Area

I’m not from LA and so maybe I’m just not used to the going-​out scene here, but I just really hate how pretentious it all is. I really don’t understand why people wait outside in long lines just to get ignored by the bouncers, then pay a ridiculous cover just to go inside to pay even more ridiculous prices for mediocre drinks. But moving past the expected attitude of places like Area…
The place itself was alright. Big dancing area, which was fun once it got more crowded. They also have seating areas around the outer edges of the place, but they’re usually reserved for the VIP areas. We did manage to snag a table in this area though, which was nice to sit and just people-​watch.
As for the drinks, we had heard rave reviews about their Burning Mango, which is basically a mango cocktail with a jalapeño in it. Can’t say that I really enjoyed it… just a little too weird tasting to have something so spicy in my drink. We also ordered some champagne, which was decent.
I did have a good time with my friends and I’m glad I came just to see what the hype was all about, but I doubt I’ll be back again.

Well. I came on a Saturday night…
And I liked the décor — definitely classy and fancy and all of that. And I also liked that there were three bars in different areas of the club, so getting drinks was relatively fast for the number of people who were waiting.
The music was good, and the air conditioning was nice but blasting way too cold — I had to avoid walking under the vents after my first encounter.
Yes, the crowd was completely and thoroughly Asian, but I don’t think that necessarily made it a horrible experience. Maybe this is an LA thing, but the guys at Area were a lot more aggressive and forthcoming than I’m used to here in SF — I haven’t decided if I liked that or not yet.
What I disliked most, was the way that they corral you in front of the steps while you wait to be let in. Luckily, we knew someone who knew someone, and didn’t have to wait long. But I can imagine people getting very, very angry and impatient with the disorder.

The girls and I showed up fashionably late, walked right in, no cover. Hmm. that was easy! I’m typically a late adopter of the latest hot spot, and clearly, Area is on its way out. Why, pray tell, do I say this? Because, they’re now serving up asian nights. I’m sorry to say, but any time a place starts hosting asian nights, it is not a good sign. As a matter of fact, let’s expand on this theory and say that whenever the crowd in a club is dominated by a single ethnicity of any type, it just immediately loses appeal. We live in L.A., the melting pot of the universe; why fight it? Mixed crowd: Good! All (fill in ethnicity here) crowd? No bueno.
Anyway, it’s decently sized inside and isn’t as cool looking as I thought. It’s nice enough, but when you turn on the lights and see it for what it really is: Dirty floors, décor that looks cheap under bright light, etc., it lost its aura. I’m sure that’s how some people feel when they pick someone up at a club and see said pick up in daylight. Yeah, okay, that’s mean. but I’m just saying what you’re thinking! ;)
A big extra star to the restroom attendant who tried hard to kick us out of the restroom because «lights on means we’re closed!!» Can’t criticize the woman for doing her job, but she was nice enough to let us use the facilities after our constant pleading. She keeps a clean restroom, that’s for sure. The cleanest I’ve seen in any club thus far. So at least Area’s got that going for them!

If you want to spend an hour to get ready, half an hour driving, an hour waiting, and three hours getting elbowed and pushed around… this is the place to be!!!
This is the place where all of your clubbing horrors can come true. All in one place! Like everyone else said, there is no line, there is just the push to the front of a crowd. Even though we had a table, we still had to wait for the promotors to get their act together. When I say get their act together, I mean continue their conversations with one another until they reach a comfortable break point to let in a few groups before starting up again.
I had my birthday here with a large party. The girls were let in first of course. The guys had to wait outside and were told that the promotors would let in five guys every hour. Oh but if they didn’t want to wait, they can pay $ 400 for a bottle! What a deal. They got 3 bottles out of us that night and 5 of my friends had to go home after a 2.5 hr wait.
So last Saturday I couldn’t wait to relive my wonderful birthday so I got dressed up to do the entire process over again! Area did not disappoint. Hollywood is simple. You either are friends with promotors, you kiss up to them, you flirt with them, or you put down the money for a table. We chose to put up the $ and were sorely disappointed in the fabulous display of unprofessionalism.
Sign me up every Saturday, Glam!!!

I went here on a Saturday night for a birthday shindig. Valet was $ 20, entrance ended up being $ 15. I guess when you get bottle service they only allow five people to enter for free. Everyone else in the group got shafted. Irritating since my friend reassured me that since I was put on the guest list, I’d get in for free before eleven.
I thought it was weird that there wasn’t an actual line to get in. You just kind of stand there in clumps and the guys guarding the door look you up and down before letting you in. I know the place isn’t really considered to be cool anymore, but it surprised me how old the place felt. I know the décor was part of the reason, but for example. the bathroom smelled old and gross. I’m sure the girl yacking in the stall next to mine didn’t help in lessening offensive odors. I don’t know if it’s a Saturday night theme, but there were so so many Asians! Kind of takes your breath away, lol.

Area still wishes it could party like it was 2006 or 2007. Like most gilded things in Hollywood, Area will soon become a faint whisper of the Hollywood club heyday and the SBE group will repackage the goods and sell it as the next hot venue. Hollywood’s anorexic and beautiful once ran with abandon here. Not so much anymore.
Clearly, they don’t care about exclusivity these days. Gone are the huge throngs of sexed up guys and gals hoping to make eye contact with the bouncers. Now, you get there, get in, pay. The crowd is a mix of college, post-​college, with a small sampling of the old and skeevy. The cocktail waitresses look unmemorable and vacuous as they wave sparklers and dance ontop of couches– I’d save my money for bottle service elsewhere. I’ve always loved the Palm Springs style décor (reminiscent of the Parker Palm Springs, designed by Jonathan Adler) and I feel that Area is a good balance of dance club and lounge environment. Drinks are on the weaker, tartier side and run around $ 13. $ 20 valet. A taco truck is usually seen perched at the exit of the club to feed your 2AM cravings.

Is this really the place «The Hills» go clubbing? Maybe they used to, but I highly doubt it. This place is okay. Umm… ambience is okay, nothing too cool, super low ceilings! It’s nice that there are places where the AC is on blast so you can feel cooler. They have those sparklers for the table service, like they do in Vegas. Well last night was seriously AZN NIGHT! Lots of FOBs… nothing wrong with that. Just people with lots of $$. I enjoyed it because I felt TALL compared to all the other guys. I didn’t have to wait in «line» (you’re right, it is just a cluster of people), which was a plus. Cover was $ 15, valet parking was $ 20. Didn’t buy a drink, but the drink was super weak! I didn’t even feel a thing! The music here is pretty good! It’s kind of a young crowd, it’s definitely not Vegas (maybe I’m just used to Vegas clubbing).
I hit my «once a year» clubbing quota, but like always, it’s who you go with that makes your clubbing experience fun! I had fun last night, with fun people!

This place was pretty ghetto. The highlight of my night was actually talking to the bouncer Dennis, he’s a very cool guy with old stories about Paris and Britney. In fact, he even suggested that I go someplace else because he knew how much it sucked here.
So as most people mention, you won’t be able to get away from the $ 20 valet parking as there’s nothing else around. If you park in the residential area across the street without the district permit, you will get towed. I think the cover was another $ 20. Inside, the colorful lighting was laughable, but maybe okay once you consume your fair share. Drinks were kinda expensive too, and they charged for water if I can recall correctly. There is a credit card minimum at the bar, $ 25 I think. The dancing area isn’t clearly defined as there are a lot of tables scattered around. I went on a Saturday with a promoted event, so maybe more people showed up than usual. There were actually a lot of eligible girls, but the pervasive attitude was that no one was really having that much fun. Clubbers, go look elsewhere.

And I find it kind of funny and I find it kind of sad that even the promoter has to haggle with the door guy to get in.
You will have to wait at least an hour to get in. It does not matter if you’re on a list or not.
THERE IS NO LINE. People just surround the entrance and wait to be picked to go in. Oh boy, that’s what I want my night to be like.
Only been there on a Wednesday.
On a Wednesday it gets packed. There’s usually parking on Melrose, so skip the Valet.

Came here on a Saturday (asian night) and my group was on the guest list. I know that people on the «list» still have to wait in line, but the club promoter was a complete douche about it. Also, don’t bother getting that dressed up because the crowd isn’t worth impressing. the music was weak and the dj must’ve played Black Eyed Peas’ boom boom pow six times that night (AT LEAST). No kidding.
The music was too slow and it was way too bright in there. I don’t want to see everyone’s faces. Part of the fun is that people become better looking with dim lighting. And the bouncers/​club promoters/​bartenders kept walking through the dance floor with their blinding flashlights every few minutes. It was RIDICK.
We found parking on the street, so that was nice.
They should’ve had one of those ‘must be at least this tall to enter’ signs at the door because i swear, half the guys were 5’4 and under. It was pretty bad. What did I get myself into? They were playing music from 5 years ago. They seriously needed some better tunes.
$ 15 for guys. Free for girls on the guestlist. I’ve been to worse, but this was pretty terrible. I definitely wouldn’t come back.

I will never ever ever ever go to Area again.
DB central along with overpriced watered down drinks.
WTF. $ 12 for a redbull vodka? That shit was 85% ice. Lame.
People were frontin’ like no tomorrow. OMG.
The lady in the restroom who hands paper towels to people actually came up to me, grabbed my arm and said «I only work for tips». To which i replied «That’s great» and walked away. Since when did giving someone a fckin paper towel warrant a $ 1 tip? No thanks.
I ain’t having it.
I will never come back here. Too bad Dave Dresden was spinning here tonight. He would have been SO MUCH better at Vanguard. The sound system here sucks ass. I’m freakin deaf.
Ugh. I’m going to bed. Seriously, don’t bother going here. Ever.

I haven’t given out a low rating in a while, but I think Area really deserves it…
«Meh. I’ve experienced better.» Unilocal’s default «2 stars» message is definitely one way to describe Area. Seriously, what is up with this club? There were so many scantily clad Asian girls (they reminded me of the hookers from Rush Hour 2) and chain smoking guys!!! There was also this strange high school vibe floating around the entire place too. Maybe it was because everyone there looked like they were 14 trying to look 25? The bouncers are all douchey and don’t know what the heck they are doing AND the music SUCKED. I couldn’t dance to a good portion of their weird stuff.
And what is up with people who club these days?! Am I getting old or something? When I saw some girl reverse cowgirl-​ing a guy LYING ON THE DANCE FLOOR and another girl grimacing in pain while her BF thrust his junk into her butt I was like O_​O WHAT THE HECK?! –steps back a few feet–
The line for the bathroom was ridiculously long and filled with tons of girls taking MySpace angled shots of themselves making the typical V-​sign, puckering their lips, and opening their eyes as wide as possible. Doesn’t it get tiring to see your heavily powered face with the same crazed expression in all your pictures?! And why are you taking 5 minutes to admire yourself in the mirror when the bathroom is super crowded? Pee and leave already, damn it! It’s not like the guys will recognize you because you are dressed just like 90% of the other Asian girls in there. That is, unless you are the girl who straddles guys on the dance floor. And even then, there’s no guarantee.
I seriously will never go back to Area if I can help it.

I came here the other weekend for a friend’s birthday. I can’t say that I had a horrible experience like some of the other Unilocalers, but it wasn’t my favorite club either.
I got there pretty early — it was about 10:20pm when we walked up to the club. I left extra early so that I could look for parking, but that wasn’t even too much of a problem. The line outside was short but of course the lovely doormen kept us waiting for as long as they could. I got in for nothing, but my poor best friend (male) had to pay the $ 20 cover. Sometimes it just pays to be a girl, I suppose. When we got in the place was emptyyy which was nice because I was able to get a drink without fighting through a crowd. We got to check out the décor which was nice. It finally got more crackin at 11 and then it became overcrowded by 11:30pm.
Three stars for the club that it is. An extra half a star for the patio/​smoking area which wasn’t really outdoors but gave you some air. There was a touch of originality to that glass wall, I guess. And an extra half a star for the DJ/​music which was pretty much top 40/​mainstream, but it was all danceable.

I went Monday night for Lollipop Mondays for a birthday party for Tank (R&B singer) and one of the actresses from «Girlfriends».
Door: No problem at the door because 1) I arrived with 2 of my beautiful friends and one of the promoters (Thanks for the invite Khari) and 2) We got there early (meaning 10:30ish=dead). Though we got there while it was the calm before the storm, it was good to be able to chat and booze it up before the party got packed at 11:30ish (and it was indeed packed by then).
Drinks: Pricey. I think I dropped $ 60 for my favs (3 Grey Goose/​cran and 3 Patron shots – yes I am a bit of an alcoholic HA HA HA).
Music: Usual Hip Hop stuff with a surprise performance by Tank. Tierra Marie even sang HBD to Tank. So basically, we got a free concert.
Crowd: Majority black, but there was a nice mix of others. Lots of girls so guys that’s a plus for you. And I know I usually complain about the eye candy selection, but I was pleasantly surprised since there were some cuties in the vicinity ;)
Venue: If you get there before it gets packed, you can appreciate the ambiance and simple yet modern décor. The dance floor isn’t that big so unless you hold down the center, you’ll be two stepping in the line of traffic.
Parking: I lucked up and found free parking across the street, but last time I was here, I paid $ 20 for valet.
Overall, I had a great time. There was a great vibe (besides the drunk chicks spilling drinks all over the place… had to take away a star for that). I just wish this place was bigger!

Came here for my best friend’s birthday on Sat night. Reserved a tabled under her name. It was her birthday so I didn’t want to spoil her mood and fun. so I try to keep my temper and still entertain and had a good time with her. But I’m letting it out now, and explain why it’s such a one star experience, I actually want to give them negative five stars if I can!
— We have a table and they only let 5 people in free, rest need to pay $ 20 cover charge @ the door.
— They let people wait out forever. it wasn’t such a bad wait for us (since there’s 5 of us @ the time, all girls), but we were freezing to death waiting out with mini skirts and half naked top.
— Rest of the guys weren’t that lucky. they waited for awhile before they can get in (maybe b/​c they are guys!!!).
— We sat at the smoking table so it was suppose to be airy, they have two heat lamps on the top, at least we weren’t freezing our butts off… but it was too hot to the point we feel the flames was about to come out from our hair.
— At first we just thought it’s cool since we had two people service our table mixing drinks for us on the spot, then we found out it’s b/​c they want to finish our bottle faster so they can bring more bottles to our table.
— They try to clean out the table for us asap, even when there are still ¼ of bottle left in the drink. we caught them and took it away from the waiter.
— One of the guy got really tired and fall asleep, then there came in 5 guards flashing the light at him and ask him to leave. He wasn’t drunk but was just tired and they threaten to kick him out!!! We tip the guard $ 50 and ask him to leave us along… thought it was the end of the story. no… three more new guys came back and start to bug us again. guess the guard came back and told them so they wanted more tip so came back to harass us. We got really mad and said we want the $ 50 back if they keep doing that, since the guy was sitting up and wide awake at the moment.
— Dance floor was really packed, can’t even dance… I think this place is 120% fill or something, way over the capacity.
— Guys here are more well dress than «Le Cercle Super Club» we went few weeks ago, and they are at least half way decent looking, not butt ugly… but still… stranger calling us babes and try to grab us, and hugging us to dance w/​them weren’t exactly gentlemen. just some wolf in sheep skin. Not cool.
— Bill came out to be around 2K with tips. for 3 bottles of Grey Goose… WTF!!!
— Oh. the valet, lock everything in the car if you can, they stole an expensive sunglasses and a name brand key chain from the car. It cost $ 20 for the valet too!!!

Being very cougarish indeed, I brought some British youngins out to catch a glimpse of the LA nightlife. Being a Thursday night, I didn’t think it would get very crowded. But I guess that was just me being my usual old fart self. Although we arrived to an empty club around 10:30, I found myself swarmed by a very loud and drunken bunch by midnight. I enjoyed the variety of patrons, even though there were a few token douches and douchettes. But what else can be expected at a Hollywood club?
The music played was your usual radio hip hop/pop…not especially impressive but still fun with enough alcohol running through your system. The «indoor» smoking patio is pretty pimp, though I don’t like the fact that there is no seating area, unless you’re ready to pull out some fat cash. In hindsight, it may have been a good idea though, considering the $ 800 bill that was paid.
Yeah, make it rain.

The venue itself is really nice. Glass walls, sleek looking bars, really nice table area w/​an open ceiling.
I went on a Saturday night which happens to be wall-​to-​wall Asian night. The music was pretty good, top 40, hip-​hop, some 80’s mixed in. I just wish the crowd was a little more mixed, I guess I’ll have to try it out on another night.
We got in w/​no wait and no cover, but I think it’s $ 20 if you’re not on a list or know someone. I wouldn’t have paid to come here. Not worth it esp with the $ 20 valet charge or walking like 6 blocks if you want to find street parking.
Drinks were decent, but $$$. Average $ 10, even for a beer.
If you have no other options on a Saturday night and want to fight your way through a crowded dance floor full of guys that you can look over their heads, this is the place to be.
I made the best of it, but won’t be coming here often.

I saw a cat fight break out in the bathroom. Lots of hair and solid punches!
The AC is strong.
Great smoking area.

Came here on a Saturday night because my friends dragged me and plus I didn’t have anything else better to do. We pulled up to valet and it was $ 20. eeks. There was already a mob of people outside the door waiting to get in. But my friend talked our way into the club without waiting in line, sweeeet.
This place is pretty nice and upscale on the inside. They had plenty of couches to sit on and plus they were super comfy. I’m not sure how much drink prices were, since we ended up meeting with some guys there and they invited us to their tables for drinks. So plus for that!
The bathroom only had about 3 stalls and there seemed to always be a line waiting to use it. ugh.
There were a lot of bodies there, the dancefloor wasn’t able to hold that many people! it was really elbow to elbow, sweat drippin all over the place. yuck. The music was pretty nice though. They also have a smoking section for the smokers with an open air on top. Although there were a lot of bodies, the place had good air ventilation so it wasn’t too bad unless you’re dancing.
So 3 stars for not having to wait in line, free booze, and good ventilation and chairs for lounging.
I’d definitely come back, if I’m around in the area.

+ 1 star — great interior design
+ 1 star — unique and innovative lighting above dance floor
+ 1 star — great vibe
+ 1 star — good guy to girl ratio
+ 1 star — overall
— 1 star — long wait