Pat’s Cocktails in Studio City still has a mildly dangerous air from the days when fights broke out here, and that’s part of the edgy fun at this hopping tavern that features different excellent blues or jazz or rock bands every night. The bouncer is almost as broad as he is tall, the bartenders are friendly, the beers and wines are priced right, and there’s plenty of free parking in back and good TV screens on big sports nights. But the real draw is the clientele — and the just-right music to go with it. Brunette and blond Valley babes with dates, Latino guys with neck tats, black guys wearing lowdown hats, a bunch of long-haired rockers and some friendly bikers made up the crowd one recent night — and they mingled, played pool against one another and talked at the bar just like, well, like neighbors. There’s a pass-through window from the tasty restaurant next door if you’re hungry. A warm, loud-ish, but not too loud, vibe. 12121 Riverside Dr., Valley Village. (818) 761-7340, patscocktails.com. —N. Jenssen

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