| L.A. has a lot to offer. The City of Angels is always | | | | If and when you do get past the red tape, please |
| on-the-go and seemingly driven by glitz and glamour. | | | | don't stare at that hunk that regularly appears on the |
| And if you're willing to fight the traffic, you'll find | | | | pages of US Weekly and People!8. Formosa Cafe: |
| some of the world's best restaurants, shopping and | | | | (West Hollywood) An area classic (served as the |
| attractions - from studio tours to museums, from | | | | location for the movie L.A. Confidential), this |
| beaches to piers.L.A. is the epitome of big, bold and | | | | Chinese-themed dimly-lit hotspot features red leather |
| beautiful - and most of the hobbies in this town | | | | booths and a bar that serves intoxicatingly powerful |
| hover around "the scene". So, if you've had your | | | | martinis. Known as one of the movie industry's |
| share of the beach, head inland to tour the | | | | watering-holes, Formosa features autographed shots |
| star-studded Sunset Boulevard or Melrose Avenue - | | | | of Hollywood stars lining the walls (and you may |
| and keep your eyes out! Since the restaurants and | | | | even be lucky enough to spot Bono or Beck in one |
| bars drive the social hustle n' bustle, you'd better | | | | of the booths). Better for drinks than dinner (and |
| allow yourself that afternoon power-nap if you want | | | | make sure you dress the part to avoid hassles at the |
| to keep up with the cool kids.Remember: the stars | | | | door). Formosa Cafe is located at 7156 Santa Monica |
| come out at night - this is LA after all. This town | | | | Blvd. (between La Brea and Formosa Ave.).9. Privilege: |
| seems to shimmer after sundown... you can rock it | | | | (West Hollywood) Madonna isn't the only one who |
| out on the Sunset Strip or club it up in Hollywood. So, | | | | knows how to reinvent herself. Nightlife guru Sam |
| if you like your bars cool, your martinis dry, and your | | | | Nazarian knows all too well about reinvention. Before |
| restaurants scrumptious, make sure you've got your | | | | its new look and name, this club was known as a |
| wallet, your appetite and your energy for your night | | | | gothic playground called Shelter, a Nordic lounge, a St. |
| on the town Hollywood style.Here's our insiders guide | | | | Tropez-style resort and a mock construction site. |
| to some of the best restaurants and nightlife options. | | | | Now Privilege is a sensuously white-on-white oasis |
| Know this: fights broke out between our editorial | | | | that has the feel of a South Beach resort (sans the |
| staff when somebody foolishly suggested we limit | | | | humidity and sand in between your toes). Saturdays |
| our journeyPod Picks in L.A. to only 10 Restaurants | | | | are tough since Brent Bolthouse (godfather of |
| and 10 Bars. We had so much fun tearing it up in | | | | celebrity events) hosts parties here - so if you can, |
| Tinseltown that we had to go with 15 selections in | | | | opt for a weekday visit. Unless of course, you can |
| each category. Of course, another fight ensued when | | | | get your name on the guest list or finagle past the |
| we tried to assign numbers to all of these hotspots | | | | ear-plugged security guards. Privelege is at 8117 W. |
| -- so cooler heads prevailed and we have since | | | | Sunset Blvd. (and Crescent Heights Blvd.).10. Guy's |
| removed the rankings.Be assured of one thing... all 30 | | | | Bar: (West Hollywood) Ever wonder where the stars |
| of these places are ridiculously fantabulous and | | | | go for karaoke? You'll find the likes of Lindsay Lohan |
| require your own A-game. Maybe even after a night | | | | and Nicole Ritchie at this intimate and exclusive WeHo |
| on the town, you too will understand why even | | | | club. Guy's is a simple mishmash of cushy couches |
| people in the biz think "Entourage" seems so | | | | that's mostly reserved for private industry-related |
| real...Bars & Nightlife1. The Derby: (Los Feliz) | | | | events. However, try this place on a Saturday |
| "Swingers" wannabes hoping to catch a glimpse of | | | | (promoter-run) night when the door policy is a bit |
| Vince Vaughn or Jon Favreau join swing fans in this | | | | more relaxed (and yes, do show some leg!). Guy's |
| hotter-than-ever dance hall. With 1940's decor, live | | | | Bar is located at 8713 Beverly Blvd.11. Tropicana Bar: |
| music (seven nights a week) and dance lessons, your | | | | (Hollywood) Old Hollywood meets New Hollywood at |
| whole posse will have a blast! FYI: The Derby was | | | | this bar in L.A.'s Roosevelt Hotel - where you'll find |
| named a historical/cultural landmark by the Los | | | | stars lounging in style at an outdoor patio that boasts |
| Angeles City Council in May '06. Located at 4500 Los | | | | a 60's vibe with cozy plush seating and a glowing |
| Feliz Blvd. (and Hillhurst Ave.).2. LAX: (Hollywood) | | | | pool. A typical hipster joint, the bar is also a tropical |
| We've all been introduced to DJ AM by Nicole Ritchie | | | | oasis with neon-illuminated palm trees, private |
| - but he now needs no introduction! Known as one of | | | | bungalows, a fireplace and linen-covered chaise |
| the most sought out DJ's, DJ AM (a.k.a Adam | | | | lounges. If you're in no mood to rub elbows with the |
| Golstein) opened this first-class airport-themed lounge | | | | nighttime fashionista/glamourista crowd, Tropicana |
| for all the L.A. jet-setters. Located in the heart of | | | | Bar is ideal for sunny CA afternoons. Just don't |
| Hollywood, this destination hotspot boasts mirrors in | | | | forget to notice the David Hockney blue-wave mural |
| the shape of airplane windows and metal hangar | | | | at the bottom of the pool at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.12. |
| doors. The dance floor often gets cramped (similar to | | | | The Bar: (Hollywood) Not just a bar, The Bar! Nestled |
| dancing in an airplane cabin), but it's tons of fun in a | | | | between a gas station and a seedy hotel (5851 |
| "Mile High Club" kinda way! LAX is located at 1714 Las | | | | Sunset Blvd. and Bronson Ave.), this place is easy to |
| Palmas Ave. (and Hollywood Blvd.).3. Forty Deuce: | | | | miss. But those who find their way to one of |
| (Melrose) The small parking lot across from | | | | Hollywood's hottest revamped watering holes will see |
| Paramount Pictures houses this modern institution | | | | newly renovated digs and eye-catching patrons. |
| that's been transformed into a retro-cool lounge | | | | Some days you'll hear a rock n' roll jukebox blast the |
| reminiscent of a 1920's speakeasy. The parlor-style | | | | sounds of the Ramones, other days you'll find local |
| seating, burlesque shows (strutting to the rhythm of | | | | DJ's spinning old and new pop. For those who feel like |
| a live jazz band) and fine cocktails keep the | | | | a cig, some air or just a break from the sounds, |
| Hollywood crowd happy and partying until closing | | | | cram your way outside to the bamboo-lined smoking |
| time. Located at 5574 Melrose Ave. (at Beachwood | | | | alley.13. Mood: (Hollywood) This 6,500 square foot |
| Dr.).4. Barney's Beanery: (West Hollywood) In L.A., | | | | former office building at 6623 Hollywood Blvd. has |
| most people think that nothing can get better with | | | | been transformed into a tropical Garden of Eden - |
| age. But the city's third-oldest restaurant (located at | | | | think South Pacific! The club's Balinese design boasts |
| 8447 Santa Monica Blvd. near La Cienaga Blvd.) | | | | sensuous colors/textures and in-the-flesh trumpeters |
| manages to prove everyone in Hollywood wrong. | | | | and bongo drummers that accompany the hip-hop |
| Since opening its door nearly 90 years ago, it has | | | | and rap sounds that you'll hear. Stocked with exotic |
| attracted celebrities to regular Joe-shmoes who | | | | treasures made from bamboo, batik and carved |
| crave good ol' comfort food (your choice of 150 | | | | wood, Mood draws sexy young Hollywood socialites |
| different burgers, 65 chilis and 90 omelettes). While | | | | and other glitz and glam from Tinseltown.14. The |
| many may refer to this as just a "dive", the good | | | | Lounge: (West Hollywood) Okay, so here's the |
| food and cheap drinks keep this Beanery jumping | | | | lowdown...This sexy Miami Beach-style club draws a |
| nightly. (Just make sure you bring your I.D. - even | | | | great crowd with its borderline location (WeHo and |
| Johnny Drama got carded here recently!).5. Stone | | | | Beverly Hills) and open-door policy. The Lounge |
| Rose Lounge: (West Hollywood) This recently | | | | boasts a main room with bar and dance floor, and a |
| opened LA version of the NYC nightspot houses | | | | spiral staircase that leads up to a swanky lounge area |
| itself in the redone Sofitel Hotel (at 8555 Beverly | | | | filled with comfy booths and table service. DJ's here |
| Blvd., near La Cienaga Blvd.). A destination for young | | | | spin a dance-party mix of hip-hop, R&B and house |
| starlets (and the guys who want them) boasts a | | | | music favorites. The Lounge is located at 9077 Santa |
| 5,000 square foot lounge and outdoor patio. While it's | | | | Monica Blvd. (and Doheny Dr.).15. Key Club: (West |
| not your usual L.A. nightlife scene, this laid-back | | | | Hollywood) A state-of-the-art live music venue |
| atmosphere with refined martinis and the outside fire | | | | (located at 9039 Sunset Blvd. and Doheny Dr.) with |
| pit cabanas are well worth visiting.6. Social Hollywood: | | | | futuristic audio, video and lighting technologies, Key |
| (Hollywood) What's old is new again! This place used | | | | Club is one of WeHo's most popular spots. The VIP |
| to be the massive Hollywood Athletic Club and now | | | | area downstairs, called the Plush Lounge, is typically |
| boasts a lounge, restaurants, games rooms with | | | | crammed with the Hollywood "It" crowd. A full |
| PlayStations and Xboxes, a screening room and a | | | | restaurant and menu is also available on the second |
| private club. The Moroccan-inspired venue features | | | | floor (reserving a table there is the secret to actually |
| food that has been strong right off the bat and a | | | | getting in on busy nights). Key Club features a few |
| social scene which has won over the cool kids. | | | | bars and plenty of ways to get your drink on - a |
| Located at 6526 Sunset Blvd. (at Schrader Blvd.).7. | | | | perfect place to either start or end your night out on |
| Sky Bar: Tagged as one of L.A.'s hottest nightclub | | | | the Sunset is the only place you need to visit for |
| spots since the day it opened, Sky Bar is open, airy | | | | information on the trendiest bars and restaurants, the |
| and makes you feel like you're floating up in the | | | | most luxurious hotels, and the most exclusive parties |
| clouds atop the Mondrian hotel (located at 8440 | | | | and shops for discriminating travelers. Visit for the |
| Sunset Blvd.). Boasting some of the most beautiful | | | | lowdown on where to go in Atlanta, New York, |
| views in all of L.A. (along with its trees, pool and | | | | Miami, LA and other major cities around the world, |
| candlelight) and the cities most fashionable set - | | | | and listing to our monthly travel podcast for the best |
| please don't let the long lines and bouncers deter you. | | | | in upscale travel and entertainment. |