Canter's Kibitz Room

Photo: @elizabethbacherphoto

Canter's Kibitz Room is the hidden room inside one of Los Angeles' most legendary delis, a 1961 addition tucked off to the side of Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue that has been a refuge for musicians, night owls, and industry people for decades. The room is a genuine dive: dim lighting, a long bar, a small elevated stage angled awkwardly to the room, and the comforting knowledge that the full Canter's deli menu is available at almost any hour of the night. The history here is dense. In the 1960s, The Doors, The Byrds, Frank Zappa, and Arthur Lee were regulars at Canter's. By the 1990s, spontaneous jam sessions became a Tuesday night tradition, drawing members of Guns N' Roses, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Joni Mitchell. That spirit has never entirely left, and the Kibitz Room remains one of the few LA venues where a genuinely unpredictable night is still possible. Live music runs up to seven nights a week, with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays being the most active. Midnight tends to be when the room shifts toward open jams. The vibe is strongly rock and roll with punk and indie flavors, and the drinks are strong. Going through the bright deli to get to the dark bar is part of the experience.