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