (Hollywood). The huge record store on Hollywood Boulevard is the easiest place to dig for post-punk, goth and darkwave vinyl. You'll also find band merch, posters and movies.
Melrose Avenue. Still the city's go-to street for alt and punk clothing, with a mix of vintage, boot and streetwear shops. Shops change a lot, so wander and see what's open.
Flea markets. The big monthly flea markets around LA are great for old leather jackets, band tees and antique jewelry.

For more on putting a look together, see our goth outfit ideas.

Who you'll meet

The LA scene is a real mix. You'll meet older deathrock punks who were there in the 80s, young baby bats on their first night out, Latino goth families who've been into the music for generations, industrial kids, witchy types and people who work in film and music and just love dressing up. Most people are friendly once you get talking, especially at smaller bar nights where the crowd knows each other.

A good icebreaker is always the DJ's last song. Ask someone what it was, and you've got a conversation.

Meeting alt people in LA

LA is spread out, and it can be hard to find your people when nights are scattered across Hollywood, the Eastside and downtown. A lot of locals meet online first and then go to a night together. On Alt Chat you can swipe through goth and alt people nearby in Meet, or hop into a live chat room before the weekend to find someone to go dancing with. If you're new in town, our guide to finding the alt scene in a new city has more tips.

Heading north next? Check out the goth and alt scene in San Francisco.

FAQ

Is there a goth scene in Los Angeles?

Yes, and it's one of the biggest in the US. LA has weekly and monthly goth, darkwave, deathrock and industrial nights, a huge Latino goth community, and a long history going back to the deathrock bands of the early 1980s.

What is the best goth club in LA?

Bar Sinister in Hollywood is the most famous weekly goth club, open on Saturdays. Das Bunker is the go-to for industrial and EBM fans, and the Eastside has smaller darkwave nights in Silver Lake and Highland Park.

What is deathrock?

Deathrock is a darker, punkier branch of goth that grew up in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Bands like Christian Death and 45 Grave helped define it, and you'll still hear plenty of it at LA goth nights.

Are LA goth clubs 21 and over?

Most are. Bar Sinister and the Eastside bar nights are 21+, so bring a valid ID. Concerts and some special events can be 18+ or all ages, so check the listing.