Boutique lounges market an atmosphere of exclusivity and elegance, invoking the artistic incantations of late-night joints from a bygone Hollywood era. Here we countdown LA’s most intimate and intriguing swath of hidden boîtes.
10. Les Deux
1638 N. Las Palmas Ave.
(323) 462-7674
Tue-Sat 9pm-2am
The much-hyped weekend festivities at this sexed-up baroque palace occasionally attract the wrong type of Paris, but partygoers appreciate how this joint has redefined Hollywood nightlife. Inside the candelabra- and curtain-clad villa, two bar-flanked rooms keep patrons dancing all night, though some sail through the crowds to reach the second-story VIP lounge. The Dolce Group’s proprietors, Lonnie Moore and Mike “Big Brother” Malin, are often seen at their latest hotspot stargazing on their pepper-treed patio.
Click here for more info on Les Deux Los Angeles.
9. Parc
6683 Hollywood Blvd.
(323)465-6200
Tues – Thurs 6pm-12am, Fri – Sat 6pm-2am
Nestled in a cozy garden beneath a tree decked in globular strings of lights, Parc’s botanical elegance lures A-list creatures on the prowl for exotic foods and a staggering wine list. If you decide to go early for food, small tasting plates stand in for main courses that are easily burned off once the DJ starts spinning around 10 pm. The specialty Joie de Vive cocktail made with organic açai liquor will have you climbing their 65-year-old tree in no time.
Click here for more info on Parc Los Angeles.
8. The Edison
108 W. 2nd St. #101
(213) 613-0000
Looking to light up? As the first building in Los Angeles to generate its own electricity nearly a century ago, the parties at The Edison nevertheless start in the basement. Maintaining an old world vibe through faded Electric Company murals, old-fashioned turbines, and amber-hued lighting, this subterranean gem evokes images of grandfatherly speakeasies. Draws include an extensive Scotch menu and eclectic cocktails, like the namesake Edison mix with pear-infused liquor and lavender honey. Midnight munchies may make you consider supper club favorites like the mac n’ cheese and deviled eggs. And while there is a dance floor, please don’t let us catch you doing the electric slide.
Click here for more info on The Edison Los Angeles.
7. Whiskey Blue
930 Hilgard Ave
(310) 443-8232
Daily 9pm-2am
This luxe, modern lounge, owned by mogul Rande Gerber (Cindy Crawford’s husband), is located inside the W Hotel and laden with hip, decorative touches. Maintaining relevance in fickle lalaland isn’t easy, but Gerber hires models and actresses as celebrity DJs to amp up the sex-appeal, and Sophie Monk and Caroline D’Amore have posed as turntable trixies that tear up the scene. Try the luscious Creamsicle Martini before dropping your first pickup line at this infamously bustling singles scene.
Click here for more info on Whiskey Blue Los Angeles.
6. Hyde
8029 W. Sunset Blvd.
(323) 656-4933
Daily 9pm-2am
This Hollywood hideout hits the gilded nail on the head of intimate lounges. Sexy gold light showers the room in a burnished glow, while the striking black fixtures, tables, booths, and sofas visually expand the tiny quarters. Owners Brent Bolthouse and Sam Nazarian attract A-listers with a sexy, personable setting, keeping two separate rooms for the haves and have nots, and only the luckiest beauties can enter the hallowed halls of the exclusive area.
Click here for more info on Hyde Los Angeles.
5. Opera
1650 Schrader Blvd.
(323) 960-3300
Thu-Sun 10pm-2am
After wading through the swamp of paparazzi, David Judaken’s new hot spot hits a perfect note. Through the dramatic doorway of swirling fog lies a dark, dramatically oak-lined room and a smoking patio surrounding a sunken central dance floor. Artistic touches line every wall for those inclined to have eyes that meander beyond the people-gawking, but the space’s cramped size doesn’t leave ample room for exploration. The hot DJs du jour buoy the club’s name on a sea of gossip, especially on Alliance-run Thursday nights.
Click here for more info on Opera Los Angeles.
4. Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset Blvd.
(323) 650-0575
Mon-Sat 6pm-2am; Sun 7pm-2am
Sultry and sophisticated, Bar Marmont has matured to be more than Chateau Marmont’s little sidekick, offering a welcome contrast to the frenzied, hyper-commercialized spots indigenous to the Sunset Strip. LA’s most stylish faces lounge in one of two bars while the vibe-y music matches a Morroccan-inspired décor. Butterflies embellish the ceiling, while a gamine bar staff mix up the best basics. A simple margarita or mojito is doctored up with Ottoman-style touches that render old tipples fresh and exciting. Naturally, we don’t need to tell you to dress to impress.
Click here for more info on Bar Marmont Los Angeles.
3. Teddy’s
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
(323) 466-7000
Wed-Sat 10pm-2am
The bar for club exclusivity went up a notch after the opening of this boutique bar in the legendary Thompson-Hotel-owned Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, but since power promoters from Alliance have jumped in the fray, the elite lounge has become accessible to John and Jane Doe (provided they’re connected to a A- through C-lister, of course). The tiny space is accented with oversized, comfortable furniture and a forgiving, soft-focus lighting scheme that ensures that everyone is as gorgeous as their neighbor. What’s as impressive as the mile-long list of celebrity clientele? The lounge maintains over two hundred varieties of wine in its cellar and boasts a specialized cognac room.
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