The Cinema Bar

The Cinema Bar is the oldest bar in Culver City, operating at 3967 Sepulveda Boulevard since 1947 and family-owned for the past three decades. It has been called the world's smallest honky-tonk, a label that captures both its size and its spirit. The room holds somewhere between 60 and 75 people comfortably. There is a small stage, a full bar, and an outdoor patio. Shows are free every night of the week, with Mondays reserved for regular recurring acts and Wednesdays for open mic. The musical identity is rooted in country, Americana, folk, and roots music, though the calendar has always been catholic enough to include rock, indie, and singer-songwriter nights. Over the decades the stage has hosted singer-songwriters Randy Weeks and Duane Jarvis, retro-rocker Ben Vaughn, and country-jazz artist Lisa Finnie, among many others. The crowd is described by regulars and critics alike as Bohemian, local, and genuinely engaged with the music rather than using it as background. The Cinema Bar operates daily from 2 PM to 2 AM, and its no-cover policy creates a different kind of audience than you find at ticketed venues. People stay, they listen, and they come back. For listeners who want a room where the music feels personal and the cost of admission is whatever you spend at the bar, there are few better options on the Westside.