The Ultimate Spot for Live Music and Great Food! If you are anywhere near Hermosa Beach and looking for an unforgettable night out, The Lighthouse Cafe is an absolute must. This place perfectly balances a legendary music scene with a phenomenal kitchen, making it the ultimate local hangout. The Live Music Scene The entertainment here is next-level. The venue brings in some of the best live acts around, which is probably why you'll often spot industry folks like influencer Kristina Farberman and Gordon Vasquez of Realtvfilms hanging out here just to soak in the incredible music. If you are planning your week, here is a taste of their stellar lineup: Thursday Nights: "Dick the Citizen" basically has a Thursday night residency here, and the sets are always a fantastic time. Tribute Bands: They bring in some of the most high-energy cover bands you will ever see. The "Atomic Punks" (an epic Van Halen cover band) absolutely tear the roof off, especially with their insane guitarist, Frankie Lindia. Other Favorites: You can also catch amazing bands like "Better Days," "Journey Jukebox," and the spot-on Foreigner tribute band, "URGENT," among many others. The Kitchen A lot of venues with great music drop the ball on the food, but not The Lighthouse Cafe. The kitchen is truly fantastic! Whether you are grabbing a bite before the headline act starts or ordering snacks between sets, the food is incredibly well-prepared and downright delicious. It is definitely not your average bar food. Between the electric atmosphere, the top-tier musical talent, and the fantastic menu, The Lighthouse Cafe completely delivers. Do yourself a favor and get down here! read more

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As a resident of Hermosa Beach, I can't say enough good things about the Lighthouse. It is by far the best live music venue in all of the South Bay region. They have something for everyone 7 days a week and all day on the weekends. Always top quality bands and a super fun vibe and atmosphere. The food is great and unless it's a special event there is usually no cover charge. I personally have also had the privilege of playing there as a musician and it's always so professional and the sound engineer is really on the ball and knows what he is doing. Management is always responsive and accommodating to the artists. A big 5 star to this place read more

This really isn't a cafe or a restaurant, although there is some food here. This is really a music venue which also offers some limited food and plenty of booze, of course. If you are looking for a restaurant with a large menu, you will be disappointed. Sure, portions of La La Land were filmed here, and they have some movie memorabilia in the back of the place but they offer far more than jazz here, if that is your impression. There is rock, reggae, salsa, lots of tribute bands, and other stuff. While this may have once been purely a jazz club, I am certain the market simply won't carry (most) strictly jazz places for very long. Based on one photo I saw on the wall, this place has been around for about 76 years. That is impressive. For jazz aficionados, they offer a three hour Sunday jazz brunch (and this is the only time when folks under 21 can enter, by the way). For brunch, there are only four food items available on the menu: a breakfast burrito, avocado toast, one pancake (singular, not plural) and bacon, sausage, and eggs. Remember, you are here for the music, not the food. As for the food, my breakfast burrito was interesting. Knowing restaurants in California, it was probably cooked by a Latino gentleman but this looked like th emost Caucasian burrito of all time. It had chorizo, eggs, potatoes, and other stuff in it, and the tortilla had a nice cheesy skirt on it. It was also on the spicier side, which I enjoyed, but fair warning. I wasn't sure I was going to like it by its looks but I ate the whole thing. It was also a belly bomb and kept me satisfied for about 6 or 7 hours afterward. The avocado toast was actually very good and made with good quality bread. I thought the music was excellent. The members of the band (the John Kithcart Quartert) played their assess off and really seemed to enjoy themselves. True jazz (not that soft elevator music gunk) was popular at one time but let's face it, it is not popular anymore. Jazz certainly can be enjoyed as background music while you enjoy your one pancake but it is certainly not intended to be enjoyed that way. To fully appreciate it, you have to pay attention to it. That doesn't seem too much of an ask. After all, it is the folks on the stage who are doing the hard work. Our server was very good. She was friendly and attentive. My only experience here is with the Sunday jazz brunch so I cannot speak for the venue at any other times. At least for the Sunday brunch, whether you like jazz or not, this place is well worth a try. read more

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I love love love this place. I play here with my band and every time I step foot in this building I'm greeted by the kindest staff. JP the GM is lovely and always running around helping his staff and musicians, the bartenders are working overtime to make sure every drink is made perfectly and quickly and the servers and extremely kind and accommodating. Best place for live music in the South Bay hands down. read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

Great food! Great music! Hunter Benson rocked the stage!! Food was delicious and service was perfect! read more

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Legendary venue for obvious reasons! I recommend getting here as early as possible if you're there to hear the performers because seats fill up super quickly on weekends for brunch. There's a parking lot directly behind this location which is perfect if you can find a spot so again it's very important to either live close by or be early enough to snag a good parking spot and hopefully by default you'd snag a great spot to sit inside as well. There's food is really just whatever but it does the job and really we're there for the band anyways right? With the music being an easy 10/10 any day in combination with a gorgeous interior and a little skylight -- this is truly a wonderful place to have a date or a brunch with friends/family. Sit outside if you want to be able to talk without yelling over the musicians. I will be back forsure! read more

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Such a great local spot for music lovers. There is always a great band playing or a DJ. The bartenders and servers are always friendly and give great service. They also have delicious fries with an aioli dip, my favorite! read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

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Great Gen X bar & restaurant! A variety of bands each day with great crowd appeal. Food is good ( bar food ). People are a mix of locals and tourists... all really fun and nice. Been coming here since 2010 for the summer since we live in Scottsdale. read more

Great place- always awesome music- great bands. Sunday morning jazz brunch is a classic. The drinks and food are good enough- keep it simple- you're here to hang for the mixologist. read more

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Old school since 1940. I bought tickets to see the Led Zeppelin tribute band Zeppelin Revisited playing here with an early show on a Sunday afternoon. The bar restaurant has a small stage but it's roomy enough for the band members to move around. The place got busy with only standing room available. The sound was great and the bar service was awesome by the young bartender girls quickly making the drink orders. read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Zeppelin Revisited NOV2025 - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

The Lighthouse Cafe is hands down the best place in Hermosa Beach to catch live music. It's one of those rare neighborhood bars that never loses its charm, no matter how many times you go. My friends and I have been coming here for years, and it's always a guaranteed great time. The variety of live music is outstanding--especially the incredible tribute bands--but there's truly something for everyone. Whether you're into tribute bands, rock, blues, jazz, or funk, you can always count on an amazing performance. The drinks are excellent, the atmosphere is fun, energetic, and welcoming, and it's the kind of place where locals and visitors instantly feel at home. Not to mention, it's the iconic venue featured in the movie La La Land, which makes every visit feel even more special. The Lighthouse Cafe is a true Hermosa Beach institution. If you're looking for outstanding live music, great drinks, an authentic neighborhood bar with an unbeatable vibe, and a little Hollywood history, this is the place. We've made so many great memories here over the years, and we'll keep coming back for many more. Five stars all the way! read more

Went here on a Sunday to see a friend's band play. Got there early and was told they weren't open yet. No problem, except they ended up letting us in late. The service was okay but my 2 waitresses, obviously one was in training, had forgotten my coffee so I had to flag the down. The real reason for the 2 stars, and why I won't be returning, is that apparently my friends in the band were repeatedly told to turn down their instruments during the show. They had already done sound check, which we could all hear. I've seen over 2000 bands and I can tell you that they weren't too loud, as a matter of fact, the sound at this place is not good and it is the venue's fault, not the band. I was told from my friend that they were treated badly and I don't give my money to places that do that. read more

Service was HORRIBLE!! Got a table outside for 6. We wanted to get a couple of drinks there before our dinner reservation at another restaurant nearby and waited over 30 minutes for someone to even take our drink order and no one ever came. We asked another server could she get someone to our table? She said she would check for us. She disappeared for a while and then came back and told us our server was on their way and they never showed up. We ended up just leaving with no service at all because we were going to be late for our dinner reservation. The whole time we were there we watched as other people got their drinks and food while we didn't. I asked the host outside to get the manager so I can talk to them and he acted like he was texting or trying to call him. The manager never showed up . What a waste of our evening. The staff were rude and this place is crap!!!! read more

I had my 60th birthday party at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach mid August. It was the perfect way to spend my bday as my fav band Pine Mountain Logs was playing. Entertainment was amazing. The service and staff at the Lighthouse was also amazing...they were very attentive to my party of 12. In addition they had no issues with us bringing bday balloons; flowers for the tables and decor. Overall I would highly recommend the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach to anyone looking for a venue to hear great music, enjoy yummy food and delicious cocktails! read more

it was SO cool to eat here as La La Land fans--that alone makes this experience a must. everyone looked like they were having fun and the live music was amazing. the food was nothing special. we got burgers and i couldn't finish it because i thought the texture was weird :/ service was also quite slow. and the menus smelled bad. BUT overall i would recommend it! it's also in a great area and you can walk along the pier after (also in La La Land!). read more

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Came here as a huge La La Land fan and was not disappointed. We arrived right when they opened at 4 on a cooler, misty day so we were the only people in the restaurant. Got to sit right where Mia and Seb sat by the stage- loved that. Had the grilled cheese and tomato soup which was so cozy and satisfying. The windows were open, so we enjoyed the sounds of a performer out front on the patio. If you also love the movie, you gotta check out the memorabilia by the bathroom and the back of the building. read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Back of building - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

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I have been a loyal Lighthouse Café goer for many years now. I fall into that 1997 babies crowd, and for those of you that were also born in that year, you know that we are some weird place between a Gen Z and a millennial. Lighthouse Café is the perfect vibe for us!!! They play the best music ever at this place. It's all the songs we listened to growing up and I lose my voice every single time I go. I love this place so much that I actually hosted my bachelorette night out here. My friend still talk about it. The overall vibe of the venue as well as the DJs and cover bands they select is top-notch. I also had an amazing experience working with the owners of the venue, and they helped me make my bachelorette night really special. read more

JP is not a good manager. He over charges for cover bands and when someone wants to give their over priced wrist band to someone else because they can't stay he wants to charge additional money $25-30 for one hour when the original ticket was $15. Also when I bought an extra ticket for previous event and my friend couldn't make it I asked for a credit or to resell to the numerous walk ins buying tickets and he said "no refunds" so I lost that money. He doesn't respect the locals constant support of the lighthouse, buying tickets, inviting friends, advertising on FB, buying drinks, etc. it seems as though there is just a lot of greed going on here. Even the Forum and So-Fi help with reselling tickets. I've gotten to see original bands at these places for the same price of covers at the lighthouse. This is a fun place to go as long as u don't have to deal with JP who can really make you feel like you are just cattle. read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Go to The Deck For Free local entertainment and great customer service - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

The music"s usually good and we always have fun. I have been here with my friends probably like 6 times so far this year on weekends for bands. The service is TERRIBLE! You have to hunt down the servers to take an order and the bartenders are always rude. I rarely like to leave a bad review but it's been so many times in a row as a local I feel I have to. Eat before coming, the food is not very good either, The music is still fun but beware of the service, read more

Things really crashed since the new owners took over. Prices are outrageous and I'm not paying $10 admission on a Tuesday night read more

The bands are always fun, but I will not be going back to this establishment. The manager took me outside and scolded me like a child for ACCIDENTALLY stepping on a woman's foot while I stepped back for the wait staff (not sure why she had her feet out anyway since she was sitting at a table). Anyway, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth and I will definitely not step foot (no pun intended) in that place again. read more

Priscilla needs to be fired yesterday. Get her out, IMMEDIATELY. After being informed of a Food allergy she rolled her eyes and turned off in a huff. When the food was brought out, I asked again to confirm that the food was safe from the allergen and she told me "we'd find out together". I didn't feel comfortable eating the meal. I wanted to inquire further but she disappeared. I'm not sure how The Lighthouse Cafe trains their staff, and I'm not even expecting perfect customer service! But it would be nice if service staff didn't threaten my safety. This isn't a "just having a bad day", this is a malicious person who shouldn't be allowed to handle food or drinks. read more

monday nights are the best!! the music is amazing. good company. good drinks. will come again!

I feel so grateful to live next to lighthouse cafe. The music is amazing and the ambiance and music on Monday jazz night is why I come week after week. Monday nights 8-11 definitely come check it out read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

Live music was fun, lively local spot and attentive service. Sticky toffee pudding is so good (: read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Sticky Toffee Cake - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

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The lighthouse is probably my favorite spot in all of Hermosa Beach. Between the movie history, the LEGENDAY music history, and the overall good vibes, I can't suggest this place enough. If you happen to get served by either Priscilla, Max or Lily you're also in luck because those are 3 of the best bartenders in all of the southbay! If you're reading this review and making a decision to go to Lighthouse or not , GO! You won't regret it! (Live Jazz every Sunday and Monday is incredible too. Please don't ever take the Jazz away!!) read more

Drinks were ok and service was good and frequently checked up on us! We came here for the band and they were absolutely amazing. Nice ambiance and we came about 30 mins before they started and were able to get a table. We didn't try any food since we ate beforehand. read more

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Amazing Experience! HUGE thanks to JP for making our night unforgettable! He was super helpful and made it super easy to plan my husbands birthday; from reserving the best table and set it up on time, making sure the bouncer had the guest list ensuring we were taken care of. Mia, our server, was fantastic too! The band and DJ were awesome, and we had a blast dancing all night. Several of our friends had never been here before, and now they know why this is such a great spot! Can't wait to come back - highly recommend! read more

Huge La La Land (2016) fan and I've always wanted to visit. I was in the area and had an hour to kill so I stopped by at around 4:15 when they were just opening. The place was great, my server was awesome, the food was pretty good (Cobb Salad and animal fries), and I liked how they gave me a big bottle of water with my food. Also the parking was easy and I was in movie heaven because the location was so prominent in the film. I took a lot of pictures and would definitely bring visitors here. Oh and they had some live music, even at 5pm, and I loved that too. Would be a fun place to hear music - I can see why it's an iconic jazz club with an amazing history. Great experience. read more

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What a beautiful little visit to The Lighthouse Cafe! I feel like a criminal for waiting as long as I did to come down to this venue. I am a jazz enthusiast! I have ventured to so many venues throughout the city in search of great jazz music. I never venture farther than LAX for good music, but I took the plunge and headed down to Hermosa beach to see how the lighthouse did its thing. Pro tip: Arrive early. I arrived at 9pm (jazz starts at 8pm on Mondays) I was lucky enough to snag a table after awkwardly standing around for a bit, but I was totally stealthy in my approach. For next time, I'll arrive earlier and snag one of the coveted seats at the bar; those were in perfect view of the band. The music was insane. Loved it, more on the acidy side of jazz, totally experimental. I enjoyed it. The crowd was lively, diverse, and responsive. Even saw a few couples up and dancing. Perfect venue to do so. For drinks, I started off with the Voodoo Down. Tequila, lemon, eggwhite and pepper (my guess is sichuan) on top. Lightly spicy, a little sweet and totally up my alley. Not sure the name of my next drink (bought for me), but it was pineapple-y and delicious. I came a little too late for food, but I definitely want to try next time I'm back. Great time at the Lighthouse cafe! I don't find myself on this side of town too often, but I definitely love a good excuse to head back. read more

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The Sunday brunch menu is definitely on the light side, only 4 items to choose from, quality is... Well ..bar food... The vibe is good thought , the whole jazz , La La Land film feel pretty much keep up those La La Land enthusist coming.. service is not bad either... read more

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Went in around 7 sat outside since it was seat yourself. We waited 20 min and never got served. They weren't that busy either, and it was a Sunday night. We ended up leaving so we can't speak for the food, but the service sure sucked!!!!!!! read more

We bought tickets to see a band and also reserved a table. The drinks were good at a good price. Most of the food we ordered was very good and the item that wasn't was removed from the tab The band was supposed to start at 4. By 530 there was no one on stage and the drummer was MIA. We left at 545 because the band was only playing until 7. Hard to pay for tickets to see the band for less than an hour if at all. read more

Stopped by yesterday to get a drink. Was able to get a table. This place is usually crowded I think because of the location right by the Hermosa Beach Pier. We were seating at the table forever and no one came to take our order. We ordered drinks at the bar and wanted to order food on the table. One guy said. Ok someone will be with you to take your order. No one did. We ordered food at the bar again. The place was understaffed. Food and cocktails were good. We had the Hermosa Punch cocktail. cod fish tacos and shrimp cocktail. The restrooms are super dirty. They had live music and it was great. They need to hire more people. read more

jp is a not cool . hes greedy and will resell tickets and pockets money at the door. if someone cant make the tribute bands he will charge 2nd time around and not honor original patment for a person. he walks around with an attitude like he owns the place. not friendly at all!!!! just dont like the guy.... this place needs a new manager asap please!!! read more

Great day for music, food, and drinks! The bartenders are nice and ready to pour. Live music and lots of fun on a sunshine day on Pier Ave in Hermosa Beach. Check out their website for times of their live events. read more

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Wow honestly this is the place to be on a Saturday night!! The bands are awesome and service/food is great. Our server Lauren goes out of her way to make sure you're beyond taken care of and her banter is outrageously funny! My group didn't want to leave the table! Pro tip: get the voodoo down if you know what's good for you :) read more

This is a lovely location with great jazz and super friendly staff, but the food (as far as brunch is concerned) leaves a whole lot to be desired. I have little patience for a place that requires easy fixes for simple problems but doesn't seem to care enough to improve things. For example, buy another coffee maker for crying out loud. And maybe offer tea, too? As for the pancake, try tossing a few nuts on it. This place has so much potential but can't seem to care enough to take advantage. Why? read more

The Lighthouse Cafe - Pancake - Music Venues Near Me - Hermosa Beach, California

Priscilla was the absolute best. So friendly and attentive. Food was fire. Can't go wrong

I don't really like to write poor reviews but i felt compelled to do so. Last Saturday night its seemed like one of the Bartenders misheard what i had said and instantly treated me like some belligerent drunk and concluded the conversation with "its a good thing you will be leaving here soon". As a Bartender myself I would never treat a paying customer, a tipping customer with such disregard toward hospitality services. read more