SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WEBGUIDES
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While the word summons images of rich, velvet couches, the glow of red lights and the flicker of candles, no one really knows exactly how to define a lounge. In Los Angeles, lounges range from kitschy rooms in hotel lobbies to resplendent and exclusive havens for the paparazzi magnets. While many of LA's lounges do serve as hideaways for the Hollywood elite, others are just as overflowing with night owls as any of the most popular clubs. Some double as smaller dance clubs and surround the slick dance floor with plush sofas, allowing the mellow to seamlessly blend with the energetic. Many Los Angeles lounges are attached to some of the best restaurants in town, offering patrons the option of eating in a private nook in lieu of the main dining room.
4100 Bar
4100 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.666.4460
4100 Bar is a sleek LA nightclub scenester lounge with a Far East flair and an all-encompassing vibe. Dragons, Buddha, music and drinking under the darkened lights attract an eclectic mix of clubbers, straights, gays, bis and hipsters to the 4100 Bar where there's couches for lounging, tables for a less intimate exchange and a genre smashing jukebox that keeps the party rockin' and the drunks swaying. The uber-crowded Los Angeles nightclub 4100 Bar also sports some kickin' bartenders that take pride in their chosen craft throwing down heady cocktails mixed with a decidedly heavy hand. |
Air Conditioned
2819 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.829.3700
Air Conditioned is a hip little Westside LA wine bar and lounge for those who enjoy the finer things like a superb selections of California varietals, designer furniture and deep wood accents, a knowledgeable bar staff and a severe lack of posh wine bar snobbery. But all the beer drinkers out there needn't worry because Air Conditioned in Santa Monica has you covered with a good, if requisite, selection of imports and domestics that still get the swank treatment along with Air Conditioned's selection of light appetizers. So far as Los Angeles wine bars go, Air Conditioned has to be the hippest due in no small part to its low key vibe and the eclectic sounds provided by some of the better LA downbeat DJs. |
Airliner
2419 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.221.0771
Airliner night club in Los Angeles is a spacious upscale dance club and lounge decked out in a—don't tax the imagination too hard— aeronautical designer motif, but certainly beating out anything airline related in the booze department. With two huge and well equipped bars, a bumpin' dance floor, a plush lounge area and some of Los Angeles' hottest DJs dropping serious beats, Airliner cruises at a comfortable altitude with other posh LA clubs. Also, Airliner hosts live music some weekends and rewards weekday scenesters with a decent happy hour. However, the captain at Airliner doesn't tolerate the baseball cap and sneaker set, so come dressed to impress and not like you're hopping a late night gambling bug flight to Vegas. |
Aqua Restaurant and Lounge
424 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, California; Tel. 310.275.8511
Aqua Restaurant and Lounge in Beverly Hills takes swanky Los Angeles bar lounge and dance club trendiness underground for patrons looking for a hip evening of phenomenal seafood dining, dancing and drinking. This blue-hued supper club has two bars serving designer cocktails to well-heeled thirty-somethings sporting LA pomp and Aqua Restaurant and Lounge, with its dance floor commanded by slick downbeat DJs and live music acts, is a one stop shop for Los Angeles scenesters. Drinkers show up fashionably late at LA's Aqua Restaurant and Lounge and the excellent kitchen certainly accommodates with an inspired surf and turf menu served late into the night. |
Atlas Supper Club
3760 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.385.8062
A swank Los Angeles nightclub and restaurant if ever there was one, the Atlas Supper Club exudes the feeling of a posh club from the golden years of the Jazz Age. The restaurant's menu at the Atlas Supper Club has true world influences featuring flavors from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia. The weekends at this hot Los Angeles restaurant and nightclub present live jazz, R&B, reggae and hip-hop artists on stage and during the week the Atlas Supper Club has some slick LA DJs pumping out the tunes. |
Aura
12215 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, California; Tel. 818.487.1488
While the mini-mall setting may seem like an unlikely place for an upscale Los Angeles nightclub, Aura totally pulls it off with its swank appointments and well-dressed clientele. The huge bar and attentive staff whips out pricey drinks for the younger crowd of imbibers that don't want to travel the hill into the LA nightclub scene proper. DJs and occasional live music acts take care of the hip-hop, disco, rock and dance tunes at Aura and, while this Valley nightspot has the rep of a pick-up joint, the crowds and décor make it more like a Hollywood nightclub than a college party. |
Bar 1200
1200 Alta Loma Rd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.657.1333
Staking the most prominent claim of VIP LA bar exclusivity in the already swanky and uber-velvet roped Los Angeles nightclub scene is bold and Bar 1200 inside the casual, but wholly elegant Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas is about the only one that could do it. In fact, lest you be a hotel guest, a bona fide Los Angeles celebrity—no has beens—a legit rocker, or rolling with a bevy of Playmates, this low-key LA lounge just might be off limits. The scene here is A-list all the way, but even a hip, swanky and decadent drinking spot such as Los Angeles' Bar 1200 has been known to let in us commoners from time to time. |
Bar at the Standard
8300 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.650.9090
A stylish Los Angeles nightlife scene if ever there was one, the Bar at the Standard Hotel sports so many chic appointments—from the shabby, to the kitschy, to the swank—that the overall effect is somewhat surreal. A good mix of Sunset Strip club kids and drinkers at various points on the ever-sliding celebrity (or wannabe celebrity) scale inhabit the Bar at the Standard and this LA nightclub doesn't keep anything in reserve when accommodating them. If it's Los Angeles hip lounging you're after, hit the astro-turfed pool deck at the Bar at the Standard and catch, not only awesome views of the LA Basin, but young clubbers doing their best at looking bored. |
Bar Copa
2810 Main St., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.452.2445
For hip and non-descript Westside lounging, you can't get more low-key than Bar Copa in Santa Monica. There's no sign over the door at this Los Angeles lounge, no advertising pointing the way to Bar Copa and, quite frankly, the cultured and creative types that inhabit low-lit interior. Bar Copa, however, isn't an A-list dedicated LA drinker lounge, unlike its over-made and velvet roped brethren in the Los Angeles nightlife scene, Bar Copa sports an everyman drinker vibe with a no dress code and no cover policies, with kicking rare groove DJ tunes instead on your normal recycled club hit lineup, making this Los Angeles bar a true underground watering hole in the finest tradition. |
Bar Lubitsch
7702 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.654.1234
Decked out in Czarist Russia chic, Bar Lubitsch is an opulent Los Angeles bar and dance club that specializes in—what else—vodka. The specialty drinks at Bar Lubitsch alone, utilizing that ever-mixable spirit, would do any Bolshevik proud as would the, uh, company attire worn by the sexy cocktail staff that probably would have been reserved for the Politburo's private functions rather than being sported by the general populace—ah, communism. Also, this Los Angeles dance club lines up some good local DJs to get the Sunset and Boulevard crowds moving. |
Basque
1707 North Vine St., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.1654
Bringing class to the corner of Hollywood and Vine, this Los Angeles bar has corseted servers and sparkling chandeliers able to make you believe you're at a bar for European monarchs, except that it's LA. Beautiful girls with garter belts flank the enormous dance floor while hip-hop and rock boom through this sexy bar and nightclub. Strong drinks, Californian cuisine and tapas in classic LA style are served. The décor is partially left over from the hot Los Angeles nightclub that originated the boudoir theme at this location, but Basque has taken it above and beyond in true Hollywood style. |
Beauty Bar
1638 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.7676
The vintage theme in this Los Angeles bar is taken right down to the salon fixtures that are actually operable. The Beauty Bar in Los Angeles was the first cocktail lounge to offer the luxury of sipping a martini while enjoying a manicure in 1960's retro style. Stay late into the night at this Hollywood hot spot to enjoy popular indie DJs on the turntables. It's the best bar and salon combination in Los Angeles, not to mention police probably won't be on the prowl outside a beauty salon. The LA bar even has its own kitschy specialty drinks—the conditioner: Stoli vanilla, ginger ale, and lime juice—that only the beauty bar could pull off. Also, come in to Henna tattoo happy hour for drinks and a little temporary body art. |
Big Wangs
1562 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.469.2449
The name of this Los Angeles restaurant and bar could be deceiving when you step into a barnyard themed restaurant and bar. Beer prices lower than most of Hollywood and karaoke night sets this LA bar apart from the rest. Visit Big Wangs as a getaway from the Hollywood club scene and to fill those buffalo wing cravings. The rock from the digital jukebox contributes to the fun atmosphere and the great singles scene, although newcomers are warmly welcomes by the vivacious bartenders. Bringing the country into Los Angeles County, this bar contributes character to the LA nightlife. |
Blu Monkey Lounge
5521 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.957.9000
The plush atmosphere of Blu Monkey Lounge in Los Angeles, California provides the home to a nightlife that feels far away from Hollywood nightclub hotspots. DJs spin an eclectic selection during the week and world music into the weekend. The ornate Middle Eastern décor in this LA bar and lounge is a must see but the beauty doesn't quite surpass the quality of the drinks. The staff is friendly and the DJs are excellent at spinning dance music. The Blu Monkey Lounge is a great bar for a romantic date or just to enjoy the social scene. The hipsters of the Eastside and the well-off Westside convene in this luxurious oasis, a sign that everyone is welcome in the down-to-earth atmosphere of the Blu Monkey Lounge. |
Blue Palms
6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90028; Tel. 323.464.0808
Next door to the Henry Fonda Theatre, the tropical-styled Blue Palms bar and lounge provides a place to sit down for a few drinks before going to a show at the Fonda. The palm trees, dark wood, and mirrored ceiling play off the white tablecloth coverings that host people looking to enjoy small portions of gourmet entrees. The Hollywood class makes this the place to be at night as various concerts move through. Los Angeles locals often call the Blue Palms bar home on off nights. If you're looking for the true Hollywood experience, the Blue Palms is the bar you want to visit. |
Broadway Bar
830 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.614.9909
Right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the Broadway Bar has been the LA bar location of choice in several movies because of its glamorous décor and embodiment of the ideal LA nightlife. The circular bar runs around antique mirrors that give a view of almost everyone in the room. The open mezzanine at Broadway Bar provides another view of the nightclub and cocktail lounge events going on below while offering its own bar and smoking balcony. Los Angeles locals as well as business people and visitors must see this lovely bar to get a taste of the real LA. |
The Buffalo Club
1520 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.450.8600
The Buffalo Club is a classy upscale bar that's filled with industry types in the big soft leather booths and men lined up on the barstools to sip martinis after work and talk to lovely women clad in power suits. The club, which is perfectly located midway between Hollywood and the beach, has kind of a gentleman's club feel. But outside on the patio dining area, all that changes, especially on the weekends, when the Buffalo Club presents live music while serving up good food and a mean steak. Stick to after-work martinis or weekend nights—and always dress to impress.
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Cabana Club
1439 N. Ivar Ave., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.463.0005
The outside bar of the Cabana Club whisks you out of the regular Hollywood nightlife bar scene and into a Mediterranean-style oasis. It's Los Angeles, but you might swear you feel an ocean breeze sitting in a private cabana surrounded by palm trees and a waterfall cascading into a shallow pool. Inside the Cabana Club are more European accents where club-goers enjoy a break from the LA nightlife and relax a little. The Sterling Steakhouse has a separate entrance but is adjacent to this chic LA lounge getaway. You'll never want to leave, because the moment you step back out into the Hollywood streets, you'll see the Amoeba Music behind the Cabana Club and smell the punk kids from around the block. |
Cameo Bar at Viceroy Hotel
1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.451.8711
Nothing but class, Cameo Bar is a lush bar at the Viceroy Hotel with fabulous cocktails and is conveniently located between the hotel lobby and the lavish Whist restaurant. Watching the prestigious clientele is the highlight of the bar's location and regulars Owen and Luke Wilson occasionally find their way into this Los Angeles hotel bar and lounge to perhaps imbibe cocktails in one of the poolside cabanas. The white linen chairs certainly have seen many posh celebrity derrières to enjoy a drink at this swank LA bar. |
Cinespace
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.817.3456
Many first dates require dinner and a movie at two different locations, but Cinespace has combined the best of both worlds into one convenient Hollywood bar and lounge location. It's the perfect example of Los Angeles multitasking. New movies as well as classics are played Thursday through Saturday evenings at Cinespace with seating starting at 7:30pm. You can order from a menu of contemporary Californian food such as mac-n-cheese or finer fare like pan-roasted halibut. But the LA nightclub scene at Cinespace wouldn't be Hollywood without a bar and dancing, so a DJ starts spinning around 10pm when the crowds at this trendy Hollywood lounge really picks up. |
Clear
11916 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, California; Tel. 818.980.4811
Clear is a Los Angeles bar that is so retro it's modern. A glass door opens to a large bar room with Plexiglas barstools and padded white leather walls filled with a multi-ethnic crowd of Los Angeles bar and nightclub hoppers. The bench and ottoman seating contributes to the minimalism of Clear because seat backs just aren't needed at a swank LA bar like this. Los Angeles DJs are spinning nightly to keep the rhythm of the crowd at Clear while hip LA clubbers sip from cocktail glasses that are—what else—clear. A cozy patio overlooks a modern cabana for those who need a breath of air at this Studio City hotspot. |
The Continental
8400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel.323.782.9717
The Continental is a high-energy, swanky, loungy supper-club kind of a joint with a hip vibe and overall mood. It's got that "look-good" lighting that sometimes makes all the difference between an okay night and a great one. The Continental is popular with the younger and louder Beverly Hills party crowd and has a dress code of rock-star chic. Once partly owned by Matt Damon and his buddy Ben Affleck, the Continental pulls a crowd that dresses and acts like they're all expecting Matt and Ben to walk through the door. Drinks are pricey and the food is so-so, but the ladies make up for that. The Continental is the perfect noisy hot spot to get tanked before heading out to a late night club—it closes early at 1am. |
The Dresden Room
1760 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz, California; Tel. 323.665.4294
It's the Lizard Lounge Deluxe, a masterpiece of design (except for the bland brick face facade). Once inside, the Dresden Room is all white leather booths, curved corners, cork-board walls and a cool carpeted standing space. The Los Feliz lounge was featured in the movie Swingers, but its main draw is Marty and Elayne, the veteran jazz crooners who've played here for decades. The Dresden Room has an all-Mexican bar staff and can serve up a drink for even the most discerning pallet. |
EAST|WEST Lounge
8851 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.360.6186
One of the more chichi bars in West Hollywood, EAST|WEST becomes the ideal meeting spot for ostentatious businesspeople to conduct deals over a cocktail. The lounge has membership privileges, but those without a membership are also welcome. Members have a private entrance, posh back room, a balcony overlooking the bar, are invited to special tasting events and can store favorite bottles in the illuminated cabinets for the common people to look at. It's no wonder that celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore have stopped into LA's EAST|WEST Lounge for their elegant cocktails. In Los Angeles style, the flavored martinis are made with fresh fruit and puree. The truest testament to the bar's elegant style is the lavender used in the lounge's signature martini, The Perfect Pair. |
Helios
21300 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, California; Tel. 818.884.5340
Helios is a chameleon of a bar, able to transform into different entities depending on the time of day or night of the week. During the day, Helios is a restaurant, but when the sun sets and the night moves on, the bar and lounge become the main draw at this Los Angeles club as a DJ starts spinning. The patio becomes a Caribbean party on Sundays, complete with reggae and BBQ while other evenings the patio is a sports bar with games projected onto a large screen. The main draw for local Woodland Hills residents is not driving over the hill to Los Angeles to get their club hopping on. For those hipsters who are low on gas and still want to enjoy the night scene, Helios is a welcome fill in. |
Here
696 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.360.8455
Every Thursday night Here is home to Fuse, one of LA's best dance club nights for women and the fun doesn't stop for the girls on Friday night either. Truck Stop takes over Friday night with Coyote Ugly style service on the bar and more than enough dancing on the dance floor too. Gay LA boys gather on Saturdays and Sundays for more dancing to some of the hottest new music. The modern décor and fabulous DJs make Here one of the favorite gay bars in West Hollywood. Lines form fast at night with people from all over Los Angeles, so come early to get the fun started. |
Holly's East
1651 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.461.1400
Holly's East takes LA exclusivity to the extreme, only allowing in people who have connections. If you know one of the owners, a promoter, a doorman, or the DJ directly, or are no less than one person away from them (ie. You can get in if your friend knows the owner, etc.), then you might be able to get in. But good luck. The lounge makes it ultra hard for those who aren't Hollywood's elite to get in because the celebrities and VIPs don't need tourists snapping pictures with their camera phones of them at the bar. However, if you were inside, you would be able to experience the candlelit lounge, silver curtains, and cushy couches that make Holly's East a Los Angeles destination for the best of the best. |
Holly's West
2460 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California; Tel.310.828.3304
The Italian-theme of swanky Holly's West provides a relaxed atmosphere for Los Angeles socialites to sink into couches and converse. Cocktail waitresses are friendly and eager to serve the customers as they wander the bar in red and black lingerie. Although there is a DJ booth, it is often without a DJ while a computer takes over playing tunes that are low enough for people to talk over at Holly's West. Some California cuisine is served and drinks can be enjoyed at the bar or at the couches. Keep an eye out for celebrities stopping by to make new deals. |
The Hookah Lounge
7469 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.782.0467
The Italian-theme of swanky Holly's West provides a relaxed atmosphere for Los Angeles socialites to sink into couches and converse. Cocktail waitresses are friendly and eager to serve the customers as they wander the bar in red and black lingerie. Although there is a DJ booth, it is often without a DJ while a computer takes over playing tunes that are low enough for people to talk over at Holly's West. Some California cuisine is served and drinks can be enjoyed at the bar or at the couches. Keep an eye out for celebrities stopping by to make new deals. |
Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce
5574 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.465.4242
The burlesque-style nightclub in Hollywood has a sister club in Las Vegas, and it's no wonder with the retro lounge décor. White linen table clothed tables and red pleather chairs face the stage in a fashion that resembles Ricky Ricardo's club, The Tropicana, in "I Love Lucy." Dancers put on a strip-tease burlesque show backed by a jazz band, but when there aren't girls dancing, Forty Deuce resorts back to any other Los Angeles club's mainstay playing rock and hip-hop. The full bar also plays the role of runway for the dancers, so get a good seat for a better view of the show. |
Jimmy's Lounge
6202 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.957.1066
Los Angeles is a hot spot for chic lounges with a DJ spinning, and Jimmy's is no different. The dark chocolate colored walls offset the chandeliers over each semi-circle booth. Faux-fur pillows add comfort to the already plush seating at Jimmy's Lounge. If you're not one for sitting down while you drink, the shiny bar is a great place to stand for a full view of the dance floor. The lounge is a new addition to the Los Angeles scene, but is sure to gradually turn more heads in their direction. |
Johnny's Cocktail Lounge
2939 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, California; Tel. 323.660.2276
An up and coming spot for locals to get their drink on, Johnny's Cocktail Lounge offers beer and an extensive wine list. Soju cocktails are all the bar is allowed to serve right now in the way of mixed drinks, but they've made the drinks fun by naming them after local bars. A rounded bar sits in the middle of the room and benches surround the walls of the bar for extra seating. A mellow Los Angeles lounge atmosphere pervades the bar and makes it a great place to relax at night. Local Eastsiders and music lovers from the nearby Silver Lake Lounge shows are the primary customers, but there's always room for more. |
Joseph's Cafe
1775 N. Ivar Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.462.8697
Joseph's Cafe is an elegant Moroccan-style supper club and lounge. Joseph's Cafe pulls in a Hollywood glamour-chic crowd mixed with famous stars of music and film. The later the night gets, the groovier the music and the more fierce the dancing becomes, as Joseph's Cafe caters to ultra-hip energetic party people who will dance up a storm inside and out on the dining patio until the staff gives them the boot. Not to worry though. Joseph's Cafe lovers can return in the morning for Belgian waffles, Mediterranean style, served outside by the patio fountain. The place is very cool—morning, noon and night. |
Lava Lounge
1533 La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.876.6612
That's not dried hay covering the walls, silly, it's just thatched! Island style chic takes over the Lava Lounge with thatched walls, tiki lanterns surrounding the bar, bamboo, and to really make it special, a whole lot of red vinyl. The 70's style Hollywood strip mall outside—as in that's when it was built and decorated—doesn't let on that this LA night spot is very cool, but once you're inside with a fruity cocktail in your hand, you'll be convinced it is. The tropical-themed bar is deceiving, but Sunday night's Kinky Karaoke and other nights of live performances make the Lava Lounge a Hollywood bar to visit. |
LAX
1714 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.0171
If it's Thursday night, or Friday at 1am, and everybody seems to be going to the airport, they may just be going to LAX, and though they all may be jet-set, these people are not getting on a plane, and they are not going anywhere but to this high-line, A-list-only night club. LAX is an ultra-lounge with an ultra-beautiful staff and the clientele to match. It's a high volume of serious party players who flock to this Hollywood hot spot dressed to kill, especially the women, who all look like movie stars, and many may be. Paris, Lindsay, Tara and Britney have all been snapped by paparazzi here, and most of the time, they weren't so happy about it. LAX prefers that customers reserve tables with bottle service in order to assure entry. Otherwise, be famous. A downer—there's no place to smoke, so it's outside for a puff. |
Les Deux
1638 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.462.7674
You don't have to speak French to know that Los Angeles' Les Deux has been revitalized into being a Hollywood hotspot for celebrities and upscale patrons. Les Deux Café has been transformed into a LA getaway good enough for European royalty with candelabras and plush leather couches inside and outside. There are two full bars encased in peach tinted mirrors to serve those who want to dance inside to the top hip-hop or outside, under the stars, to contemporary rock. The menu from the café is no longer offered, but several appetizers, entrees, and salads are. The Hollywood club wouldn't be French without desserts, though. A cupcake tower, fruit tower, and chocolate tower are all available. Skip the drinks; buy the girl a tower. |
Liquid Kitty
11780 Pico Dr., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 310.473.3707
The only signage to demarcate the Liquid Kitty is a neon sign of a martini glass with a cigarette in it, the perfect laid back symbol that this Los Angeles bar embodies. If you're interested in imbibing the some of the best martinis you've ever had, the Liquid Kitty is ready and willing to serve you. Several nights a week the bar becomes a live jazz joint, particularly on Sundays, when hipsters make sure to arrive early for happy hour and to get a good seat. In vintage Los Angeles form, the lounge turns into a hopping '60s funk, soul and groove club on Thursday nights. Even if there isn't anything going on, the Liquid Kitty still is one of the best places in LA to drink quality martinis every night of the week. |
Little Joy Cocktail Lounge
1477 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.250.3417
Comfortably grungy and worn-in décor are what draw Echo Park locals to the Little Joy Cocktail Lounge when the LA club scene gets to be too much. Hipsters, artsy folk, and indie kids come to the bar for inexpensive drinks and prefer Pabst Blue Ribbon to all beers. An awesome jukebox provides the ideal soundtrack to this dive bar when a DJ isn't spinning new wave, indie rock, or noise pop. Keep in mind there's no dancing allowed so you're better off playing a few games of pool or making friends with the attractive girls serving drinks from behind the bar. |
Little Temple
4519 Santa Monica Blvd., Silver Lake, California; Tel. 323.660.4540
An underground crowd gathers at this Hollywood sanctuary to dance, drink, and get cozy with one another throughout the week. DJs are always spinning the latest industrial, house, or other mix of eclectic music to the perfectly tousled LA hipsters and dreadlock folk. Incense and votive candles avoid smelling like patchouli and compliment the temple theme that paper lanterns and rock gardens help create. There are two dance floors and two bars in the downtown Little Temple, but don't expect to get much meditation done amid the booming music. |
Lobby Supper Club
9077 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.275.4983
The colorful hills of West Hollywood are home to the monochromatic Lobby Supper Club that has transformed from nightclub, The Lounge, into an even classier Los Angeles venue. A sparkling chandelier hovers over the dance floor with a DJ spinning for the aristocratic crowd to groove to. The lower floor of the bi-floored bar has white couches and black floors and walls while the upper floor is reversed. The LA bar might make you feel like you're in a high-end hotel, but there are no rooms here. To snuggle up to the beauty you met at the bar, you'll have to settle for a hidden nook. |
Lola's
945 N. Fairfax Ave., W. Hollywood, California; Tel. 213.736.5652
This cozy, romantic lounge/bar is the perfect place to sip an after-work cocktail while checking out the abundant babes that lolly around chit-chatting, drinking, eating and vibing to good music. Lola's has a gigantic martini list, which should speak for itself if anyone wants to know what kind of joint Lola's is. To meet Lola's owner, Loren Dunsworth, is to meet an example of the type of ladies that frequent the place. By looking at her, one thinks of an English aristocratic blue-blood, but the blond bombshell adds some real spice to a hot scene, packed on the weekends with very hip, young and knowledgeable people—at least for Hollywood. Careful—the martini is not a good drink to walk around with.
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Lounge 217
217 Broadway, Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.394.6336
Around since the '90s, Lounge 217 has remained a hot spot on the Westside that continues to draw an attractive younger crowd. Or maybe that Hollywood hottie isn't quite what they seem? With no light bulbs inside it can be a little dark but the candles are meant to set the mood. The club doesn't have a sign out front of their sterile cement building; maybe they're trying to cut costs in the high-priced Santa Monica. However, the cocktails are good, the Lounge 217 is cozy, and the bar is busy. The high cover keeps out the grease-ball bar hoppers and keeps the LA crowd classy. The velvet booths are a great place to lounge and enjoy a drink from the bar when you're not shaking your rump on the dance floor. |
Lucky Strike Lanes
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.467.7776
If you were a celebrity, and you wanted to go bowling, you would head to Hollywood Boulevard with your bowling bag and name embroidered shirt and get a lane at Lucky Strike Lanes; the alley where the stars bowl. Not to mention that the bar is a modernized-retro Los Angeles hang out for those who couldn't snag one of the 12 lanes and settle for the pool tables. Catered with gourmet comfort food and offering a full bar, Lucky Strike Lanes seems to be the new Hollywood hipster destination. DJs spin hip-hop and rock over a quality sound system in the bar and alley Tuesday through Saturdays, the nights with the hottest scene. But it doesn't slow down at the bar on Sunday karaoke nights or Monday '80s nights where those who are rocking the '80s attire get drink specials. Forget the stagnant stench and smoke stained bowling alley of yore, Lucky Strike Lanes is all good luck. |
Monroe's
8623 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.360.0066
Taking over the West Hollywood location of, J. Sloan's, one of the oldest continuously operated bars in Los Angeles, Monroe's is making the new bar just as welcoming as the old speakeasy. The sexy mod-retro interior is from the mind of famed Hollywood club designer Frederick Sutherland, but you can't blame him for the unisex bathrooms. A yellow padded bar runs along one wall of the club and is lined with black leather bar stools, also the perfect place to view the dance floor on Friday nights when DJs spin hip-hp. The retro LA club often has A-listers stop into the bar regardless of the not having a guest list policy at Monroe's. Perhaps that's also what draws local fashionistas, hipsters, and regular folk who knew the bar before it was made into a trendier lounge. Monroe's takes pride in being a Hollywood hot spot that welcomes everyone and enforces a "no attitude policy at the door." |
Montmartre Lounge/ Day After Nightclub
6757 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.465.5369
Hidden away in the back corner of the Hollywood and Highland complex, Montmartre Lounge has played home to fabulous Hollywood after parties and private events since it opened with a secret show by The Killers in 2004. The brightly colored room is full of booths and couches so the normal Los Angeles bar goers can hide out to see their favorite celebrities. But there can't be that many average club people as the lounge boasts "Hollywood's hardest door." Good luck getting in and to one of the two bars at the Montmartre Lounge . If you are lucky enough to not get turned down at the top of the stairs by the doorman, an outside patio courtyard awaits you before proceeding to the dance floor. Then all you have to do is make a few visits to the bar and wait for the LA fun to begin. |
Mood
6623 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.6663
Ancient bells from Bali, statues, and a entry door custom made by Bali workers have made Mood less of a Los Angeles bar and lounge and more of a temple bar that just happens to be in LA. Don't be thrown off by the crying monk statues skewered by long stakes in the lounge, those might not actually be from a temple. Candles line the bars and the shelves of alcohol behind them creating a calm atmosphere if there wasn't a DJ spinning hip-hop to Hollywood booty shakers. Mood still continues to have a great Los Angeles scene frequented by celebrities looking to get away from the bright colors and neon lights that other nightclubs have to offer. |
Nacional
1645 Wilcox Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.962.7712
Take a break from typical Los Angeles lounges packed full of hipsters and sweaty men in order to visit Nacional. The dual-level bar has a relaxed Cuban theme accentuated by large photographs of a man smoking a Cuban cigar on one wall and suede leather ottomans scattered throughout. A fireplace surrounded by the cut end of logs gives the Nacional club a cozier feel, after all, how many Los Angeles bars feature a fireplace? The downstairs lounge has the dance floor, DJ booth, and one of the full service bars. The other bar is upstairs in the lounge that also has an outside patio for those who want to puff on a stogie which, of course, is encouraged at Nacional. A Los Angeles DJ plays retro hip-hop, rock, and other types of dance music on nights that the club is open to the public. |
Nic's Restaurant & Martini Lounge
453N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, California; Tel. 310.550.5707
A lounge and restaurant with many faces in the heart of Beverly Hills, Nic's Restaurant & Martini Lounge has many features that will keep it from ever getting old in the push and shove LA scene. The martini lounge features a myriad of martinis at the bar with original names and recipes like the "Goose Me" (Grey Goose La Orange, orange Curacao, and Lychee nuts). For those who want more than sitting at the bar or lounge, Nic's Restaurant & Martini Lounge pumps out gourmet dishes inspired by the restaurant's namesake, Chef Larry Nicola. As if that wasn't enough, in January 2006 the lounge opened the "Vodbox," a room chilled to 10 degrees where customers can sample flights of the finest vodka. If you're looking for the perfect place to go on a first date in Los Angeles, the Vobox at Nic's LA posh bar and restaurant should be at the top of the list. |
Pearl
665 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 310.358.9191
Destined to become one of the hottest spots in Los Angeles, Pearl has already earned the reputation of being the best restaurant in West Hollywood. The venue also excels at its role of LA nightclub and lounge as it hosts a variety of events from dance nights to performances. High-end audio and video technology is used throughout the club and bar to enhance the experience of people dancing or Pearl can act as a recording studio when groups perform live. Multiple plasma screens are scattered throughout the lounge to display the main stage to diners in the restaurant, and two more in the bar area might be giving a live feed of the cabaret show in the VIP room. The Los Angeles ultra lounge has it all from good food to good drinks and dancing. The shadows of girls dance in boxes on nights where a DJ spins hip-hop, house, trance, or rock and some nights have all-ages events. Burlesque shows, comedy, and live bands have also been known to perform at this Los Angeles venue. |
Plan B
11637 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 310.312.3633
This is the ultimate cocktail lounge. Plan B mixes five-star hotel service, a cigar aficionado bar, superhot go-go girls, and a sexy wait-staff serving up high-end drinks, while the games are shown up on the plasma screens. Plan B also serves up seafood and a mean steak.
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Privilege
8117 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.654.0030
Instead of letting his clubs get old (or too popular?), owner Sam Nazarian believes that redesigning and reopening the same club will bring in more clientele. The most recent grand opening was for Privilege, an all white décor club. Previously red and black, and before that it was Shelter a whole other club. It's still got a dance floor, a bar, and plush couches—and really, isn't that all you need to be a trendy nightclub in Los Angeles? If you're not a West Hollywood celebrity you may not feel at home, if you can even get in. Perhaps Privilege should focus more on being a bar and less on being cool. |
Red Buddha Lounge
6423 Yucca St., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.962.2913
Buddha has never been so sexy as he is at the Red Buddha Lounge. The Hollywood bar that used to be all about rock when it was Goldfinger has been bought and reincarnated as the zenful Red Buddha Lounge. Billowing silk hangs from the ceiling and sets the VIP room a little apart from the rest of the dance floor. The bar is supposed to be as peaceful as a temple, but it's Los Angeles, so that doesn't last long. Friday nights are LA's club Naughty where DJs spin '80s and old school for the go-go dancers to jive to. Hollywood blondes fill the bar on weekend nights right next Los Angeles A-listers. If you're looking to enjoy the bar and lounge, go on a Thursday night for reggae, no cover charge, and the risqué outfits on the bartenders. |
Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown
550 Flower St., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 213.892.8080
The Jetsons have come to LA—well, not quite. The Downtown Los Angeles Standard is one of those hotels that are fashionably retro. The girls all teeter on stilettos at night, but during the day they were probably sun worshiping beside the rooftop pool and bar on top of the hotel. The Standard's Roof Bar is the go-to destination for spotting trendy fashionistas amid other Hollywood types. The view of the Los Angeles City skyline is unbeatable and so are the views of the beautiful women who come to see and be seen. Before the night explodes at the bar high above LA, business folk come to enjoy the perks of a bar by the pool. Many hot celebrities have a tendency to show up, so get there early before you're beat out by the crowd. |
The Room
1626 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.462.7196
No signage marks The Room, a mini sized bar in Los Angeles. For those that find their way into the low-key place, a full bar helps lighten the attitude in the booths lining the walls and on the dance floor. A DJ even fits in the club! Many of the customers who come through the bar are looking to move on down the Cahuenga Corridor to the Beauty Bar and eventually on into the night after a few drinks from The Room. |
Saints & Sinners
10899 Venice Blvd., Culver City, California; Tel. 310.842.8066
This is an awesome after-work and happy-hour lounge. Saints & Sinners is for serious cocktail connoisseurs and those who would like to hang out at a place that reminds one of a porn producer's house with a hint of James Bond's taste, if that makes any sense. Saints & Sinners includes a circular fireplace in the center, a buttoned-vinyl ceiling, chandeliers, a velvet wallpapered private room and a DJ who spins cutting-edge, indie '70s/'80s rock and punk. Thursday nights are iPod nights, where people bring their own iPods and well, who knows. Saints & Sinners also has the most naughty, nasty and outrageous drinks ever concocted. |
The Sapphire
11938 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, California; Tel. 818.506.0777
The Los Angeles attitude stays out of The Sapphire as laid back flip-flop types populate the bar instead of stiletto-heeled women. The golden booths and walls gel with the chill rock and soul playing on the jukebox while couples snuggle in the corner. Those who don't want to deal with busy parts of LA opt to stay in Studio City and hit the bars up closer to home. Weekends draw the biggest crowd as people avoid Hollywood and explore their neighborhood bar scene. |
The Side Door
900 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, California; Tel. 310.722.1084
This bar lounge has a great martini menu, loungy music and an attractive upper-crusty beach crowd. The rustic cathedral facade and stained glass windows make The Side Door a unique Manhattan Beach experience, not to mention the crushed blue-glass bar and the sapphire velvet seats. Come in and chill out, and let The Side Door show that there is an art to making a martini. |
Splash Bar
4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, California; Tel. 818.980.8000
Splash Bar is a cool retro lounge and bar. It's a hot North Hollywood spot, made even hotter by two-for-one drinks everyday and the beautiful girls who sip signature drinks like the "decantini's," a decadent drink served in a stylish martini glass. |
The Standard Lounge on Sunset
8300 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.650.9090
If you've ever wondered where all the beautiful people in LA go, then you haven't been to The Standard Lounge on Sunset Boulevard. A Los Angeles model is displayed behind glass at the lobby, and that does mean a living, breathing person. The full bar in the lounge is surrounded by people in expensive clothes meant to look vintage, but they aren't fooling anyone with that perfectly styled "bed head" or constant five o'clock shadow. Good thing the Standard Lounge's menu is reasonably priced gourmet bar food, otherwise those LA blondes might starve to death—oh wait—that's right, they're supposed to look like that. In any case, the lounge is a very hip hang out for hipsters and fashionistas alike. As long as you have impeccable style, you're in. |
Trader Vic's Lounge
9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, California; Tel. 310.285.1300
Now poolside at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the famous Trader Vic's has a whole new vibe and a cool old school feel. The hotel's mystique may be a huge draw, but Trader Vic's is also noteworthy for its incredible Polynesian food, which patrons can now enjoy by the pool. On the weekends at night, the Vic's staffers project crashing waves across the white cabana walls. Very Bev Hills chic and pricey. |
Vamp Lounge
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California; Tel. 562.499.6625
Come aboard the Queen Mary for a night of serious burlesque and a show not to be forgotten. Reserve a table at the Vamp Lounge, hop on this magnificent ship at the port and be entertained by top dancers at this very unique night club in a cabaret setting. Roam around the boat, take in the sea air and enjoy the 1930s music, the costumes and the Queen Bees, who perform here regularly. They suggest the Queen Bee martini. |
The Veranda Bar at Casa del Mar
1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.581.5533
One of the best and most elegant seaside hotels in Santa Monica, situated right on the sand, also has a matching elegant bar and lounge right off the lobby of the hotel. The Veranda Bar inside the Casa del Mar Hotel is nothing short of luxurious indulgence in Los Angeles style. The bar and restaurant overlook the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier down the way. The hotel and lounge have a swanky 1920s theme giving homage to the 1926 opening of the beach club and hotel. LA's elite and Hollywood VIPs called the hotel home when it opened, but over the years it converted into other types of housing from military to serving as a drug therapy program center. Finally, in 1999 the Los Angeles hotel had a $50 million makeover and reopened to Hollywood and LA elite. The Veranda bar has nightly live entertainment and a menu that changes with the acts. 20-foot tall windows look onto the beach as people wine, dine, and share laughs in the historic hotel. |
The Well
6255 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.467.9355
Across the street from the Hollywood Palladium, The Well draws business from those looking to down some stiff drinks at the bar before heading over to a show. Los Angeles locals are also familiar with the lounge's swanky interior and attractive bartenders. The one room that makes up The Well has a full bar, which is really all it takes to draw hipsters and those looking for comfy booths and ottomans to take a load off. The jukebox has a great selection of rarities and the bartenders have a heavy pouring hand at this hip Los Angeles lounge. The bar also offers a menu for hungry folk, but expect a long line on weekends if you don't arrive early enough. |
Tokio
1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.464.2065
For those out and about on a fine Hollywood evening hitting up the Cahuenga Corridor, Tokio is a great place to get a bite of fine Asian cuisine and chill out. The lounge is a Japanese themed bar with red leather couches and lots of bamboo. Because it is Los Angeles, it can get busy but they do take dinner reservations if you don't want to wait in line. The bar is a fabulous place to meet new people and then move on to the other lounges and clubs in the Hollywood nightlife scene down the street. |
Tropicana Bar
7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California; Tel. 323.466.7000
Pure retro Hollywood lounge awaits the lucky patrons of the Tropicana Bar next to the calming Roosevelt Hotel pool. Palm trees, glowing blue water, and plushy seating offers the best of Los Angeles under the stars and mere steps away from an oasis of a bar. Even during the occasional chilly Southern California nights, the bar is warm with a fireplace to make the Tropicana Bar just a little cozier. The poolside area is where the party is at with a DJ spinning although there is limited dance space if you want to get down. There are plenty of choices when looking for a Los Angeles bar, but when Paris Hilton has been known to party there—as she has at the Tropicana Bar—it's like putting a seal of approval on an already glamorous spot. |
Upstairs at Cinch
1519 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California; Tel. 310.395.4139
Forget the velvet rope. You can even forget the long lines at the door in an attempt to make a bar look more popular. This Los Angeles watering hole provides excellent service and a great place to dance. Those who dine at the downstairs restaurant before heading upstairs to the club get in free of charge. The Upstairs at Cinch lounge is filled with Red Bull vodka sipping hipsters and people who just want to dance. On the Westside of Los Angeles, in Santa Monica, the Upstairs at Cinch does well with all its Franco-Japanese fusion. There is a VIP patio for those willing to pay for the bottle service, but the club is fun without having to brush shoulders with the real or imagined LA VIPs. |
Vermont Bar
1714 Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, California; Tel. 323.661.6163
This cocktail haven used to be a downtrodden no-go place and now it's a hip hangout like so many of the new Los Feliz area watering holes. Vermont is a stylish lounge-bar with an adjoining restaurant that attracts consciously disheveled, young, artsy-writer types. The drinks are potent, the staff stressed and there's an atmosphere of well-lubricated flirtatious people that overtake any posers that usually come with the territory. Come to Vermont on the weekends when it's crowded and try the house specialty drink, sex and the city—it's vodka, Remy Red, strawberry, cranberry and garnished with fresh striped strawberry, whatever that is. |
Whiskey Blue at W Hotel
930 Hilgard Ave., Westwood, California; Tel. 310.443.8232
The W Hotel might be on UCLA's sorority row, but it's hard to remember once you're inside the swanky Los Angeles bar. Private rooms and trendy furniture give the place a calm vibe and hip appeal. Big names are always stopping by the Whiskey Blue bar for a little refreshment and to enjoy the beauty of the crowd. The bar staff wear sleek black and bare skin as patrons dress their best for the Westwood nightlife. The Whiskey Blue is an ideal Los Angeles bar to take a girl out if you want to impress her and there are plenty of dark intimate corners to get comfortable in. |
—Los Angeles bar and club reviews by Alanna Lee, Ryan Osterbeck and Buddy Seigel
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