Winston's Bar

(323) 654-0105

7746 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046 34.0907 -118.3579

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Neighborhoods: West Hollywood, Central LA

Years in business

Established in 2007

Last updated 8.23.10

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Nightclubs, Bars & Clubs, Singles Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Dance Floor

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, Late-Night Scene, 21 & Over

Minimum Age:

21

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Winston's Bar

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – The unmarked door can make this modern speakeasy a challenge to find, and the uber-hip owners (including Dime owner Andy Fiscella and GQ editor Chris Huvane) seem to like it that way. The decor celebrates 1920s Tinseltown, with masculine black banquettes, ornate oil paintings and a vintage crystal chandelier poised at the center of the bar. Operated in a similar manner to their Fairfax lounge--namely, no promoters or unbreakable guest lists--the bar attracts whippet-thin starlets and their scruffy-faced boyfriends on a daily basis.

Editor's Tips

Parking:
The club's valet is stationed at Spaulding. Meters are available along Santa Monica Boulevard, but all surrounded side streets are restricted parking with tow truck enforcement.
Know Before You Go:
The space is rather small for Hollywood and does reach capacity early. Priority entry is given to bottle service tables.
When to Go:
Beloved house DJs spin vintage '80s and '90s anthems that turn progressively louder throughout the night. It's best to get there early if you want quiet conversation.
ambiance
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “11 the only prob is sometimes its so fun theres a line at the door”
  2. “nice decor, good looking people, mixed crowd, and great DJ.”
  3. “Winston's is always fun!”
  4. “The vibe was fun and upbeat and the crowd had a lot of energy.”
  5. “5) The decor was comfortable and classy”
  6. “The decor is a bit weird with the boats, but I dug it.”
drinks
84.20999526977539% positive
  1. “But when inside the dj is awesome and the drinks are well made.”
  2. “Upon my first visit to Winston's, I found the outside appearance of the bar discouraging and frightening.”
  3. “This is still a great bar even if the "scene" has moved on elsewhere.”
  4. “Its these "teams" of 5+ guys that are starting to make this bar stinck, we need to go back to fall 07, let in local interesting people with good style!”
  5. “this is an exclusive bar and night club combo that has great music and energy all around!”
  6. “Stiff drinks, incredible music, always good looking people.”
  7. “ask for a dirty martini, she returned, 10 minutes later and handed him the same drink!”
  8. “If you wanna get some drink with a cool crowd try a half block away "Bar Lubitsch”
  9. “Unlike other places in the area, Winstons is a place that pretty much defines what the Los Angeles bar/club scene is about: A classy, regal place where you can chill your your friends, grab some great drinks (not watered down like other places in the area”
  10. “keep hearing this is a laid-back, cool bar.”
  11. “would recommend this bar to those looking for a casual scene, or something more mellow than that of the Sunset strip.”
  12. “Terrible drinks, bad service, poor management, overpriced and rude.”
  13. “Girls are friendly and there is a lot of opportunity for guys and gals to flirt at the long bar that lines the whole spot.”
  14. “However, once inside (after about 20 minutes wait), the bar opens up to a HUGE room that could easily accomadate the crowd outside.”
  15. “The service and drinks are great.”
  16. “To top it all off the place is not all that great, and the drinks where not either.”
  17. “This is not the hot spot that it once was - think people excited just to be there - but the drinks are still strong, the music is still great and the vibe is still cool.”
  18. “It reminded me exactly of cool New York City bar and I immediatly felt at home.”
  19. “If you cant get in here, try el guapo, big wangs, the red rock, snake pit or some other sports bar or dive,cause those are the only places in town you will.”
food quality
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “This is the worst pizza I've ever had in my life!”
  2. “But seriously, the quality of people that actually frequent Winston's on a regular basis seem to be the type of person that would probably try to order pizza there.”
  3. “If you decide to go to Winston's to check it out anyway after reading this review, make sure you don't forget to eat first because their pizza really is terrible!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “great place to be after 11 on a Friday or Saturday night.”
  2. “The crowd Last sunday was one of the best crowds i've partied with in LA. very East side for being in West LA. Everyone from the Door guy to the Bar staff was completely unpretentious and just nice [Teddys and Hyde can take a lesson from them] The DJ was ”
  3. “Winston's was a great place for approximately three weeks between January and February, 2007.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “Its these "teams" of 5+ guys that are starting to make this bar stinck, we need to go back to fall 07, let in local interesting people with good style!”
  2. “When you come back at 11, there is a huge line and they tell you that you cannot get in unless someone who owns the club have put you on a list or invited you.”
service
87.10000038146973% positive
  1. “The atmospher was casual/dressy, with lots of good looking people.”
  2. “2) The bartenders are friendly and know how to serve”
  3. “Great service and the bartenders were actually really friendly.”
  4. “And during his discussion my girl friend also said a few things to support this guy because it was really stupid; We were waiting there and these so "cool" doormen were not getting people who were waiting in the line (except you know them /be on the list ”
  5. “cool vibe, great service, too loud”
  6. “We're so tired of lame, self important people at the door, throwing their weight around at these "hot for 5 minutes" places.”
  7. “Staff was friendly for sure.”
  8. “The doormen have always been friendly to my crew.”
  9. “Unlike other places in the area, Winstons is a place that pretty much defines what the Los Angeles bar/club scene is about: A classy, regal place where you can chill your your friends, grab some great drinks (not watered down like other places in the area”
  10. “But seriously, the quality of people that actually frequent Winston's on a regular basis seem to be the type of person that would probably try to order pizza there.”
  11. “Stiff drinks, incredible music, always good looking people.”
  12. “However, the people watching is decent.”
  13. “The crowd is extremely hot, the staff (including the friendliest door policy in LA) is super friendly, and the DJ is great.”
  14. “The waiters are rude.”
  15. “The service and drinks are great.”
  16. “Terrible drinks, bad service, poor management, overpriced and rude.”
  17. “All black inside, great DJs, good vibes and not too much bottle service drama.”
  18. “4) The people were beautiful and classy (and a good mix of races, beautiful of course, but some hot spots prides itself on not letting in non-white people, I think)”
  19. “These stupid gorillas at the door were getting every girl (doesn't matter how she looked ) coming and not letting people who came with mixed crowd waiting in the line.”
  20. “waitress's are charming and gorgeous as well!”
  21. “Highly recommended, very friendly staff and music that makes the masses shake their asses!”
  22. “You walk right in, much more room, better music, and you don't have a power-tripping doorman whose fragile little ego feeds off of standing in front of a door on Santa Monica and Genesse trying desperately to maintain the illusion of popularity by making ”
  23. “I've heard from several friends and reviews that Winston's is the antithesis of the normal LA club scene; getting in isn't a problem, door people are friendly, accommodating, etc.”
  24. “Girls are friendly and there is a lot of opportunity for guys and gals to flirt at the long bar that lines the whole spot.”
  25. “Its these "teams" of 5+ guys that are starting to make this bar stinck, we need to go back to fall 07, let in local interesting people with good style!”
  26. “This is not the hot spot that it once was - think people excited just to be there - but the drinks are still strong, the music is still great and the vibe is still cool.”
  27. “The staff was awesome and the server was top notch.”
  28. “The crowd Last sunday was one of the best crowds i've partied with in LA. very East side for being in West LA. Everyone from the Door guy to the Bar staff was completely unpretentious and just nice [Teddys and Hyde can take a lesson from them] The DJ was ”
  29. “It was crowded and the people were good looking.”
  30. “nice decor, good looking people, mixed crowd, and great DJ.”
  31. “That said, the door people are not obnoxious by Hollywood standards.”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “Terrible drinks, bad service, poor management, overpriced and rude.”
  2. “When you come back at 11, there is a huge line and they tell you that you cannot get in unless someone who owns the club have put you on a list or invited you.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Girls are friendly and there is a lot of opportunity for guys and gals to flirt at the long bar that lines the whole spot.”
  2. “We're so tired of lame, self important people at the door, throwing their weight around at these "hot for 5 minutes" places.”
  3. “However, once inside (after about 20 minutes wait), the bar opens up to a HUGE room that could easily accomadate the crowd outside.”
  4. “ask for a dirty martini, she returned, 10 minutes later and handed him the same drink!”
  5. “The guy at behind us (whose friends were already inside and tried to get him in) could not take it anymore and had a big discussion; said some dirty words to those stupid doormen for 10 minutes without getting any response from them and left the place.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/24/12

Great Spot! Guest List & Table Info

by NightLifeGirl102 at Citysearch

I love it here. This is definitely one of my favorite Hollywood spots and I try to frequent the club with friends as much as possible! This is really a great spot...you just need to know how to get in. Jen Lawson gets me in everytime, just shoot her an e-mail and she can set you up: jenlawsonproductions@yahoo(dot)com

4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/25/10

hot chicks-strong drinks!!!

by luckykid7 at Citysearch

been here 3 times in the past month or so, Every time Epic!! Tons of hot chicks to talk to and the drinks were almost to strong( i said almost! ). waitress's are charming and gorgeous as well! this is my new neighborhood hang.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/24/10

still alive and kicking!!!

by louisepie at Citysearch

Just celebrated my birthday at Winstons, I got the contact info off their site winstonsbarla and I emailed them, I got a response right away and I was able to make a reservation, all my friends got in and we had a blast. The staff was awesome and the server was top notch.

  • Pros: quick service, great music
3 Star Rating: Average

02/26/10

Still an ok scene, was better in '08

by weho333 at Citysearch

This is your basic hot "hollywood" bar that used to be hard to get into. All black inside, great DJs, good vibes and not too much bottle service drama. Girls are friendly and there is a lot of opportunity for guys and gals to flirt at the long bar that lines the whole spot.

Great bartenders who are quick and know what they are doing. This is still a great bar even if the "scene" has moved on elsewhere. Drinks in the $9 to $13 range. Beers are cheaper.

A great place to be after 11 on a Friday or Saturday night. Kind of dead earlier in the week.

  • Pros: Nice basic bar, NYC style
  • Cons: Parking not great
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/12/09

Get on the guest list

by jacksteven at Citysearch

For guestlist email me. Make sure to include facebook link and number in your group.

For bottle service / VIP Birthdays and big groups email me at:

hwguestlist@gmail

The Details on Winston's Bar

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • good door people
  • great dj
  • fun vibe
  • great service
  • incredible music
  • comfortable decor
  • great crowd
  • cool new york city bar
  • rude terrible drinks
  • cool doormen
  • worst pizza
  • dirty martini
  • super friendly staff
  • huge line
  • bad service
  • clean bathrooms
  • worst attitude
  • great drinks
  • big dime fan
  • always fun winston
  • discouraging bar
  • gorgeous waitress
  • great spot
  • really friendly bartenders

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