Every real city has a hand full of clubs whose door policy is so absurd that it makes breaking into the Pope’s bedroom in the Vatican seem like a Sunday picnic. But while New York City has tough bouncers that protect the entrance to really cool, unique and genuinely fun places that you want to go to, Los Angeles club owners use the velvet rope to pound their chests and symbolize how successful they are because their line is so long (while inside is empty). The following are the real tough doors in L.A. The places where you either have to pay thousands of dollars in annual membership fees to get in, or where the bouncer can afford to be picky, leaving you wondering what magical world awaits inside the velvet ropes.
Toughest Door in Los Angeles: The Doheny
714 W Olympic Blvd
Ah, The Doheny. This private club owned by 213 Inc. requires an application and membership fees that will set you back $4,950 the first year. And don’t get too comfortable, this place comes with a set of rules very similar to New York’s Milk & Honey: Absolutely No Cell Phone Use, No Brown-Nosing, No Fighting! and even a very L.A. centric rule Red Bull? Don’t Even Think of Ordering It Here. Honestly, these rules make a lot of sense, especially when considering they don’t welcome “celebutantes” like Paris Hilton. The Doheny won’t let just anyone in, which means you most likely will be staying out.
Toughest Door in Los Angeles: The Tea Room at H.Wood
1738 North Orange Drive
Located in an alley across from the front entrance of H.Wood, the reason this L.A. lounge is so tough to get into is because it is only open on Wednesdays. The idea is perfect for L.A., only open one night a week and you will never have to worry about customers. With everyone trying to get in and a door man trying to keep everyone not hip, poorly dressed and desperate out of this dark and sexy lair it’s no wonder The Tea Room has been packed every week (what recession?). The glitter covered baby grand piano serving as the DJ booth is worth rushing the door very early, and the drinks concocted of mixing liquor and tea aren’t bad either.
Toughest Door in Los Angeles: Rooftop Bar at The Standard Downtown
550 South Flower Street
Gorgeous models in bikinis are reason enough for this bar to be as exclusive as it is during the spring and summer, but girls like that aren’t anything new in this city. What makes the Rooftop Bar so desirable are the stunning views of Downtown L.A. The drinks are expensive and the door is tough, but this is the closest Los Angeles has to a tropical getaway so weekends here are always packed with the rich and sexy, fun and fabulous.
Toughest Door in Los Angeles: The Edison
108 W 2nd Street
The Edison is very much like many of the clubs in downtown New York. The inside is cozy and dimly lit, and the line is ferocious and never ending. The Edison has a strict dress code, making the door experience even more exhausting. Because The Edison is gaining popularity every week, more and more people flock to this uber chic bar who don’t understand that this place is about being around other nicely dressed and respectable folk looking to sip on creative cocktails to the wee hours of the morning. These are the people that yell in line, piss off the bouncers and make your experience getting into The Edison even worse. But like most good things, the wait is probably worth it.
Toughest Door in Los Angeles: Skybar
8440 W Sunset Blvd
On a hot Los Angeles day heading to Skybar seems like the best idea in the world. Catch some sun, sip some cocktails and relax before heading out for the evening. But this fantasy is just not what it used to be. While the celebrities have gone elsewhere to tan and drink $12 cocktails, the bouncers don’t seem to have caught on. They are rude, tough, and treat you like you are trying to get in the locker room at The Lakers game. Try as you may to convince these guys that you are the hottest thing in line (you probably are) expect to wait in line just to make SkyBar feel like they did 2 years ago.
