(310) 458-0707

1323 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404 34.02385 -118.48598

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Mid-City, West LA

www.theroomsantamonica.com

Last updated 5.11.11

Category:

Nightclubs, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

Cash

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Dance Floor

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Funk, Soul & R&B, DJ - Electronica, DJ - Soul & Funk, Hip-Hop & Rap, Electronica, DJ - House, DJ - R&B

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, 21 & Over

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About The Room SM

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – It's a little hard to find, so it must be good. With no flashing neon sign and a desolate location hidden below a dark, inconspicuous parking area, it seems more like a speakeasy during Prohibition than a Santa Monica hot spot. Red velvet trimmings, black leather booths, candle-lit illumination and a framed shot of Old Blue Eyes as the bar's centerpiece make you feel like you might be in a Tarantino flick. It has the same cool, underground ambience of its Hollywood namesake, but offers a little more, with private booths and a larger dance floor to get the funk out. The…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Try The Room on holidays: It has a Halloween extravaganza and is one of the few L.A.-area establishments that doesn't charge cover on New Year's Eve.
Know Before You Go:
The entrance is in the back of the building.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The Room is so much fun.”
  2. “great parking.”
  3. “Good vibe, great music, friendly atmosphere”
  4. “The place is comfortable and unpretentious unlike most of the bars on the westside that try to be something that their not.”
  5. “We've been going to the Room for years, the music and atmosphere is great and the manager really knows how to take care of us.”
  6. “The atmosphere is great inside, and the layout of the room kind of forces people to mingle (in a good way).”
  7. “liked the decor.”
drinks
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “The music is always great and the drink prices are about right for the area.”
  2. “The room on wednesdays and thursdays is much more like a bar which is chill and loungy, it's a nice place to just unwind with friends or to bring a date for an after dinner drink and conversation.”
  3. “It's a small venue but big enough to dance in and get to the bar.”
  4. “The dj mixed all kinds of different stuff, the drinks were stiff and the staff was friendly (whattup Chris!)”
  5. “This is the place to head out to if you enjoy cheap $5 covers, unpretentious mixed crowd ready to mingle, moderately priced drinks and an eclectic music mix that makes you want to groove.”
  6. “The cocktail waitresses are pleasant (especially the new Swedish one) and the drinks are stiff.”
  7. “nice bar staff (read: theyll let you get free tap water without a scowl).”
  8. “didn't have to wait for my drinks all night (which is a plus when you're waiting at a full bar in heels)-”
  9. “The Room is a great all-around place to hang out, drink and dance.”
  10. “Overall, a great place to hang out with friends who like to dance and have a couple drinks!”
  11. “The weekdays are a perfect place to lounge out and go for drinks and weekends at the room get packed-”
food quality
0.0% positive
  1. “Depending on the DJ, you can hear an evening full of hip-hop, dub, dancehall or salsa and Latin jazz.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Great music and a suprisingly diverse crowd.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “The Room is a great all-around place to hang out, drink and dance.”
  2. “The best place you'll never find”
  3. “good place for hanging with a few friends for an easy chill night.”
  4. “Overall, a great place to hang out with friends who like to dance and have a couple drinks!”
  5. “The room on wednesdays and thursdays is much more like a bar which is chill and loungy, it's a nice place to just unwind with friends or to bring a date for an after dinner drink and conversation.”
  6. “The service is always great, and i would recommend this place to any newbie.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The dj mixed all kinds of different stuff, the drinks were stiff and the staff was friendly (whattup Chris!)”
  2. “The atmosphere is great inside, and the layout of the room kind of forces people to mingle (in a good way).”
  3. “We've been going to the Room for years, the music and atmosphere is great and the manager really knows how to take care of us.”
  4. “nice bar staff (read: theyll let you get free tap water without a scowl).”
  5. “That staff is friendly and always remember the best tippers.”
  6. “Good vibe, great music, friendly atmosphere”
  7. “The service is always great, and i would recommend this place to any newbie.”
  8. “but if you get there at a reasonable hour expect great service from the doormen, waitresses, and bartenders.”
  9. “The cocktail waitresses are pleasant (especially the new Swedish one) and the drinks are stiff.”
value
75.0% positive
  1. “This is the place to head out to if you enjoy cheap $5 covers, unpretentious mixed crowd ready to mingle, moderately priced drinks and an eclectic music mix that makes you want to groove.”
  2. “The music is always great and the drink prices are about right for the area.”
  3. “Drinks prices were also reasonable.”
  4. “Awful smell, loser Bouncer and not worth a dime”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “have lived in Santa Monica a very long time- and I would not recommend this place to anyone.”
  2. “slow start always ends with a strong finish.”
  3. “the last 30 minutes, i think he is purposely trying to kick us out with lame slow 70s songs that no one can dance to.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/12/09

Fun Old School

by RBgirl at Citysearch

The Room is so much fun. Great Old School and current hip-hop, and reggae music. I have been a few times, nice crowd, great music, and lots of room for dancing. Best for couples, or groups of friends. Not a pick up joint.

Things to know before you go:

There is a dress code.

No food is served.

Drinks are strong.

Hard to find by first timers corner of 14th St. & SM Blvd.

Parking is a nightmare if you get there late, use the valet.

  • Pros: Lot's of fun, great place to hang out with friends, crowd ranges from 20ish to 40ish.
  • Cons: No food
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/04/08

I'm glad I threw my party there!

by damngina at Citysearch

My friend recommended that I throw my sister's 21st party there for her. I went to check it out on a wednesday night but it was slow. Jen the bartender (who got me crunk there) said it was busier on the weekends. I liked the decor. Called victoria and reserved one of the "boom boom" rooms (seats like 25). We all had a great time. The dj mixed all kinds of different stuff, the drinks were stiff and the staff was friendly (whattup Chris!).

  • Pros: Good party vibe, good street parking
  • Cons: valet
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/20/08

It's better to come during the week,

by alexis505 at Citysearch

My girls and I usually come after work during the week to relax and unwind, last weekend we finally decided to come out on saturday, we had a great time but i think I like it better when it's not so packed (I guess weekends are crazy over there). The room on wednesdays and thursdays is much more like a bar which is chill and loungy, it's a nice place to just unwind with friends or to bring a date for an after dinner drink and conversation. I think I'll stick to my weekday chillin at the room and let all the hardcore partying for the rest in the weekends.

  • Pros: A great lounge during the week
  • Cons: Weekends are packed
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/01/08

THE ROOM IS BACK TO THE OLD DAYS

by SoulSeeker2008 at Citysearch

I've read some of the reviews on here and I agree with even some of the poor reviews. For a while this place was turning into a club and tons of shady guys would be in here getting up on anything with two legs. But recently is gone back to the way it was years ago when it was more of a lounge and cool place to chill with friends or take a date. On Wed the music is good with the first hour being live saxophone over jazz tracks. The locals are back also and a lot of folks who get off work and want a drink. In the end I think Sinatra would be proud.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/07/08

Hard to find but worth the search

by ericabgotsoul at Citysearch

This is bar/club/lounge is like the speakeasy's back in NY. Hard to find, cool hip, trendy, drinks are pricier but stiff. The bouncer is really tough on how you look/dress code. He won't let just anybody in. God for some bad for others

The Details on The Room SM

Place Categories:

  • great music
  • great allaround place
  • friendly bar staff
  • great atmosphere
  • perfect spot
  • always great service
  • lame slow 70s songs
  • great parking
  • reasonable drinks prices
  • always good free
  • liked decor
  • slow start
  • awful smell
  • favorite lounge
  • nice crowd
  • great old school
  • not good dancing
  • awful loser bouncer
  • big enough
  • full bar
  • enjoy covers
  • best tippers
  • not recommend place
  • great singles place
  • favorite songs