A good lounge is a mix between an entertainment venue, social club and bar, which allows people who want to mingle as well as couples who only have eyes for each other to have a good time. Some offer live entertainment, a diverse food menu, and a wide selection of signature cocktails, while others rely on a DJ, snacks, and serve just beer and wine. Either way, if customers keep coming, they must be doing something right. Presented in alphabetical order, here are the top ten lounges in Los Angeles.
A good lounge is a mix between an entertainment venue, social club and bar, which allows people who want to mingle as well as couples who only have eyes for ... more
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1
Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046 / 323-650-0575
Just a swagger away from the quietly chic and Old Hollywood-style Château Marmont hotel, this discreetly tucked-away but very hot bar caters to New Hollywood and those who want (or pretend) to be a part of that scene. Dress up, queue up and prepare for the once-over by the door staff. If you get the nod, you’ll descend into the swarm of poseurs, have a martini and maybe, if you can find a seat and flag down a server, sup on such gourmet bar snacks as vegetable summer rolls or a full-fledged porterhouse. New York chef Carolynn Spence has beefed up the menu a bit with the likes of French onion soup, gnocchi, lamb shank, and a popular bar burger. The hip space, bathed in sexy red light, rocks till well past midnight.
2
Citrus at Social
Social Hollywood, 6525 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028 / 323-337-9797
Thanks to restaurateur extraordinaire Jeffrey Chodorow, Michel Richard is back in Los Angeles after a ten-year absence. Chodorow has had the restaurant at his club, Social Hollywood, completely remodeled to welcome the cooking of one of the pioneers of French-California cuisine. To harmonize with the name of Richard's first restaurant, a nod to its cross street, Citrus Avenue, the room is in light green and yellow tones. It is now one open space with the original vaulted ceiling, with bronze-colored mirrors, drapes, comfortable chairs and banquettes. To execute his culinary vision, Richard, who remains in his Washington, DC kitchen, had chosen French chef Rémi Lauvand, who has now left the restaurant. The gastronomic trip starts with appetizers like the carbonara where the pasta has been replaced with long thin strands of cuttlefish in a shellfish sauce, and the barely cooked lobster with "beluga" pearls made of Israeli couscous infused with black squid ink. Don't confuse the chicken faux gras (pâté) with foie gras, and order the onion tart unadorned from the selection of small plates. Avoid the gougères (cheese puffs) but save room for the bread and Vermont butter. To distinguish the luxurious burger, it is prepared with lobster (a tad too dry); or opt for the monkfish served with a light duck jus. Take your time eating the tender, tasty short ribs, accompanied by french fries that see two cooking sessions in clarified butter. Colorado lamb and duck à l'orange are also meat options. And don’t miss the Swiss chard gnocchi. Presentation is paramount: giant tweezers from a medical supplies store are employed to help assemble the plates. Do not forget that Richard began his career making pastries in his native France. If you are a soufflé fan, order the orange version and ask yourself how it stays aloft on the plate. The vacherin takes the form of a mushroom in grass (pistachio sauce) while the kit kat bar, a chocolate croustillant, is so light and crispy that you’ll be tempted to order seconds. Banana and passion fruit flavor not two but just one sorbet, creating an interesting combination of the diverse fruits. The wine list is very international, and even includes selections from Lebanon.
3
Firefly
11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 / 818-762-1833
The front of Firefly is a sexy library lounge with comfy sofas, deep red walls and gilt-framed mirrors. The dining area is a covered patio with a central fireplace, some cozy tables separated by curtains and scores of candles. It's a truly alluring place to hang out and the food is worth the trip. Starters include sensational tiny green olives, breaded and deep-fried, served with garlicky aïoli. A grilled radicchio salad with frisée, blue cheese and walnuts is quite good, and the tomato bisque with a big Gruyère crouton is a marvelous opener. The stellar burger (with pancetta, blue cheese, onions, avocado and aïoli) and the croque monsieur are massive, and the skinny pommes frites are to die for. Filet mignon in peppercorn sauce and pan-seared salmon in an intense parsley sauce are also good choices off a short menu.
4
Foxtail
9077 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 / 310-859-8369
From the same restaurant group that energized the sushi scene in Los Angeles with its two Katsuya restaurants (Brentwood and Hollywood) comes Foxtail, in the heart of West Hollywood. Though its Santa Monica Boulevard address is hard to spot, you’ll ease right into this comfortable and elegant Art Deco-style supper club---it reminds us somewhat of Maxim's in Paris and Biba in London. The dark walls are highlighted by tones of emerald green, copper, pink and silver, and shine with touches of brass throughout the low-ceilinged bar area and dining room. Make sure to grab a house cocktail created by mixologist Ryan Magarian before dinner, or later upstairs in the lounge where you can dance away the effects. To stay on par with the rebirth of the brasserie-bistro cuisine, chef Antonia Lofaso, who spent six years at Spago, has composed a delectable menu with strong French influences, seen in the soupe à l'oignon, frisée salad and moules marinières. These dishes are offered with more modern versions of tuna tartare (one of the best we've tasted) and lobster ravioli that layers its components. Continue with the half roasted chicken with Yukon potato gratin, and the tender and tasty steak frites (a hefty $42, but this is Angus filet and truffled fries). Let us not forget the seared big eye tuna served à la Niçoise. For lighter appetites, opt for the croque monsieur or madame or the chopped salad, which can be accompanied by fresh lobster for an extra charge. Desserts are in sync with the European style of the menu and include Mandarin panna cotta, fresh berry cobbler served with fromage blanc ice cream and lavender pot de crème (a must). Though the wine list is short, it carries a $2,000 Château Mouton Rothschild and a $2,500 Methuselah (six liters) of Moët Champagne.
5
The Kress
6608 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 / 323-785-5000
Once a Kress department store, then the flagship of Frederick's of Hollywood for 59 years, this 1934 landmark building is ready to make history again. Club owner Mike Viscuso took over the space and with designer David Krumins spared no expense in restoring its Art Deco grandeur. Viscuso named his first Los Angeles venture in honor of the original owner, Samuel Kress, whose stores were known for their fine architecture. Each of its five levels has a different feel, but the rooftop terrace, complete with cabanas, deserves a special mention---it's one of L.A's best. The street-level restaurant is quite large with 220 seats, with booths and tables surrounding a bar occupying the center of the room, and a mezzanine dedicated to sushi. A red light fixture cascading from the ceiling is the focal point of the room done in black and gold tones. Now the chef steps onto the stage. Troy Thompson had to create dishes to match the sexy décor and atmosphere. Knowing him from jer-né in the Marina with his signature fusion-style, that he aptly named "inspirational cuisine," we did not doubt the result. Choose from hot and cold appetizers, salads and a daily-changing bento box with five starters. Next up are the "hot rocks" and grilled items, the vegetables, fish, meats and game, plus side dishes. Add to that an eight-course tasting menu priced at $100, all served on impressive dishware. After us, it is now your turn to enjoy the Kumamoto oysters with yuzu granité, the sweet-and-sour shrimp cocktail, the Thai beef tamales, the oxtail-and-foie gras terrine, a warm bean sprouts salad with crispy rice crackers, or the grilled quail. A tip: If you order the Wagyu beef on the hot rocks be aware that it already comes medium rare so don't let it sit too long if this is your preferred level for meat. Vegetarians may opt for the fresh tofu with English peas and pea sprouts, while meat lovers can go for the Peking duck, Kurobuta steak or tandoori spiced lamb rack. The whitefish is curry-dusted, while the snapper is braised. If you enjoy sweets, do not skip pastry chef Martin Duron's vanilla panna cotta napoleon, organic strawberry tart, soy milk tapioca pudding, or kiwi sorbet (a must). For fun, order the chocolate fountain. The brief, global wine list is complemented by sakés and cocktails.
6
MINX Restaurant & Lounge
300 Harvey Dr., Glendale, CA 91206 / 818-242-9191
quipped with a sail-covered patio, sleek stonework and rowboat-shaped lanterns, this Hollywood-style restaurant and lounge energizes the 818. Chef Joseph Antonishek has now left the stoves of this eatery offering Asian-influenced cooking, where one may begin with juicy robata skewers and “kichigai” (crazy) sushi rolls in combinations like Kobe-eel and scallop-bacon-potato crisp. Top appetizers include cornmeal-crusted Fanny Bay oysters, served in red curry-filled shells; and vegetable ravioli in red pepper sauce, paired with an oozing goat cheese-filled squash blossom. Main courses are more daring: juicy pepper-crusted pork tenderloin comes with caramelized cauliflower flan and ginger-spiked red cabbage wontons; five-spice duck breast joins a duck confit spring roll, crisp-crusted foie gras and a sweet corn pancake. Intriguing vegetarian options are highlighted by a “vegetarian box” that includes a tomato cappuccino and wild mushroom and Humboldt Fog goat cheese bread pudding. For Sunday brunch, try the eggs Benedict with lobster sopes and green chili hollandaise. For dessert, skip the surprisingly unexciting wild berry and tomatillo crisp and punctuate your meal with an “ultra rich” brownie with caramelized bananas and dulce de leche ice cream.
7
The Penthouse at Huntley Santa Monica Beach
Huntley Santa Monica Beach, 1111 Second St., Santa Monica, CA 90403 / 310-393-8080
When we hear the word “penthouse,” we usually expect a view, and indeed there are great views from the eighteenth floor perch of this restaurant at the Huntley hotel. During the day, sit on the west side and your breakfast or lunch will be served with a view of the Santa Monica beach and palm trees. At dinner time, from the east side, your first course will be the glittering lights of the City of Angels. Done in white and gold tones, with silver sculptures, mirrors, Venetian lamp fixtures, a fireplace, and tables and booths separated by sheer white curtains, the dining room is comfortable, even though the noise level can get very high due to the proximity of the bustling bar. Michael Reidt has departed and Seth Greenburg has assumed the executive chef position. The cuisine is in harmony with the atmosphere---casual yet stylish with a California twist. Try the avocado crème with salmon tartare and red pepper sorbet, the steak tartare with mango-ginger chutney, or the artichoke soup with lemon and caramelized onions for appetizers. Continue with the perfectly cooked fresh scallops on a bed of diced asparagus and turnips, the cinnamon-infused halibut, the braised veal cheek or the Kurobuta pork on roasted yams and dried cherries. You will also find a selection of steaks reasonably priced, as well as an interesting wine list and smiling service.
8
SIMON L.A.
Sofitel Los Angeles, 8555 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048 / 310-358-3979
Visitors to the restaurant at the totally revamped Sofitel hotel may catch themselves exclaiming "Wow!" more than once, even before they enter. Look at the glass structure in front of the façade, the lobby, and STONE ROSE Lounge that you pass on the way to chef Kerry Simon’s Los Angeles restaurant---he has another one in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Simon, who in his spare time replaces his cooking utensils with an electric guitar, has chosen rock music to elevate the ambience and attract a young and hip Angeleno clientele. The high-walled dining room is elegantly divided with curved, cocoon-like see-through screens making most tables semi-private booths; it is lit with dark red lamps attached from the ceiling by a swirl of steel. Simon brings his approach to Modern American cuisine to the City of Angels, adding a few creations to his classics. Some of his signatures dishes are the tuna dynamite (tuna with lump crab and red chili aïoli), and the wood-fired pizzas (the beef carpaccio version is a must for the table). Other appetizers can be salads, all made with organic vegetables, the crab cake or yellowtail carpaccio. Prime meats comprise a large share of the entrées, or you may choose from the roasted halibut, the wild Pacific salmon, Simon’s special meatloaf, the extra-tender braised short ribs and the pastas. Try the fries or onion rings for side dishes. The end of your meal can be very sweet, especially if you choose the “junk food sampler” composed of caramelized popcorn, cotton candy, coconut puffs, rice crispy treats, chocolate cupcakes, a vanilla milk shake and donuts. The wine list is elaborate with a large selection of California and French wines, at reasonable prices. The outdoor patio, the private dining rooms and the chef’s table are other great seating options whether you come for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
9
Whiskey Blue
W Los Angeles Westwood, 930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024 / 310-443-8211
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your pick-up lines as you wait to get into Whiskey Blue at W Los Angeles Westwood. The popular lounge from Rande Gerber draws crowds that are dressed to kill. Once allowed past the velvet ropes and after ascending the back-lit steps, patrons are greeted with large, funky rooms decorated with modern and Polynesian furnishings, four-poster beds complete with privacy shades, a smoking patio and a DJ. Vinyl Vixen Thursdays feature female DJs and other prominent ladies. Bottle service is available and there’s a short bar menu (sliders, calamari), but bigger appetites can be sated at NINETHIRTY next door, outside by the hotel pool or upstairs via room service.
10
X bar
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, CA 90067 / 310-551-3332
Located in the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, X bar offers a variety of spaces for lounging, including a 15-seat bar, white leather booths, and an outdoor patio with a ten-foot screening wall, fire pits, and canopied day beds. The drinks menu offers an extensive selection of beer, wine, spirits and signature cocktails. Those looking for a bite can customize their own burgers or choose from small plates like Camembert-caramelized onion quesadillas with apple chutney.
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