1160 Bar and Lounge

02/09/04

Faux-exotic Hollywood Hotel salon offers everything from '60s-soul club nights to experimental comedy.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
This hip basement lounge occupies three adjacent rooms in the Hollywood Hotel--formerly the Ramada. Decor conjures a 1940s international salon, with mosaics constructed from Arabic tile, Indonesian iron sculptures, a handcrafted marble bar and ceiling murals painted by the grandson of Hollywood icon Harold Lloyd. The main lounge features plush armchairs that are nearly impossible not to sink into with a martini in hand. But while the overall atmosphere is dark and elegant, it's not as strikingly original as these flourishes would suggest--one long room with a dance floor and banquette seating can give any event the feel of an office party.

The Draw
Scruffy but pretty Eastside crowds are attracted by the wildly eclectic bookings, which include live music from L.A. favorites Very Be Careful and Money Mark, popular mod and soul DJ nights, and comedy shows like the weekly lounge-act parody, Discotown.