Tonight’s sunset is the last 6 o’clock one for a while, so tomorrow night (after you realize the clocks fell back), it’s time to make some plans. Get ready to take full advantage of the earlier night sky and crisp, cool evenings with this SBP-insider list of Westside things that are better after sunset, including a few excuses to (finally) wear that cozy cardigan that’s been hiding in your closet.
Dinner at Felix, Followed by a Nightcap
Start at Felix, Evan Funke's trattoria on Abbot Kinney, where the pasta is rolled by hand and the menu reads like a tour of regional Italy. It's one of those rare places that lives up to the hype every single time, with focaccia that’ll ruin every other focaccia you’ve ever had.
After, walk down the block to Only the Wild Ones, a natural wine and cocktail bar that's back open after a brief hiatus. And IYKYK: head upstairs to Force of Nature, a separate speakeasy from the co-creator of Crudo e Nudo. The whole experience spotlights women in regenerative food and creative work, down to the female-made wines and spirits.
Saturday Night at the Getty
The Getty stays open until 8pm on Saturdays, which means you can catch the sunset from the terraces and stick around while the whole basin lights up below you. The galleries are calmer at night, the gardens glow, and the tram ride up feels like an event. Admission is free (you'll just pay for parking), so the only real cost is deciding where to go for dinner after.
And FYI, The Getty will close for about a year starting March 15, 2027 for its biggest modernization since it opened, with a planned reopening in spring 2028. Translation: if a Saturday night up there is on your list, put it on the calendar now.
Catch a Classic at the Aero
The Aero has been showing movies on Montana Avenue since 1940, and under the American Cinematheque it's become the Westside's best room for a classic on the big screen, often on real film and sometimes with a director or cast member hanging around for a Q&A. Grab a bite on Montana first (might we suggest Forma?), then settle in for something you've seen a dozen times and somehow never like this. Check the calendar and book early; the good ones sell out.
Insider tip: get an American Cinematheque membership. It's a nonprofit, so you're directly supporting the kind of moviegoing that's worth protecting, and members get ticket discounts, a priority entry line, and invitations to member-only screenings and special events.
Jazz at Sam First Club
Here's the best reason we know to drive toward LAX on purpose. Sam First is a tiny jazz club on Century Boulevard, a few minutes from the terminals, with live music five nights a week and some of the best players in the city on the bill. There's no stage, so the band is basically sitting at the next table, and the room (mid-century furniture, a grand piano, good cocktails) is built for actually listening. Go on a Tuesday and stick around after the first set for the jam session.
An Evening Walk Through the Venice Canals
By day, the canals are a photo op. After dark, they're one of the most peaceful walks on the Westside. The porch lights flicker on, the water goes still, and the little footbridges feel like a secret only the neighbors know about. It's an easy stroll from Felix, so make it your post-pasta lap before (or instead of) that nightcap. And if you’re smart, come back in December when the holiday lights go up and the whole neighborhood shows off.
Dinner at Violet & a Show at the Geffen Playhouse
Make a night of it in Westwood Village. Start with an early dinner at Violet, Dana Slatkin's Cali-French bistro on Glendon Avenue and still the best table in the Village. Dinner starts at 5:30, which works out perfectly for curtain time, and reservations are a must.
Then head around the corner to the Geffen, the kind of theater where there's no such thing as a bad seat and you're close enough to catch every eyebrow raise. The lineup leans toward sharp new plays, often with a familiar face or two on stage, so it feels like seeing something before everyone else does. Enjoy being the person at dinner next week who's already seen it.
Then, a Night In
Westside insiders know that one of the best after-dark plans you can make doesn't require leaving home. Light your favorite candle (we adore the ones at Hudson Grace in the Brentwood Country Mart), pull out the backgammon board or your brand new set of dominos, and enjoy your home by candlelight. And, if the mood strikes for something warm in hand, here's one of our secret wintertime recipes to try:
Spiced Cider for a Dark Evening (serves 4)
4 cups fresh apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
2 star anise
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
4 ounces bourbon or dark rum (optional)
Add everything except the spirits to a pot and bring to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat and let it steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, stir in the bourbon or rum if you're using it, and serve in mugs with an orange slice on top.