I'm normally afraid of losing my way in Downtown L.A., what with all the one-way streets and tent cities on the horizon. Thankfully, it wasn't hard to find
Tranquility Base, a new lounge that’s had bloggers buzzing with anticipation. In fact, I spotted its purple-lit windows—which then changed to blue to red to green—from two blocks away. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought it was a Cirque du Soleil after-hours club.
It wasn’t much different on the inside. With all those rotating LED lights, I felt like I was tripping on acid—except my drink wasn’t yelling at me and I was lucid enough to remember why my boyfriend’s face kept changing colors.
Never mind that the venue’s name refers to the landing site of Apollo 11. The blog reviews I read about the space promised a soothing experience. My inner Bonnaroo was really hoping for some moonbeam-infused martinis served by bartenders clad in magic crystal necklaces. No such luck there, but on the plus side, there were nature stills on the wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and the giant fire pit on the patio reminded me of camping.
Perhaps the most confusing part of the whole place was the so-called VIP lounge. Though it looks nice, you don’t need reservations, bottle service or an Olsen to get seated at one of the tables. Good thing for me, because that’s were I plopped down to eat my body weight in gourmet sliders as ABBA—of all things—played on the speakers.
After all the buzz, I sadly did not find my tranquility at the Base. Perhaps the residents of the Sky Lofts upstairs will have better luck.
Click here for Tranquility Base's address, phone number and website.Robin Lee is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
