Well-dressed Manhattan Beach locals dominate the scene at this multilevel dance club—sometimes Hollywood is just too far away to drive.

Top 40 hits with a splash of classic rock resonate from the lower levels while house and hip-hop spin in the roomier upstairs. Large picture windows provide panoramic ocean views, but attention-seekers on the dance floor are just as happy that people strolling by the club at night can get an eyeful of them. Weekend nights draw post-college sorority girls reliving their glory days while clean-cut law-school grads vie for their attention. Occasional washed-out surfers from the Beach Boys era drop to down a drink and skim the crowd for eye candy. Manhattan Beach's casual version of a Hollywood club does have a dress code: Gotta wear some shoes, dude.—Sarah Spada