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Akbar

Google (335) 4.3

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GayOut Score

G4.3

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Address

4356 W Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake, CA 90029

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Phone

+1 323-665-6810

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About this place Akbar

Akbar is the beating heart of Silver Lake's queer social scene — and for a significant portion of Los Angeles's gay community, it is the better answer to "where do you drink?" than anywhere on Santa Monica Boulevard. The bar occupies a modest space on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, the east Hollywood neighbourhood that has been a centre of alternative and queer life in LA for decades. The aesthetic is deliberately unpretentious: no go-go dancers, no cover charge, no dress code, no velvet rope. The crowd is younger on average than WeHo, more likely to be wearing band T-shirts than designer labels, and more likely to be talking about music, art, or politics than about who is at the next table. The drinks are cheap by Los Angeles standards. The jukebox is excellent. Regular DJs on weekends lift the energy without transforming the bar into a nightclub. Akbar is the bar that the people who live in Silver Lake go to when they want to drink with their community rather than perform for it. For visitors who find WeHo too polished, too expensive, or too uniform, Akbar is the immediate and obvious alternative — and Silver Lake's broader queer geography, which extends from Sunset Boulevard to Echo Park, provides a full evening's worth of alternatives.

Upcoming events at Akbar

Fri, Sep 25 Recurring

Friday Night @ Akbar Silver Lake

9:00 PM

Opening Hours

Closed

Monday 18:00-02:00

Tuesday 18:00-02:00

Wednesday 18:00-02:00

Thursday 18:00-02:00

Friday 18:00-02:00

Saturday 16:00-02:00

Sunday 16:00-02:00

Features

Gay Mixed LGBTQ+ Young crowd (under 30) Chill / Relaxed Underground Local favorite DJ sets Dive bar No dress code Free entry

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Google Reviews

Verified by Google

4.3

★★★★★

335 reviews

Based on 335 Google reviews.

Martin Henry Aug 2026

★★★★★

This was my first time to Akbar, so my expectation for my experience was much higher than it probably should have have been. I ordered a Margarita on the rocks. The problem with my drink was it was literally ALL ALCOHOL. There wasn't even a hint of lime juice so for my taste, it was NASTY. Now maybe if you were looking to get shit faced, I was not! Then you might be able to look past the nasty taste. I ended up only drinking one third of the drink. My friend, who bought me the drink asked me why I didn't drink more of my cocktail. My response was I was really feeling the effects of my drink because it was so strong. I was driving and therefore zi wasn't looking to get behind the wheel of my car intoxicated. By the way, and this matters, I looked and there we're no baskets with popcorn, or nuts or anything to soak up some of the ALCOHOL. My message to management is it's completely irresponsible to serve drinks that strong and not serve something to munch on, something to counterbalance. I'm not saying a strong drink isn't appealing but if you employ a bartender with a HEAVY pour like that, it becomes a liability for the establishment.

Moe Movesaround Aug 2026

★★★★★

Great place to see a show and get a drink! PLANET QUEER monthly show is amazing for lgbtq performance variety night

IVAN CERVANTES Jul 2026

★★★★★

scbananaslug11 Jul 2026

★★★★★

I'm not even sure if this space would still be considered a "gay bar." I've gone more than a handful of times in the year and a half I've been in L.A., but end up leaving for The Eagle instead. Straight women and guys almost everywhere you turn, crowded as heck, average music. Bartenders are friendly and drinks reasonably priced, but won't be going back anytime soon after last night thinking it'd be different.

Bill Buchanan Jul 2026

★★★★★

Great place to hang with friends.

Regina Long Jun 2026

★★★★★

Love this place!

Nick Lovely Jun 2026

★★★★★

I always enjoy going to Akbar to talk to random people - in the past at least - I went once since I returned to LA last year and it was chill - but tbh I'm still afraid after what happened in 2022 when I was entrapped and I won't ever feel safe there until I get justice - also now I'm broke from exploitation and life is still horrible