Do my nails look good with this cocktail?
(Credit: istock/RichVintage)
Beauty and the booze
Where to primp and sip under one roof
By Alexandra Le Tellier, Metromix
April 30, 2008l.a. vie l'orange hand + foot
638 1/2 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood310-289-2501
Like the lowercase letters of its name, this hidden salon off Robertson Boulevard is understated. Reminiscent of a Shabby Chic catalog, there are white upholstered chairs, wooden armoires, vintage-esque ceiling fans and pretty floral displays. Come on a Wednesday or Thursday evening, when the spa is open until 9 p.m.; you’ll be spoiled with free wine and champagne cocktails made with unique mixers like hibiscus juice while you get your treatment in a personal cabana.
Frank Studio
2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica310-998-1920
We’ll be frank: This salon is one of the best places to get your nails done on the Westside, which explains why so many celebrities come here. The cherry on top? Free martinis for all on Saturdays.
Beauty Bar
1638 Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles323-464-7676
Decked out like a retro beauty salon, complete with bubblegum-pink walls and a row of vintage hairdryers, this hip Hollywood joint is actually the only spot on this list that’s primarily a bar—but that doesn’t mean that the manicures are any less fab. Order one of the bar’s signature beauty-themed cocktails (Prell, Platinum Blonde) Thursday through Saturday between 6 p.m and 11 p.m. for $10 and you’ll get a ticket for a free manicure and/or henna tattoo. Just be sure to tip.
Nite Spa
490 Santa Clara, Venice310-396-5122
Like Beauty Bar, Nite Spa has a kitschy pink motif, DJs, booze and late hours (it's open till midnight). But this Venice spot, which looks like a house, is a spa first and foremost. You can get waxed, massaged, polished and made up, but the best thing on the spa menu is the 75-minute antioxidant AfterParty facial.
Dashing Diva
27 N Raymond Ave., Pasadena626-449-3482
This Pasadena nail salon hits you over the head with its girly theme, from the white-and-magenta color scheme to the beaded curtains to the nail polish “cake” from which guests pick their mani/pedi colors. Dashing Diva has a tea bar, but it’s really all about the free cosmos on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Best to make a reservation if you’re coming in the evening.) Expect to see groups of giggling girls, though the occasional man comes in for the racer’s manicure.
Peponi Nail & Skin Care Lounge
853 Lincoln Blvd., Venice310-450-7195
Tucked away in a little yellow house, this charming salon offers customers a complimentary cocktail with every service and it's strong too! Manicures can be inconsistent, but after martini sipping, you don’t tend to notice until long after you’re gone.
Alexandra Le Tellier is Bars & Clubs editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
With additional reporting from Michelle Lanz, George Ducker and Cole Godvin.
With additional reporting from Michelle Lanz, George Ducker and Cole Godvin.
