Nightlife: Bar Marmont

As a gay guy in Los Angeles, sadly I tend to stick to gay bars and clubs. Now as you can imagine, that can get pretty boring. And the word ‘boring’ just doesn’t fit into my mantra. So as this blog as my witness, I vow to get out to more diverse crowds (or less diverse however you look at it) and experience everything there is to experience.

*I’m making it a goal of mine in the next several months to get around to all of the LA ‘hotspots’ just to see what they are really like and I’ll blog a bit about them.

I grabbed a friend and his straight recently single girlfriend and headed out on a Wednesday night to see what was going on. I had read on upcoming.org about the Hollywood Canteen having a new event on Wednesdays called ‘Swank’. (click on the link for the flyer) It sounded interesting and the space looked cool, along with the complimentary sushi buffet all made it look very attractive. But upon actually going there, well ehh ‘not so much’.

Nobody was there. Granted we were there when it opened, nobody even showed up 45 minutes after opening. Also there was no music. none. Maybe it got going later, who knows. I mean they were still cleaning the place when they opened. Now that’s just tacky. That and the non advertised $10 cover that I refused to pay.

The Hollywood Canteen is a interesting place though. It’s right off theater row just south of Santa Monica. It has a nice outdoor patio and an old air-stream trailer from the 40’s that they call the ‘love den’. It would be a nice space if you could get the right crowd. We didn’t even have a drink, we left and headed back to West Hollywood.


The entrance to Hyde

My friend suggested we try Hyde Lounge on Sunset from nightlife impresarios Sam Nazarian and Brent Bolthouse. It’s the new a-list very exclusive reservations or guest list only type place. While I really tend to avoid these places, I totally was up for it. Being a Wednesday night and still being early, we thought we would have no problem getting in. But without a reservation, needless to say, we were turned away at the door. I mean the Paparazzi wasn’t even there yet! So for now, I can’t say if this place is or is not everything it’s cracked up to be. But for now, I’ll say nothing.

So off we went again right down the street to Bar Marmont, the Chateau Marmont’s sexy, sinister sister. After passing Dustin Hoffman on the way in, we were greeted to a surprisingly friendly doorman compared to Hyde down the street and were promptly sat at a table.

Bar Marmont is the epitome of a seen-and-be-seen place. Within the Chateau Marmont hotel, it is right off the strip. Disguised beyond a distressed white fence and two surly bouncers is a French-inspired bar, complete with an outdoor wood patio and fake butterflies and little monkeys in the drinks.

From LA.com:

The interior is a nice contrast to the nearby clubs on Sunset Boulevard. Unlike its louder, more frenetic neighbors, Bar Marmont looks like a sultan’s rumpus room, complete with butterflies on the ceiling. The crowd is stylish and beautiful, so don’t show up in a sweatshirt and torn jeans—unless you are one of the many Hollywood starlets who hang out on the patio, in which case you can wear whatever you want. The drinks (like the excellent mojito) and food aren’t cheap, but everything is served with flair. One of the best-kept secrets in town: the food is good, and served until 1:30am. The burger is juicy and comes with addictive, crisp frites; a shrimp tamale comes doused in a chipotle-spiked cream sauce; salads satisfy the move-it-around-so-it-looks-like-I-ate crowd.

We just had drinks and appetizers. My cosmo was alright and the cheese plate and fries with their three dipping sauces were great. I’ve heard the dinner there is also fantastic.

Bar Marmont is one of those classic Hollywood bars that you just have to experience. While a lot of Hollywood’s classic old bars and lounges have kind of fallen out of style and are way past their prime, this place still has it. This place is still the place to be seen yet isn’t apart of the hype like Hyde.

The atmosphere is intoxicating, rich in a Vietnam-during-the-’30s feel with the amber lighting and dark wood decor, perfect for a post-dinner party outing.

Go during the week to scope out the place. I would probably recommend reservations for the weekends though.

Bar Marmont
8171 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, 90046
(323) 650-0575