The Writer’s Room

Sucks so bad!!! Showed up last night hoping to get into this awesome speakeasy lounge and it turns out this place is now called «The Golden Box» and is jam packed full of Lesbians. Not what I expected! I’m sure it’s a wonderful lesbian bar just wasn’t my cup of tea. They charged $ 10 to get in and after bring there for literally one min realizing this isn’t what we expected. I asked for my money back and they said «sorry no refunds» of course I have fuss! There we’re no signs that said no refunds. They guy was trying to Cheat us saying sorry but it looks like we’re stealing from the cash register (which was a wooden box!). I got the guy to give me back $ 15 out of the $ 30 we spent getting in. I had an awful experience!!! I’m writing a letter to the owner and complaining. They cheated us out of our money! On my friggen birthday!

If you’re looking for the speakeasy style bar it once was, it’s gone. Went last night, still called the Writers Room however the place has totally been gutted and redone. Now more a dingy dive bar feel, 100% of the vintage flair and beautiful décor is gone. Total bummer. Head to Sassafras or Villains as an alt.

Considering there are no more good bars left near Hollywood and Highland, as they are all full of tragic crowds, this place feels the most adult. However, the attitude is a little beyond me because this is really a hole in the wall.
The music is way too loud. The drinks are way too overpriced. There are much better choices in the city.

Worst club in Hollywood area
They are unprofessional
Small location
It’s just an entrance for the next door club
Nothing more than that

Right next to the Supper Club. So you already know parking in Los Angeles sucks. Small intimate place. There was some dude playing sax. Nice ambience! Kinda felt like an intro to a show on Skin-​a-​Max.
Price for Jack/​Coke was $ 13 Yikes… But thats LA for ya. We all got one drink and Über cab it out to the next joint.

There was a line out back so I probably would have had to wait had I not been traveling with a well-​known actor that evening. We were whisked right in and got to lounge in the elevator-​cage-​repurposed-​as-​a-​seating. We enjoyed our $ 8 Amstel lights (what?!). Someone please turn down the volume on the sax… The music was good, but too loud. We would be mid-​conversation and get interrupted by some ear-​piercing notes and then stare wide-​eyed at each other until we burst out laughing. A few adjustments could make a world of difference here.

I would give it a four but it was too loud for me. (This is a trend in my reviews though, you’ll lose a star if I can’t hear the person I’m sitting next too.) THAT BEING SAID — that’s the point of this place, or at least it was the night I went.
Late night hipster DJ — Dancing — good looking bartenders — amazing drink selection and whoever decorated/​designed the place should get high-​fived all the time. The place is just fun to look at.

This place is not easy to find. The entrance is inside a parking lot on a side street with some shady people around at night.
The bar selection was disappointing and the drinks were overpriced for what they we’re
I guess if you’re in Hollywood and need a spot to drink this would do. But if I were you, I’d keep walking and look for something else.
One pro– short walk from the metro station at Hollywood and highland.

The entrance to this place is actually located in the parking lot behind it. There is a random set of wooden doors. Place is pretty cool, but limited seats inside. They really should put in some seats at the bar. There are lots of seat outside, but they don’t allow drinks, which is a bummer. I got the fitzgerald at dawn drink, but it wasn’t what I expected. Luckily my bf really liked it and I traded for his plagiarism drink, which has whiskey. I usually hate whiskey, but this was really good. The one waitress was very friendly and attentive. Overall good service, but wish they had a more extensive cocktail list.

«For some reason, cool bars in L.A. have to be very hard to find and have no signs out front.» ~ Mike, Swinger, 1996
Writer’s Room is definitely cool, far from perfect, but cool. As far as being hard to find goes, it is not the hardest to find bar in LA, but is definitely a top 5. The entrance is located from the parking lot of Musso and Frank’s. If you were to enter the lot from Cherokee Avenue and proceed towards the parking attendant’s booth, just look to your left and you will see a double-​door which will lead you into The Writer’s Room.
Once you pass the doorman, you will make your way through the outside smoking patio where, wait for it, you cannot drink. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s an outside, completely blocked off patio with seats, ash trays, and nice lighting, but no alcohol. I’m not sure what the story behind this is, but I would say that this is not the time to cheap out on the ABC license or the legal help to acquire the necessary permission.
Inside, the place is small and cozy with a few nooks to watch far that have very private seating. A few booths, a few tables, couple of couches and an average size bar. Dim lighting and great music from the mix of 1920 to what we would call now «old school» rock, even up to the 90’s. The feel of the place is great. Lots of beautiful people out to show themselves and look at others. Hipster? Of course.
What is interesting is that there really is not a dress code. Personally, I visited the Writer’s Room for the Toledo Show, a long-​time running cabaret/​burlesque, live music and song performance. Drums, sax, guitar, and bass along with Toledo’s raspy voice make every attempt to transcend you to 1920’s Chicago, but the people visiting the show came in all shapes and sizes — cloths-​wise anyway.
We were one of the first groups to come to the bar and immediately made a beeline for the bartender. He informed us that he had all specialty drinks, but did not offer a menu. My friends opted for two glasses of wine, which for some reason really confused him and I asked for a Whiskey Sour. Once he selected the glass, I quickly realized he wasn’t planning on making an old fashioned, proper Whiskey Sour with an egg white and bitters, but a very simple, modern cocktail version. Needless to say, I switched my order to a Macallan 12. When a bartender tells me they make specialty cocktails and I notice a lot of old world bar tools, I presume that a whiskey sour would be one of them. I guess, what I’m saying is that the drinks were not to period.
This bar is part of the SupperClub and just like SC, it is almost there, but not quite. Still, it might be a pretty interesting place to show off your knowledge of LA back-​alley saloons to a few friends.

The Writer’s Room has everything I love about bars. It’s hidden, has a great selection of well-​made cocktails, and has an amazing décor. The drinks are as pricey as you would expect, and maybe even a little more. The clientele is appropriately snooty. Like I said, everything I love about bars.

I REALLY like this place. It reminds me of a speak-​easy type place (not sure if it is). It’s pretty hard to find though, you have to go through the parking lot to the entrance. I like the long hallway that allows my friends to smoke. I like it because there’s big comfy chairs/sofa’s for people to sit on and also good ventilation so I’m not inhaling a concentrated amount of second-​hand smoke like a hotbox. The DJ at this bar last Saturday was refreshing, Unlike the Supperclub down the street, this place played songs that weren’t just on the top40’s list. The hand crafted drinks here were very delicious as well but pretty pricey ($ 16 for a long island type drink). The bouncer, Art, here was super nice and friendly. He passed on some of his wisdom to my friends and I which we appreciated. All and all, I would definitely come back here if I wanted to chill and hangout with my friends while being able to listen to some classic tunes/​sip on some cocktails/​and lounge on comfy booths.

BlackBook Magazine + Ketel One + PhilanthroLA=good times
This place is pretty hard to find. You won’t see the number or the sign on the street. How do you find it then? (Is this the part where I say, «the number one rule of The Writer’s Room is you don’t talk abou the Writer’s Room»?)
You find SupperClub in all its Hollywood glory, and find the door on the wayyyy right, turn right, then find this black door? See I don’t even completely remember what happened…
Anyway, loved the drinks and the hardworking bartenders.
Tis a bit small so if you’re in the prowlin/​creepin mode, you won’t find too much new talent. (sorry fellas)

Cool hidden bar. There used to be an entrance in the back (off Las Palmas) but for the time being you can enter through the Supper Club on Hollywood Blvd. You’ll notice a long line for the supper club but if you look towards the right, there will be a bouncer working off to the side, he will let you in to the Writer’s Room which is a completely separate area from the club. No cover!
The lounge is small. We went on a Thursday night and it wasn’t very crowded. There was a two bartenders making drinks. You can either order at the bar or if you find seating in the lounge a server will come and take your drink orders. Drinks were pricey… about $ 14.
If you looked up to the right of the bar there was a balcony type area where a strange show was going on, I’m not sure if you can call it a show but it was something really odd. A woman was standing there wearing a creepy looking mask with a face of a decaying old person. She wasn’t dancing, she was just standing and at times she would stretch or sit on a chair in her own little world. She was basically just hanging out… I wasn’t sure what the heck it was but I didn’t care for it.
We were told that on Tuesday nights they have live music. This a very cool and very chill lounge. I liked the design a lot. There is a outdoor patio which I believe is the smoking area but I didn’t get a chance to check it out. I liked that the crowd seemed to be more local people in their 20’s and 30’s.
Parking can be tough. There is a lot behind the lounge but I believe it can be quite expensive (maybe $ 20 after a certain time). If you are ok with walking 2 blocks, I suggest you park at Hollywood and Highland where the max is always $ 10. For Hollywood, $ 10 is a great deal. You can try getting street parking but they do enforce it until midnight. I believe it’s $ 2 per hour.

I feel so deceived.
It’s supposedly this cool little speakeasy where Jason Siegel hangs out. LIES!
Yes, the décor was very cool. Very 1920’s. That’s where the two stars comes from and if it weren’t such a scene there this would be my new favorite place.
The truth of it: there were way too many people and it’s so effing small! I got stepped on multiple times because it was so crowded. I don’t even know how people had room to dance. And at the risk of sounding like a middle aged woman… Oh my God the music was SO LOUD. I couldn’t even hear the person shouting right into my ear. Wait a minute… why is there some girl dancing around in her underwear on that little balcony? And there’s bottle service with stupid sparklers and shit? The Writer’s Room, just admit it; you’re a club. And if you’re so exclusive than why are you so packed on a Monday night? I can’t even imagine how ridiculous the weekends are here.
Was this an atypical night? Or did it hit puberty and decide it’s sooo cool but is really just an annoying teenager?

Holy Shit! This place is a gem.
Very rarely do i give out five stars for bars, but this one took the cake!
I came with my friend because i read about this place in the NY Times when it just opened. I never got the chance to go until a few weeks ago and i was on a mission to find this place! Hidden in an alley way– this place seemed sketch. When the doorman checked my ID and said he would charge me a smile to get in, i knew this place was a gem.
I walk in and my jaw drops. Its like this eclectic, effortlessly, put together outdoor space. It was flawless.
The drinks were great and the music? EVEN BETTER!
There were a handful of people here on a Friday night, and it wasn’t crowded. I really really hope that people don’t find out about this place because it will ruin what i love about it.
But until then– this place will sit right next to all my ‘5 star’ spots in my heart.(SWOOOON!)

Totally loved my recent (and first) experience at the Writer’s Room. Service is fantastic — everyone is super friendly and the drinks are amazing. I got there with a friend early, when only two other people were there, but it filled up pretty soon after. Even as more and more people came, the staff checked in with us to make sure we were having a good time. I have never been to a bar where they actually checked in and cared!
The décor/​vibe is amazing and if you get there early enough, they will even give you a little tour and tell you some of the history! Super cool.
Only complaint was that in our group we noticed we had been double charged for drinks. (I paid for my drinks, but they also showed up on a friend’s tab) This was simply because the two bartenders were busy and unable to fully communicate what had already been paid for. Nonetheless, a potentially upsetting situation was avoided as they immediately and kindly resolved the discrepancy.
I cannot wait to come back!

I normally don’t venture into Hollywood but after visiting The Writer’s Room, I think I just might come more often. The Writer’s Room is next door to Musso and Frank’s but the entrance is a wooden gate in the back alley, adjacent to the giant parking lot. On that Thursday evening, doors opened at 9PM.
The two doormen JR and Art questioned my palatal ability to taste quality. I told them I frequent the Varnish and they immediately let me in. The décor is from the roarin’ 20’s and the drinks did NOT disappoint. I had the Fukushima Meltdown (Yamazaki with pepper, yuzu and OJ), Dead Man Oaxacan (mezcal cocktail) and the Cho Sun One.
Please, for the sake of me, visit this fine mixology establishment!!!

I’ve been meaning to review this place since I went in December (shucks, Rosalind beat me!).
This place really captures the history of the room — which is rumored to have been a back room for famous writers (Fitzgerald among the many) who dined at Musso and Frank’s Grill right next door. The atmosphere is definitely romantic and tres chic. I love the décor of the place — it feels almost as if you are in a bar from the roaring 20’s when you step foot indoors. The outdoor patio area is great for getting out of the bar when it’s feeling too crowded and is simply decorated giving it a zen feel.
One pitfall — it’s hard to find, as it is quite exclusive and only has a back door entrance. And if you think finding it is the hard part, imagine the confusion when you leave after having one too many drinks! Make sure you have a chaperone on your way out. :)

How am I the first reviewer? Am I missing something here? Two locations and this one seems right…
Anyway, awesome place with super comfy sofas that you just sink into. Perfect for a romantic night cap or a cuddly date. Their cocktails are uniquely named and are delicious!