Bar hopping in Hollywood could definitely be an all night affair, but in the interest of brevity, I'm going to recommend a few favorites that are worth experiencing. 
First, it's always a good idea to start your night of Hollywood bar hopping with sufficient fuel; sustenence to carry you through the long haul. Musso & Frank's Grill in Hollywood is a cultural icon and the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, having stood it's ground for ninety years on Hollywood Blvd. it's a great place to grab an 'old school' Hollywood meal, served by waiters that have given their entire lives to serving the local establishment here in Hollywood. The food is not what you go for; it's the ambiance, the astounding history of the place, and the sound of the walls breathing Old Hollywood je nais sais quoi like no other place in the city. The doors close at 11 except on Friday and Saturday, so get there at a reasonable hour before you set off on your Hollywood bar hop.
Before your dinner, park in a lot near the restaurant and set out east towards Hollywood & Vine St. Pass the W Hollywood, unless you want the typical L.A. bar experience, then head to Drai's nightclub or the restaurant bar in the hotel. If you're looking for a great little dive to kick the evening off on your Hollywood bar hop, then take a right on Argyle St., cross Selma, and look for The Well on the right side of the street. What I like best about The Well is the swanky, loungy, yet casual feel of the place. The juke box is loaded with all the hits, old and new, and the dark, deep booths are comfy. The place is nice and dark, which bodes well for those of us who find comfort in the shadows. The bar is panoramic and positioned in the middle of the room, so it makes for some great people watching. The drinks are decent and reasonably priced and the crowd is mixed, unless there is a concert at The Palladium next door, in which case it can get a little young and weird.
Where next for your night 
of bar hopping in Hollywood, you ask? Head back from whence you came to Hollywood Blvd., cross to the north side of the street and hang a left past the historic Pantages theater. You can't miss The Frolic Room, another historic establishment in Hollywood, where you're sure to find an entertaining motley crew of local bar rats, 'wild child' hipsters, and a few brave souls left over from the eight o'clock performance at The Pantages. The popcorn machine is a hoot, and the 1940'a mural of Hollywood stars keeps your eyes occupied. This is a Jack & Coke kind of place so don't ask for anything fancy.
By this time, you should be sufficiently toasted from your first leg of 
bar hopping in Hollywood and almost ready to head back towards the car (where you're designated driver will be driving you home). But first, it's time for one final detour. Heading west on Hollywood Blvd. now, you're going to take a left on Cherokee Ave. and head straight to Boardner's. The cozy little bar has a storied past here in Hollywood and has been thoughtfully remodeled with a modern art deco flare by owner Tricia LaBelle. Be prepared if you go on Saturday: it's Bar Sinister night in the club portion of the bar and you'll be expected to dress the part if you want to be granted entry. What is required? "Upscale black, Gautier-goth, fetish or futuristic attire," according to the website. Any other night of the week, you're good to go as is.
By this hour, you're probably losing steam on your Hollywood bar hop and are quite likely famished. A great slice of greasy pizza comes to mind about now. Before calling it quits, hang a quick left back on to Hollywood Blvd. where you can grab a quick and decent slice at Stefano's Pizza on the boulevard, near Las Palmas Ave. No need to hang out; the lights are harsh and you're slice of cheese and grease will be best enjoyed walking and munching your way back to the car, or hail a cab if need be. I hope you had fun on your night of bar hopping in Hollywood! Be safe, be well, and sleep tight!
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Pretty good rehash of the oldest tourist-trap stand-bys... I'd offer that you missed mentioning that the real reason you go to Musso's, which is for the bar, period still in every detail, right down to the wall paper and waiters, some of which helped open the place as kids and are now octogenarian! Not only are you drinking where Bogart and Bacall and Chaplin et.al. cooled parched windpipes when you hunker down on a stool there before any Pantages or Cinematheque event, but you are, indeed, sipping what is rated the "Best In Country" martini by GQ... {**Ask for the ice bucket bowl to keep the vial of vodka or gin cold... it's a 40's touch they do upon request.}
ReplyDeletePerhaps a discussion of "old school cool" (great term btw!) could also include venues off the boulevard as well as a nod to the hipster bar owners who have elected to go against the current design trends incorporated at trendier and swankier hotels like the W in favor of a scrubbed-clean rat pack aesthetic that capitalizes on good old bones and sensibilities rather than knee-jerk inclinations to bull-doze and hire expensive 90210 architects... Such venues worthy of mention here would be The Woods on La Brea (which just opened its partner bar, The Falls downtown), or The Formosa on Santa Monica Boulevard... Truly the most important "old school" bar in Los Angeles when recalling Hollywood history and the motion picture business.
Odd that The Formosa didn't factor into your article, Ms. Long, nor the watering holes on Cahuenga like The Burgundy Room there... All still Hollywood proper, all built long ago, but metaphorically, if you were going to do an article on fast food franchises, mentioning McDonalds, BK, Wendy's and Carl's would be the logical way to go whilst ignoring In-N-Out, KFC, Chipotle etc.
Would have appreciated a pic or two of you swigging said martini, perhaps with a beau? Cannot wait for your "Off The Beaten Path Old School Cool Bars," for surely there one might garner info not readily available in any tossed tourist pamphlet laying about on the Walk Of Fame...
Thoughts From One Hollywood Aficianado