Los Angeles has no shortage of things to do, but if you’re looking for something interactive, social, and a little different, escape rooms are still one of the best ways to spend an hour. After trying dozens across the city, here’s my current list of the top 7 escape rooms in LA for 2025—ranked based on theme, design, and overall experience.
1. Casino Heist – PanIQ Room West Hollywood
Location: West Hollywood
Difficulty: Medium
Theme: Las Vegas vault heist
One of the newest additions to the LA escape room scene, Casino Heist is clean, modern, and just plain fun. Casino Heist is one of the most well-rounded escape rooms I’ve played in LA. The set design is polished and immersive, and the game moves at a solid pace with a good mix of hands-on puzzles and tech-driven moments. Everything feels well thought-out, and there are some clever touches throughout the room that keep things fun and surprising.
The venue itself is worth mentioning too—it’s clean, spacious, and has arcade games and drinks to hang out before or after your game. Staff here are energetic and helpful without overdoing it. A solid pick whether you’re new to escape rooms or a regular.
2. Lab Rat – Hatch Escapes
Location: Koreatown
Difficulty: Hard
Theme: Human testing by giant rats
Lab Rat is weird in the best way. You play as test subjects in a world where rats are the scientists, and the puzzles, humor, and story all lean into that theme. It’s creative and a little twisted, and the writing is surprisingly sharp. The difficulty is on the higher side, so it’s best for experienced groups or anyone up for a real challenge.
3. Route 51 – PanIQ Room West Hollywood
Location: West Hollywood
Difficulty: Medium
Theme: Alien crash site + desert gas station
Route 51 has a fun retro vibe and a light sci-fi storyline. The set looks great and has that balance of mysterious and playful that makes you want to explore everything. The puzzles are interactive and varied, and the room flows really well without relying on a ton of reading or combination locks.
It’s accessible enough for newer players, but still interesting for groups that have done a few rooms already. Definitely one of the more unique themes I’ve seen in LA.
4. The Basement – The Basement LA
Location: Sylmar
Difficulty: Hard
Theme: Serial killer survival
Still one of the most intense escape rooms around. The Basement is dark, creepy, and designed to make you feel like you’re in real danger (in a fun way). It includes some live acting and horror elements that won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into immersive horror or looking to be scared, it’s worth trying at least once.
The Elevator Shaft – Quest Room
Location: Koreatown
Room: The Elevator Shaft
Theme: Industrial accident escape
Difficulty: Medium
The Elevator Shaft has a unique setting and structure that makes it feel different from most traditional rooms. You start “trapped” in an elevator, and everything from the lighting to the sound design supports the story. The space is cleverly laid out, and the transitions between segments keep things interesting. Quest Room does a great job creating immersive environments, and this is one of their best.
6. The Grand Parlor – 60out
Location: Melrose
Room: The Grand Parlor
Theme: Magical mansion mystery
Difficulty: Medium
This room plays like a mix of classic mystery and light fantasy. The environment is polished and atmospheric, with a warm, almost theatrical tone. While it’s not the most technically advanced room out there, the puzzles are fun and flow well, and the space feels thoughtfully designed. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys story-driven escape rooms.
The Hex Room – Cross Roads Escape Games
Location: Anaheim
Room: The Hex Room
Theme: 80s horror movie survival
Difficulty: Variable (each player gets a different role)
The Hex Room is one of the few rooms where each player is assigned a different character role and separated into their own space. It adds a cool layer of challenge and forces real teamwork in a way most rooms don’t. The horror theme is present but not overwhelming, and the production design is solid throughout. It’s technically in Orange County, but close enough — and worth the trip for something unique.
Special Mention: Zombie Outbreak – PanIQ Room West Hollywood
Theme: Zombie horror with animatronics and effects
This one earns a special shoutout for its visual impact alone. Zombie Outbreak is packed with special effects, practical scares, and some of the most detailed scenic design of any escape room in the city. The gameplay is straightforward but satisfying, and the overall environment feels like a movie set. It’s a great pick for anyone who loves horror or wants to be fully immersed in a doomsday scenario.
The Escape Room Guide 