Santa Monica's eternally packed Circle Bar has been around for decades, catering to changing fashions in hair gel and shiny dress shirts.

There's always a long line outside, but, as one bouncer told us, he'll sneak you in if you "drop him some coinage." Inside, the girls are all singing along to Fergie; the guys are decked out in their best Express for Men dress shirts and just a tad too much CK One. Sexy black-and-white photos surround the oval-shaped bar (oh, Circle Bar, we get it), where the alcohol-deprived are packed like sweaty sardines, and red-light sconces with stripper decals illuminate the space with a warm glow. If that's not classy enough, giant overhead mirrors are tilted toward the dance floor, so you can check out exactly who's trying to freak you from behind on the super-crowded dance floor. We suggest grabbing a seat on one of the comfy benches that flank the dance floor, though you might have to share it with a couple that's, uh, getting to know one another. —Amir Kenan