Hollywood Cocktails and True Crime Tour: 3 Drinks Included

Hollywood’s past is more than movie premieres and star names. This 2½-hour evening tour pairs true crime stories with drinks at three Hollywood bars, from Boardner’s, once a mob hangout and a haunt of the Black Dahlia, to a bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt.

I like two things in particular: the stops give the stories a sense of place, and the included drinks make the $125 price easier to judge than a tour that charges separately for every round. Guides Trevor and Stephanie have earned praise for lively, engaging storytelling, including lesser-known cases alongside famous ones.

The main consideration is the format: this is a bar tour with alcohol at its center, even though a nonalcoholic option is available. If you want a sober history walk, a quiet night, or a full museum visit, this is not the right fit.

Key points before you book

• Three drinks are included: Each of the three bar stops includes an alcoholic drink, with a nonalcoholic option available.
• The stories are the main event: Expect true crime and Hollywood history woven together, not just a round of drinks at separate venues.
• The group is small: A maximum of 12 people gives the guide room to keep the evening personal.
• It begins at Boardner’s: Meet at 6 pm at 1652 N Cherokee Avenue and finish at the Hollywood Roosevelt, about three blocks away.
• The stops have distinct settings: The route links a former mob hangout, a rooftop bar at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, and a bar associated with Marilyn Monroe.
• It suits crime fans and curious locals: You do not need to be a true crime expert to follow the stories.

Hollywood after dark, told through crime and cocktails

This tour puts a different frame around a familiar part of Los Angeles. Instead of focusing only on film landmarks and celebrity lore, it connects Hollywood’s bars with stories of crime and the people tied to them. The result is part nightlife outing, part guided history lesson.

That mix is the point. You move between three venues while your guide supplies the thread that links them. It is not simply a sequence of drinks, and the stories are not limited to the most famous case in town. The tour covers well-known subjects such as the Black Dahlia murder as well as lesser-known stories, which can make the evening interesting even if you already know the headline cases.

Guides Trevor and Stephanie have led tours and are praised for keeping the storytelling lively and inclusive. Names are not assigned to particular dates, so you cannot count on getting one guide or the other. What matters more is the format: the guide carries the history from one stop to the next, helping the route feel like one evening with a theme rather than three unrelated bar visits.

The tone will suit you if you enjoy a little suspense with your cocktail. One couple described a rainy night as an added touch to the spooky mood, but weather is luck, not a feature to plan around. The tour is scheduled for the evening regardless, so check the forecast and dress for the conditions.

Boardner’s: a first drink with a darker past

The evening starts at Boardner’s by La Belle, at 1652 N Cherokee Avenue. It is described as a former mob hangout and an old haunt of the Black Dahlia, giving the first stop an immediate link to the tour’s crime theme. You have about 30 minutes here, with the drink included.

This is a strong opening because it sets up the contrast that runs through the whole experience. Hollywood can look polished from the main boulevard, but its past includes stories that are far less glossy. At Boardner’s, the guide can place those stories in a real venue rather than leaving them as names and dates detached from the city around you.

The stop is not a full meal, and no food is listed as included. If you need dinner, plan to eat separately before or after the tour rather than expecting the included drink to serve as supper. You will also want to pace yourself: there are two more drink stops ahead, and this is a story tour that rewards listening.

The meeting point is straightforward to identify by address, and the tour begins at 6 pm. Confirmation is sent when you book. Since the group is capped at 12, you are joining a small guided outing rather than a large crowd moving between bars.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood: a rooftop pause

The second stop is at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, where the group has 45 minutes for a cocktail at a rooftop bar. The location gives the route a change of pace after Boardner’s. Instead of another story set in a historic bar, you get a rooftop setting and time to enjoy a drink while the guide continues to build the evening’s theme.

Be clear about what is included: the stop is described as a rooftop bar visit, not admission to the wax museum itself. If you want to see the figures inside Madame Tussauds, check separately for admission and opening details. The tour’s included admission applies to the stops as arranged for this experience, but the listed activity is a drink at the rooftop bar.

The 45-minute allotment is useful. It gives you longer than a quick toast, while keeping the route moving toward the final stop. The rooftop setting may be a highlight for anyone who likes pairing a drink with a change of scenery, though the exact view or seating arrangement is not specified. Go for the combination of setting and storytelling, not a guaranteed photo spot.

This is also where the tour’s variety becomes clearer. The venues are not all the same kind of bar, and the stories keep the route from feeling like a standard crawl. The group moves through Hollywood’s nightlife with a guide giving context along the way.

The Hollywood Roosevelt: the final round

The tour ends at the Hollywood Roosevelt, at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. You have about 45 minutes here for a drink at a bar associated with Marilyn Monroe, making it the route’s clearest bridge between celebrity history and Hollywood nightlife.

That connection gives the final stop a familiar name, but the tour’s appeal is not only star spotting. The broader thread is Hollywood as a place where fame, crime, and nightlife have overlapped. The guide’s stories help bring those layers together, so the evening ends with more than a well-known hotel name and a final cocktail.

The Roosevelt is also a practical finish. The tour ends about three blocks from where it began, right on Hollywood Boulevard. That makes it easier to continue your evening nearby or head toward public transportation. Public transit is noted as nearby, though the tour information does not specify a particular station or route.

Allow the full 2½ hours for the experience. The stated stop times add up to two hours, with the remaining time used for the transitions and storytelling between venues. The schedule is an evening activity rather than a full-day commitment, so it can fit after daytime sightseeing. Just avoid booking a tight dinner reservation or show immediately afterward.

What the $125 price includes

At $125 per person, the price is easier to assess when you count the three drinks as part of the package. You are paying for a guided evening, admission to the three bar stops as arranged, and three alcoholic drinks or nonalcoholic alternatives. The value depends on whether you would otherwise choose these venues and pay for a guided tour separately.

If your main goal is simply to have three drinks, you can likely find a less expensive night out. The extra value here is the linked storytelling and the small-group format. The guide does more than point out bars: the stories give each stop a role in the evening and add context to Hollywood beyond its film image.

The listed price does not mention food, transport to the meeting point, or drinks beyond the three included. Budget for those separately if you need them. Also remember that alcohol is central to the advertised format, though you can request a nonalcoholic option at all three bars.

The tour is recommended by 100 percent of the listed participants and has a five-star rating from 32 reviews. That is a positive signal, but a small sample is not a guarantee that every guide, drink, or evening will be identical. The most consistently praised elements are the storytelling, the guides’ ability to make the subject engaging, and the unusual combination of crime history with cocktails.

Who will enjoy this evening most

I would put this tour high on the list for true crime fans who want something more social than a lecture. It also suits cocktail enthusiasts who like a story with their drink, and Los Angeles locals curious about the history around familiar Hollywood streets. You do not need specialist knowledge: the stories include both well-known cases and less familiar material, so newcomers have a way in too.

It may also work well for couples or friends looking for a shared activity that gives conversation a natural starting point. One small group described the outing as feeling almost like a private tour, though that is not guaranteed. The maximum group size is 12, which is still small enough for a more personal pace than a large coach excursion.

Think twice if you dislike crime stories, prefer a sober activity, or want a detailed visit inside each venue. This is a guided bar route, not a museum tour or a walking tour focused on architecture. The stops have a set time, and the experience is designed around listening, socializing, and having a drink.

Most people can participate, according to the tour information, and the route is near public transportation. If you have a specific mobility or access concern, ask the operator before booking, since detailed accessibility information is not provided.

Booking and practical details

The tour starts at 6 pm at Boardner’s by La Belle, 1652 N Cherokee Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028. It ends at the Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, about three blocks from the starting point. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is offered in English with a mobile ticket.

The average booking lead time is 26 days, a useful planning clue if your dates are fixed. The tour has a maximum of 12 participants and requires a minimum number to operate. If that minimum is not met and the tour is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted for a refund or change. The cutoff uses local time in Los Angeles.

Should you book the Hollywood Cocktails and True Crime Tour?

Book it if you want an evening that mixes Hollywood history, true crime, and three bar stops without asking you to plan each drink and venue yourself. The small group, focused route, and lively storytelling make the $125 price reasonable for someone who values both the guided narrative and the drinks.

Skip it if you are looking for a conventional sightseeing walk, a full museum visit, or a night centered on food. The best reason to choose this tour is the unusual pairing: stories that complicate Hollywood’s polished image, told while you visit bars with their own links to the city’s past. If that combination sounds like your kind of evening, it is a distinctive way to spend a few hours in Hollywood.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

It starts at 6 pm.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at Boardner’s by La Belle, 1652 N Cherokee Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at the Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, about three blocks from the starting point.

How many drinks are included?

Three drinks are included, one at each bar stop. A nonalcoholic option is available.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is admission to Madame Tussauds included?

The listed stop is for a cocktail at a rooftop bar at Madame Tussauds Hollywood. The tour information does not describe entry to the wax museum itself.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.