Troubadour

The Troubadour is a legendary club that opened its doors in West Hollywood in 1957 and is still running strong. The music venue offers a who's who of bands and talent who have played on its stage. Music greats like Elton John, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, Coldplay, The Killers, Lilly Allen, Prince, Alabama Shakes, Sam Smith (... the list goes on and on), have graced this stage. Often voted the Best Club in Los Angeles, the Troubadour is a venue worth visiting.

Getting Tickets at the Troubadour
The Troubadour is a general admission venue that admits between 300 and 400 concertgoers. Advanced tickets can be purchased through Ticketfly.com or directly from the Troubadour's events page. If tickets do not sell out in advance of the show, they can be purchased at the Troubadour's box office on the night of the show only and must be paid for with cash (no credit cards). If picking up tickets at Will Call, you must show photo I.D. and credit card used for the purchase.

Parking and Public Transportation at the Troubadour
The West Hollywood streets surrounding the Troubadour may offer metered parking but are full of restrictions, including short time limits. So the best bets for parking are paid parking structures, like the one across the street from the Troubadour at 9056 Santa Monica Blvd. Also if you don't mind walking a few blocks, parking can be found across from the Pacific Design Center and the Library at the West Hollywood Library-Municipal Parking Structure (625 N. San Vicente Blvd.). For public transportation, take the Metro Bus 4 and 704, which runs along Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.

Types of Concerts at the Troubadour
Since Rolling Stone magazine named the Troubadour the second best rock club in America in 2013, and in 2014 Billboard claimed it as one of the top 5 "must play" venues in the U.S., all types of musicians and bands, new and award-winning, pass through this club. Established rock, folk, country, jazz, alt, as well as new and cutting-edge acts from around the world play here.

Food and Other Places to Visit near the Troubadour
The Troubadour has a bar for drinks and a small kitchen for typical bar food – burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries, etc. If you wish to dine before or after, check out Dan Tana's next door at 9071 Santa Monica Blvd. for classy, hearty Italian, or The Abbey Food & Bar (692 N. Robertson Blvd.).

Where to Stay Near the Troubadour
There are a number of hotels near the Troubadour with the closest being the Beverly Terrace Hotel (469 N. Doheny Drive), Le Montrose Suite Hotel (900 Hammond Street), The London West Hollywood (1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.), and for a B&B experience try San Vicente Bungalows (845 N. San Vicente Blvd.).

Insider Tip for Visitors to the Troubadour
If you're a serious music fan, arrive early to stand near the front of the stage. Standing near the bar/kitchen can be loud and distracting. If you prefer to sit, go upstairs for benches with unobstructed views. Check out the memorabilia and photos at the lobby store as well.

Author's bio: Lori Huck works in television development as well as writes on entertainment, the arts and travel. She's a fan of the vibrant arts scene in Los Angeles and is a member of various film, TV, and arts organizations.