Spotlight on: Villa

Photos:

Villa doesn’t have a velvet rope. Instead it has a big, heavy door, and you most likely won't get in—even if you name-drop. In fact, the valet won’t even park your car until the discerning doorman has given the thumbs-up.

Those lucky enough to gain entrance to this 140-capacity-club, which prefers Top 40 and hip-hop on the dance floor, are whisked into a space that feels like a Hollywood Hills mansion, complete with a library of old books.  Most of the patrons—power players, trust-fund kids, hot girls in their Louboutins—seem to already know each other; and if they don’t, they’ve certainly seen their movies (Jamie Foxx), watched them on TV (Kevin Connolly) or read about them in the rags (Paris Hilton, Avril Lavigne).

The staff here is just as stunning as the crowd. Cocktail waitresses, dressed in vintage-style riding jackets and short shorts, have tongues wagging, and the vest-clad bartenders keep a steady crowd around the bar.

Far from minimalist, the club is full of unique details. Huge buffalo and bear busts are mounted above the bar, and there’s a human-size birdcage set into the wall. The second floor houses white couches and even a "bed," which can be pushed out like a stage and suspended over the dance floor. The best part: a white-tailed deer butt mounted above a door frame.  

The history: Villa is located in the space that used to house Monroe's, but the bar itself is rumored to have been a speakeasy during Prohibition.

The pedigree: Owner Reza Roohi was the visionary behind SBE’s most high-profile projects (such as Katsuya) before leaving to start his own nightlife enterprise. He brought with him celeb-wranglers Chuck Pacheco and Vincent Laresca (best known as "Chuck and Vinny") as co-owners as well as Stephan Fernandez, and Skyler Reeves.

Breaking the rules: You know how most clubs won't let anyone inside until there's enough of a scene outside to intrigue people passing by? At Villa, you won't find such a line snaking around the building, as to preserve its hideaway vibe. As Heidi Klum would say: "You’re either in, or you're out."

Click here for Villa's address, phone number and website.

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