Are there weed lounges in LA?
Yes, just not in the City of Los Angeles, which doesn't allow them. The licensed lounges in LA County are in West Hollywood and Hawthorne. The Woods and The Artist Tree are the big names in WeHo, and The Artist Tree Hawthorne sits near LAX and SoFi. Bring ID showing you're 21 or over, and check the lounge's site before you go.
Everybody flies in expecting to find a weed lounge on every block in Hollywood. There aren't any. The City of LA hasn't allowed them, so you'll find them in two separate cities, West Hollywood and Hawthorne. The good news: they're legit places to light up with your friends without somebody's landlord getting involved.
How a weed lounge works
You walk in, show your ID, and you can buy and consume right there. That's the whole trick, and it's why a lounge is the answer for anyone stuck in a smoke-free hotel or a rental with strict house rules.
A newer state law also lets lounges, where their city allows it, serve regular non-cannabis food and drinks and put on live entertainment. So each one's setup is different. Some feel like a garden, some feel like a gallery, and they keep drifting closer to a café or a little club with a very specific menu.
Weed lounges in West Hollywood
WeHo is the lounge capital of the county. It's its own city, tucked between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and it went in on lounges while LA stood around thinking about it.
The Woods
The Woods is on Santa Monica Blvd, a garden lounge full of plants and cabanas. You'll forget you're a block from traffic. It's licensed for cannabis consumption, not alcohol, so don't roll in expecting a cocktail.
The Artist Tree, West Hollywood
The Artist Tree keeps its lounge upstairs over the shop, also on Santa Monica Blvd, with art on the walls and shows in the space. It's more gallery hang than smoke room, and a good pick if you want something to look at while it kicks in.
The rest of WeHo
Past those two, WeHo has a handful of other licensed lounges along Santa Monica Blvd and La Brea, including the original cannabis café that started the whole lounge thing. Look up what's open when you're in town, because this scene moves.
Weed lounge in Hawthorne
The Artist Tree Hawthorne was the first lounge in LA County outside WeHo. It sits near LAX and SoFi, which makes it a sneaky-good stop on the way to or from the airport side of town. Long layover, big game, or just a friend who lives near the 405: this is the one.
How to plan a lounge night
The lounge is the first act, so plan what comes after it. Get a ride there and a ride home, because this is a rideshare night, not a "we'll just take the 101 back to the Valley" night.
From WeHo, you're set up to walk. Drift over to the Sunset Strip for the Comedy Store or Laugh Factory, get spicy at Night + Market, or send somebody to Pink's for a chili dog. The whole plan is in our West Hollywood stoner guide, and Fairfax is right there too if you want Canter's after.
From Hawthorne, get a ride to the In-N-Out on Sepulveda, where the planes come in low enough to read the tail numbers. It's a rite of passage. Then point yourself at Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, the one with the giant donut on the roof.
Before you go
- Bring your ID. They'll check that you're 21. No ID, no lounge.
- Check the lounge's own site. Hours, reservations and setups change, and weekend nights can get busy.
- Ask what you can bring. Every lounge has its own house rules, so don't assume.
- Go slow on edibles. They take a while, so give it a full hour or two before you go back for more.
- Eat something first. Your future self will thank you, and so will the people at your table.
Weed lounge questions
Are there weed lounges in Hollywood or Downtown?
No. Hollywood, Downtown and Venice are all in the City of LA, which doesn't allow lounges. The closest options for most of the city are in West Hollywood.
Can you actually smoke inside a weed lounge?
Yes, that's the point. Each lounge sets its own rules on what you can consume and where, so ask when you get there.
Do weed lounges serve alcohol?
Don't count on it. The Woods is licensed for cannabis consumption, not alcohol. Check with the lounge if you're after a specific drink.
Where else can I smoke in LA?
Your place or a friend's, mainly. Our where to sesh guide covers rentals, hotels, beaches and cars.
