451476 Tue Oct 16 21:13:33 -0700 2007 21 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3041459 Have a friend making his first trip to LA this weekend. Getting hotel rooms in downtown LA. Taking in the UCLA / CAL football game Sat afternoon going to hang out with the boys. We are both single(heterosexual) professional businessmen but still like to cut loose occasionally. Have heard that downtown LA is starting to change and be more attractive to go out on the town. Need some suggestions on where to dine have cocktails, happening spots. Or do we need to go to the old reliable areas of town. Would appreciate any feedback Tue Oct 16 21:13:33 -0700 2007 135255 P Town 1 3041494 The Edison is worth checking out. Tue Oct 16 21:34:40 -0700 2007 3041459 11583 ipsedixit 2 3041685 Yup or maybe 7 Grand. Or both. Don't forget to dress nice -- E has a dress code. Wed Oct 17 01:01:23 -0700 2007 3041494 12909 Hershey Bomar 3 3044361 Wear a collared shirt. Wed Oct 17 15:54:19 -0700 2007 3041685 18613 waterisgood 2 3087150 I agree --The Edison is great --very cool atmosphere. Thu Nov 01 14:28:23 -0700 2007 3041494 139510 jdsoda 1 3042863 Edison is worth a check-out (the dress code becomes more stringent as the night goes on and the place gets more crowded). Seven Grand & the Standard Downtown are also nice. Bonaventure Brewing is also going for a hipper crowd. The new place that opened is Takami. Like most other hybrid restaurant-lounge-clubs, I'm sure the food is nothing to write home about, but I'm pretty sure it'll be happening since it's new. ~H.C. http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com Wed Oct 17 10:10:22 -0700 2007 3041459 11949 AquaW 2 3043128 The nightlife side of Takami is called Elevate Lounge. I haven't been but I hear it's hard to get into... Wed Oct 17 11:09:35 -0700 2007 3042863 59549 aching 1 3043418 love the Edison, there's a line if you go later; dress code. Also love 7 Grand, very different from the Edison, casual, very low key. The Standard on the other hand is more high key. Need to check out Takami. Wed Oct 17 12:09:40 -0700 2007 3041459 13957 slacker 1 3044097 The Standard or The Edison are good recs, & I'll add in Royale on Wilshire 2619 wilshire boulevard los angeles california 90057 (213) 388-8488, Blue Velvet Lounge 750 Garland Ave, Los Angeles, CA - (213)239-0061, Mountain Bar 473 Gin Ling Way (213) 625-7500, and Firecracker Fridays at the Grand Star Jazz Cafe in Chinatown http://www.uber.com/firecracker. It really depends what you want. Personally I prefer downtown when I want less fake hollywood b.s. since theyre still in development/gentrification. This will probably change in the next couple of years though. Unfortunately all the spots are so spread out from each other in DTLA, that its hard to party hop. For a crazy night, Hollywood will do the trick. You can bar hop, meet random people on the streets, check out the ladies, go to Chateau Marmont, Koi, Standard, etc. but don't forget the b.s. factor. Traffic, expensive Valet Parking, Attitude. B.S. It all depends what you want. I live here so I want something more chill. However, an LA newbie might want the Hollywood experience. Wed Oct 17 14:31:57 -0700 2007 3041459 103131 flavasista 1 3044243 for dining and great cocktails (not an active bar though) blue velvet For clubbing (dancing) takami (crappy scene) j restaurant and lounge (asian invasion) Tatou (hoochie 21-year old asian invasion) For cool dives broadway bar (no food) golden gopher (no food) Bar 107 Fun Brewpubs petes cafe redwood bar and grill Royal Claytons For kitsch live music Bordello For awesome beer and good cocktails(chick-free zone unfortunately) library bar For overall lounges 7 grand edison For sceney lounges Standard Hotel Undiscovered Chill lounges Orchid Hotel (O for short) lounge for guests. I would recommend staying there. It is the best bargain downtown. For dining Cuidad tapas night colori kitchen any of the brewpubs I mentioned nic and stefs steakhouse patina, cafe pinot, watergrill roys hawaiin fusion E3rd steakhouse R-23 any place in little tokyo for that matter Enjoy Wed Oct 17 15:10:37 -0700 2007 3041459 61311 jlrobe 2 3044282 Wow, a definitive guide to downtown. Nice post. Wed Oct 17 15:25:42 -0700 2007 3044243 94169 Renault78law 3 3044351 THanks. that is a partial list. There are more hangout spots. I am waiting for bridge tavern to open! 60 signature beers on tap in the arts district. Now that should be a lot of fun. Wed Oct 17 15:50:39 -0700 2007 3044282 61311 jlrobe 4 3071175 No kidding - the Orchid Hotel? I'll have to check that out. I'm also eagerly waiting for any updates on Bridge Tavern. But yes, downtown is teeming with nightlife options. Here are a few more places to consider: Little Tokyo --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Far Bar (@Chop Suey) Cosmos New Otani Hotel (Genji Bar, "Rooftop" Beer Garden) Miyako Hotel (lounge) 2nd Street Jazz Haru Ulala (late night eats) Suehiro (late night eats) Chinatown --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hop Louie Grand Star (not just for Firecracker Fridays) Traxx Bar (Union Station) Rough and Tumble bars (or, "Hey, this isn't faux dive. This is a dive!") --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craby Joe's King Eddy Hank's Bar (many more along these lines, but this is a good start...) Bars you need to walk down stairs to access --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Casey's Irish Pub P.E. Cole's Buffet (temporarily closed, iirc) Weiland Underground Happy Hour --------------------------------------------------------------------------- McCormick and Schmick's Nick and Stef's Carl's Jr (near US Bank Tower - $5 pitchers!) Weiland Brewery (Little Tokyo) Pacific Dining Car (bit of a hike) Hotel Bars --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Figueroa Hotel (one bar upstairs, the other back by the pool) Omni Hotel Bar Holiday Inn (balcony overlooking Staples Center) Fri Oct 26 17:13:37 -0700 2007 3044351 45376 rastan 2 3045124 wow i didn't know about some of these (e.g., the library bar). i'm constantly surprised by how much downtown has to offer. Wed Oct 17 20:39:58 -0700 2007 3044243 105839 aventinus 2 3046189 I don't think I would classify the Golden Gopher or the Broadway Bar as dives. More like urban, cool, neighborhood bars his historic settings. I also would recommend the Edison. There is nowhere like it...anywhere. Here is another suggestion. Take the red line to Hollywood and go to Happy Hour at L'Scorpion. They have the best tequila bar and drinks and appetizers are half off. Happy hour is 6 to 8. They have the best margaritas...but I must warn you, they are very strong.....Then go to the Edison...Seven Grand would be great for a nightcap. Thu Oct 18 08:53:22 -0700 2007 3044243 75707 RobertC 1 3045113 The rooftop bar at the standard is by far the coolest place downtown. Because this is Chowhound, I will also mention that the drinks are well prepared, though expensive. The food is not really worth mentioning but it's acceptable. Wed Oct 17 20:36:45 -0700 2007 3041459 105839 aventinus 1 3048389 Really appreciate all the responses. I'm a newbie and have really experienced the power of the Hound! Thu Oct 18 20:06:26 -0700 2007 3041459 135255 P Town 1 3049828 For a new visitor, the Standard is your safest bet, and if for some reason the scene isn't what you want, the Library Bar is a block away. Fri Oct 19 10:40:36 -0700 2007 3041459 25110 ktanji 2 3073222 Topping this thread because I always want to hear about some of the new, interesting lounges and restaurants in downtown. Your thoughts on R-23? Cheers. Sat Oct 27 18:41:33 -0700 2007 3049828 11923 Liquid Sky 3 3087949 R-23 is quite good. It isnt the best sushi in town and I feel Jtown has better non-sushi restaurants that sushi ones. I recommend R-23 because it appeals to the masses but still does a good enough job to satisfy all but the biggest sushi snobs in the region. Mode is a new restaurant that is scheduled to open this week. It is ambitious but I doubt I will go. I think the "lounge" side of it wont be as good as other lounges downtown and the food part of it wont be as good as other downtown places or places in the greater LA area. It seems like it is trying to do a bit of everything when downtown really needs to fill specific needs. Anyhow, its the latest and greatest. Tranquility base is almost open, but again, it sounds like it is a lesser version of hollywood "concepts". Just trying to do too much,so I doubt the food will bring me there. hopefully bridge tavern opens by the end of the year. It sounds like it is going to be a fathers office/york type of place but with even MORE beer. That is awesome. I drove by awhile back and I couldnt tell how close they were to opening. My guess is that it wont be in 2007. Thu Nov 01 19:55:26 -0700 2007 3073222 61311 jlrobe 1 3073369 I am a fan of Seven Grand. If it had some tapas or something it would be perfect. The Edison does have a good happy hour, the only issue there is if you've got a larger party and you haven't reserved an area, you can get booted from you seats by someone who has reserved. I'm told this isn't usually a problem, but occasionally there's a cool group in town for a meeting or convention and that messes things up. Pete's is good for food and drink though the service can be uneven. Next door Banquette Cafe is cool for panini, salad, and a variety of wine or whatever Monica has discovered. Hours can vary, but it tends to be open later after neighborhood art walks. Sat Oct 27 20:14:55 -0700 2007 3041459 10332 mc michael 1 4223967 Edison is great! Cute little lounge that's relaxing. Plus they have great happy hour! 25 cent martini's! Fri Dec 05 14:43:23 -0800 2008 3041459 246043 liltamby5