Santa Monica Nightlife, Nighclubs, Bars, Events and Tourist Guide
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LOS ANGELES L.A. CITY GUIDE: NO LAST CALL! Text and photos detail bars, clubs and tourist activities in Santa Monica.
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Santa Monica/The Westside
The most internationally diverse spot in Southern California, Santa Monica combines the best of what L.A. has to offer. Santa Monica has a popular beach, a promenade of shops and restaurants, the occasional celebrity quaint pubs and rocking clubs. Its diversity makes it appealing for visitors, as they can have an" L.A. experience" without having to travel all over the place. As a result, it is heavy with tourists, although an ample number of nearby residents help it keep a local flavor. One neat and unique aspect of Santa Monica is the Big Blue buses. These marvels of mass transportation run from UCLA in Westwood through Santa Monica and all the way to LAX. They stop at major spots along the way – including Third Street Promenade – at a cost of only 50 cents (service ends at 11 p.m.). The only question is: Why can't the rest of L.A. do the same? For those who drive (but don't drink if you do!), there are parking garages on Second and Fourth streets. Pub Clubbing MAP A good mix of pubs and clubs – some super casual, others all "blacked up" – make Santa Monica a kind of one-stop-shopping spot for nightlife. The hottest new spot in Santa Monica is a wine bar called Salute. Patrons buy a card and go up to various wine dispensers and sample the offerings. But the real attraction is the scene; wine bars offer great socializing and mingling opportunities and it's worthy of a "cheers" at this place. Salute is located at 2435 Main Street. Third Street Promenade is a walk street running north-south that has
a couple of worthy stops, Yankee Doodles for sports and games
and Gotham Hall, an upscale pool bar with dancing. Pubs
Santa Monica is know for both its pubs and its clubs. It's a bit more "worldly" than other parts of Los Angeles, meaning it can comfortably host English and Irish pubs, a Euro dance club and American clubs all within its borders Santa Monica's most popular pub is Ye Old King's Head just off the Third Street Promenade at Santa Monica Blvd. It's a favorite haunt of Rod Stewart, and he should know an authentic British Pub when he sees one. Just steps away, Brittiana is another British pub, though it's so small it quickly fills to the max.Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are Karaoke nights, after 9. A short walk away, just south of the pier, is a Los Angeles icon. Chez Jay has been around for decades. In a no-frills manner, it has entertained Hollywood stars, local legends and those just lucky enough to know about it. A favorite haunt of Henry Kissinger, Chez Jays is recognizable by the gigantic conch in the parking lot. Inside, it has sawdust on the floor and because the bar sags in the middle, drinks rest at an angle. It attracts every type of bar patron imaginable: The young and pierced, the "blacked-up," crowd, casual beach-goers and long-time dwellers. It can be good any night, though rarely late, and Mondays are especially popular. And while it may be difficult to believe considering the environment, the adjoining seafood restaurant is outstanding. It's not a really a pub, or a club, but Rene's Cafe (4th and Wilshire) is a very popular indoor/outdoor bar. With four rooms, one that resembles a turn-of-the-century doll collector's bedroom, it has quite an interesting personality. The coziest of the pubs is the Sonny McLeans (26th and Wilshire). Comprised mainly of locals, it warmly welcomes visitors. There are 20 beer choices on tap, hundreds of bottles on a shelf above the bar (take your pick), dart boards, a pool table, even air hockey in a back room. Casual drinkers soak up the sofa in a den-like room overlooking the main area. The staff is from Boston, and any sporting event involving a team from that city is shown on television. This is PubClub's pick as Best Pub in L.A. A short walk toward the ocean at 23rd Street, O'Brien's Irish Pub is a more modern choice. It's more of a bar than a pub, with a clientele that doesn't arrive in force until after 11 on weekends More inland are an interesting collection of pubs.The Three of Clubs (NW corner of Santa Monica and Vine, no sign on the door) is dark, narrow bar typical of the area that attracts up-and-coming actors. Rio the bartender was in the movie "Swingers." The Liquid Kitty (Pico and Barrington) is a cool martini hangout that has a lounge-type feel to it. Cool music but often so loud on weekends it's hard to have a conversation. It's really dark inside – make advance note that for the restrooms the first door is for the ladies and the second is for the men – but the crowd is casual and friendly. It's in a pretty cool corridor that also includes The Arsenal two blocks down the street to the West and a sometimes-happening historic Mexican restaurant across the street. The Arsenal is just that – the old Mexican arsenal from the 1800s. Guns, swords, bullets and shells are on the wall in the dining area and while in some parts of LA displaying these things would not be a good idea, here it's okay. That's because despite the "LA scene" look of the place – dark interior, candles, couches on a patio and a black-clad staff – the people are actually friendly and laid-back. Yes, a cool bar in L.A., where it's actually possible to meet someone! Friday's are best – that's the case for the trio of places in this area –with a crazier crowd while Saturday and other nights are more tame. As for the Mexican restaurant, it's called Don Antonio's and it's across the street from the Kitty. Wednesdays, the dollar tacos bring in the crowd (peak time 6-7:30) and the $5 schooner sangrias keep them there until about 10. The $1.50 valet parking is about the only option; street parking on anything other than Pico requires a local residential permit. Fridays are the next-busiest night; a good routine would be to start here for dinner and drinks, pop into the Kitty for a round or two, then walk to The Arsenal. The latter, too has food, mainly steaks ($12-20.) St. Nick's, near 3rd and Crescent Heights, is a good place to have a beer after work and Lake Colonio (Beverly and Robertson) is a classy alternative in a tropical environment. Down Wilshire a few blocks, Madison's Neighborhood Grille (on Broxton) is on the edge of the UCLA campus, making it a popular college hangout. It discourages evening trips to the library with nightly drink specials.
Directly on the pier, the Boathouse has salsa dancing every Sunday next to its outdoor patio, which is just steps from the sand. Sophisticated drinkers prefer to sip beachside cocktails quietly at Shutters, an upscale hotel (room rates up to $750 a night) with a first-class lounge. • The Arsenal, 12012 W. Pico Blvd., (310) 479-9782 Clubs Dancing is a favorite activity of many Santa Monica club dwellers. The options are plentiful, ranging from the upscale to the casual. With the exception of one place (keep reading) these clubs have cover charges from $10-15. Santa Monica's place for the well-dressed is 217.It is a magnet for the upper 20s-mid 30's professionals. It's decor is soft lights, comfortable couches for relaxing and is known for its good dancing music. Expect a $10-15 cover. Voda (Broadway and 2nd) is very upscale and attracts a lot of Europeans on holiday. It serves the best martinis on the Westside in a dark restaurant/bar atmosphere. Bar Copa has become hot and features two DJ's:8-10pm Latin Funk fusion, 10- 2am Hip-hop and dance. The taff is great; it has a dark, loungy look with an intimate dance space and booths. Imported beer is just $5 and there's no cover on Thursdays; it's quiet that night but the mood makes it an ideal date drink destination. One of the coolest bars in Santa Monica is 14 Below (between Wilshire and Broadway). With brick walls in the outer bar area, it resembles a soothing jazz club. Go past the curtains and into the dance room where bands play to a mostly 20s dancing crowd seven nights a week, including a Grateful Dead cover group on Sundays. 14 Below has a dozen beers on tap and new pool tables. The doorman is friendly, so gaining entrance is a snap. Mention PubClub.com, and he will likely cut you some love on the cover charge
It's located in we refer to as the "Lounge Corridor" on Main Street. This also includes the Circle Bar, which was once one of LA's classic dive bars, but has gone somewhat swanky with a doorman, stantions, booths and almost no lighting except for those Pizza Hut candles around the bar. It gets a strong crowd, but mingling can be a challenge. The place still has its dive undercurrent, but with an air of pretension not even the ceiling fans can blow away. The friendliest person is the light blonde bartender whom we believe to be attractive but it's so dark we cannot confirm. Perhaps had we been so bold as to have snapped a photo... The absolute coolest lounge in the area is at World Cafe. Primarily a restaurant with a garden patio, the lounge is Vegas VIP-like – without the cover charge and super-expensive drinks. Big, cozy chairs and sofas are perfect for, well, lounging. The pub in PubClub prefers Rick's Tavern on Main. Across from the Circle Bar, it's long and narrow like a New York bar, but light enough to see whom one is talking to – and talking with others is part of its charm. Considering it's neighboring establishments, instead of being a diamond in the rough, Rick's is a rough in the diamond. Two other places are The Brig and James Beach. The former is an old dive bar that's gone so upscale it serves water in glass bottles. Used in a Super Bowl XXXVII ad, it's a reasonably good mingling spot. . Be sure and dress well. The latter is a restaurant with a large patio serving as the "hangout" bar. Fairly casual, it's set up for mingling. Large lines are commonplace on weekends from about 10-midnight and the bar can get really crowded; for quicker drink, attempt the "end run" to the bar in the restaurant, which is closed later in the evenings. And we always like Shatzi on Main, opened by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. On the surface, it appears to be another one of those L.A. overpriced, snooty restaurants. But nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, it's a great meeting spot for early-evening drinks and/or lunch or dinner. It is especially lively for Happy Hour ($3 drinks, $3 appetizers ranging from pizza to sushi, 4-7:30) on Fridays, especially on the beautiful patio. The food is unique – how do Austian pancakes grab you?.
The young, fun crowd dances at Lush . It's the only dance club in the area with no cover. It features a live band and a livelier crowd (mostly men, though). Dress is not to impress. Casa Escobar is a dive Mexican restaurant that turns into a dance club by dark. It's fairly large and gets crowded Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The West End used to be the most popular club in Santa Monica, but now it's a place called Zanzibar. It's a Morrocan themed dance bar with music that switches from hip-hop to reggae with a small, sweaty dance floor.$5+ cover, Thursdays-Saturdays (open Sundays). • Bar Copa, 2810 Main St. (310) 452-2445 Post Party Fun in the Santa Monica sun starts at it's world-renowned pier. This TV, movie and magazine landmark is a small amusement park, Southern California's version of a New Jersey boardwalk. Weekends it's filled with families and kids eating cotton candy, dropping dollars in the arcade and basically getting in the way of single adults on their way to the bars. Don't stay, however, too long after sunset. Rent a bike and head south on the sandside path to Venice Beach or north to where they used to film Baywatch (it's now shot in Hawaii). Dining and Restaurants
Santa Monica has as many restaurants as it does waves. Outdoor cafes line Third Street Promenade, a three-block pedestrian corridor just blocks from the beach. It's heavy on Italian, but also offers flavors from the world over. Sit-down and fast-food fare is plentiful. For those who enjoy a brew with dinner, the longtime West LA establishment Barney's Beanery has opened up on 3rd St. Its menu is almost as extensive as its beer selection – 40 on draft and 175 imported and domestic choices. For grinders (that's Hawaiian for food), the menu has breakfast all day, sandwiches, burritos, pasta and seafood, with nothing more than $15. It also serves late – until 2 a.m. It could almost go under our Bars section, especially when a big game is on, because it has multiple TVs, big screens and a full bar. Just off the promenade are a some noteworthy establishments. Ocean Ave. Seafood (Ocean and Broadway) is one of the area's best seafood restaurants. The downstairs bar is a mellow, but potentially rewarding, meeting spot. Across the street, Rebecca's serves upscale Mexican fare. When housed in Venice, it had the best margaritas in Los Angeles. They were so potent, it took only two of them to throw the brain for a loop. In Venice, this was okay because everyone in there is pretty much looped already, but Santa Monica is a bit more sophisticated and thus the margis have been turned down a notch. They are tasty, but still not quite the same. A block to the north, the Crocodile Cafe serves a tasty variety of pasta, sandwiches and pizza. The patio is open for lunch and dinner. The Lobster, at the entrance to the pier, is outstanding. For breakfast, Rea's on Pico just south of Centinela, is a real find. The crowd is a bit white trash, but the food is outstanding and also remarkably inexpensive.
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Get ready to enter the dance zone.
