There’s a new haven for rock ’n’ rollers and headbangers to crawl to during the late nights and wee hours of the morning. Angels & Kings, co-owned by Pete Wentz and the Dolce Group, serves up classic rock and laid-back comfort for any music lover who prefers a Jack and Coke to a Cosmopolitan on a Saturday night.

The bar, located at North Las Palmas Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, can be easily missed and overlooked from lack of a visible sign, but that’s part of the charm of one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. The cooler the spot, the less glamour needed on the outside to attract people inside.

But don’t let the name fool you into thinking this is another sports bar. Although the name does harbor two of Los Angeles’ well-known sports teams, it’s far from athletic and knee-deep in rock music. Its intentions are primarily to cater towards those seeking a stiff drink for a reasonable price, and who don’t want to be subjected to the club scene and a 10th remix of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”

On entering the club, its rock personality shines with long, dark, crimson curtains draped against brick walls and long, sleek leather couches stretching across the entirety of the place. The decorations are on the minimal side, with a mural of famous rockers posing for their mug shots, one flat screen TV and a deer with extended antlers, each tipped with a machine gun to defend the bar. However, after the place fills up, the décor is hardly noticeable, and you realize – just like with good music – Angels & Kings doesn’t need a lot of phony glitz and eye candy to show off how great it is.

Keeping it real, Angels & Kings serves up tasty drinks and food better than most of the overpriced meals found down the street. The bar keeps it simple with good drink prices – such as $4 draft on tap, $5 well and $9 specialty drinks like the Angst (Crown Royal, Apple Pucker and cranberry) and A Girly (Citron, Sweet and Sour, Triple Sec and a Chambord sinker).This isn’t any kind of Gastropub, so you won’t find well-crafted beers here, rather a variety of bottled beers. Keep an eye out for a few commodities such as Pabst on tap, Miller High Life (sorry, no bag) and Singha, as well as other draft specials for $3.

The food – all fixed at a price of $8 – is simple, straightforward and is offered in portions fit for two or three people to share. Try out the BBQ Chicken Pizza, Spicy Chicken Wings or the Japanese Dumplings to get the night rolling. For finger food to nibble on, the Homemade Potato Chips with a side of hot sauce are choice. All these menu items are super filling and worth the splurge to satisfy any size appetite.

Other perks include a live DJ spinning on Thursday and Fridays playing long-lost favorites from the ’80s and ’90s. There’s also a chance to show off local talent on Sundays at Open Mic nights. However, be warned that when bringing a guitar and vox to the stage, it’s best to bring your A game because the crowd doesn’t play nice with amateurs.

If you’ve circulated the dive scene and have been there done that and are craving a new late-night spot to meet up with your old friends Jack, Jim and Jose, Angels & Kings is the place for you. Here, the bar and atmosphere offers you a second home, and you’ll always find the music cranked to 11. There’s no cover, but owning a studded belt, having a leather jacket or donning a Slayer tattoo will help.



For more information, call (323) 468-8815 or visit angelsandkings.com.