Cahuenga Corridor nightlife guide | Metromix Los Angeles

Cahuenga Corridor nightlife guide

Where Hollywood clubbers, indie kids and punks party in harmony

By Amir Kenan

Special to Metromix
August 9, 2007

Cahuenga Corridor nightlife guide
Club kids invade the Corridor (Credit: Jennifer Jacobs)

Looking for a pocket of Hollywood nightlife, sans pesky, wax museum-going tourists and 5-for-$10 T-shirts? Cahuenga Corridor, that stretch of bars and clubs just off the Hollywood Walk of Fame where a diverse crowd of Hollywood club-lovers comes to escape the tourists, Scientologists and Scientologist-tourists, has never been more happening. Sports bars, trendy zen dens, sketchy gay bars, places to get all gussied up whilst getting sloshed—they're all here, as is the smell of bacon-wrapped hot dogs, tantalizing the Urban Outfitted crowds trapped behind neverending velvet ropes.

Wonderland Nightclub

Wonderland Nightclub

1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd - Hollywood

Mushrooms not included

Capitol City

Capitol City

1615 Cahuenga Blvd. - Hollywood
323-465-1750

Gastropub with a side of class

Bar Delux

Bar Delux

1624 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-461-6800

Placing a superlative in your title is risky business. If you're product is worth it, you have an Incredible Hulk-like success, but it can go horribly wrong (see: Crunchwrap Supreme). Questionable spelling aside, Bar Delux is a hit thanks to seasoned veterans Kristofer Keith, who designed the bar, and the Foundry chef Eric Greenspan. The lounge is heavy on the Art Deco, a style known for its mysterious ability to turn men into gentlemen and women into starlets. Cocktail standouts include the Spicy Dom, made with Don Julio Blanco, agave, lime juice and pickled jalapenos.

Ecco Lounge

Ecco Lounge

1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-464-2065

When you think environmental responsibility, the Cahuenga Corridor isn’t the first place that springs to mind. But it might soon be thanks to Ecco, the new ultra lounge in the space formerly occupied by Tokio, which mixes eco-chic and Hollywood nightlife under one roof. That’s right: Ecco (pronounced like echo) is green gone Hollywood.

Beauty Bar

Beauty Bar

1638 Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-464-7676

Retrofitted with mid-'60s salon gear, Beauty Bar is a glittery, mod tribute to all things feminine-offering in-house manicures and specialty cocktails with sassy names like the "Platinum Blonde." Which, given the bar's proximity to the glamorous stars lining the Hollywood Walk of Fame, perfectly suits the hip 20-something clientele.

Shag

Shag

1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Hollywood
323-464-5662

Formerly club Comcorde, this chic, expansive L.A. nightspot features ornate interiors (think Old Hollywood glitz) and an even more ornate clientele. Shag also has a swanky restaurant and a large smoking patio, for those who like to eat and/or kill themselves in style.

La Velvet Margarita Cantina

La Velvet Margarita Cantina

1612 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-469-2000

The food’ll do at this Hollywood Cantina, but it’s the margaritas, velvet Elvises and Mexican Day-of-the-Dead-like gothic décor that are the real draw. The menu serves up Mexican standards with California spin for the hip under-30 crowd.

Citizen Smith

Citizen Smith

1600 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-461-5001

To say that Citizen Smith has a bar scene would be a colossal understatement. This trendier than thou, high-end comfort food haven may boast tasty sliders, chicken and waffles, and frozen hot chocolate (ripped off from Serendipity in NYC), but the true attraction is the beautiful crowd and wild gothic decor.

Hotel Cafe

Hotel Cafe

1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-461-2040

An intimate venue for the next big singer-songwriter, Hotel Café has booked acts like Rilo Kiley and John Mayer. The club recently began serving food along with their drinks, so come for Death Cab for Cutie, stay for the quesadillas.

Cabana Club

Cabana Club

1429 Ivar Ave. - Los Angeles
323-463-0005

Order a drink pool-side or Lohan-side.

Burgundy Room

Burgundy Room

1621 1/2 Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-465-7530

A dark and punkish dive amidst the Hollywood hoo-ha.

The Spotlight

The Spotlight

1601 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-467-2425

A dive bar for the Hollywood crowd.

The Room

The Room

1626 N. Cahuenga Blvd. - Los Angeles
323-462-7196

The chillaxed Cahuenga Corridor hideaway is still money, baby.

Amir Kenan is contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.

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PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO GALLERY

Party pics: Ecco Lounge

Party pics: Ecco Lounge

Green lifestyle invades Hollywood nightlife

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