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