This haunt, truly a local favorite, has a design scheme of street art, duct tape and decay.

Echo Park's preeminent hipster dive keeps it real even if every evening it becomes a metaphor for gentrification. (Hispanics tend to clear out once the glut of white scenesters arrives later in the evening, but the cheap Pabst on tap soothes the transition toward indie-rock revelry.) Two pool tables, a nice jukebox, some peripheral torn vinyl booths, dingy grit and not-too-over-the-top hipster fashion keep Little Joy an area staple. Country music spins every Wednesday; other sporadic DJ nights might include garage, funk, college rock, punk or noise pop—though there's no dancing allowed. And let the pee-shy be warned: The men's room has no door.—Adam Jacobson