The first two adjectives that pop into my head as I walk into Voda (1449 2nd St., Santa Monica) are classy and swank. Hidden away from the cheesy mob scene that is the 3rd st. Promenade, Voda is obviously a jewel in the rough. What you see is what you get when you enter through the unmarked wood door, but it’s a lot of bar for a little space.
The first thing I notice is that I don’t have to yell to be heard. That and the fact that just about everyone has at least one leather clothing item on. Despite the Hollywood dress code, the vibe in the bar is very relaxed and intimate. The crowd is definitely...
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Everyone knows the proper way to celebrate St. Patrick's day is to find your way to the nearest Irish pub and a pint of Guiness. As soon as the clock hits five I'm off to O'Briens Pub on Main (2941 Main St., Santa Monica) for mine.
I'm greeted by a huge, green glad, line that winds around the corner. As I pass the front door a guy on the patio tries to bribe the bouncer into letting his friends inside. The rest of the block is practically deserted. It's barely 5:30 and already O'Briens is the place to be.
The unmistakeable sound of Celtic music follows me to the back entrance where I slip...
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If one were to equate the Sunset Strip to the Vegas strip for a moment, then North would be a great example of a bar “off the strip”. In other words it isn’t affected by the constant flux of tourists and development that the rest of the Strip is subjected to, yet it’s as popular as ever. A gem in the rough, no doubt.
Tucked behind the Laugh Factory on Sunset, the entrance to North discloses little about the inside. With a smoky wood veneer and light blue booths you feel comfortable and removed from the harsh Sunset traffic immediately. Although the bar is completely underground, it feels...
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El Carmen is a launch pad on any given Thursday. You come here first for the strong drinks and moody lighting before hitting the bigger Hollywood clubs. When you walk inside the dark entrance it looks like a scene from Desperado. Paintings of Mexican wrestlers adorn the ceiling and a mummified Cobra sits in a bottle behind the bar.
Tables are reserved for dinner, so just grab a seat and order some fresh nachos to go with your margarita. The trademark Hollywood waitress/actress/model types will bring it over with a smile. Conveniently placed mirrors at either side of the room make it easy to keep...
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If you’re young, single, and looking for love, look no further than Lush (2020 Wilshire Blvd.) By 10:30 on a Friday night the club is packed. The ratio is heavily in favor of the men, with a crowd that’s roughly two thirds female. Small packs of nubile young UCLA women wander the leopard print walkways, while the guys hang back and scope the dance floor, both excited and anxious.
Sometime during the night, the Disco Pimps don their gigantic Afros and jump- start the club. They’re not exactly musical geniuses, but it doesn’t really matter. No one is here to see the band anyway. In fact,...
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