Ricky, Can I Be in the Show?
Let’s put it this way: On Wednesday night I headed out to La Descarga, L.A.’s latest place to be, dressed like a schlub. When I went back on Thursday night to catch the bar’s live dancing/singing spectacular, I wasn’t.
I swapped my jeans for a jumpsuit, my so-so heels for better ones and I even put on earrings. Why? Because it’s just that kind of place.
Entering the sweeping main room of La Descarga, the new Old Havana-themed nightlife venture from twin brothers (and Piano Bar owners) Johnny and Mark Houston, feels like a sitcom dream sequence where you suddenly appear — in black and white of course — in a simpler time and more exotic locale. I was waiting for a laugh track and a Bogart-esque fellow to come sweep me off my feet.
Neither appeared. But I was blown away by the truly stunning décor, a sophisticated drink menu and a crowd that felt as far away from The Hills as they come.
I’ve already picked out a dress for next time.
The buzz: Though it only opened on Tuesday, La Descarga is currently the most talked about bar in town. And since hearing rumblings of the space last week, I haven’t been able to go a day without someone, somewhere talking it up. Both times I stopped by I saw people I knew (and they were actually people I didn’t mind seeing – a rarity in L.A. nightlife) and I even spied the name of a friend on the Saturday night reservation list. Speaking of reservations, make sure you have one before venturing out.
The scene: This is not a hipster hang nor is it filled with underage kiddies (or burnt-out partiers) hoping to score an invite to Leo’s after party. The crowd is on a mission to drink fine, sippable drinks, have good conversation and enjoy stellar people watching. Which makes sense since the clientele — a mix of magazine editors, politicos, industry folks, etc. — skews older than traditional “hot spots,” with a mix of stylish twentysomethings and well dressed, middle aged men who seem more interested in sharing cigars with their buddies than creeping on young girls. The two groups – and all the couples in between – coexist perfectly. Which is fantastic for a 25 year-old woman hoping to meet a handsome, employed gentleman instead of a sloppily drunk boy who never learned the meaning of “personal space.”
The visuals: The highly polished space looks like a throwback to a Hemingway novel (or a higher class version of Tommy Bahama’s, depending on your life outlook). Once you’ve checked in and been greeted by name, you’re led on a catwalk overlooking the majestic main bar in all its soaring-ceilinged glory. A bevy of beautiful antique sconces and multi-faceted, Spanish-style glass fixtures cast a sexy, moody glow over the room, which extends back to an enclosed cigar patio that features a second, rum-only bar.
NO PASSPORT NECESSARY: Patron Janna Velasquez goes Cuban without having to travel through Canada.
The dress code: Without a doubt, the most interesting outfits in the place belong to the live dancers, who begin a series of four on-the-hour performances each weekend night at 10 p.m. And each number features a different costume. One lady slinked her way down a spiral staircase in fishnets, a fedora and a feather-clad bikini. Next up? An elaborately beaded red two-piece worn by a bar-top fire twirler who did things that would singe a layman’s eyebrows clean off. You can get away with many looks here, depending on your mood. I saw some girls in cocktail dresses and unassuming exotic skin handbags. While others wore jeans, tank tops and fantastic heels. One thing is for sure – flats are very un-Havana.
Guys wore a range of gear, too. On the casual side I saw jeans, great sneakers and nice peacoats. But more fellas than not dressed up. Steve Livigni, La Descarga’s general manager (formerly of downtown’s member-only bar The Doheny) donned a dapper micro check suit, a tie and a crisply folded pocket square. And patrons followed his lead to great sartorial success.
The drink: Roughly 70 rums comprise an extensive cocktail menu that boasts innovative specialties. I enjoyed the sultry and strong Tapping the Admiral ($13), a spicy blend of rum, carpano antica, cherry heering and bitters that left my lips tingling long after the last sip. Pappa’s Daiquiri ($10) is a sweet concoction featuring one of Bacardi’s finer incarnations, maraschino cherry liquor and grapefruit juice. There’s smokes for sale, too – expect to pay $15 for a quvita lite cigar and up to $30 for a toro bravo.
The hot seat: In the main room, three cozy nooks feature tables and seating while a bevy of stools surrounds the bar. And there are plenty more places to sit on the smoking patio. If you do happen to find yourself on foot, the wood-paneled hallway connecting the two rooms has a candle-lit ledge for hosting your drink.
EL BAÑO: The bathroom, a vital component to any good bar, features a wall collage of vintage articles, Cuban travel advertisements and authentic photographs collected by friends of the owners.
The sightings: As they say, first come the girls, then come the gays, then comes the industry. That saying doesn’t apply here whatsoever. But the celebrities are sure to come next.