Long Beach is nearly as diverse as Los Angeles. It has a beach – a long one, and that’s not just a pun – combined with a hip mentality, a population of beach-minded bar-goers, lounge lizards and younger clubbers who hang out at places on lower Pine and upper Pine downtown, as well as Belmont Shore just down the shore

Downtown Long Beach means Pine Ave., with its collection of restaurants, peppered with a few bars and shops. Just about every place has a patio, and diners enjoy late-night dinners that give the place a European atmosphere. This is a remarkably rare experience in Los Angeles.

Further down on Pine is the Pike, an area of restaurants, bars and sightseeing tour boats.

The Brit (1744 E Broadway), a neighborhood bar and grill with patio, attracts bears among their general mix.

The Crest (5935 Cherry Ave) men’s bar, open daily, has pool games, Undies Sundays with Barbecue, and leather Friday nights, with buzz cuts on alternate weeks (1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays).

Executive Suite (3428 E Pacific Coast Hwy) popular upscale dance bar. It’s mostly women except on Thursdays, and (especially) on Fridays when it’s full of guys, many from surrounding Orange County.

Falcon (1435 E Broadway) is a small but busy neighborhood bar, typically on weekends, with a patio bar to escape the crush.

Flux (17817 Lakewood Blvd) is a neigborhood gay dance club just off 91 Freeway in Bellflower just north of Long Beach, with easy parking, good drinks prices, and no cover charge.

Hamburger Mary’s (740 E Broadway) is a full-service restaurant and dance and show club, 18+ most nights (except Tuesdays, most Saturdays, and Sundays 21+). Daily happy hours are 4-8pm; Mondays have drag as well as dancing; Wednesdays see go-go boys and open Talent Night drag shows.

Mineshaft (1720 E Broadway) is a longtime men’s cruise bar with pool, games and patio.

Paradise Bar & Restaurant (1800 E Broadway) has women, men, karaoke, and drag, with special menus nightly including 2 for 1 Mondays budget night out , Baja Tuesdays for Mexican, plus a wide selection of weekend brunch choices, served 10am to 2pm.

John Schinnerer’s Silver Fox (411 Redondo Ave) is an easygoing video bar of many years, thronged with sociable locals of all ages. They have popular Wednesday karaoke (singers get half-price drinks); Friday hors d’oeuvres and piano entertainment; outdoor smokers’ patio, plus special theme parties, shows, and holidays events. A steadfast supporter of the local community for many years.

Sweetwater Saloon (1201 East Broadway), this early opening neighborhood gay men’s drinking establishment has more of a mix than most, plus patio, jukebox and sports on TV.