Fun Place to Throw a Party?

[FishFood]

Hello Chowhound!

I'm throwing a birthday party and wanted to get some bar/restaurant suggestions from the hounds. There will be about 20 people (25-30 year olds). I'd like the venue to be somewhere between Santa Monica and Downtown, as far south as Culver City, as far north as where the 405 meets the 101.

As far as venue type, either bar or restaurant works. I was thinking of just meeting for drinks, but if the board has some fun dinner suggestions for a large group, that works too. I'd like to avoid hot-spots that will be jam-packed on a Saturday night, and I'd like drink prices stay within the $7-10 range. A separate room or nook to hang out in would be ideal, but not a necessity.

Suggestions?

[woofer]

my husband threw me a party at fu's palace on pico. great food, full bar and a lovely private patio. it's kitchsy and totally fun.

[FishFood]

I'll have to check that out as well! Kitchsy, lovely Chinese restaurant patio bar sounds like a ridiculous, fun venue. Fu's is also really central.

[altstarr]

Wokcano Santa Monica has a great Patio for the summer with http://www.chow.com/images/button-pos... playing. Happy hour Prices 4 to 7:30 pm. I've hosted many parties there for 10 to 150 people.

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Wokcano Santa Monica
1413 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Jwsel]

Guelaguetza is a fun place for drinks and relatively inexpensive, but good quality food. At the Olympic location on Saturday night, they usually have a marimba band. I believe that location has a "nook" area for parties.

[hrhboo]

For a group that size, the patio at Warszawa is fun and inexpensive.

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Warszawa Restaurant
1414 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Emme]

Warszawa is a nice space and great suggestion.

if you did food, what's the budget? something like Dar Maghreb or Moun-of-Tunis is fun for the belly dancing and eating with hands.

there's also Kiss lounge at Beso.

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Warszawa Restaurant
1414 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Dar Maghreb
7651 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Beso Restaurant
6350 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[mollyomormon]

Third on Warszawa. Totally one of my favorite places to throw or attend a party.

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Warszawa Restaurant
1414 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[FishFood]

Never been to Warszawa... I'll check out the patio this weekend!

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Warszawa Restaurant
1414 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[yogachik]

Lots of ideas:
Arsenal
Beachwood
ShangriLa rooftop
James Beach
Angel's Supper Club

All of the above have a separate area for your party, and drinks in that budget (especially if it's anywhere near happy hour)

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James Beach
60 N Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Beechwood Restaurant
822 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292

[Phurstluv]

Hey Yogachik, do you mean Beechwood, at the end of Abbot Kinney?

[yogachik]

Yes, and it's spelled as Beachwood, now.

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Beechwood Restaurant
822 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292

[Phurstluv]

Really? Did they change the name? Last I looked the sign read Beechwood. Also Eater LA has it spelled that way. Who knew?

http://la.eater.com/archives/2010/07/...

[hrhboo]

The website is spelled Beechwood. I haven't been there in a while so the spelling may have been changed.

http://www.beechwoodrestaurant.com/ho...