Ecco
(Credit: Jim Pease)
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We know it's hard to keep track of all the spots that seem to pop up nightly, so we've made this handy guide for you. Bookmark it and refresh daily.
New bars and clubs on the block
A guide to the latest venues in the nightlife scene
Compiled by Alexandra Le Tellier, Will Theisen and Jane Pham
January 7, 2009MyHouse
7080 Hollywood Blvd. - Los Angeles323-960-3300
Every guy strives to create the "ultimate bachelor pad", but too often the final product is little more than an Ikea showcase with a mid-sized HDTV, a mismatched comforter set and a medicine cabinet full of AXE products. If your digs do resemble a guest wing at the Playboy Mansion, we applaud you. For everyone else, there's MyHouse, Hollywood empresario David Judaken's latest jaw-dropping project which brings the glamorous comfort of the successful man's home life to your nightlife.
Barney's Beanery Burbank
250 N. First St. - Burbank818-524-2912
The same Route 66 roadhouse vibe of the original West Hollywood location is present here, with an enormous menu featuring over 700 dishes, an impressive selection of happy hour drafts and plenty of screens to watch the game. A notable addition is a comfy lounge area, with couches and coffee tables. One can only imagine how Jim Morrison might have abused these.
The Yard House
800 W. Olympic Blvd. - Los Angeles213-745-9273
If you can't find a beer that you like on tap at the Yard House, then you don't like beer. The L.A. Live location has over 200 brews on draft, and a menu of American fusion cuisine to go with it.
H-Wood
1738 N. Orange - Los Angeles323-462-3663
The short-lived Stork Lounge known for it's iron-clad velvet rope and burly bouncers has been replaced with H-Wood; a bar that’s, ironically, less Hollywood and more relaxed, despite the name. The lounge is still under the helm of Loyal Pennings (who also owns LAX) and John Terzian, but gone is partner Grace Fernandez and taking her place is Amanda Scheer-Demme, who initially designed the space. In layman’s terms, dress in your best if you want in.
Pop Champagne & Dessert Bar
33 E. Union St. - Pasadena626-795-1295
Fortunate for Pasadena residents, Pop Champagne & Dessert bar is at the ready for all late-night cravings. Open as late as 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the bar also features 15 different desserts in addition to many varieties of champagne, dessert wine and artisanal beer. Every week, the house chef whips up three different specials to serve (soon-to-be a daily fixture), in addition to the savory soups and salads that are always available.
Salute Wine Bar
2435 Main St. - Santa Monica310-450-3434
Wine bars are a dime a dozen in Santa Monica, but we take our hats off to Salute Wine Bar. They have a key-card system for for allowing DIY-drinkers two-once, self-serve pours. Plus, a small plates menu for noshing while you toast. It’s in the former Yose space, which was previously Rockenwagner, but let’s cross our fingers it's here to stay.
El Bar
3256 Cahuenga Blvd. - Universal City323-969-1934
The specialty cocktails, extensive tequila list and sangrias should even have the gringos speaking Spanish by the end of the night.
Must Wine Bar
118 W. 5th St - Los Angeles 213-627-1162
A downtown wine bar that caters to locals, the Must is all about affordability. Wines were selected to be accessible, and the food, which includes classics such as chicken pot pie, is reasonably priced from $5 to $8.
The Association
610 S. Main St. - Los AngelesEverything we've come to expect from the burgeoning downtown scene. The lights are dim, the drinks are stiff, and the clientele is classy, but they still came to party. Owner Ashley Joyce brought the carpet all the way from Las Vegas, where it once adorned a genuine casino floor, a perfect touch for a venue that pays its respects to the old guard as it welcomes the next.
The Conga Room
800 W. Olympic Blvd. - Los Angeles213-749-0445
Owned by a group of high-profile celebs, including Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez and Sheila E., the Conga Room's new location at L.A. Live continues to draw big name performers in the world of Latin music.
Cole's
118 E. Sixth Street - Los Angeles213-622-4090
Cedd Moses continued his tradition of taking the old and making it new with the $1.6 million renovation of Cole's. Throughout the renovation process, Moses took every effort to preserve the century-old history of the location, which includes introducing the french dipped sandwich to the hungry masses. Cocktail rockstars Eric Alperin and Sasha Petraske created the drink menu, which features tasteful reinterpretations of classic cocktails such as the original Cosmopolitan and the Hemingway inspired Death in the Afternoon.
Bar Delux
1624 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles323-461-6800
This Cahuenga Corridor whisky bar is a true throwback. You won't find any gimmicks here that you wouldn't have seen in the 1920s. The Kristofer Keith-designed interior is all about art deco, with crystal chandeliers, huge velvet curtains and leather chairs.
Bar Centro at the Bazaar by José Andrés
465 S. La Cienega Blvd - Beverly Hills310-246-5555
It's all right there in the name, really: it's a bar (one long table, actually), located in the center of culinary-artist Jose Andres' big new experiment, the Bazaar. As the most alcohol-centric component to the three-headed monster that is the Bazaar, Bar Centro is the best place to sample Andres' most creative cocktails. The guy's known for playing with his food, but luckily he plays with his drinks, too. Expect fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits, as well as liquid nitrogen and organic emulsifiers. Before you bust out your old chemistry books, emulsion is the mixing of two unblendable liquids. If you're thinking "black and tan," you're on the right track, but take it to the next ten levels.
Remedy Lounge
800 Wilshire Blvd - Los Angeles213-489-1406
Owners Gabriel Morales and Jill Bigelow offer classic American appetizers and an upscale list of wines, bars, and cocktails for that post-work rendezvous.
ESPN Zone Restaurant and Sports Bar
1011 S. Figueroa St., ste B101 - Los Angeles213-766-7070
You'll feel like you're walking around Sportscenter, without having to look at Chris Berman. While the Lakers, Clippers or Kings handle business at the Staples Center, you're across the parking lot at L.A. Live handling a smokehouse burger and a giant beer.
Lucky Strike Lanes at LA Live
800 Olympic Blvd. - Los Angeles213-542-4880
For its L.A. Live location, Lucky Strike brought more of the big screens, atmospheric lighting and designer art that has made their lanes so successful, from the original Hollywood location to Canada. Get things rolling at one of the gorgeous 18 lanes by the lounge, or take your game exclusive at the Luxe suite, where you'll have four private lanes and a separate bar. If only beer pong were this sexy...
Dakota Lounge
1026 Wilshire Blvd. - Santa Monica310-393-8200
L.A.-by-way-of-Hawaii lovebirds Alex Fieglein and Sabrina Roark pick up where Temple Bar left off, offering good food, drinks and conversation. And of course, great music.
Ecco Lounge
1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles323-464-2065
When you think environmental responsibility, the Cahuenga Corridor isn’t the first place that springs to mind. But it might soon be thanks to Ecco, the new ultra lounge in the space formerly occupied by Tokio, which mixes eco-chic and Hollywood nightlife under one roof. That’s right: Ecco (pronounced like echo) is green gone Hollywood.
Dragon Room at Katsuya Glendale
702 Americana Way - Glendale818-244-5900
Apparently the folks at SBE decided Katsuya Glendale was too big for one restaurant, or perhaps they just needed a more loungey atmosphere to show off their cutting-edge mixology methods. Whatever the reason, the second floor has become the Dragon Room, a more intimate nightlife spot.
Hudson Bistro
6533 Hollywood Blvd. - Los Angeles323-467-4874
This upscale East Coast-inspired sports bar on Hollywood Boulevard has eight 42-inch plasma TVs, a full bar and a gourmet menu including “Heaven” and “Hell” sections to help those looking to make or break their diets. The best part? It's open till 4 a.m. on weekend nights!
Bardot
1735 N. Vine St. - Los Angeles323-462-1307
Remember the Moroccan-inspired Spider Club and the days when it only let A-list celebrities, socialites, and power players through its doors? The club above Avalon certainly had its run, with a "90210" cameo to boot, but it was ready for a change. The venue has made a comeback as Bardot, a '20s-style glam escape with Avalon owner John Lyons at the helm, along with OG co-owner Steve Adelman and Jason Scoppa and Alexi Yulish, the dudes who brought jazz and rock to Green Door. And seriously: It's even better than before.
City Sip
2150 Sunset Blvd. - Echo Park213-483-9463
Que Syrah, Syrah at this charming Echo Park wine bar that's as "in the know" as the people that live in its zip code. Rather than carrying varietals that’ll dent your pocketbook, City Sip specializes in value-priced boutique wines that are tasty, unique and have a story to tell (for instance, it carries wine created by dog enthusiasts that donate a percentage of their proceeds to animal charities).
24K
7929 Santa Monica Blvd. - West Hollywood323-822-0700
Taking over West Hollywood bar Seven is 24K, an ultra lounge that lives up to its name. From the $100-per-gallon paint that’s been mixed with real gold to the 24K Martini that’s infused with gold flakes (it’ll cost you $75), this lounge is a leprechaun’s dreams come true.
The Mission Cantina
5946 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles323-469-3130
From the owner of Bowery and Delancey comes this vintage, church-style tequila bar with specialty margaritas like grapefruit-lavender and fresh apricot.
Apple Lounge
665 N. Robertson Blvd. - West Hollywood310-358-9191
Party girl extraordinaire/NYC transplant Alison Melnick is giving L.A. a bite of "the Big Apple" in the form of an ultra-exclusive, basement lounge where she says actors, models and socialites can "just floss and look at all the pretty faces.”
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