HOLLYWOOD after dark by our hot and in the know recent NYC transplant associate writer, Alix Liiv
Not knowing much about the club/bar/lounge scene out here, I was excited to go out and experience the nightlife first hand. Unfortunately, to my utter dismay, I have found myself constantly disappointed with the venues. Coming from NYC, I will admit that my standards are extremely high with regards to having a “night on the town” -be it dive bar, lounge, club, etc. But, regardless of what type of place it may be, sadly, I may have to lower my standards, or just learn not to expect as much. BUT, alas, I eventually stumbled upon a few gems that are worth writing about. I am interested in anyone who can show me a diamond in the rough, so please comment or send me your fave places. Until then, this is what I got.
The Spare Room (@ The Roosevelt Hotel)
7000 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-7000
Not to be confused with The Library Room at The Roosevelt, this place just opened this month. It is brand spankin’ new. People who have lived here their whole lives and whom one might consider “in the know” about Hollywood Opening’s hadn’t even heard of it. So, you can imagine how special I felt when I was informing locals about this great new hot spot.
Upon walking up the carpeted stairs and passing the friendly doorman, ironically named Sunny, who is, in fact, very sunny, the darkness envelops. The Spare Room has that speakeasy feel and décor with an oak finished bar that so many of the bars in NYC posses. The drinks are excellent, made with fresh and delicious ingredients focusing on bourbon as their main liquor base. Substitutions and alterations to any specialty cocktail are permitted. There is no actual Drink Menu just yet, but the staff is very friendly and willing to verbally explain their cocktails. The main draw of this bar is the old school bowling alley with two lanes equipped with wooden pins and balls. And all of the banquet lounge areas have games that you and your guests can play- badminton, connect four, cards, etc. The clientele is very hip and sceney and you need to get to this place early to even have a chance to get in, but it is worth it. Ask for Mark to make you some incredible concoction. He is highly skilled behind the bar.
1159 North Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 466-1324
I had heard about this place from a few co-workers, but all the talk doesn’t do it justice. You have to see it for yourself. Upon entry, you walk up these stairs and turn right where a woman will greet you and open a door that looks like a closet with clothes and hangers. She pushes aside the clothes and you are lead onto a metal bridge-like walkway where below you find La Descarga. The place is a tiny Cuban-themed gem in the heart of Hollywood. The metal spiral staircase that leads you down to the bar makes for an extravagant entrance, which I adored. The space seems bigger than it really is and has a small dance floor for a hot Latin dance sessions. Still, the little nooks with padded banquets and tables provide an intimate warm setting. The lighting and live band with Latin strip-tease dancers shaking their booties like the singer, Shakira, was phenomenal and created the perfect ambiance. The drinks, a tad pricey for LA standards are all rum based, although you can sip on beer. But then again you are paying for the all that ambiance in addition to the creative rum concoctions...
The only downside, but that I would quickly rebuff as an upside as well, is the reservation only policy for entry. This is not in the exclusive obnoxious club-like vain. It is merely due to the size of the space and to maintain the caliber and quality of hospitality that one would expect when entering this precious rarity in LA. Just call before hand or go on an off night. I highly recommend it. And Andreas the owner/manager is a hilarious fellow who will beg you to smoke a hand rolled cigar with him in their cigar room. You would be a fool to reject his offer.
The Roger Room
370 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 854-1300
With the neon signage outside of a psychic, the dim lighting and the turn of the century décor, mixologists in black vests and bow ties and/or suspenders, concocting a plethora of creative drinks, this place screamed “Employees Only” in NY. I was blown away with all the similarities. I immediately asked a bartender if they had a sister bar in NY or if they were related. To my utter dismay, he told me No.
The real reason why I found myself in this wonderful place was solely because my good friend said that this place gives you plastic monkeys with your drink. Instead of an umbrella in your pina colada, you get a plastic colored monkey in your Zucker Und Zimmt (vodka, blackberries, Licor 43, pineapple juice, cinnamon), or Flim Flam (gin, Cynar artichoke liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino, Sambuca Molinari), or The Dame (cognac, cherry juice, lemon, champagne).
While I am not a big mixed drink person, I did sample one and of course it was delicious. The prices are a bit high for LA, but it is worth it. You can’t get much better than that. I am just a tad confused about why they have a no photography policy and why all the bartenders believe they are real mixologists when there are only 2 in the world. You would think that the owners would want people to document a place like this. Bizarre. But still worth the experience.
Cheers from Hollywood!