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